Imagine this: You’re shopping with your girlfriend when she beelines towards a shirt hanging on the rack, hoists it in the air and exclaims, “This is SO you.”
She’s right, you think. But why? What makes that specific top SO you, and another…not?
We all have a unique personal style, even if we haven’t defined it for ourselves. The clothes you like, and that look best on you, will be different than the guy in front of you in line at the coffee shop. And that’s great! How boring would the world be if we all dressed alike?
Maybe you only have a vague sense of the clothes that make you look and feel your best. I’m talking outfits that have you giving yourself finger guns in the mirror, strutting around like you just found a million bucks under the bed.
If you’re not sure how to find your personal style, Team SG’s got you covered. Follow this easy (really!) guide to zero in on a wardrobe you love.
How to find your personal style in 7 steps:
1. Collect inspiration
Your ideal wardrobe will likely be an amalgamation of multiple influences. So, seeing the breadth of looks you love all in one place will help you zero in on your preferences.
Maybe you idolize the classic-cool wardrobe of Steve McQueen, or the quirky style of Jeff Goldblum. Start collecting inspiration to get you closer to your own tastes.
What to do next:
Jumpstart your journey by collecting outfit inspiration on Pinterest, or to a saved collection on Instagram.
Begin with a cursory search of the style stars you already know you dig, then branch out using hashtags and discovering other influencers to form your style mood board.
Chances are you’ll start collecting a few repeat images – and these will create your style blueprint.
2. Note Your Favorites
What outfit do you go back to again and again for a date? Or big presentation at work? These outfits most likely make you feel your most confident, so it’s worth paying attention to what you’re wearing when you want to look and feel your best.
What to do next:
If you could only keep five outfits out of your closet, what would they be? What are you wearing in those Instagram photos you can’t wait to post? Take note.
These wardrobe MVPs are smack dab in the center of your wheelhouse, which means they serve as the template to alter and amplify as your style evolves.
3. Know Thyself
Now, it’s time to cull down your inspo images. Maybe you love how a three-piece suit looks but you work in a casual office. Or you vibe with surfer style while living in a land-locked town.
This isn’t about “Oh, I can’t pull this off.” It’s about being realistic that your wardrobe matches your day-to-day environment. Sure, you could load your closet with natty suits, but if you never get to wear them, what’s the point?
What to do next:
Consider your physical environment and social life when honing in on your personal style. They play an important role in forming your real-life wardrobe. So they should be considered when you start to build your ideal wardrobe.
If classic silhouettes in lightweight, sporty fabrics fit your warm-weather business casual life best, you may be hard pressed to claim ‘skater streetwear’ as your go-to aesthetic.
Sure, you may be able to weave in hints of that vibe into your wardrobe – and we’ll get to that below – but it won’t be the crux of your style.
4. Play Up Your Signature Pieces
Think of a signature piece as the wardrobe element that immediately comes to mind when people think of you and what you wear. Like a visual catchphrase.
Maybe you’re an Oxford shirt guy. Or a white sneakers guy. Or an everyday accessories guy. To achieve a personal style that’s uniquely you, lean into these elements. Eventually, you and those around you will associate your signature pieces with you.
What to do next:
Using those favorites you noted above, what are the hardest workers? Do you reach for the same tapered trousers or white sneaker when you want to strut your stuff? Once you assess your existing wardrobe for signature pieces, lean in!
Still not sure? Ask your friends/mom/significant other what they see when they imagine your style.
You might not realize that you gravitate towards a certain accessory or piece of clothing until your best friend describes it from memory.
5. Experiment
Let’s circle back to that “skater streetwear” meets business casual intersection. It may not be realistic – or flattering – to make a 180 twist into a completely new style, though you don’t have to discount a look you’d love to try.
Here at Style Girlfriend, we’re all about nudging you ever-so-slightly outside your comfort zone to expand your style horizons. So go for it, you preppy skater, you.
What to do next:
Locate those outliers in the back of your closet and the style icon images that don’t quite fit in with the rest. Say hello to your experimental foundation.
Start slow, incorporating those pieces into your core looks then branch out with bolder or trendier looks – just don’t break the bank on a style you’re only testing out.
6. Capitalize on Compliments
This one is arguably the easiest and most obvious (and fun!) step you’ll take. If you’re not quite clear on what looks best on you, look no further than what people comment on when you wear certain pieces or full outfits. Do you get a wink and a nod every time you wear your most tapered suit? What about that suede bomber that reels in a slew of compliments? People will tell you exactly what they like, it’s up to you to soak that information in.
What to do next:
Consider those compliments, then find their commonalities. See if you can combine those pieces in new, interesting ways or tailor more of your clothes in the most flattering fit.
7. Find your sweet spot
Whew, we’ve made it. If we were going through these steps on a detective’s wall with our images and clothing items pinned up, this would be the final string that connects the full web of discovery. So let’s close this case, shall we?
Take a step back to describe what your style icons, favorite looks, and most complimented pieces have in common. This is your underlying style definition. Since you’re so much more than just one look, it’s important to keep your experimental side in mind too. Try to name what style your trendier and outlying pieces showcase to round out your unique personal style. Better yet, here’s an example equation:
Classic preppy (your core closet) + rocker chic (the jacket you’ve been eyeing and saved images of Robert Plant) = Refined rocker.
What to do next:
READ MORE ON MEN’S STYLE FROM SG HQ
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The Next Menswear Trend is the Train Conductor Boyfriend
How to Get the Best Haircut of Your Life
