Personal style is the unspoken language of the fashion world. You can instantly get an idea of someone’s personality just by looking at the way they put together an outfit, which is one of the many reasons why figuring out and creating your own sense of style is so important.
Believe it or not, fashion and style are two completely different things, and I think that’s where most of the confusion lies when a person begins to define their style for the first time. Fashion should be your inspiration. It’s what’s on trend at the moment and is constantly changing so fast that it’s almost impossible to keep up with. Style, on the other hand, can be timeless. It’s what you choose from fashion to create an image of yourself for yourself. Style is what ultimately makes you stand out from the rest of the crowd when everyone else chooses to simply follow what the runway tells them to wear.
Defining your style will ultimately make you feel more confident while looking your best. These are just a few tips and ideas I’ve seen or experienced firsthand that will hopefully help you begin your journey to finding your very own style.
1. Find some inspirationIf you don’t already have a Pinterest, then this is the perfect excuse to finally create an account. Create a board and start pinning away pictures of some of your favorite celebrities wearing outfits that catch your eye. You’ll begin to notice a reoccurring theme throughout pieces you choose to save for later reference. Let others become your starting point, and transform the way they choose to dress into something all your own.
2. List your adjectivesAnother great place to start defining your style is by taking time to write down or think about words that describe you. Are you a fun, outgoing, cheerful person? What kind of colors do you think about when you see these words? When you see a certain dress at a store, do those words pop back into your mind? If so, maybe it’ll become your next signature piece.
3. Highlight what you loveIs there a specific part of your body you love and like to show off? Start looking for pieces that do just that. If you love your stomach, look for pieces that show off your midriff, or find some shorts that show the world those long, lean legs of yours. You can also style around those areas of your body you may not be as confident about by selecting outfits that take attention away from them or hide them in clever ways.
4. Do what you wantIf you’re going to take anything away from this, take away at least this piece of advice: Don’t limit yourself to a certain kind of style. Create one of your own. Don’t be afraid to combine, add or subtract different pieces. If it makes you happy and you feel comfortable wearing those five-inch spiked heels, then I say, go for it. We wouldn’t have the trends we do today if someone else didn’t decide to step out of the box and wear what he or she wanted to wear.
One of the most important things to remember about creating your personal style is it doesn’t happen overnight. If you want any more style advice, I would suggest checking out Lauren Conrad’s book Lauren Conrad Style and Stacy London’s The Truth About Style. And remember, it’s just like what Yves Saint Laurent said, “Fashions fade, but style is eternal.” Keep looking good, collegiettes!
Photo credit:www.huffingtonpost.com