If you want to feel comfortable in the clothes you wear, then you’ll need to pick out items that you feel most confident in. This doesn’t mean following a long list of fashion dos and don’ts; rather, it means feeling both comfortable and confident in yourself, which will help dictate what you like to wear.
Building a personal style doesn’t mean ignoring trends in the world of fashion; rather, most of the time, it means being able to pick out aspects of those trends that appeal to your sensibilities, incorporating those things into your own wardrobe, and discarding the rest.
So, how do you do this?
Start With What You Already Love
First, don’t be tempted to start from scratch. This approach is almost guaranteed to feel inauthentic. The chances are that there are some clothes in your wardrobe that you’re fond of. These are the ones you look forward to reaching for. Pick these out. They’ll serve as the foundation for your new wardrobe.
For this reason, a thorough declutter of your wardrobe can be a worthwhile first step on your journey.
Add Accessories That Tell a Story
Often, the easiest way to inject personality into your wardrobe is through a few choice accessories. These might be worn with a variety of different outfits, which can help to tie everything together and establish that everything really belongs to you.
If you pick out items that convey personal meaning, then you might feel even more at home when you wear them. After all, certain items can provide value that goes beyond aesthetics. A devout Catholic might go through life with a crucifix around their neck, for example. Other items can be more particular to an individual. You might wear a family heirloom, whether it’s an antique wristwatch or a vintage engagement ring. What matters is that your accessories matter to you!
Blend Old and New Without Forcing It
If everything you wear belongs to a particular bygone period, then you might end up looking more like you’ve walked outside in a costume than someone with timeless style. Try to keep things interesting by pairing modern pieces with older, classic ones. In some cases, you can make these clashes unignorable. If you’re wearing a brilliant white pair of sneakers alongside a century-old trench coat, then you’re sure to turn heads.
Let Your Lifestyle Guide Your Choices
For your wardrobe to be truly authentic, it will need to be functional. You’ll want to pick out items based on the activities you’ll be performing in them. If you spend a lot of time in an office, then formal office wear might take up the majority of your wardrobe. If you do a lot of walking, then you might pick out comfortable, sturdy shoes.
If you don’t feel physically comfortable in your new clothes, then it’s unlikely that you’ll enjoy the time you spend in them. Make sure that you pick out what’s appropriate for how you spend your time.
Conclusion
Before we close, we should note that developing an authentic style isn’t about perfectionism. Try to focus on small tweaks that can add value to your life, and try to see this project as an ongoing one, rather than a pursuit of some final, ‘perfect’ wardrobe!
