Have you ever gone shopping and convinced yourself that a specific piece would make your wardrobe complete, only to realize afterward that you aren’t satisfied with your outfits? It can be really frustrating to be in that situation – we know it! The truth is, no pair of shorts, no single shirt or skirt can do a magic trick and make all your fashion problems go away – not until you know what your personal style is. While you may find it daunting to create your own style, it doesn’t really have to be that way! The whole process is about getting to understand your preferences and express yourself through clothes and accessories.
It doesn’t really matter if your style is minimalist, maximalist, trendy or not trendy -the only thing that matters is that it is a representation of you. Below, we provide 5 tips on how to find your personal style so that dressing up every day is no longer dreadful but exciting. Read on!
Set aside a day where you just look at clothes
Yes, you’ve read that right! Instead of buying clothes, spend a day only looking at them. Why? Well, although it’s fun, shopping isn’t always productive when it comes to discovering your style. Let’s be honest: crowds and long lines can be truly frustrating, and all that chaos can sometimes make you choose clothing pieces you don’t really love. So, it’s a good idea to just visit stores and consider what you would really like wearing.
Create a list of all the pieces you feel best in (they don’t have to be trendy), and then go home and spend some more time picturing whether you’d really want those clothes to be part of your wardrobe. Here’s another great idea for you: consider test-driving some clothes through a clothing rental service, as it will enable you to get some inspiration on the style you like without having to commit entirely to a new piece that may turn out not to be what you wish for.
Create a Pinterest mood board with inspiring styles
Pinterest boards are amazing when it comes to finding your personal style, and we recommend making the most of them! Having images of various outfits together in one place will help you look at the bigger picture and identify common themes.
Remember to ditch all the rules about choosing clothes for your body shape and go for the pieces you love. Consider who your personal style icon ( or icons) is and what you like about their fashion choices, and save some of their outfits on your Pinterest mood board. This way, you will have a place where you can go for outfit inspiration and use the images as a starting point to create your own style.
Give yourself permission to play around
We get it – discovering your personal style would really fix all your everyday problems about fashion. But here’s the thing: it shouldn’t be a stressful process! There’s no point in doing it if you don’t enjoy it, so allow yourself to play around and try things! If you find out that an outfit doesn’t match your style, don’t fret – this is only part of the process and also a sign that you’re getting closer to finding what kind of outfits you like.
Personal style is a means to express your individuality, but as you grow and your preferences change, your personal style can evolve as well. So, take off the pressure and consider starting small, as that could be more helpful. For instance, let’s say you usually stick to neutral colors. In that case, consider adding printed pants to the outfit. Or, if you regularly go for oversized and baggy lounge sets, choose a slimmer fit instead. You may be really surprised by what type of outfits you end up loving!
Turn to people whose fashion sense you admire
If you’re struggling to identify your personal style, turning to people whose fashion sense you love can be very helpful. Scroll through their Instagram accounts and see what outfits you can replicate with clothing pieces that you already have in your wardrobe. Even if TikTok is telling you otherwise, the truth is that defining your aesthetic isn’t necessary, as personal style can be nuanced. Ultimately, you want to find pieces that you really resonate with and see yourself wearing on a regular basis.
You may even get inspiration that you haven’t considered on your own or discover that there are already many pieces you love in your wardrobe, but you haven’t known how to style them in a way that expresses your personality. Remember to also evaluate your accessories and how you’ve been combining them with outfits. While they are often overlooked, accessories can really go a long way in creating a unique personal style. For example, if you are a sports fan, you can purchase a tote bag for stadiums that is meant to be both fashionable and practical. Besides, it will allow you to showcase your love for your favorite football team!
Make a wishlist to prevent impulse purchases
While it may be tempting to add a piece to your cart when a good sale pops up, you may regret the decision after a short while. If you want to curate your dream wardrobe, a better approach is to create a wishlist of every clothing piece you want to buy. This will help you avoid impulse spending, ensuring you will only spend money on what you truly love and need.
Consider the gaps within your closet, and when you see a piece that you think would work for you, add it to your list. Don’t buy it until you give yourself some time to think whether you could style it with others you already own.
The bottom line
Finding your personal style doesn’t have to be a challenging experience! In fact, it’s not even supposed to be a one-and-done kind of experience! As you grow, your style will change, and that’s completely normal, so let go of the pressure and feel free to experiment with different styles and aesthetics – that’s the fun of it. In some seasons of your life, you may want to lean towards trends, while there may be moments when you prefer classic pieces. Either way, what matters at the end of the day is to feel confident and good in your own skin when wearing an outfit.
