Style is a way of life, something that permeates every aspect of our existence. From how we dress to how we speak, our style reflects who we are and how we present ourselves to the world. But determining what that style is can be difficult and time consuming. Taking a holistic approach to style — examining all aspects of our personal and professional lives — is key to finding out what your true, unique, style really is.
There are many definitions of style. One of the most commonly used is fashion, which refers to how a person chooses to dress and what that choice says about them. It can also refer to how a person uses language, as in their verbal style or writing style.
Writing style is the overall way that an author chooses to convey their ideas and can include word choice, sentence structure, and literary devices. A writer’s style can make or break their work, as it showcases their personality and determines how the reader connects with the text.
Hemingway, for example, has a clear and distinct writing style. Whether it’s a story about a bullfighter in Spain or a soldier in World War I, Hemingway’s words are direct and powerfully descriptive.
While there are many different styles, a few common ones are expository, descriptive, and persuasive. Expository writing is factual and doesn’t include the author’s opinion, so it’s often found in textbooks and informational websites. Descriptive writing is a bit more subjective, as it allows the author to express their own feelings and emotions about an event or scene in the text. This type of writing can be found in books and newspaper articles.
Persuasive writing is a type of writing that seeks to convince the reader to take an action or believe a particular point of view. This can be done by presenting arguments and facts in an appealing manner. Persuasive writing can be seen in news articles, speeches, and political debates.
Developing your personal style is about discovering what you like, what suits your body and shape, and how you want to be perceived by the world. It’s a journey that requires constant reevaluation and tweaking, but it can be incredibly rewarding when you find a look that really works for you.
A good place to start is to reevaluate the pieces in your closet. Do they all really reflect who you are now? Or do you need to get rid of some of the clothes that no longer suit you? Having a clear understanding of your personal style will help you to purchase new pieces wisely. Instead of spending a day at the mall and swiping your credit card on every impulsive buy, try to spend that day strategically. If you see an item that you love, add it to a wishlist that you keep in your phone. This will prevent you from buying things that you’ll never wear or that will end up in the back of your closet.