“Clutter is the enemy of clarity” ~Julia Cameron
Today we are going to tie things together for your Confident Closet – we are going to find your personal style, through 4 Style Personalities. A Style Personality is defined by the clothes you like and those that fit your personality and lifestyle. Most often you find yourself being a combination of different types. Knowing your Style Personality will help you make informed decisions when reviewing the balance in your closet and when you go out shopping.
I believe in the power of curating a Confident Closet. It takes some time to compile a fully working versatile wardrobe, I will be the first to admit it. It all starts with awareness, and that is what we’ve been working on so far. First, we analyzed your closet after decluttering, next we found your fundamentals and accent pieces.
It’s time to slow down and make more informed, smarter, and satisfying choices for our wardrobe. This will create less stress when putting an outfit together, and you spend less time mindlessly shopping. Now you have more time for things that really matter – spending time with your loved ones, doing creative workshops, or simply saving money.
I’ve identified four Style Personalities
Personal Style and signature look
A Style Personality is your personal style. It’s the aesthetic that you feel most confident, comfortable, and yourself in. Your Style Personality is carried by your colors, cuts, and fits – and that is information you’ve already analyzed and identified.
A Style Personality can also be a style uniform, or simply put: a signature look. A signature look can go as far as a strong daily statement as exemplified by the late Steve Jobs’s black turtleneck, blue jeans, and New Balance sneakers. But a signature look is not necessarily about having to wear the same thing every day. It can be a certain fit you often wear or a color that is always present. Additionally, your Style Personality is likely to change over time as your life changes, which means your wardrobe could change over time.
4 Style Personalities
After working in the fashion industry for about twenty years now, I’ve identified 4 Style Personalities. Usually, you are a combination of 2 or more:
- The Classics
- The Romantics
- The Gender-Neutrals
- The Stylists
Biek’s personal style
My style would be classified as a Classic Gender-Neutral (see what I did there?). I like to wear clothes that don’t attract too much attention, along with timeless and oversized pieces. There are a couple of items that I’ve bought in the men’s department; and generally, I have limited pieces that you would label as ‘feminine’. The signature look for me is oversized – mostly big shirts. Comfort would be a single word to describe my style. I like to accessorize with chunky rings, necklaces, and bandanas for my hair. All the pieces of clothing I own encapsulate my personality, lifestyle, and aesthetics.
An adult makes about 35,000 conscious decisions every day
Why is it important to find your personal style?
Your Style Personality is a framework that simplifies your daily life in a major way and will save you so much time when you go shopping. It helps you to sift through trends, shop without getting overwhelmed, and focus only on looks that work well for you. It results in saying “no” more often than “yes”. When you flick through magazines or are browsing online, there is no confusion over what your style is.
Example. I like designs with cute ruffled dresses, but I look like a country girl when I wear them, and I don’t feel comfortable. Therefore, I can just avoid that detail and category. Since you have identified the pieces that you love and need after minimizing your closet, the focus is now on creating or keeping a wardrobe with items that make you feel this way all the time.
Saving time and effort
Having a personal style makes choosing your clothes and dressing up a lot easier. This will save you so much time and effort every single day. We make dozens of decisions every day. Some internet sources estimate that an adult makes about 35,000 conscious decisions each day. It is no wonder that the late Steve Jobs adopted a style uniform to save a bit of brainpower for bigger decisions.
In conclusion, a personal style oozes confidence and personality because your style choices represent who you are. It shows that you have a strong self-awareness. Knowing your personal style can help you save money by avoiding purchases that end up in the back of your closet.
Challenges finding your personal style?
After analyzing your closet, finding your fundamentals, and defining your accent pieces, you’re very close to having found your Style Personality.
If you’re still a bit unsure, then pay attention to the clothes that you wear the most. Consider why you like to wear these items – is it the color, the fit, the fabric, or something else? How does it make you feel? Analyze which occasions you wear an item – is it a versatile garment? If you have difficulty figuring this out, then ask your close friends, as they know you best. I’m positive they can describe your style.
You are not restricted to rules or limits
Find your personal style
Now we get to the good stuff. Let’s define your Style Personality!
Having a Style Personality isn’t boring, restricted, or anti-fashion. It doesn’t have the be the same all the time, either. You are not restricted to rules or limits – this is your style! Usually, you will find yourself having elements of 2 or 3 personalities. It can also be that you are a Classic by day, and a Romantic by night. And I can imagine that there are loads of Romantic Stylists out there.
The Classics
The style of the Classics can also be described as minimalistic, chic, sophisticated, smart, avant-garde, or office. Most of your garment choices are defined by durability, sustainability, and quality. You prefer a more timeless look and classic styles. Functionality is something you choose over decoration. You like to have a tight and attractive wardrobe and might have a rule of “one in, one out”.
Your wardrobe consists mostly of fundamentals, and it’s possible that your accent pieces are accessories like jewelry, shoes, bags, belts, and scarves. You avoid loud prints, trends, and attention-seeking pieces. The main colors in your wardrobe are neutral tones, with navy, black, grey, and white. Your staple items are most likely blazers, white shirts, pencil skirts, dark shade jeans, ballet flats, and smart trousers.
You lean toward COS, APC, Ralph Lauren, Margiela, Madewell, Kate Spade, Everlane, and Mango. Shopping doesn’t take you long – you find your way quickly and know what you feel comfortable in.
Find your personal style inspiration board here.
The Romantics
Other words that come to mind for the style of The Romantics are bohemian, girly, ethnic, vintage, preppy, and feminine. You love pretty clothes, and you place high importance on how you look. The fit, fabric, and style should be flattering – a tiny waist, skinny legs, or a long neck.
You love small floral patterns, blushing pinks, and muted feminine colors. Soft and shiny fabrics like silk, organza, and lace are widely represented in your closet. Some, if not most of your clothes have a bow or a frill, but you like to express your style by combining different styles.
You love to accessorize with pearls, antique jewelry, cute and unique bags, and make-up.
You probably shop at brands like Zara, &Other Stories, Anthropologie, Isabel Marant, and enjoy finding vintage treasures in thrift shops and online. Most likely, you also shop at boutiques that represent small labels.
Find your personal style inspiration board here.
The Gender – Neutrals
The Gender Neutrals have comfort as their main label, and other keywords that belong here are tomboy, androgynous, and relaxed. For you it’s important how your clothes feel, so fit and fabrics are your top priority in buying clothes. You are very aware of trends and your own style, and you know how to look effortlessly cool.
The main items in your wardrobe are wide shirts, T-shirts, slouchy knits, loose trousers, boyfriend jeans, and straight dresses. You don’t mind shops that cover both women’s and men’s wear to make sure there is nothing you missed.
When you want to dress up, you accessorize with chunky jewelry and neutral make-up. Tight fits and unbreathable fabrics will not be part of your wardrobe. You might consider wearing comfortable heels on a ‘special night’, but this would probably be the exception and not the rule.
Your go-to shops are COS, Weekday, Cheap Monkey, Levi’s, Acne, Margiela, and vintage shops.
Find your personal style inspiration board here.
The Stylists
The Stylists are hard to miss! Other words that could describe The Stylists are: maximalists, trendy, expressive, and streetwear. You love fashion, trends, and expressing yourself through what you wear. Your closet is filled with statement pieces and it changes all the time.
You are not afraid to stand out in a crowd, and you gravitate towards ‘loud’ colors and funky prints. You probably have difficulty finding an overlap between office and casual wear, although you probably have a job where you have freedom in what you wear, like hosting events, or fashion.
Your closet represents more accent pieces than fundamentals, or there’s an even split between them. Maybe you can look into renting your fashionable items, so you can exchange your outfits on a more regular and sustainable basis.
The shops that tickle your fancy are Asos, Zara, Urban Outfitters, Gucci, and Off-White.
Find your personal style inspiration board here.
Which Style Personality resonates most with you?
Thank you for reading.
We’re in this together.
~
