Finding Your Style
I can safely say that I feel more confident in my own style now, in my mid-thirties, than I ever have! I’ve always felt like I knew my own style. I think I’ve always had some confidence within that, but there’s just something about styling outfits and choosing fashion now, that I love more than ever before. I find inspiration everywhere, but I actually feel like I am often my own inspiration, which is such a great feeling. Pinterest and Instagram are where I often go to for inspo, but I also hate copying other people’s outfits. It feels like I’m basically copying their personality, and that’s just not me. I thought it might be helpful to share some of my tips on finding my own style. It can be a totally overwhelming thing, if you want to do the same but just don’t know where to start.
Find What Brings You Joy!
Fashion and style should be something really fun in my opinion. There is nothing worse than when you can’t find an outfit you like. For me it can really affect my day or how I feel within myself, if I can’t find something to wear that makes me feel good. This isn’t to say you need to put a whole lot of effort and thought into choosing your look each day. A lot of the time I have an idea in my head, and it’s just a case of bringing that vision to life with my wardrobe. Sometimes this is just joggers or sweats, sometimes jeans and a tee, and other times it’s a dressier fit. I find that certain combinations or pieces always make me feel good when I wear them. So if I’m ever struggling, I go for one of these and then build a look around it.
I would say that having a few key pieces that make you feel great, or you love wearing, is super important. They don’t need to be staples or basics. They can be really fun, bold pieces that just make an outfit pop! Whatever brings you joy, wear it.
Accessorise
Accessorising is something I will never not do! For me, accessories really complete a look and make me feel put together. I have some go-to accessories – these are things I wear with everything. But it’s also ideal to have some more statement pieces. These would be things you would wear to add some extra pizzazz to your look!
Sometimes if I’m wearing a simple outfit, dressing this up with statement accessories really takes the style to the next level. I’d start with jewellery. If you prefer minimal and simple then go for this, but I gravitate towards chunky, gold pieces. For men, watches are always a great option. Choose ones with bold designs and luxurious finishes to add to any look. Handbags, hats, belts and scarves are also great options too. Sunglasses have long been an iconic accessory. They’re perfect for framing the face, adding shape, or even some colour and fun if you choose something bold.
Make Your Own Rules
As I mentioned, I definitely find a lot of inspiration in others. But I think using this inspiration to create your own rules is even more valuable. Some people use things like the ‘sandwich’ rule to help them build a look. This is basically where you choose two items in your outfit that have the same colour. These are basically the bread of the sandwich. Then choose something of a different colour to go in-between: basically the filling! If this helps you, then great, but if the rule doesn’t work with your wardrobe or style, then don’t use it! It might help to look at some of your favourite outfits and identify the key elements of this that make it work for you. Then apply this to other items in your wardrobe.
A really simple one for me is that I always feel comfortable and happy in mini skirts and oversized tees. Because of this, I have a bunch of options for each. This basically gives me hundreds of combinations that I know I could put together if I’m ever not sure what to wear! Think of having these rules like the having the best cards in your poker hand! Whenever you’re looking for an outfit, use these secret style rules to construct the most potent combination possible – and it will hopefully always be one that makes you feel great!
Feel Great at all Times
One of the things lockdown taught me, is that you don’t just need to get dressed to go somewhere. After a few weeks of living in a combination of mismatched PJs and sweatsuits, I realised that just getting myself dressed for days at home made me feel way better about myself! I try to do that more often now, since I work from home a lot. Just doing a few things to make me feel a bit more put together during the day actually helps with my mood and productivity too. Again, this doesn’t mean you need to get super dressed up each day. I invested in a few pairs of matching sweatsuits, nice pyjamas, and comfies that made me feel good about myself! Some days I also got properly dressed too. Doing this for date nights, weekend fun or nice dinners (even if its just inside) made me feel better. Again, this is something I try and do now if I’m spending a lot of time at home.
Getting dressed isn’t to show other people, it’s about doing it for yourself and making you feel good! I tend to shop brands like Boohoo that have great options for men and women at home – I regularly buy joggers and hoodies from the mens section too. They tend to have more oversized pieces and things that are more my style, so don’t feel limited to one section!
Be Bold!
This one is optional.. but recommended! It’s also different for everyone, but I would highly recommend pushing yourself just a little bit out of your comfort zone, in whatever way you prefer! This could be a bold lipstick, a colour you don’t usually wear, a funky accessory, or a totally new style! I can’t guarantee you will always love it, I’ve definitely tried some options and it just made me realise that maybe wasn’t for me. But I’m not mad about that at all! It made me more confident in some of my poker-hand fits, and help me choose whether to keep or sell some of my pieces. But I can guarantee that you will find some gems, and this will definitely help you become more comfortable with playing around with style.
..And keep going!
The moments you wear something a little bolder than usual, and feel great in it, really help to shape your style. If this is a bold lip, you might make this a more regular makeup look. It could be a certain colour that you only own one piece in but love. Try buying other items in a similar shade. You might even opt for a whole tonal look! If you aren’t sure where to start, just choose one area you want to focus on or become more confident in, and try a bunch of stuff! And if the thought of this makes you a little nervous, try just wearing these to low-key places like the shop or for a coffee. This way you won’t feel so much pressure if it ends up not being the one for you!
Hopefully these tips helped! Let me know if you have any fashion fun advice that helped you with finding your style, or if you tried any of these!
LL x
*This post contains contributed links. As ever, all opinions are my own.
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