Finding my own personal style has been a game changer because I no longer feel like I’m in a constant state of lack when it comes to my wardrobe. The days of feeling like “I have nothing to wear” are long gone. I’ve had so much fun finding my style and learning how to express myself through clothing, and I’m going to tell you how you can do the same.
Trend Purge
Fashion trends on social media can influence your mind into thinking you like something just because you keep seeing everyone else boast about it. The trick to finding your own style is to steer clear of any trends until you have defined your style. When you come across items that you like, ask yourself these questions to determine whether it’s you or the trend.
- Can I see a past or future version of myself wearing this item?
- Do I want this item because I like the attention that others are getting from it online?
- Can I see myself wearing this for years to come?
- Do I want this because I want to fit in with my peers?
To avoid the influence of trends, focus on creating style mood boards for yourself rather than repeatedly checking in on the fashion influencers of TikTok and Instagram.
Do a Closet Cleanout
Don’t throw out all your clothes, but do go through all of them. Try on everything and be really mindful of how each item makes you feel. Here are the criteria you should be looking for:
- Are there certain silhouettes, cuts, or colors that make you feel the most confident?
- If there’s any clothing that you haven’t reached for in over 6 months, it’s time to part ways with it. (unless saving for special events)
- Don’t hold onto items that you like the look of on the hanger, but not on your body
- Is comfort a priority for you? If so, get rid of any clothes you’ve deemed too uncomfortable to wear.
There are so many clothing reselling apps and stores (Buffalo Exchange & Plato's Closet are the LOML) that you can use to even make some extra money from your closet clean-out! Once you’ve organized your clothes and donated/sold all of the unwanted clutter, it’ll be so much easier to distinguish the styles of clothing that you like.
Make a Personal Pinterest Board
Go on Pinterest and create a “style” board that you can pull inspiration from. Think about the styles of clothing you felt the best in while going through your closet, and try to find similar items. Spend some time going through your style inspirations and finding outfits that you love. Once you’ve curated your board, this will give you a clear idea of what you should be looking for when you go shopping.
Focus on creating style mood boards for yourself rather than repeatedly checking in on the fashion influencers of TikTok and Instagram.
Go Shopping! (but don’t go overboard)
Look through your Pinterest board and find any staple pieces that are consistent in multiple photos you have saved. If that staple piece is not something you currently own, consider buying one that fits you well so you can recreate outfits you like.
Buy Outfits, Not Individual Pieces
The biggest mistake you can make while shopping is to buy a bunch of random pieces that you like, without having anything to pair it with. This is why I recommend buying staple pieces first, and experiment with statement pieces later. While it’s less exciting to buy a pair of jeans than a cute going-out top, you’ll thank yourself in the long run. When you’re tempted to buy an item that is more of a statement piece, ask yourself if you already own something that you could pair with it to create an outfit. If you don’t, either buy something to wear with it, or avoid it altogether.
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