Tips and Tricks to Finding Your Personal Style

It has been a lifelong journey for me to try to define what I consider to be my personal style. I have gone through so many stages in my fashion, from testing out the 90s styles that resurged in the 2010s to bright colors and Y2K fashion trending in 2020. It's hard to figure out what you like when social media is saturated with ever-shifting microtrends and sponsored posts. After years of experimentation, I finally feel like I have a good grasp on the pieces that I love and feel most comfortable in. Continue reading to learn more about how I and many others have curated our wardrobes!

1. Take your time!

First and foremost, finding your own style takes time! Searching for clothes can be very frustrating, especially when you have to balance so many factors, from considering the versatility of a piece to struggling to find the right size and fit for you. And if you are anything like me, you are always changing your opinions on different trends. I have learned the importance of spending a lot of time thinking about the clothes that I am interested in and considering how they would fit into my wardrobe. Can I easily pair this with the pieces that I already own? Will I struggle to style this piece? Is it comfortable, and does it fit right? Considering these questions will help you make more mindful decisions when it comes to finding items that will fit your style and make you happy.

2. Find your style icons

It can be daunting to start from scratch. Without any direction or inspiration on how to choose clothing and pair pieces, people often don’t know where to start. One of the most helpful things that I have done was to find a few people whose outfits I absolutely love. By discovering your fashion icons, you can learn more about what you like and take inspiration from their styling. These can range from celebrities to influencers to people in your own life. You can really look anywhere, from trends across history to styling in television and cinema. Some of my personal style icons are Laufey, Best Dressed, and Carrie Bradshaw.

3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

If you are looking at your closet and find that you have nothing to wear, the best remedy may actually be a closet clean-out. This is a great way to get rid of and donate the clothes that you no longer wear and rediscover pieces that you may have forgotten about. Try on the clothes that you haven’t worn in a while. Did you fall back in love with it or did you realize that you have been holding onto it for no reason? By making these decisions, you can completely refresh your wardrobe without buying anything new.

With your newly organized closet, use the clothes that you have and mix and match them! Try out new pairings and style pieces together, even if they seem crazy in your head. You can even recycle old pieces into something new with simple alterations, from cutting jeans into shorts to tying bows to a purse. Really tap into your creativity, because you might just find your new go-to outfit.

4. Your character outfit

Think about a typical cartoon character. They usually wear the same outfit in every episode. Consider what your signature outfit would be. What does that look like? Thinking about this can reveal your likes and dislikes in fashion. Further, go through your closet and find your core pieces - the clothes that you find yourself gravitating towards most often. Use these articles to style the more difficult items in your wardrobe and when shopping for new pieces.

5. Don’t put yourself in a box

While I don’t believe it is necessarily helpful to constantly change your style to fit in with current trends, I do think it is important to try new pieces and step out of your comfort zone! You never know what you might fall in love with, and you don’t have to break the bank to do so. If you are unsure about exploring a new style, go in store to try things on before impulsively pulling the trigger on an online purchase. Look around in your nearest thrift stores and second hand shops to find similar pieces and test them out.

These are some of the things that have helped me learn to define my own style and avoid making purchases that I will regret. Despite what is pushed in online spaces and fashion magazines, there are no rules when it comes to fashion and you don’t have to follow one single movement. At the end of the day, finding your style is all about wearing what makes you confident, happy, and comfortable.

Featured Image Courtesy of Onpost