Great clothes and ending up without a single look you love? Finding your unique style can change that.
If you’ve seen a TikTok or Insta reel about ‘Wearing vs Styling’ or even ‘Gen Z can wear the same set of clothes twice and, with only minor changes, present two entirely different looks to the world.
The easiest upgrade: accessories and layers
Need a shortcut to personal style? The cheat you’re looking for is a small, well-chosen set of accessories that allows you to put your own spin on simple pieces: a T-shirt worn with pearl earrings and a headband gives an entirely different vibe to the same shirt worn with layered necklaces and a neck scarf.
A quick glance at any gallery of street-style images will also show you that layers are a powerful way to look more polished, fast! Add a couple of layering basics to your wardrobe – coats, cardis, hoodies, blazers along with neutral slim-fit tops and tees – and you’ll have endless options to play with.
Top tip:
A scarf is probably one of the most versatile accessories in a wardrobe. Not only for around the neck or as a head wrap, but it can do double duty as a belt/sash or even be worn as a top with some creative knotting.
Zone in on layering your jewellery – whether it’s multiple rings, necklaces of various lengths, or a bold set of cuff bangles.
Custom clothing: it’s all yours
If you know how you want to look, you can unlock the power of one-of-a-kind pieces. Find your nearest thrift store, ask around for tailor or seamstress recommendations, and prepare to deliver disappointing answers to endless “Where did you get that?” questions.
Amazing things happen when you realise that your clothes are 100% yours, and you can do with them exactly as you please. Found jeans that fit exactly right at the waist and thigh, but are a little too long? That’s nothing that you, a sewing kit and a YouTube tutorial can’t solve. The same goes for swapping out buttons, or altering sleeves, or adding detailing to a plain garment.
Finding your signature
Signature style means a specific aesthetic: think of the friend who has a distinctive yoga-instructor vibe, or something preppy going on, no matter what individual items they wear. For some, it can be a little more specific: a few favourite bags, shoes or jewellery pieces that anchor their look and last through the seasons even as they style them slightly differently – what’s a headscarf in summer might be worn as a cravat in autumn.
When you see patterns and similarities emerging in the kinds of looks you like, that’s your personal style – and when you’re confident in your personal style, it’s a lot easier to know what you really want to buy, and how and when to wear it.
@sierrarenasFASHION EXPOSURE THERAPY: a concept I thought of to easily explain how to find your personal style, learning to love the awkwardness, and the key to becoming the real world you, not the Pinterest version of you! 🧠 It’s taken me years to find my style that feels personal and perfectly curated to my body, personality and mind! I’m constantly asked the question and I always catch myself running on long tangents trying to explain it. So one day, I decided to conceptually create a concept that answers all your questions in full, I hope this helps! 💋💋💋💋💋♬ original sound – SIERRA RENA
If putting thought into what you wear makes you feel frivolous or silly when there’s so much else going on in the world, decide to change that attitude today. As with most things, you’ll get as much out of personal style as you put in, so even if you’re not ready to think of yourself as a fashion girly, there’s a practical and logical side to it: time spent on your ‘My Style’ Pinterest board is an investment in streamlining your life and saving money on impulse buys.
Top tip
Experimenting with silhouettes can be a key to signature style – puffy on top, slim below, or wide skirts and pants with tighter tops. A belt can also make all the difference; look for unusual textures, colours or buckles to add your stamp to an outfit. A belt worn with a cardigan or to cinch a floaty dress is an entirely different vibe. Or double up on your belts (layering).
It’s bold and makes a statement – wearing a classic shirt back to front, with the buttons at the back.
Dress up and show up
Want to try out a new look but feeling undecided? Wear it to do a simple errand. Not only will you get used to turning heads (something that comes with the territory for those with great personal style), but you’ll also have a quick practise run to see if the look feels like ‘you’. If your new wide-legged pants just don’t feel right in the aisles of the supermarket, you’ve got time to try them with your top tucked in, with kitten heels instead of sneakers, have an odd fit altered or try a different size before you take the look out to a social occasion.
Words: Cayleigh Bright
Photography: Gallo/Getty Images, Supplied.
