Honing In On Personal Style
Regardless of what trends may dictate, when it comes to dressing ourselves, there is no universal definition of the right outfit. Personal style is the way in which people present themselves to the world. It is not just about what we wear, but it is also about how we choose it. It’s also about how we carry and present ourselves to the world.
So What is Style Exactly
The word style comes from the French word "styl" which means "style." This term was coined by French scholars in the 17th century. Style is a personal expression of one’s identity within the world of dress, but also in pretty much anything we do. As Tom Waits once said, ‘The way you do anything is the way you do everything.’ Style has been used in a variety of contexts, including fashion, design, interior decoration and even architecture. It’s also sometimes used to express the way we move through life - how we use our time, how we see the world, how we build the life around us.
Honing in On Personal Style
Personal style is the way we dress, talk, the way we walk, and even the way we think. It's not just about what looks good on other people but what feels good for ourselves. It's a reflection of who we are as a person and because of this, it can (and in many ways, should) evolve over time with age or experiences in life. When it comes to honing in our our own style, there are two ways that most people find their own personal styles: through trial and error or by analyzing someone else’s and applying what words for you and what doesn’t.
Start With A Feeling
When it comes to dressing, be mindful of how clothes make you feel. This is because how we dress is a representation of who we are and what we stand for. The most important thing is knowing what makes you feel great in the clothes that you wear, like Boutique Dresses or casual separates.
Dressing for your body shape can help with dressing on a daily basis, but it's also important to look past what people consider flattering for a certain body type - after all, what is considered ‘flattering’ is often a set of defined ideals that we may have adopted through socialization, but may not actually apply to our own set of ideals. One of our favorite tips for finding personal style is to skip magazines altogether and find real-life resources for inspiration. If personal style is how we move through life, considering your unique path in life is crucial.
The Work Wardrobe
A work wardrobe starts with the context of your work and goes from there. Consider what kind of environment you'll be in and what the budget is to start, and then build out from there. Start with basics you can rework into multiple outfits and add as you see fit. One thing we never recommend doing, however, is splurging on a ton of work pieces at once. Testing items out in your work space one at a time will help give a good idea of comfort, durability, and how your wardrobe actually performs in long periods of work.
