When it comes to fashion and personal style, I truly have come a long way.
Discovering my personal style has been an incredible adventure – a journey filled with trial and error, experimenting with styles and colours that resonate with my personality, and learning how to create outfits that truly express who I am. It hasn’t always been easy, and I’ve definitely had my fair share of fashion mishaps along the way! But through it all, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of what works for me, what makes me feel confident and empowered, and how to curate a wardrobe that reflects my unique spirit. It’s an ongoing process, constantly evolving as I grow and change, but I’m excited to share my experiences and insights with you, hoping to inspire you on your own personal style journey.
Shopping Alone: My Turning Point
When it comes to the question of shopping alone or with other people, I’ve had a complete change of heart. For the longest time, shopping with friends was my default, but venturing out on my own turned out to be a revelation. Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely advantages to shopping with friends – the camaraderie, the shared excitement of finding great pieces, the honest feedback. But without the opinions and distractions of friends, I could truly focus on what I liked and what resonated with me. It was liberating to try on all sorts of outfits without any external pressure, discovering what flattered my body and, more importantly, what made me feel confident and empowered. Shopping alone gave me the freedom to make choices that were authentically me, and it transformed into a journey of self-discovery through fashion. If you’ve always relied on shopping buddies, I encourage you to give solo shopping a shot – it might just surprise you with a newfound sense of independence and style clarity. Curious to hear more about my love affair with solo shopping? Check out my previous post here, where I dive deeper into the benefits and joys of hitting the stores on your own. It’s a lighthearted read that might just inspire you to embrace your next shopping adventure solo!
Ignoring Trends and Listening to Your Inner Voice
Over the years, as I’ve experimented with fashion, I’ve realised that true style isn’t about blindly following trends. It’s about discovering and embracing what makes you feel confident, empowered, and authentically you.
Forget the pressure to keep up with the ever-changing runway looks and instead focus on what brings you joy and reflects your unique personality. Trust your instincts, listen to your inner voice, and pay attention to the colours, textures, and silhouettes that naturally resonate with you. Remember, you don’t want to be a carbon copy of everyone else; you want to stand out and showcase your individuality!
If you’re caught in the cycle of chasing the latest trends, take a step back and reconnect with your personal style. Experiment, have fun, and don’t be afraid to break free from the mould. Wear what makes you feel alive and express your authentic self through your outfit choices. True style is about celebrating your individuality, not conforming to the masses.
Abd by the way, some of the best places to start finding your unique voice when styling yourself is through second-hand shopping. Thrift stores, vintage shops, and online marketplaces offer a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind pieces that can help you break away from the mainstream and cultivate a truly unique wardrobe.
Visualising Your Style with Moodboards
Now, if you’re a visual person like me, then creating a mood board can be a total game-changer for your style. It’s like a scrapbook of your fashion dreams, brimming with images, colours, and anything that sparks your creativity. Think of mood boards as your personal style compass, helping you navigate the exciting journey of self-discovery and refine your unique fashion sense.
Photo by Natalie Dupin / Pexels
Mood boards also provide a fantastic platform for experimentation. You can play around with different looks and see what truly resonates with you, like piecing together a fashion puzzle, one stylish element at a time. And let’s face it, it’s incredibly fun! Personally, I’m always on the lookout for inspiration. If I see a celebrity rocking an outfit I adore or even someone on the street whose style catches my eye, I’ll often snap a quick pic to add to my mood board. I even draw inspiration from unexpected sources – a striking colour palette in nature or a piece of art that evokes a certain mood can also find its way onto my board, serving as inspiration for future outfits.
Speaking of inspiration, the world is your oyster! So checkout , fashion magazines, style blogs, Pinterest, Instagram – even nature and art can ignite your creative spark. The more diverse your sources, the more unique and personalised your mood board will become.
Going back to basics
When it comes to personal style, it’s all about understanding the fashion basics and embracing what feels authentically you. It’s about discovering your preferences in silhouettes, colours, and textures, and recognising what makes you feel confident and empowered. For me, that journey started with recognising what didn’t resonate with me. I discovered a distinct dislike for cluttered, overly patterned clothing. The more I experimented, the more I realised I was drawn to the simplicity and elegance of plain fabrics without any distracting elements.
This realization was a turning point. It guided my subsequent fashion choices and helped me curate a wardrobe that truly reflected my personality. I started gravitating towards minimalism, appreciating the beauty of clean lines and understated sophistication.
Understanding these basic preferences was like unlocking a secret code to my personal style. It wasn’t an overnight transformation, but a gradual process of self-discovery and refinement. It’s okay if your style journey takes time and involves some trial and error. The important thing is to stay true to yourself and embrace what makes you feel good. Remember, fashion should be an expression of your individuality, not a disguise.
My Four Little Words: “I Absolutely Love It!”
Along with digging into the fundamentals, I stumbled upon a mantra that became my fashion compass: “I absolutely love it!” These four little words turned into my shopping buddy. If something didn’t make my heart skip a beat at first sight, I left it on the rack. It sounds simple, but it’s a powerful way to stay true to your style. Think of it as a gut-check for your fashion choices. If you’re ever in doubt, just ask yourself, “Do I absolutely love it?” Trust me, it’ll help you avoid those “What was I thinking?” purchases and keep your style authentically you. It’s like having a personal stylist in your head, guiding you towards pieces that you’ll truly love!
Follow an Icon: Finding Inspiration
Last but not least, let’s talk about finding inspiration. For me, Instagram is the best virtual runway ever! I started following people whose styles I absolutely adored. Watching how they paired items, mixed patterns, and expressed themselves through fashion was like having a front-row seat at a fashion show every day. It wasn’t just about copying their looks; it was about drawing inspiration and letting it shape my personal style. Social media is more than selfies and food pics; it’s a treasure trove of fashion inspiration. Following fashion icons that resonate with you can be like having a personal stylist at your fingertips. It’s a fun and exciting way to explore different styles and bring fresh ideas to your fashion journey. So go ahead, hit that follow button, and let the fashion inspiration flow!
Ati What? You want to know who my style icons are? I’ll let you be the judge of that.
All in all, finding your personal style is like going on a fashion treasure hunt. It’s a wild ride filled with solo shopping sprees, trend-dodging, mood board crafting, and Instagram stalking (the good kind!). Through all these adventures, I found a style that’s uniquely mine, and you can too. So grab your fashion compass and set sail on this rewarding journey. Your personal style is out there, waiting for you to discover it. Just watch out for those “What was I thinking?” purchases along the way!