For years, I thought I’d never worn anything. Every time I went shopping, I came home convinced, thinking, “This is it. This outfit will make my closet complete and cohesive and show that I’ve mastered my own personal style.”
But the truth is, no one shirt, pair of shorts or skirt will magically solve my problem – and that’s because my closet is full of them. Sure, I love variety, we all do. But from my lemon green sweater to my flowing lace maxi skirt to my dazzling denim shorts, there’s just too much variety. Finding my own personal style took a lot of trial and error – mostly error – and years to figure out what I really liked. Now that I’m on the other side of the fence, I can confidently say: I have a closet full of clothes that I really like.
You too can find your own personal style – just try these 10 insider tips to master it.
How to find your personal style
1. Spend a day looking at clothes – but don’t buy anything
Hear us out: While a day of shopping is always fun, finding your style isn’t always productive. Dressing rooms are crowded, lines are long, and sometimes the chaos can make you pick something you don’t really like.
Instead, spend a day looking at clothes, not buying them. Set aside a day to commit yourself not to swipe your credit card, but to spend a stress-free day to get a better idea of what you like. Make a list of your favorite things, then go home, think about it, and work out what you really want to add to your closet. 2.
2. Use Pinterest as a mood board
A tool that should not be underestimated when looking for your personal style is the Pinterest board. When I started using the app to find style inspiration, I thought to myself: I’ll only pin looks I really like. At first, I fixed looks all over the place. But after digging deeper, I could step back and say, “Okay, I like this look because it’s all neutral tones” or “Okay, maybe I don’t actually like this look, I just like the fact that Gigi Hadid is wearing this look. ” Showing pictures of different outfits that I talk to in one place really allows me to look at the bigger picture and analyze the similarities between the different looks.
You can also create a saved folder on Instagram so you can add your favorite OOTDs whenever you see them in your feed. Then, when you’re confused about what to wear, you can dig out one of your saved outfits and try it on yourself to see how you feel in it.
3. Step out of your comfort zone
When looking for your personal style, it’s important to remind yourself that clothes and fashion should be fun. You have the ability to play around and try new things. If you try something you don’t like, that’s okay; you’re just one step away from finding something you do like.
With this, you can start small. For example, if you tend to stick to neutrals, try adding a pair of black and white printed pants. Or, if you typically prefer oversized and baggy casual suits, try designing a pair of skinny biker shorts.
4. Start slowly and evaluate what you wear every day
When I finally started to settle on the aesthetic I wanted to pursue, I had the urge to fill multiple boxes and immediately donate anything that didn’t fit the aesthetic. But remember: slow and steady wins the race.
Buy pieces strategically over the course of a few months. Invest in quality pieces that you can actually see yourself wearing for years, no matter how trends change. As your style continues to evolve, it’s also important to reevaluate the outfits you currently own. For example, do you no longer wear those pink pants because they don’t fit, or because you don’t like pink anymore? In either case, you’ve gained valuable information.
5. Imitate the people you like
When re-evaluating your style, turn to the people whose fashion you know you like. Take a moment to sit down and browse their Instagram feed and think of outfits you can replicate with pieces you already own. You can get inspiration for outfits you may not have thought of on your own, and you may even find that you already have pieces you love – you just don’t style them to your own liking.
