When you step out the door each morning, what you wear has the ability to empower and inspire. Finding your personal style can help you embody your true self and meet each day with confidence. But what is personal style, and how do you filter through the ads and trends to build a wardrobe that feels authentically you?

The first step is to recognise that, while the fashion cycle can be inspiring, wearing only current seasonal trends is not the same as developing your own personal style. True style, rather, is about connecting to certain garments, shapes, colors, or silhouettes that feel right to you and can carry you through the years or decades. Cultivating your personal style is a lifelong process that takes into account unique factors such as your personality, lifestyle, body type, inspirations, and core beliefs.

If you’re wondering how to find your personal style but don’t know where to start, then you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a guide to help you hone in on a wardrobe that feels true to you, while honouring your life as a whole. If you’re ready to move on from fashion trends and start expressing your authentic style, read on!

Start With Your Personality 

When you think of timeless style icons such as Brigitte Bardot, Audrey Hepburn, or Coco Chanel, the common thread is that each of these women dressed in a way that was true to their own personality. Whether you are playful, nonchalant, polished, or wild, your wardrobe should reflect who you are on the inside! Of course, this doesn’t have to mean labeling yourself. Rather, you’re simply using your clothes and accessories as a form of communication.

Even if you don’t know where to start on how to find your personal style, you probably already have some preferences. Do you find yourself drawn to bold colors or neutral tones? Are you more comfortable in baggy jeans or a denim mini skirt? Does a pair of five-inch heels make you feel like yourself, or are you more sneakers for life? There is no right or wrong answer—it’s just about connecting with who you are inside to help guide your style choices.

Add A Dose of Practicality 

Of course, the clothes you wear have to actually make sense for your lifestyle. If you’re in the corporate world, you will need more business casual attire in your wardrobe, while a stay-at-home parent may live in clothes that are comfortable (and can withstand ketchup stains!). 

While your style doesn’t have to necessarily be limited by your job, the trick is to not fill your wardrobe with clothes that you can only wear on special occasions. Instead, finding your personal style is about curating pieces that make you feel your best day in and day out, wherever that may lead you.

Create a Vision Board

If finding your personal style still feels daunting, creating a vision board can be a useful exercise to help you sort through your inspirations and kickstart your wardrobe curation. A vision board is a collage of references that you can keep coming back to for style inspo and to keep you on the right track. 

Start by flipping through your favorite magazines and choosing any photos of celebrities or models that align with how you see yourself. Look for outfits or themes that you can imagine wearing yourself, cut them out, glue them onto a piece of card, and then display it in your closet for a daily check in. A Pinterest board can also be a valuable vision-boarding tool for discovering how to find your personal style!

Shop Mindfully 

A common hesitancy regarding personal style is feeling like you have to be constantly shopping. Whether it’s spending too much money, buying pieces that don’t suit your body type, or getting trapped in the vicious trend cycle, it can be easy to avoid shopping altogether. However, the great part about honing your personal style is that, in time, you will start to spend less money and make more intentional style purchases.

A great way to stay mindful when shopping is to consider the rest of your wardrobe. Can this new piece be worn with some of your existing clothing? Do you see yourself actually wearing it regularly? Is the fabric of a high enough quality that you can look after it for years to come? Having a clear sense of your own personal style will help you resist impulse purchases, and instead make informed and inspired decisions that uplift your own identity.

Work With a Style Coach 

Of course, learning how to find your personal style doesn’t have to be a solo endeavour. In fact, working with a style coach can help you break out of some of the shopping habits or pitfalls that may be in the way of your style freedom.

Raquel at Innata is here to guide you through the process of finding your personal style, searching for the right pieces, and learning how to combine them to make a functional, versatile, and totally authentic wardrobe. Her fashion expertise goes beyond current trends: she will get to know your lifestyle, inspirations, and style goals to help you feel more yourself than ever in your clothes.

If you’re ready to finally find your personal style and the confidence that comes with authenticity, then it’s time to reach out to Raquel. Let’s start finding the joy in getting dressed!