Style. The word that dominates so much of our discourse, a blend of your own personality and what’s acceptable in the wider fashion world. How does one find their own sense of style, and where does the journey begin? Let’s have a go at answering that question.
What is Style?
A disclaimer, here might be useful. You all know of course that how you outwardly present yourself isn’t anything to do with your value as a human being and that personal style or no personal style; you are a valid, important human being. Right? But nonetheless, style and fashion and self-expression are fun!
How to find your own sense of style
Well, full disclosure, this is a tough one. Partially because your ‘style’ will develop and continue to fluctuate throughout your life. It will be influenced by your lifestyle, your financial situation, your location, the weather, the bands, books and films you like and, of course, the catwalk.
So, with all that being said, one answer to the question “How do I find my own sense of style?” is that you’ll forever be looking for your style, and chasing that elusive thing: effortless, lovely, personal style.
On the other hand, you might find one thing you like and stick to it ad nauseum. Lumberjack shirts, black jeans, band ts, all three at once. Whatever it is, once you’ve got your uniform, it can be really difficult to detach from it.
It might be that you have a set of clothing that you feel very safe and comfortable in but you don’t perhaps feel like it truly expresses you, your vibe, your personality. And so you’re still in search of an element of your stylistic expression.
Finding inspiration for your style
Initially, my advice would be to think about who’s style and appearance you like now. Who are your icons. Be it Gigi Hadid, Stevie Nicks, Prince William, Harry Styles. Whoever it is, ask yourself what you like about them and what their style means to you.
Don’t just think about people in the public eye, though. Think about characters in books, people you know personally. Stevie Nicks has a reputation for seventies, bohemian, rock and roll, witchy vibes (especially after American Horror Story).
Do you like the idea of projecting a similar atmosphere and feeling? Do you want to align yourself with an easy-going boho-ness? Or do you prefer a vibrant, pretty, disco mood a la Harry Styles? Whoever’s your fashion inspiration, ask yourself: exactly what it is about that person or people or movement that does it for you? How do they project the ambiance that you want to be associated with? Some of the world’s biggest brands have even produced fashion films for the sole purpose of inspiring your clothing choices, so feel free to sit back and enjoy some of them.
Finding things to wear
Okay now, think about what you already own and how you can adapt your existing wardrobe to meet your needs. If you’re really and truly overhauling your style then you’ll probably find that you want to add to what you already have, but it’s a good idea to take stock beforehand.
Looking at what you already have from a new perspective can be very enlightening.
Once you’ve worked out what you’re happy with and what you want to change, you need to think about how you’re going to change it.
I would advocate for secondhand shopping (ebay, depop), vintage (Beyond Retro, Rokit) and sustainable brands (Birdsong, Everpress) before you approach any fast fashion retailers. But that’s only my personal point of view. If you are interested in emulating the Kardashian’s style, for example, you might find it really difficult to find secondhand or sustainable garments in your price range.
Do you
Be mindful about how each item speaks to your style and think about what mood or vibe each item evokes. Channel Marie Kondo and ask yourself what sparks joy. You want your personal style to be a joyful thing that brings you happiness. Don’t settle for something that isn’t good enough. Your style will come from your hair, your make-up, your conduct too. It’s not all about clothing.
And, don’t forget that style isn’t just about what you wear. It’s about how you wear it. You must feel comfortable and confident otherwise trust me, whatever you’ve curated isn’t right for you.
