How To Create Your Own Signature Style
Are you stuck with defining your own style? Have you followed a bunch of people or even had a stylist come and make you over and you still don’t quite feel like YOU? Yeah, it’s happened to me too. SO, before you go on a spending spree, I want you to answer these key questions to get an idea not just of the vibe you currently have, but the vibe that truly represents YOU!
1. Which words would you use to describe your style? OR which words would you PREFER to describe your style?
Here’s some ideas: quirky, polished, bold, experimental, cheerful, comfortable, sleek, classic, monochrome, feminine, girly, vintage, bohemian
Write down your ‘vibe’ of your style now OR if you’re not currently living your own signature style, what words would you use? These words will help you start to construct an overall theme or feeling of your style
2. What do you want your style to say about who you are?
Style is a form of self-expression AND it is also a means of communication. The way we dress gives everyone around us information on who we are. So, what do you want people to see when they look at you? OR, what do you want them to remember about you once you’ve left the room? Are you professional? Innovative? Expressive? Eccentric? Confident? Feminine? Bohemian? After you’ve left the room, people remember how you make them feel and how you look as the biggest proportion of communication is done primarily, visually. They may not remember how you made them feel, but they will remember your winning outfit. What would people say about your style NOW? And does this represent the real YOU?
3. Who inspires you, and why?
Many of us are subconsciously influenced by our favourite icons. It makes sense. It’s advertising gone right. We all have big dreams of wearing the little black dress, the big glasses and the pearls like Audrey Hepburn or would love to have the glitz and glamour of JLo or the grace of Princess Diana. So who has influenced your style? Consider creating a look book or a scrapbook of your favourite looks!!
4. What are your favourite stores to shop at?
What stores drawn to and WHY? Is it a budget thing or do you like what they have to offer? Each brand has a different vibe and if it’s a little out of your budget, invest in quality pieces that suit you best, and will last. Alternatively, if it’s IN your budget, I still recommend you shop smart. While I LOVE SHOPPING, I still recommend you go easy tiger…..Write a list of the stores that really share your VIBE.
5. What do you shop for most OR what are you attracted to FIRST?
I want you to visualise you’re going into your favourite store. Where are you heading to first? Is it the accessories? The shoes? The latest releases? The sales racks? Write down where you go first and WHY.
6. What items do you repeatedly wear?
OK: let’s get real. Are you a 24/7 jeans wearer? If you are, it’s ok. I’m not judging. We just need to get real about your style! Being practical about what you will wear will enable you to stay true to your personal style rather than going crazy and buying everything and ending up wearing nothing and having an empty bank account. We all have some sort of uniform. We’re all creatures of habit. So what’s yours?
7. Does your style suit lifestyle?
Your lifestyle greatly impacts your style, so if you’re a gym instructor, chances are you probably wear active wear most days. It’s really important to ensure your style matches your activity, so make a list of what your needs are. If you’re corporate, you may need a more corporate style wardrobe. If you’re a mum, you need easy wear, easy care and comfortable. Do you need specific shoes or garments to suit what you’re doing?
8. Shhh: I’m not going to tell…..whose wardrobe would you secretly like to ‘raid’?
Who first springs to mind? Write down whose wardrobe you would love to have and WHY! Why do you love their style and what is it about their style you would love to emulate or add an essence of to your wardrobe? Think of icons like Audrey Hepburn, Victoria Beckham, Amal Clooney, Stevie Nicks, Diana Ross, the Kardashians…..Write it down and WHY! I’m not going to tell…….
9. Picture yourself in three years. What are you wearing? Is it the same as what you’re wearing now? Is it different? How do you feel about that?
Create the scene: where are you going? What are you doing? What you’re wearing? Has your style developed? What does your outfit reflect on how you’ve grown? Envisioning the future version of ourselves reveals who we really want to be now, so what are you waiting for? Remember: clothes are a way to express who you truly are, so write down what you’re wearing including the style, the colours and any accessories and make sure you note HOW YOU FEEL.
10. Look at your answers and define your style!
After answering the questions, you should have a better idea of what your style is and how you want to develop it. So, what would you name your style?
- Bohemian Biker Chick
- Preppy Meets Retro
- Casual Girlie Girl
- 1940s Street Style
- Futuristic Minimalist
- Parisian Chic Meets Athleisure
- Understated Elegance
So: What’s your style??
Hi I'm Monique Bradley.