I'm going to ask you what may be a difficult question - what do you think it means to be stylish?Think about it for a minute. Now ask someone else what they think it means to be stylish. Ask your best friend, your boyfriend, your elderly neighbour. Chances are every single one of those people will give you a different definition. That's not a bad thing. It actually illustrates what I think about personal style. I think you can be just as stylish in casual clothes as you can be in a dress and high heels. Style isn't necessarily about being as fancy as you can, or only rocking designer clothing. Finding your own style is more about being true to yourself, pushing the boundaries, wearing things that make you happy, and wearing the things that make you look and feel good. However, even though our style is all about us as individuals, it's actually pretty hard to figure out exactly what your personal style is. Here's a few ways to help:
Think about what you like. Do you hate stiletto heels? Tights? Oversized boyfriend shirts? Two-piece bathing suits? If the answer is yes, then banish them from your wardrobe. Don't spend a minute longer wearing things that you hate because they're fashionable. On the other hand, if you're loving suspenders, chunky boots, tie dye and pinstripes, but no one else seems to share your enthusiasm, don't let that stop you. If those things make you happy (I know they make me happy), then stuff everyone else. Your personal style is all about you, not some fashion editors idea of what is hot this season. Don't be bullied into wearing things that you hate. When it comes to style, the most important person is you - it doesn't really matter if everyone else isn't happy.
Be inspired. Get out there and find some inspiration! Read books about style, go to the library and flip through old copies of magazines, spend some time people-watching, hang out on alternative fashion forums, hire out some movies with strong aesthetics, google-search your style icons, or imagine how you'd dress today if you were Dita Von Teese, Courtney Love, Beyonce or Daria. Take note of things you like, and try to find some ways to incorporate those looks into your wardrobe. I like to browse through pictures of people wearing outfits with a really strong aesthetic - such as steampunk, goth or japanese street style - and find ways to bring a little bit of their strangeness and confidence into my own ensembles.
Think outside the box. Wear that scarf as a hat, that top as a skirt, or that long skirt as a dress. There's very little limit to the things that you can do with clothes - and a little creative thinking makes everything in your wardrobe go much further. Plus, thinking creatively about the things you own helps you determine what you like, and what suits you. It's also helpful in situations where you run into someone wearing the same outfit/item as you - duck into a bathroom, turn your scarf into a turban and you are twins no longer! Or, think outside the box in other ways. For example, if you're going to a party where you know everyone will be wearing a certain kind of outfit, wear something completely different. You might feel uncomfortable at first, but it's a helpful exercise to show you that you are capable of pushing boundaries all on your own, and you don't need someone to follow.
Keep records. Because you don't want to have some amazing epiphany about your style and then forget it a week later. There's so many ways to document your style. Start keeping a pen and paper notebook - fill it full of magazine pictures that inspire you, photos of things you wear that you love, lists of items you want to add to your wardrobe and anything else that makes you feel good. Create a new picture folder on your computer, and use it solely for outfit inspiration (mine may or may not be three-quarters full of Gala Darling pictures). Keep track of your favourite outfit pictures on flickr, lookbook, polyvore, or other similar websites. This way, whenever you're having a bum day, you can flip through these, get cheered up and end up with a whole lot of new ideas.
Be confident. The most important one of all! One of the best ways to help your style develop is to be confident. I mean, there's no point knowing that the things you like to wear are 50's inspired gowns if you don't have the confidence to wear them out of the house. If you're having trouble with confidence remember, it can be faked. Even if your knees are knocking together in your new crazy ensembles, just stand up straight, throw your shoulders back and walk down the street like you own it. Now, everyone else will assume you own the street too, and even if they hate your outfit, they'll be too intimidated to say anything about it. Remember, you are amazing and there's no reason why the rest of the world shouldn't know it, so don't make apologies for being exactly who you are.
Now, if you want some extra tips on developing your own style from some very stylish people these two (Rocking Your Style With Confidence & How To Cultivate Your Personal Style) are the very best articles I've been able to find on the subject. Enjoy!
Until next time, xo.
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