Everyone has their own personal style, in a sense, it’s your signature. It’ll introduce you before you even introduce yourself. But, how do you find? Where do you start? I know it can be a struggle, you stand in front of your closet filled with clothes, but still you can’t find anything to wear. It’s just a mess of things you thought were cute and decided to buy, not thinking if they’ll even make sense later on. But have no fear, we’re here to help you figure out, or least set you on the path to discovering what your personal style really is.
1 Know your body type
Triangle? Hourglass? Rectangle? Whichever you are, it’s really important to know in order to dress it properly! Knowing your body type helps you in understanding what flatters your body and what doesn’t. Finding balance is the main goal for all body types, so first you’d probably need to take a few measurements to determine where is narrowest and where is widest. Get some measuring tape and measure your shoulders, bust, waist and hips. The following body shapes have these characteristics:
Rectangle—no defined waist, shoulders bust and hips are around the same size. Inverted triangle—shoulder or bust is wider than the hips
Triangle—hips are wider than the shoulders
Hourglass—clearly defined waist with shoulder/bust and hips are around the same size.
2 Create a Foundation
Essentially this means getting basic pieces that you can create an outfit around, any day, at any time. Here’s what you’ll need to get some basics down.
Firstly, you are going to need a great fitting pair of jeans (the crotch doesn’t hang, you don’t have to pull it up every 2 steps you take, and, it makes your butt look fantastic).
Next, you need the classic button up shirt, you can dress it up, dress it down, and throw it on whenever you’re really not in the mood to co-ordinate an intricate outfit.
A blazer is a piece that pulls almost any look together, you can pull together an elegant office look or even a classy night time look for drinks. Once you find one you like, get it in maybe 1 colour and a print.
A tailored trouser in a neutral colour, most say get it in black but I think any neutral colour works well as it pairs with almost anything.
A pair of simple yet chic ballet flats that’s comfy so you can do pretty much anything in them, and, can seamlessly transition a look from day to night.
3 Look for inspiration
What are your favourite colours? Do you like prints? Whose style do you admire the most and can see yourself in? Who has a similar body type to yours and you can take cues from the pieces they wear? It can be a celebrity, style blogger, a friend or even family. We’re all drawn to a particular style, it’s now to find pieces in those styles that fit us to a T. Maybe you love the Boho look, or, you love a more feminine style, or you’re that jeans and t-shirt girl who is cool with dressing it up once in a while. Knowing what inspires you also helps you figure out what pieces, colours or accessories you like and what you surely don’t like. It’ll also help you gather a mental list of things you should add to your closet.
4 Cleanse & Sort your Closet
Take a second look at what you already own, if there’s anything you haven’t worn in the last year, get rid of it. Once it’s in good condition you can give it away of course, or if its clothing you’ve never worn you can have a yard sale! Cleaning out your closet lets you know what you’re working with when it comes to discovering your style, the pieces you haven’t worn its either you really don’t like them as much as you thought, they don’t fit your lifestyle or it just doesn’t look flattering when you put it own. This way you can refine your wardrobe and also take stock of what you already have and how you can potentially create outfits with them.
5 Shop smarter
Now that you’ve cleaned that closet out, it’s time to give up impulse shopping for good. When shopping, consider how the piece will add to your wardrobe and how many different ways it can be worn. Get a few statement pieces that can be added to and mixed and matched with your basics to create never ending outfits. Also, get accessories that you’d actually want to wear and are easy to incorporate into your outfits to ensure your clothing gets worn and nothing is neglected.
6 Wear what makes you feel confident
In finding your style, I think this is the most important step of them all. Wear what makes you feel absolutely magical. If you hate pants, add more skirts or dresses to your wardrobe. If you don’t like heels- don’t wear it. If you look great in statement pieces and you love how they make you feel, then wear the heck out of it. Your clothes should make you feel great when you wear them, and you can step out confidently every time!
Rochelle is a 25 yr old Digital Marketer by day, Blogger/ Beauty Product Junkie by night. And all day, every day I’m an advocate for things local & regional. My blog ellerstyle.com features products and services available right here in Trinidad & Tobago and by extension the Caribbean so that we can get familiar. Follow me on IG @eller_style!