The Anna jacket, Tatum top, and Mardy earrings.
Decode Your Personal Style in 6 Easy Steps
Having a clear understanding of what you do and don’t like to wear makes getting dressed a whole lot more fun.
What’s your personal style? Are you preppy? Edgy? Artsy? In some ways, trying to put a label on your style can feel a little…high school. But with a bit of nuance, having a clear understanding of what you like to wear (and, just as importantly, what you don’t), can make shopping easier and getting dressed a whole lot more fun. Not sure where to start? Follow these six simple steps to define your own unique sense of style.
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Take cues from your existing wardrobe.
Which pieces do you tend to reach for over and over? Which ones keep getting pushed aside? Try dividing your closet into your most- and least-worn pieces to get a visual of what you’re drawn to. This will help you figure out which pieces you actually like wearing and provide a roadmap of silhouettes and colors that make you feel your best.
Pay attention to what you don’t like, too.
Look at the items on the “less worn” side of your closet and see if you notice any trends. Do you buy a ton of red pieces but always reach for blue? Do you like A-lines on the hanger but end up changing into something more form-fitting when you try them on? If you don’t enjoy wearing certain types of pieces, they probably don’t fit into your personal style rubric—no matter how much you want to love them.
Make a mood board.
Are there certain people whose style you admire? Colors you can’t stop thinking about? Particular pieces that feel quintessentially you? Throw together a quick mood board to give yourself a visual guide. The key here is to avoid overthinking—go with your gut instinct. In terms of medium, I’m partial to Google slides, but you could also use Pinterest, Powerpoint, or even some good old-fashioned poster board and glue.
Phone a friend.
You don’t need to put a label on your personal style, but having adjectives at the ready can be helpful when you’re shopping. Choose a few pieces that feel like you, then ask some friends how they’d describe them. Even better? Share that mood board you just made. Maybe your style is “edgy,” and you didn’t even know it!
Find your signature pieces.
Once you have a clear idea of the types of styles and outfits you like, it’s time to get specific. Identify 5-7 items that you consider your “signature pieces”—that is, pieces that encapsulate your personal style. Then, use the silhouettes, colors, and fabrics of these pieces to guide the rest of your wardrobe.
The Yiyan blazer, Nene dress, and Mara earrings.
Build outfits around your signature pieces.
Once you have a core group of items you know you love, you can begin building outfits around them. Putting outfits together can feel overwhelming, but it gets a lot easier when you start with a single piece and decide to make it the star of the look. And if you’re still not sure where to begin? That’s what we’re here for. Just book an appointment with one of our expert stylists, and we’ll show you the way.
