How to Find Your Personal Style

|| Boss Lady Jumpsuit || Heels (similar pair) || Earrings (similar statement earring) || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

How in the heck do you find your personal style? I get a lot of different questions from you all, and they seem to have this underlying theme. I love that you all blow up my Instagram DMs with questions! It brings me joy helping you plan outfits for big events (graduations, engagement photos, and other milestones). This is one of the things that I miss the most about working retail.

I'll let you in on a little secret. I have three words that I have found that describe my fashion choices: feminine, bold and whimsical. Most generally, I feel like most of my outfits are feminine with a touch of bold and a dash of whimsical. When I am looking to add new pieces to my closet, I keep these words in mind. I have gathered up some questions as an exercise for you to walk through. I think it is a good idea to always have a pulse on where we are as our style continues to evolve.

For this section, I want you to take a look at your current closet. Please be open and honest with yourself, you are looking at your wardrobe right now, not the closet of your dreams.

1) What colors do you see the most?
2) What patterns do you see the most (micro or macro)?
3) Do you own more skits/dresses or pants?
4) What type of shoe do you own the most of (sneakers, flats, heels, booties or boots)?
4) What five items bring you joy and why?
5) What three words would you use to describe what you found hanging in your closet?

For this section, I want you to look at Pinterest or your saved images on Instagram. If you do not have many photos to choose from, focus on finding inspiration over the next week. Revisit these questions when you have built your database.

1) What colors do you see the most?
2) What patterns do you see the most (micro or macro)?
3) Do you see more classic or trendy images?
4) Are there any accessories that you continuously see over and over? If so, what are they?
5) What five outfits do you want to recreate with your own spin on it?

Once you have answered these questions, take a look and see if there is overlap. I am willing to bet there are some underlying themes here.

Yes, you should know your own style. However, there comes a time where it is okay to shake things up and go for something that catches your eye. This pantsuit is a prime example. Just because something doesn't fit into your mold, doesn't mean you should exclude it. If you train your eye, you can find things that look terrible on the hanger and beautiful when you try it on. It is all about keeping an open mind. I hope that these questions have helped you gain some insight into your own personal style. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or need any assistance from me.