Crafting Your Unique Look: A Step-by-Step Guide to Personal Style

The Importance Of Dressing Well

I used to belong to the category of people who cared little to nothing about their daily outfits since I assumed they had no impact on my life.

But life taught me a lesson in late March 2023. On this particular day, I was wearing jeans and a blouse that, in retrospect, was a size too large for me. I had just moved countries, now living in the capital of Spain, and was in dire need of opening a bank account. But even though I was fluent in Spanish, they were incredibly dismissive of me, and nobody took me seriously.

I remember going to lunch that day with a guy friend and ranting about my experience at the bank. He casually looked me up and down and told me that if I wore a more elegant and well-sized outfit, people from that same bank branch would treat me differently.

The following day, my best friend, who at that time knew considerably more about fashion than me, gave me a complete makeover. I’m talking new hairstyles, makeup, and outfits. Now wearing essentially her style – black heels, black chino pants with a matching blazer, a well-fitted blouse, and a matching beret hat (the ones you see in French movies) – I walked into that same bank and up to the same teller that had dismissed me the day before. Twenty minutes later, all my wishes were seen as nicely and politely as possible.

I had been treated fundamentally differently, so for the rest of the day, I decided to pay explicit attention to how people treated me differently. It was the same everywhere I went—my workspace, the dentist, and my friend group. I felt perceived as more important, confident, and interesting than the day before.

In the next 14 months, I built my wardrobe and experimented with various fashion styles. The following guide to personal style is what I learned during that time and what I deem essential for you to know. I hope you find value in it.  

Finding Your Style

Step one is gaining an overview of all the different styles out there. I encourage you to open Pinterest and Instagram and to look up the following different styles:

Classic Chic / Formal Elegant / Casual Wear / Street Style / Different Vintage Styles / Boho / Gothic / Biker

Narrow down your two favorite styles and create separate mood boards with inspirational images and graphics. The goal is for you to make your style, but this won’t happen without learning and taking inspiration from others.

When considering which style to go for, think about these questions:

• Which colors/color pallets do you like on myself or others?
• What patterns and materials appeal to me? Is it denim, soft silk, cotton, or leather?
• What are my daily activities, and how do they affect my outfits?
• Does my workspace have a dress code I have to comply with?

Starting With The Basics

Earlier than later, I want to emphasize that you should NOT go with expensive brands to build your style. You can quickly get medium—to good-quality basics at large shops such as Zara, H&M, and Zalando. For statement pieces (discussed later), I recommend going to second-hand shops, flea markets or checking online.

Remember what style you choose when buying basics such as T-shirts, blouses, chino pants, jeans, footwear, etc. Additionally, I recommend opting for neutral or pastel colors. They go great with about anything and are widely available.

At this point, you might ask yourself, “But aren’t basics the furthest away from a personal style you might get?” Yes, a “d No! Basics are not the personal style I want you to develop, but they are necessary.

You will start your outfit with the basics and then add a statement piece. Combining multiple statement pieces (e.g., daring pants with an even more daring top) often backfires since it’s hard to do well.

Adding Your Personal Touch

Statement pieces make or break your style. They transform your basics from basic to stylish and trendy. Only once you have your basics down do I recommend buying statement pieces. These can be bold clothing, fashionable items, or fashion accessories such as hats, bags, waist belts, leather harnesses, etc.

Check your mood board and ask yourself what clothing piece would make your basics more elegant/casual/vintage/gothic, etc.

Once you buy your first statement piece, I want you to wear it at least three times in public to see how you feel about it. Ask yourself, “Is this style really for me?” “Do I feel comfortable wearing this type of clothing?”

Quite often, I see people completely re-doing their wardrobe only to discover that they don’t like that direction of fashion. This leads to them having to refund all the items or lose a lot of money.

Go step by step. Buy a new statement piece, pair it with three different outfits in public, and if you still like that direction, go buy the next item. I can’t say enough how great second-hand shops are for buying and selling clothing.

The Power Of Accessories

Accessories can quickly transform an outfit from boring to Pinterest-worthy. While they might cost more initially, they should be seen as an investment in your wardrobe since you can wear them for many years.

Style directions such as elegant, chic, casual, gothic, or boho can be perfectly accessorized with a waist belt or a leather harness. Not only will you instantly stand out in any crowd, but you will also add a timeless accessory that will last many years due to the material. Additionally, waist belts and harnesses go well with almost any fashion item – from elegant dresses to summer dresses, t-shirts, blazers, and so much more.

Consider other accessories such as jewelry, handbags, glasses, scarves and hats. The latter might be the most underrated accessories I could think of. From fedora hats to beret hats, your choices are endless. While berets can be exquisite, other choices, such as baseball caps, can add a street-style vibe to your outfit of choice.

Confidence and Comfort

Ladies, we have all done it, worn high heels for hours while our feet are on fire. Comfort should be your number 1 priority. Neglecting this will only lead to you hating your style and feeling less confident, which is the opposite of what we want to achieve.

Expressing your character and style through your clothing choice should empower you and make you feel more confident. While you should ignore hate and negative comments entirely, look for constructive feedback from your BFFs. They often know which clothing piece flatters your body and which does not.

I hope this article inspired you, and I can only encourage you to start your journey to your personal and unique style! Besides giving you confidence, it’s a fun process with great communities on any social platform.