Personal style may not sound like something overly important for your well-being, but it actually is – very much so. Essentially, just like everything else you do that fulfills you, styling the outfits that represent who you are as a person bears a considerable effect on your self-confidence and happiness. In that sense, it’s not uncommon for people to feel rather confused without their own personal style. But not knowing for sure what your personal style is doesn’t mean that you haven’t got one. It’s just that you haven’t discovered it yet. And the following steps can help you do just that.
Find what inspires you
There’s no reason to think too hard about this. In the end, you can simply look for inspiration in things you’ve liked all along. For instance, look into the celebrities that you find most attractive or admire the most. Take a look at the Instagram models you enjoy following. See if there’s any particular aesthetic on YouTube and Pinterest that you find extremely appealing. These are all the things that make you unique, happy and fulfilled, and you can freely use them to discover your personal style as well.
Declutter your wardrobe
Getting rid of your stuff is never easy. But if you want to feel more fulfilled and take a sure step toward creating your own style, you need to go through your clothes and say goodbye to things that simply aren’t you. These may be items that you’ve never actually worn or things that you haven’t worn for more than a year. It may even be items that are too big or small. Whatever the case, pack them up and donate/sell/give them away. You don’t need them taking up precious space in your wardrobe and creating clutter. What’s more, by saying goodbye to these things you’ll be making room for your own style.
Play with accessories
Accessories are very effective and the easiest way to spice up different outfits. If you like timeless clothes with a personal twist, as many people do, you can focus on finding the most flattering cuts for your clothing items and sprucing those up with some interesting belts, scarves, watches, jewelry and maybe even bags. Don’t forget to invest in quality men’s underwear that will make you feel good no matter what you wear over it. And if you can’t seem to find a really unique and specific clothing style for yourself, it may just mean that this is not for you, that you like simpler designs. But if you feel that something’s missing then, let the individuality show through the accessories.
Consider your lifestyle and goals
Now that you have enough room to fill your wardrobe, it’s important to address your lifestyle and life goals in order to pinpoint the perfect personal style for you. Do you simply wish to express your creative and unique personality? Maybe you want to advance your career so a professional look would suit you more or you may want to be all trendy and fashionable. It’s nothing new for your clothes to reflect your lifestyle. For example, if you deeply care about the environment, well-made eco friendly clothing that incorporates sustainability in every step of the manufacturing process may be the right answer for you. There are plenty of choices out there so feel free to consider your life, goals and values in your style search as well.
Trust your own instincts
Unless your instincts match the current fashion trends, you really don’t have to follow them if you don’t feel like they represent your true self well. After all, finding your own personal style is not about wearing what’s trendy all the time no matter what. It’s about finding something that’s simply you in every trend that’s popular. Basically, stay true to what you like but leave some doors open for potential newcomers that may fit into your style perfectly. In the end, it’s all about making the things you wear your own. If you force yourself to wear clothes that don’t inspire you or, worse, make you unhappy and uncomfortable, that kind of stress will show in your overall look, too.
Most people don’t have the budget to just splurge on a whole new wardrobe of clothes at once. And you should never do that anyway. Shop smart. You can wait for sales and/or invest in staple pieces such as coats and shoes. Pay attention to the way clothes are made regardless of their price. You can also check out second-hand shops from time to time if money is the issue. Most importantly, buy the things you need and you know you’ll wear happily.