HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR PERSONAL STYLE 

Ever stared at your wardrobe and thought, ‘’I don’t have anything to wear!’’ Not because the clothes are not there, but just that nothing feels quite right. Finding a personal style sounds easy, but it’s not without a plan. 

The positive side to this is that personal style is not a thing you either have or don’t have. You can find it with the right approach. 

Here is how:

Identify your interests

What kind of styles are you always drawn to? Start there. Save photos of clothes, accessories, or just looks that interest you. 

A pattern will develop over time. Some colours, shapes, and fabrics will come up more than once. That is where you’ll start to learn about your instincts for certain colours and styles.

Pay attention to what you feel good in

Style isn’t just aesthetic. It is also physical. Take note of outfits that boost your confidence. It doesn’t matter whether they follow a trend or a rule.

Remember the last time you dressed up? Did you feel like you could easily step out in front of others? If yes, what clothes were you wearing? What were some of the differences between those and the pieces you reach for out of duty but not love? 

Comfort and confidence are not two distinct areas from style; they are two of the most important parts of style.

Understand your body and lifestyle 

What looks good on another person may not look good on you. You need to find out what silhouettes will flatter your body. 

It is also important to dress for the life that you live, not the life you think you should be living. A wardrobe that works for you every day is always going to be better than one that doesn’t.

Learn which gaps your wardrobe has

Sometimes it’s not a matter of having the wrong clothes, but simply too many clothes doing the same thing and not enough clothes doing the other things. 

Examine your outfits and find areas of difficulty. While you may have lots of tops, you might be short on bottoms that go with them. Or you may have many styles of special occasion outfits and not enough everyday outfits.

Know what these gaps are. This can help you create a more cohesive clothing collection.

Experiment and experiment

Personal style is a process of trial and error. This is why it takes time to find out what works and what doesn’t. 

Experiment in a low-stakes setting. Consider: 

• Charity shop
• Clothes swap
• Thrift clothes

You may consider working with a personal stylist in London. A professional will take time to understand your:

• Body
• Preferences 
• Lifestyle
• Budget. 

Then they can easily translate your feelings into a coherent wardrobe direction. 

The bottom line

Finding your personal style is more about paying attention to:

• What draws your eye
• What makes you feel good 
• What suits the life you are actually living.  

It takes time. But it is one of the most rewarding creative exercises. The result is a wardrobe that makes you feel great.