Uncovering your personal style can be an exciting and fulfilling journey, helping you discover confidence in your wardrobe and become a new, improved version of yourself.
Begin by exploring your closet and noting which colors, materials, and silhouettes resonate with you. From there, build off these foundations for an individual style that speaks to you.
1. Identify Your Style Aesthetic
Unlocking your personal style requires extensive research, experimentation, and self-reflection. One of the key first steps in this journey is identifying your style aesthetic – which serves as a visual reflection of your preferences and values.
Whatever your style aesthetic, whether light academia, cottagecore, e-girl or grunge may be, finding one that complements both your personality and interests can be difficult. Consider creating a mood board–either digitally via Pinterest or manually with magazine cutouts–to explore various aesthetics and identify which ones best reflect who you are.
Make an inventory of pieces in your closet that stand out, like an outlier boho blouse among a sea of collared button-down shirts, as they could provide insight into your aesthetic. When making this comparison, note the words that frequently pop up; these could provide clues as to your style preferences.
2. Edit Your Wardrobe
Finding your personal style requires having an abundance of clothing that speaks to your aesthetic; therefore, taking an inventory is vital in finding your unique fashion identity.
By clearing away any items that no longer fit, don’t make you feel confident, or don’t match with your lifestyle, it can help get rid of anything no longer useful in your wardrobe. A selfie may also give an excellent overview of what’s in your closet and where any gaps might lie.
Create a wishlist of items you’d like to add to your closet in order to avoid making impulse purchases that don’t reflect your style and shop more effectively; this is particularly helpful if you are new to personal style.
3. Identify Your Go-To Outfits
As part of your style exploration, take note of which outfits you find yourself reaching for again and again. Think about why these specific ensembles make you feel confident and stylish; perhaps its color palette, body-hugging shape or combination of textures or silhouettes works.
By identifying your go-to outfits, you can create a wardrobe that replicates their styles and exudes authenticity. Doing this is the key to creating a curated fashion gallery that truly embodies your aesthetic and tells your story; creating this type of look provides great inspiration when feeling lost about what to wear!
4. Experiment With Your Wardrobe
Once you’ve edited your closet and identified pieces that make you feel confident, experiment by pairing up your go-to outfits in unconventional ways. From adding accessories you wouldn’t usually wear or trying out new colors that feel off for you – each little change helps bring your style one step closer to becoming wholly unique.
Redefining your personal style takes time and requires patience, so set aside one day where you don’t purchase any clothing – that way you can use this day to gain more of an understanding of yourself by trying on everything in your closet and discovering which looks work for you best! Once you know which items belong in your wardrobe, you can decide whether or not they warrant investing.
5. Be Open to Feedback
Successful style requires introspection and experimentation from within, but also relies heavily on input from others. Open yourself up to constructive criticism when it is offered – and actively look out for opportunities when possible!
When giving feedback, strive to frame it positively and provide context – this will allow the person receiving it to interpret it more positively and respond more appropriately.
“I think you should wear that top more often” is more supportive and less confrontational than, “I don’t like how you look in that shirt”. Be mindful of how each DiSC style handles feedback, for instance Feeler styles may take criticism hard if it is delivered without appropriate consideration and care.