Are you constantly struggling to put together outfits that make you feel confident and true to yourself? With so many fashion trends and influencers shaping the style landscape, it can be overwhelming to define your own personal look.
However, cultivating an authentic signature style is not only possible but incredibly rewarding. This comprehensive guide covers 11 essential steps to help you discover and embrace the clothing, colors, and fashion elements that resonate most with your unique sense of style.
Let’s get started!
Work Out Which Silhouettes You Love
The foundational step in developing your signature style is identifying the clothing silhouettes that flatter and empower you. Everybody is different, so the same dress shape that looks phenomenal on your friend may not be the most flattering for your figure. Take time to analyze which silhouettes make you feel confident and accentuate your best assets.
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Some common flattering silhouettes include.
- A-line or fit-and-flare dresses that skim over curves
- Structured blazers that give shape to your upper body
- High-waisted bottoms that elongate your legs
- Wrap styles that cinch at the narrowest part of your waist
The most revealing way to pinpoint your most flattering fits? Try on a variety of silhouettes, analyze how they make you feel in the mirror (or better yet, have a fashion photoshoot), and take notes on the winners.
Find Your Signature Pieces
Many iconic fashion figures are known for their signature pieces – think of Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress or Anna Wintour’s sleek sunglasses. Having coveted signature items is an easy way to cultivate a cohesive, identifiable aesthetic.
Your signature could be a certain style of jacket, a printed scarf you love to drape in different ways, or an ever-present pair of slouchy boots. When getting dressed, these pieces should feel like the defining factor that brings your whole look together.
To find your own signature items, take stock of the pieces you’re repeatedly most excited to wear or that you constantly receive compliments on. Let those beloved wardrobe heroes become your fashion trademarks.
Invest In Timeless Wardrobe Staples
As you define your personal style, it’s wise to invest in high-quality wardrobe staples that you know will get constant, lasting wear. While trendy pieces can be fun, classics that seamlessly align with your style priorities deserve the real budget.
To identify those worthy investment pieces, use the handy “reverse hanger” method.
- Start with all hangers facing the same direction
- After wearing an item, replace it in your closet with the hanger facing the reverse way
- After a set period, you’ll clearly be able to see which items you’re wearing most often
These tried-and-true wardrobe warriors – whether it’s the perfect white button-down, a sleek black blazer, or your go-to boyfriend jeans – are prime candidates for splurging on high-quality fabrications and accurate tailoring. You’ll extend their longevity while feeling chic every single wear.
Examples of Timeless Wardrobe Investment Pieces:
- A classic trench coat
- Silk blouse
- Cashmere sweater
- Leather jacket
- Dark wash denim
Create An Inspirational Mood Board
One of the best ways to zero in on the aesthetic you’re most drawn to is by creating a fashion mood board. This visual compilation of outfit inspiration, color palettes, styling ideas, and imagery that resonates with you will help define and focus your style goals.
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You can create digital mood boards on platforms like Pinterest or use free apps to seamlessly collect screenshots and images all in one place. As you scroll social media, blogs, websites, and magazines, save the looks and shots that truly speak to your style vision.
Once your mood board starts taking shape, you’ll be able to identify common threads and patterns in the styles you’re attracted to. Then you can use it as a guiding force for building a cohesive wardrobe and putting together fresh, inspired outfits.
Recognize The Things You Dislike
While it’s key to understand what you love, it’s equally important to get clear on the wardrobe pieces and styles that simply don’t make you feel like your most confident self. Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of wearing certain items just because they’re on-trend or you think you “should” like them.
For example, you may realize you have an aversion to any tops with frills or ruffles. Or perhaps you’ve tried skinny jeans more times than you can count, but you always feel most comfortable in a looser boyfriend fit. Identifying your dislikes is just as valuable as celebrating your loves when curating a wardrobe you adore.
So take inventory of those pieces constantly banished to the depths of your closet – they’re giving you an important signal about styles to steer clear of going forward. Then don’t be afraid to let them go and fill those holes with items aligned with your authentic style priorities.
Find The Colors That Spark Joy
When it comes to determining your most flattering color palette, the outdated “rules” about seasons and skin tones should go right out the window. The colors you’re inevitably most drawn to are the ones that make you feel energized, confident, and radiant.
So instead of trying to force yourself into a prescribed color palette, take a fresh look at your wardrobe and note the specific shades you’re repeatedly attracted to wearing. Perhaps you’re ignited by rich jewel tones, or maybe you gravitate towards more muted, earthy hues.
Once you’ve pinpointed your signature color stories, it’s easy to build a closet around those shade families while using accent pieces to incorporate complementary pops of color. Having this clear color guidance is an effortless way to get dressed with ease while radiating your unique brilliance.
Make Your Own Personal Style Icons
While celebrities and models can certainly provide fashion inspiration, the best style icons are often the real, relatable individuals around us. These are the people whose innate sense of style you authentically connect with and admire.
They could be friends, coworkers, bloggers, or even strangers you spot on the street looking effortlessly chic. And unlike famous figures, these personal style gurus likely have similar lifestyles, body types, and fashion needs as you do.
So make a point of taking style notes (discreetly, of course) when you encounter someone rocking an aesthetic you’re drawn to. Identify what you most covet about the way they put looks together, from the specific pieces they gravitate towards to their knack for mixing prints or eras. Then use those real-life influences as guideposts for emulating and evolving your own signature look.
Do A Wardrobe Audit & Organize Your Closet
Every few months, it’s helpful to do a comprehensive audit and edit of your wardrobe. This process serves the dual purpose of paring down the excess to focus on your closet MVPs while identifying key holes that need to be filled.
Here’s how to conduct an effective wardrobe edit.
- Try on every single item and take an honest look in the mirror. If it doesn’t make you love the way you look and feel, donate or discard it without hesitation.
- For the pieces that do make the cut, organize them by category – dresses, pants, jackets, etc. Hang them facing the same direction so you can clearly see what you own.
- Within each category, arrange the items from most to least frequently worn, with your colder-weather items grouped separately.
- As you review each section, make note of any gaps you’d like to fill with new essential pieces.
- Finally, edit out any ill-fitting, damaged, or duplicate items from each category to leave only your very best pieces.
Not only will your closet feel instantly refreshed and streamlined after this edit, but you’ll be able to clearly see where your true style strengths and needs lie. Aim to have a minimalist, high-quality wardrobe that makes getting dressed feel effortless.
The most important thing is to edit, edit, edit. It’s a never-ending process of editing and letting go.” – Grace Coddington
Don’t Rule Out A Signature Uniform
Many famous fashionistas like Coco Chanel, Steve Jobs, and Stacy London swear by the power of having a signature uniform – one go-to, trademark look that they repeat endlessly with minor variations. Not only can a uniform fast-track your morning routine, but having polished everyday ensembles that make you feel confident on auto-pilot can be incredibly stylish.
Think about the looks that make you feel most powerful and put-together, whether it’s as simple as a crisp blazer
Don’t Just Focus On What’s New And Trendy
While staying on top of current fashion trends can be fun and inspiring, avoid falling into the trap of dismissing older styles or beloved items just because they’re no longer the hottest new thing.
Fashion is cyclical, so chances are that “outdated” piece you love may actually feel fresh and modern again before you know it. More importantly, if it genuinely represents your unique style sensibilities, it deserves a place in your curated wardrobe.
The key is finding ways to styling past pieces through a current lens. Look to vintage fashion icons like Bianca Jagger and Jane Birkin for guidance on making retro items feel utterly of-the-moment.
You can easily revive a vintage-inspired dress by grounding it with modern accessories. Or breathe new life into a beloved denim jacket by pairing it with an on-trend shoe or updated denim cut.
So when editing your closet, avoid being too quick to discard anything that still resonates with you, regardless of its age or era. With a little styling creativity, you may be able to transform it into an incredibly chic, personal wardrobe statement.
Style Notes:
“Buy what you love and wear it. Style lasts forever.” – Isabel Toledo
“Trends come and go, but style lasts forever.” – Yves Saint Laurent
“Fashion fades, only style remains the same.” – Coco Chanel
Frequently Asked Question
What if I’m inspired by contrasting style icons or aesthetics?
Don’t feel limited to just one aesthetic! The most interesting personal styles blend different influences. Identify the common threads, whether it’s silhouettes, colors, styling tricks etc. and meld them in your own unique way.
How often should I do a wardrobe edit?
Aim to go through your closet at least twice a year – once when packing away seasonal items and again when you’re pulling them back out. This allows you to re-evaluate with fresh eyes and realign your closet to your current style priorities.
Are there any universal wardrobe essentials everyone should own?
While personal style is subjective, a few versatile basics can work for most aesthetics: a denim jacket, simple tees, great-fitting jeans, ankle boots, and a classic blazer. They’re endlessly mixable and provide a solid style foundation.
What if I feel stuck in a style rut?
Shake things up! Experiment with new trends, silhouettes or color palettes that intrigue you. Look to new style icons for fresh inspiration. And don’t be afraid to let go of pieces that no longer excite you to create space for evolution.
Conclusion
Defining and celebrating your authentic personal style is an empowering process of radical self-acceptance and creative self-expression. By tuning into your deepest style priorities, understanding which silhouettes and colors make you shine, and gravitating towards pieces you truly adore, you’ll curate a wardrobe that allows you to feel confident, stylish, and 100% true to yourself every single day.
So take inspiration from these 11 steps, but remember – developing your signature aesthetic is an ever-evolving journey. Have fun embracing new looks that thrill you, honor what makes you feel amazing, and never be afraid to adapt your style as your vision and priorities shift.
After all, style is meant to be a celebration of who you are, not a limiting set of rules. So own yours proudly, dress for no one but yourself, and prepare to turn more than a few heads while radiating your most authentic fashion voice.
