Style is the manner or appearance of something; the way something is done. A particular style may be used for a genre, art period or era; a person’s style of dress; or a type of vehicle or architectural design. The term can also refer to a particular literary technique. For example, an author’s unique writing style will have a distinct impact on the overall appearance of a piece of writing.
Creating your own style takes time and experimentation. It’s important to remember that your style will evolve over time and that’s completely normal. The key to defining your personal style is to take note of the things you like, and then play around with those elements to see what works best for you. It may not always work – especially when you’re first starting out, but that’s the whole point of this process. It’s a trial and error approach that will help you discover the things that really make you feel your most authentic self!
A person’s style of dress is a reflection of their personality and inner values. It’s what makes them stand out among a crowd, and what people are drawn to. A well-developed sense of style can be very empowering and it’s a great tool for expressing yourself in the world.
The process of finding your personal style begins with taking notice of the things you like and the things that you wish you could do. This can be as simple as paying attention to the outfits that you feel most ‘you’ in, or as detailed as analyzing your mental self-talk and shopping habits. The more you pay attention, the easier it is to find your style!
To get a better understanding of your current style, it’s helpful to look back on the times when you felt that you had a strong sense of style. What did you enjoy about those times? What about those styles still resonates with you now? This will give you a good idea of what your style is, and how it can be improved.
There are many ways to collect inspiration for your style, including using a platform like Pinterest or building a physical mood board. The point is to collect photos that represent your preferences in one place so you can identify patterns and begin to develop a visual framework for putting your outfits together. You can also try taking your favourite parts of a few of these outfits and combining them to create your own creations. For example, you might love the navy blue suit from an office outfit combined with a silk scarf from an evening out.
Lastly, don’t forget that your personal style can be influenced by cultural and sociocultural factors. For example, a writer’s style may be influenced by the literary traditions of Ernest Hemingway, even though they may not write exactly as Hemingway did. In the same way, a musical instrument may be described as having an ‘edgy’ or ‘jazzy’ style because of the way it is played.