When you ask someone what their style is, their response is usually limited to a few pieces or an item of clothing that caught their eye. They will often describe their style as a few brands and the latest trends. They might think their style is the brand they wear or the brand they love. However, they don’t see personal style as a system.
True style cannot be copied; it must be cultivated and built. Personal Style Begins With You
Before brands and colors and trends are applied to your closet, you are the source from which your style is built. Your style is a reflection of the energy you want to project, what lifestyle you want to portray, and the persona you wish to present to the world.
Without a clear vision of who you want to be, your style will become a mess of unconnected clothing. With that same vision, your style will be a reflection of who you are.
Style Isn’t A Mirror For Trends
Trends are fleeting. Personal style is ever-lasting. Most consumers have been guilty of this trend-following at some time in their life, but the end result is typically a wardrobe of unconnected clothing that changes as much as you do. A well-defined and curated style does not require following the most recent trend of the day to remain relevant and trendy. In fact, personal style is not about trends. It’s about expressing yourself in your own way and through your own choices.
Trends, however, aren’t necessarily a bad thing. If you follow all the trends, the results are often messy. Instead, you need to adapt the trend to you and your own style.
Style is All About Balance
The main component in building a personal style is the art of balancing your clothing. What works, what doesn’t work, and how it all comes together. A balanced and curated personal style is not the accumulation of a large number of clothing. You can wear something simple or basic and still look stylish. What makes the piece interesting is how well the clothes balance together.
Your clothing doesn’t need to compete for attention. Oversized blouses need roomy pants to match. Tight clothing needs the opposite.
You are developing a visual identity
In the world of fashion, everyone wants to develop their own personal style. The goal is to be recognizable and have others identify your style, clothing, and brand by looking at your wardrobe. This is all possible through a clear and consistent style identity. It’s about creating a personal style statement for yourself through clothing. Your style becomes clear and more defined as you continue to grow and develop your aesthetic.
It’s Important to Remember that This is A Process
Personal style is something that you have to learn as you go. There is no perfect personal style. But there is a personal style that is best for you as you grow into yourself. It is the development of personal style that matters most. As you continue to develop and grow your own aesthetic, you are building your own style.
In conclusion, personal style isn’t a list of items and trends. It’s simply a person and their choices. Once you understand that fashion is a system and not just a closet full of clothes, it will be easier to create a consistent and intentional personal style.