Like snowflakes, no two styles are the same. Every creative individual has forged their own unique personal style from a combination of influences. It’s no wonder, then, that tracking a personal style journey can become a fascinating exploration of self-awareness and identity. You can explore your style history to gain new, unprecedented levels of inspiration to influence and shape your style in the here-and-now. Here, we look at personal style evolution, tracking journeys, and finding new avenues of inspiration for the modern dresser.
1. Mapping Out a Personal Style Evolution
Perfecting a personal style can seem like a moving target, as preferences evolve and change over time. Here are a few tips to help you map out your own style evolution and reach your ultimate goals:
- Start with the basics. When you’re just beginning to explore your personal style, focus on the fundamentals. Select clothes that are comfortable and suit your body type, as well as your lifestyle. Opt for neutrals – whites, blacks and grays – and add touches of elegance with accessories.
- Embrace color and pattern. To take your look to the next level, experiment with hues, prints and patterns. How do you feel in brighter or more muted shades? Do you like the look of floral patterns, animal prints or something more abstract? Learning which looks are most flattering can help you find your own personal style.
- Update your wardrobe. To keep your look current, stock up on wardrobe essentials that will last for seasons to come. For instance, a classic white linen shirt never goes out of style, while tweed trousers or a blazer can help you look polished and professional. Adding these timeless pieces to your wardrobe can help you create a look that stands the test of time.
- Try something daring. Though it’s important to maintain a classic look, it also pays to take risks and have some fun with fashion. Try a daring silhouette, a bold color scheme or a unique pattern to give your outfit some edge. A touch of creativity can go a long way — and can help you further define your personal style.
Evolving your personal style can be a fun and exciting journey. Taking the time to experiment and find the perfect fit can help you express your individual taste and stand out from the crowd. With a little effort and imagination, you’ll be looking and feeling your best in no time.
2. Exploring Different Paths of Self-Expression
Expressing yourself in creative ways is a worthwhile way to spend your time and discover who you are. Every individual has a unique voice, and can be liberating. Here are some ideas to get started:
- Creative Writing – Try your hand at different types of writing such as poetry, short stories, or even a novel. Writing can be an effective way to clear your head, inspire others, and explore your inner thoughts and feelings.
- Painting/Drawing – Put pencil to paper and create art from the depths of your soul. Whether it’s doodles, portraits, abstract works, or street art, painting and drawing can be a great creative outlet.
- Music – Music can be a powerful conveyor of emotions and thoughts that you find impossible to put into words. Try collaborating with other musicians or teaching yourself an instrument to find your voice.
In addition to creative pursuits, there are other ways to express yourself such as volunteering, contributing to global conversations, public speaking, or even starting a business. Self-expression can come in many forms, some are out there for you to explore.
Taking the time to explore different types of self-expression gives you an opportunity to think and evolve. Authentic expression of yourself can result in increased self-confidence and an understanding of who you are as a person. Consider your interests and use self-expression to explore the depths of your soul.
Be creative, be brave, and be unafraid to take risks with your own self-expression. There is no one-size fits all approach. Find what works for you and use it as a form of expression that speaks the truth to you.
3. Joining the Style Revolution: Finding New Avenues of Inspiration
Style can be hard to keep up with these days. There is always a new trend coming out seemingly every day. This can be both exciting and intimidating. It can be hard to figure out what the new style “rules” are and how to incorporate them into one’s own look. Luckily, there are plenty of resources available to help the modern fashionista go out and make some bold choices while still keeping up with the trends. Here are some ways to join the style revolution and find new avenues of inspiration:
- Scour Fashion Blogs: Fashion bloggers have become some of the best sources of inspiration for modern style. Whether it’s a new trend in colors or patterns, fashion bloggers will be one of the first people to break it down and show you how to wear it. Subscribing to popular fashion blogs can give readers access to fresh, new ideas on a regular basis.
- Read Magazines: Magazines are a classic way to stay on top of the latest trends. From glossy spreads to everyday street style, magazines offer varied visuals and editorial stories that put fashion styles into real-life context.
- Browse Popular Clothing Websites: Popular clothing websites offer an ever-changing selection of wardrobe options. Browsing websites often allows for the discovery of unexpected items and styles that may break away from the status quo. Shopping online also allows customers to experiment with a variety of colors, patterns, and styles from the comfort of their own homes.
Finally, while keeping up with the latest trends is important, it is also important to remember that style is ultimately about expressing individual fashion choices. Sometimes it’s helpful to try something unexpected or take risks with fashion choices as a way to discover a unique personal style. By doing this, it is possible to create a look that is both stylish and unique.
Nobody has to stick to the trends to be fashionable. Following trends is one option; however, it is also possible to add a personal twist to any trend in order to show off one’s individual style. Joining the style revolution can be as simple as browsing for new items and mixing them with existing wardrobe favorites.
4. Empowering Yourself through Self-Evaluation and Reflection
Having an understanding of your strengths and talents, and being aware of where you can improve, is essential to becoming the best version of yourself. Learning how to evaluate and reflect upon your own progress can bring you a sense of achievement and greater self-knowledge. Here are a few steps to power up your self-evaluation and reflection:
- Set Goals. Having a goal to work towards is the first step in empowering yourself. Define realistic goals which challenge you but are also achievable. Knowing what you want to achieve will motivate you to actually do it.
- Track Progress. Check-in with yourself. How are you going with each goal? What areas have you done really well in? Where could you benefit from making improvements? It is important to reflect regularly and respond accordingly, developing targeted solutions to address areas of improvement.
- Be mindful. Acknowledge yourself for taking the time to self-evaluate, and don’t be too hard on yourself. If something didn’t go according to plan, there is always an opportunity to learn and grow from areas that you can improve on.
It is important to remember that every now and then you will slip up or even fail in the process of self-evaluation and reflection… and that’s perfectly fine as long as you don’t give up. Every setback should be followed by an effort to try again. Realize that you are the only person who holds the power to create and achieve your goals.
A key part of self-empowerment is learning how to recognize and embrace your strengths and those areas which need some extra nurturing. Make sure that you take the time to engage in regular self-evaluation and reflection for the sake of self-development. Empower yourself to be the best version of you possible.
The beauty of your personal style is that it’s ever-evolving. It’s up to you to define what works for you. So, as you continue to track your style evolution, don’t limit yourself. Explore all possibilities and open yourself up to new avenues of inspiration. Suffice to say, you might be surprised by the results.