cultivating your signature style
our style is an outward expression of our inner spirit. a way of telling the world what we love, how we feel, and even what we believe, without uttering a peep. the way we dress ourselves offers the people we meet very quick, very visual insight into who we are. clothing, makeup and accessories are costumes and armor with which to face the world.
our personal styles change and develop as we march forward. looking back at old photos will inevitably cause even the most fashion forward among us to cringe. finding and cultivating a signature style allows us to play with trends while holding onto the essence of our look.
this is not about setting rules or guidelines, but rather about having fun, staying true to yourself, and developing a style which helps your outside match the core of who you are.
developing your style
1. learn what works for your body type and your lifestyle.
this is crucial. it doesn’t matter how awesome a pair of jeans is; if they don’t look hot you won’t wear them. simple as that. body awareness and acceptance is hugely important, both in selecting garments and in your overall happiness.
2. do not be afraid to participate in a trend.
understand what looks best on your figure, but don’t become consumed with sticking to one cut or fit. try everything on! you never know when you might hit gold and discover your next ‘cannot live without it’ piece.
3. select your signature pieces.
the key elements of your wardrobe are the items you gravitate towards time and time again. the pieces which despite making sense you insist on wearing to every occasion. list the ten or fifteen pieces you simply cannot live without.
4. define your style.
look at your list of key wardrobe pieces and craft a short phrase to best describe your look. this will become the foundation of your style ‘manifesto. keep this phrase in mind when shopping and dressing. by consistently wearing signature pieces and adding new items which ‘fit the bill’ of your manifesto, your wardrobe will maintain a cohesive thread.
4. donate anything are not ‘head over heels’ in love with.
stop wasting precious closet space on garments you never wear. cleaning out a closet can seem daunting. make it easier by organizing as you go. keep a donation basket handy. whenever you try something on to find it no longer property fits or does not have a place in your lifestyle, toss it aside. once the basket is full make a trip to the donation dropbox. you will be surprise how quickly the basket fills and how much you really do have to give.
5. write it down.
take a few minutes to jot down your signature style manifesto with a quick blurb about your look into a journal or notebook!
my signature style manifesto
bohemian rock and roll unicorn
i gravitated towards seamless garments and oversized sweaters which can be layered, mixed, and matched. i like hats, scarves, denim, and stacks of mixed metal rings. i shy away from trends and labels, preferring vintage stores over the mall. i rock tons of skirts, shorts, and skinnies, and almost always complete my look by lacing on doc marten combat boots or chuck taylors. i carry loud statement handbags and often wear a backpack. i keep my toenails polish free and my fingernails and hair short. while i like to mix up my makeup by playing with different lip colors, i always wing my eyeliner.