Define Your Style ❤ Part Two ❤
January 6, 2010Define Your Style ❤ Part Four ❤
January 13, 2010Who Are You?
So in Part Two you looked at what you liked, style wise. You established, for example, that you’re attracted to 20s style whimsical girly frocks and saccharine sweet pastel colours. You like layers of necklaces and stacked bangles, frivolous curly hair, butterflies and bows. Looking at your own pictures should also have helped you narrow down the things that you like when YOU wear them.
The next step is to think about your life, who you are, and the practicalities of fitting your favourite look into that life.
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What’s your job?
Work is where you spend most of your time. You need to think about how your style can fit into your job. Those saccharrine sweet ruffles and frills are great if you work from home, or in a creative industry. But if you work at a Chartered Surveyors they’re probably not going to cut the mustard.
Now is the time to balance the ideal you with the real one. What things MUST your wardrobe contain and how can you add a touch of *you* to them? Just because they want you to wear a suit doesn’t mean it has to be black. It doesn’t mean you can’t wear a brooch, or lacy tights, or a bow in your hair. Only you know the intricacies of your work place dress code and how you can get away with interpreting them.
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What’s your body shape?
There’s no need to spend hours establishing a list of rules. That takes all the fun out of things.
You must be a little realistic about your body shape though. Looking at photographs of yourself in part one should have done part of this job for you. You might know, for instance, that short skirts make your knees look awful or drop waists make you look like a lampshade.
By being realistic about your body shape you can draw up a mental list of the kind of shapes you want to look for when shopping.
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What’s your colouring?
As with your body shape don’t worry about a hard and fast list of rules, but you might find that some colours make you feel better than others, for whatever reason.
If you have a wardrobe with a very limited colour palette you might want to get some coloured paper or fabrics and try holding them up against your face. Dramatis Personae has a great series on developing a colour palette that’s worth a look.by Sanctu
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What are your hobbies?
I don’t mean necessarily knitting and crocheting. I mean what activity do you do most outside of work? You might have a yearning to fill your wardrobe with sequin mini dresses and stilletto heeled peep toes, but if you spend all your non work time in the local pub drinking pints or taking long healthy walks on the moors then unless you’re brave or fool hardy you’re not going to get much use out of them.
On the other hand, defining your style is about having the confidence to wear what’s really you, so don’t give up on those sequins completely. Just be realistic about whether you will actually wear what you buy. You might get more use out of a sequin collar, or a top with a sequin trim than a full on bauble dress.
By the time you get to this point you should have the beginnings of an idea of who that woman is who leaps out of bed and into her perfectly acessorised outfit. If it helps to write yourself a list of bullet points just to clarify the things you’ve learnt and thought about so far then do it.
A suggestion from Idiosyncratic Style is to come up with 3 words that define what you would like your style to be. If this helps to create a mental anchor for you to think about your style then do it. Though you might find a more general idea gives you more scope to experiment.
Now we’re ready to move onto making sure your wardrobe matches your mental image in PART FOUR – What do you have?
18 Comments
These style guides are awesome, I am starting to re-work my wardrobe, I was used to dress in the trendiest, cutest and flamboyant ensembles I could find but now Im trying to land a higher position and I know wardrobe defines attitude and how you want to be perceived. At the moment I am trying to still incorporate my flamboyant style with a more sophisticated twist, here’s to hoping 🙂
Much love and Happy New Year
Oh it’s so do able. It’s all in the details!
I think the more staid and environment you work in the easier it is to make a personal statement with your wardrobe!
Thanks for sharing another wonderful post. I think I have an idea of where my personal style falls, but after gaining some weight I feel a little lost between what my style is and what looks flattering on me at the moment. I find myself being attracted to certain sleek styles, but not being able to pull them off with my pear shape. Or attracted to bright colors, but feeling enormous wearing them at my current weight. Any suggestions?
.-= Maddy´s last blog ..Meeting the Family =-.
It’s your body shape that matters, not your size. You might find that, for instance, a sleek, straight shift dress won’t suit you, but that’s because you’re pear shaped (like me!) not because of your weight. If you like that style you can create a similar look with a fitted top, a pencil skirt, or a small A line skirt and a waist belt, just make sure they really fit you well. It might be that you’re drawn to bright colours, but it’s your confidence that’s stopping you. Have you tried wearing a bright top with a black skirt, black tights, black necklace etc and seeing if it makes you feel easier in it, then you can add more bits.
This post series really is fantastic! I love how you’re breaking down everything about defining a personal sense style so clearly
.-= Diana´s last blog ..Link Love: 1-8-2010 =-.
Thanks Diana!
I like this series. It’s a timeless guide.
Thanks!
I always push the boundaries at my office, I did it slowly mind you. These days, I have a blue streak, nose ring and wear colored tights. In hindsight, I eased them into it.
.-= Eyeliah´s last blog ..Your Heart Is Gonna See You Through =-.
Ha! Yes, that’s the way. Ease them into it gently 😀
maybe i am fool hardy, but i have worn sequins to the pub (then again it was a sequined sweatshirt!)
Thanks for including my tidbit!
.-= IdStyle´s last blog ..Recycled Style Project: Metal Head =-.
Nope, nothing wrong with sequins at the pub! I was just suggesting that if you love the sequins you might get more wear out of a sequin sweatshirt than a sequin ballgown!
Love these style guides! Love the stuff about working your own style into your work wardrobe – I have been doing this for a while but you’ve given me the confidence to do it more! 🙂
.-= Emily´s last blog ..The BEST slippers in the world… EVER! =-.
Brilliant! It’s where you spend most of your time (sadly) after all.
I find it the most difficult – to be able to dress up in a unique way and still stay professional for work. Here come the accessories!
.-= Alice´s last blog ..How To Wear A Puffer Coat =-.
Love this series! As much as I’ve always loved clothes and fashion, I never really thought much about what my personal style was. Have been pondering that lately and think I’m getting there. 🙂
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Somewhere beyond the sea… =-.
reading this post has shed some light as to why i don’t wear certain pieces in my closet. i’ve purchased some items that don’t see the light of day. for example, i bought a top with lots of lace trimmings some time ago. fact of the matter is, it’s a little inappropriate for my job and i wouldn’t wear while walking the dogs.
thanks for this style guide series.
.-= katrina´s last blog ..Wardrobe Remix: 1/13/10 =-.
Thank you for putting together this awesome, awesome guide.
I find that I’m attracted to cute dresses and floaty skirts, but I feel most comfortable in jeans and sneakers. I feel torn between the styles I admire and the styles I actually wear. Do you have any advice?
.-= Kelley´s last blog ..Hitting the doldrums =-.