How to Find Your Personal Style In 4 Steps | Easy Tips & Tricks!

A personal style represents a person’s sense of self and ability to curate their own aesthetic. It’s not about following fashion trends at all!

It sounds easy, but sometimes the choices are overwhelming. Some have closets full of eclectic clothes, but few of them seem to coordinate well in an outfit.

In the past, I personally bought clothes that were trendy, on sale, and simply my size. 

I ended up with a closet full of mismatched pieces that didn’t feel right together. As a result, I had “nothing to wear” despite a full closet!

Accumulating clothes is easy, but curating a personal style takes time.

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In This Post ➜

1. How To Find Your Personal Style In 4 Steps
• Step 1: Audit Your Closet
• Step 2: Look For Inspiration Everywhere
• Step 3: Experiment, Experiment, Experiment!
• Step 4: Clean Out Your Closet
2. Frequently Asked Questions

How To Find Your Personal Style In 4 Steps

You might be wondering how to cultivate your personal style. How exactly do you find your style in clothing?

Stumped? Most of us are too. In fact, many of us are still in the process of defining their personal fashion style.

Learning how to find your style aesthetic is challenging, but let me make it easier by breaking it down into 4 steps!

Step 1: Audit Your Closet

A good place to start is your very own closet. You probably have a budding personal style, but it’s buried and unnoticed.

Go through your clothes and ask yourself these questions:

1. What are my favorite clothing pieces?
2. Which ones make me happy?
3. What clothes do you tend to wear?

Think about why those pieces make you feel great and take note of any similarities and patterns they have in common.

Common patterns to look for are colors, brands, clothing cuts or styles, patterns, and even the comfort level.

Here are a few questions to help you identify some common patterns:

Do you…

1. Tend to purchase clothing in the same color? 
2. Wear certain clothing cuts, such as crop tops? 
3. Like plaid, stripe, or floral patterns?
4. Buy clothes because they are comfy?

Another helpful way to identify clothes that you like is to see if you actually wear them. 

One good tip is to display your clothing on a clothing rack. Whenever you wear a piece, make sure you turn the clothing hanger around (the wrong side should be facing you).

This is a great visual way to tell which pieces you tend to wear and which ones you don’t.  Move all the clothing hangers that have been turned around to one side. 

You will start to see which pieces you wear often. Do this for at least a week, but a month would give you the best results. 

At this point, you should start to recognize your preferences by the common patterns your outfits share and the clothing you wear often. You are one step closer on how to find your personal style!

✿ My Favorite Closet Staples ✿

Step 2: Look For Inspiration Everywhere

Finding it difficult to figure out your style? Look for fashion inspiration. This is the fun part and it doesn’t cost you a dime!

Instagram

I personally love to scroll through Instagram for a quick fashion or style inspiration.

Search for hashtags, such as #fashionblogger, #fashioninspo, and #ootd. There are a lot of great fashion or style related hashtags out there. 

Follow their IG account If you like their style! You can build a social feed with all of your favorite style icons and influencers. 

I recommend creating a separate IG account just for fashion to keep all your fashion inspiration organized and separate from any personal account.

Pinterest

Pinterest is also a great platform for fashion inspiration too! You can “pin” images of outfits you like and categorize them into separate boards. It’s a great way to create a visual mood board.

Reddit

If you’re looking for a fashion community, I recommend Reddit’s r/femalefashionadvice subreddit, which has almost 2 million members.

You can ask for fashion advice, get recommendations, and browse fashion questions on how to find your personal style. Tons of great information to sift through! 

Google

Don’t forget good ol’ Google! You can search for fashion blogs and celebrity fashion content for even further inspiration. 

Keep yourself organized by writing down the names of style icons that you really like.

Books & Magazines

Physical (or digital copies) of books and magazines are amazing sources for inspiration, but are often overlooked. 

For instance, head over to your local Barnes & Nobles bookstore and check out their “Art, Design and Photography” section. They have incredible coffee table books filled with amazing fashion photography.

Your local library may have a section filled with fashion magazines too. You can also purchase physical or digital magazine subscriptions. Elle, Vogue, and Marie Claire are all great fashion magazines to check out!

Runway Shows

Watch runway shows on YouTube! You can watch older fashion shows for free, such as Versace, Givenchy, and Dolce & Gabbana.

High fashion runway outfits and clothing might not be “everyday” clothing, but it’s a great resource on how to find your personal style.

Watch how they coordinate their pieces and color palette. You might be able to recreate a more wearable everyday look.

I recommend watching Tokyo Girls Collection’s runway shows for more wearable looks. They release bi-annual runway shows every Summer/Spring and Autumn/Winter. They showcase a diverse range of styles.

People Around You

Do you personally know someone that has a great style? Take note of what they wear and ask them where they get their clothes. You can learn a lot from someone that has developed their personal style.

You can also “people watch.” Take note of how people are dressed outside. There’s so much you can learn just by observing others around you!

Putting It All Together

Consume as much style and fashion inspiration as you can. You should have a vast collection of style inspiration after you are done.

Take a look at your style inspiration collection and ask yourself the following questions:

1. Why do I like that style?
2. Do I like the color scheme?
3. Can I see myself walking confidently out with that style?
4. Do I already have similar pieces that fit that style?
5. Does this style fit my personality?

Step 3: Experiment, Experiment, Experiment!

It’s now time to take your style inspiration and try it out! Go through your style inspirations and experiment with a different style each day. Don’t be afraid to mix and match. It’s all about practicing and experimenting as much as possible.

Set aside 10-15 minutes every morning to put together your outfit. Make sure you have enough time to make outfit adjustments. 

An outfit might look strange when you put it on. Trust me, it happens! Leave enough time to dress in the morning, so you don’t get stressed out.

Lastly, make sure you snap a picture of your outfit of the day and note how it makes you feel.

I suggest posting the image on a private or public Instagram account just for fashion in order to figure out how to find your personal style.

Documenting your outfits will help you get a better perspective of what style works for you. Leave your Instagram account in the comments below if you opened a public account and followed my tips. I would love to share your journey!

Also, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. Ask friends and family what they think of your outfit. Their opinion may help, but what matters most is how you feel about it!

Find Your Signature Piece

A signature piece is the piece that you almost always reach for. It’s a memorable piece that you love. It’s also a statement piece that will add flair to your outfit.

For instance, maybe it’s that pair of chic leather pants or that feminine blouse. Whatever it may be, use it to your advantage. 

Signature pieces pair great with everyday basics. They’re an amazing foundational piece. If you’re unsure about what to wear, grab a statement piece and build your outfit around it!

✿ My Favorite Signature Pieces ✿

Flaunt Your Best Features

It’s important to know how to dress for your body. Take a look in the mirror and note the features that make you confident. 

Maybe it’s your lovely arms, long legs, or full bottom. You’ll want to highlight them!

For instance, sleeveless tops help lengthen your arms and racer-back tops will define your shoulders. Pencil skirts, mini-dresses, and skinny jeans help show off your legs. 

A well-fitted pair of jeans can help accentuate the fullness of your bottoms too. Try as many different clothing styles to figure out what works best for your body shape.

Everybody is unique and leveraging your strengths is one of the key pieces on how to find your personal style.

Don’t Forget The Details

It’s the tiny details that help elevate a look. Your hairstyle, makeup, accessories, and nail color choice can really pull an outfit together.

For instance, wear red lipstick to coordinate with your red heels or put on a dainty chain choker to highlight your neckline.

The options are endless! However, don’t spend too much time on this and focus on your outfit first. Once you have more experience with your personal style, you can experiment further with the smaller details.

Dress For Your Lifestyle

It wouldn’t make sense to own a bunch of fancy cocktail dresses if you barely go to formal events. Think about what clothing would be appropriate for your everyday lifestyle.

Invest in good quality basics that would pair well with just about any outfit. Then add the necessary clothing for your lifestyle and sprinkle in some statement pieces.

If you work outside often, make sure you invest in quality outdoor gear. For instance, if you work in an office, invest in some quality office appropriate clothes. The point is to purchase clothing that makes sense for you!

Confidence Is Key

Wear your outfit with confidence! If you don’t feel good in your clothes, then the outfit won’t look so good either.

Start a blog, Instagram account, or make YouTube videos about your fashion. Sharing your fashion with others is a great way to boost your confidence and find a community that shares a similar passion.

Confidence is the key to great style. This is the most important advice I can give you on how to find your personal style.

Make the outfit work for you and not the other way around.

Step 4: Clean Out Your Closet

It’s difficult to know how to find your personal style without a clean and organized closet.

Get rid of clothes that no longer align with your new style. Anything that hasn’t been worn should be donated, sold, or tossed out.

This also includes pieces that you’re not confident to wear often. Make room for the clothes that truly speak to who you are and make you the confident woman that you are!

Shopping Tips

Make a list of the clothing you want to buy and stick to it! It’s so easy to get distracted by flashy sale signs and discounts. 

Also, don’t spend a lot on trendy items and unfamiliar styles. I recommend shopping secondhand for styles that you want to experiment with. 

I have a post of the Best 8 Secondhand Stores Online. Check it out if you want to shop for quality secondhand pieces that fit within budget. 

✿ My Favorite Secondhand Stores Online ✿

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Some Personal Style Examples?

Trying to see where your style fits can be daunting, especially if you’re still trying to figure out how to find your personal style.

Not everyone’s personal fashion style can be put inside a box. In fact, many of us tend to switch between different styles or mix and match aesthetics.

After all, fashion is a form of self-expression, but it should be fun too! There are common personal styles that many of us use to describe our outfits.

These common personal style examples could be a great starting point in helping you create your own style.

1. Feminine Romantic – This style is a feminine style that typically has soft, delicate colors and lots of feminine details, such as ruffles and lace–think flowy dresses and skirts. The clothing style is typically more modest.
2. Timeless Classic – A timeless classic style focuses on classic and clean-cut clothing shapes. This typically does not follow fashion trends, but instead focuses on timeless, high-quality pieces that fit them well.
3. Minimalist – A minimalist style focuses on curating a small wardrobe that can be mixed and matched for various outfits. A minimalist would focus on clothing that is versatile and accessorized minimally.
4. Casual – A casual style focuses on the comfort of an outfit. The outfits are usually simple, laid-back, and loose. This style focuses on comfy fabrics like denim, linen, and cotton.
5. Glamorous – A glamorous style focuses on highlighting the body with more body hugging clothing. This style tends to use more luxe fabrics, such as silk, cashmere, leather, and suede.
6. Sporty – The sporty style is focused on athleisure clothing. They’re always on the move and would prefer to incorporate athletic wear into their outfits, like chic leggings or joggers.
7. Boho – The boho style is characterized by their flowy silhouettes. Their clothing incorporates textures and prints inspired by the 60s and 70s fashion.
8. Rocker – A rocker style is edgy and bold–think leather, ripped jeans, and band t-shirts. Their clothing may feature details, such as fur, studs, and zippers. 

It would be hard to list the endless amount of styles out there. Some new trendy styles include Cottagecore and E-girl. This list can go on and on!

It’s a lot easier to define styles with your own adjectives. Does that outfit look feminine to you? How would you describe it? 

If you don’t fit within one of the categories above, I encourage you to find words to describe your personal style. It could be “laid-back” or “adrogynous” or anything else that comes to mind.

It’s best for you to know how to describe it in your own words, so that it can be more personal to you.

Look through your fashion inspiration and describe the styles you like. New fashion styles come out so often and everyone seems to have a different opinion. 

Don’t be discouraged if you can’t describe your personal style in one word. In fact, most of us need several adjectives to really describe our personal styles, anyways. 😉

Is It Possible To Make My Style Unique?

Yes, it’s possible to find your unique style in clothing! To be honest, everyone has a unique style based on their preferences. It’s all about having the confidence to show it!

Trust me, it’s not easy to be unique when everyone is basically shopping in the same stores and chasing similar fashion trends. How exactly can you stand out from the crowd?

Here’s a few of my favorite tips to help you find your unique style aesthetic:

1. Figure out what looks best with your body type. Knowing what clothes will enhance and highlight the best parts of your body is the first step in choosing the right types of clothes for you.
2. Keep track of all your best outfits! If an outfit makes you feel particularly good, snap a picture of it or write it down. You want to remember the type of clothing, brand, and accessories you’re wearing too.
3. Give new fashion styles a try. It’s easy to get comfortable with what you’re used to. I challenge you to try out clothing that you would never wear. You can slowly incorporate it into your outfits. For instance, if you’re a tomboy that would never wear a floral blouse, try wearing it with baggy jeans and sneakers. This way you’ll have a balance of both feminine and tomboy vibes in your outfit.
4. Confidence is key! Always stand up straight, smile, and relax. No one is judging you for what you’re wearing. Even if they are, what’s the worst that can happen? Have fun with your fashion experiments.

You’ll know when you’ve nailed down your unique style when you realize that your fashion style feels and looks absolutely right to you. 

How Do Teenage Girls Find Their Personal Style? 

If you’re a teenager or know someone who is a teenager trying to figure out their personal style, I’m actually a bit jealous!

In my opinion, teenage girls have so much fashion freedom to experiment with. You’re young so feel free to make crazy fashion choices, if that’s what you want to do!

The process for teenage girls to find their personal style is very similar to everyone else. First, follow the 4 steps I outlined above. 

Next, familiarize yourself with the common personal style examples. This will help you understand the vibe or aesthetic that you’re going for.

Finally, just be confident in whatever you choose to wear that day! Confidence plays a huge role in how you feel in your clothes.   

Can I Enhance How I Look With My Personal Style?

Yes, you can enhance how you look with your personal style! When you’ve nailed down how to find your personal style, it automatically boosts your confidence.

Your personal fashion aesthetic is what looks best on your body according to you. Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt good in what you’re wearing?

Feeling good about what you’re wearing is the first step in confidence. Believe it or not, but confidence makes you look more beautiful.

It makes you stand up taller, smile more, and relax. These simple changes will enhance how you look. 

How Do I Know If I Have A Good Style?

A “good style” can be very subjective. In my opinion, a good style is whatever that makes you feel super confident.

However, sometimes we might want some outside validation from other people. There’s no harm in having others appreciate your unique fashion. 😉

Here’s a couple of sure signs that people around you recognize you have great style.

1. People around you compliment your outfit. If you get others asking about where you got your clothes, this is a sign that they really like your style.
2. You give fashion advice to others. Are your friends and family asking you to help them pick an outfit? Yup, they trust your fashion sense.
3. You have photographers asking to take a picture of your outfit. This is especially true if you’re the type to do street-style fashion.

How Do I Know If I Am Stylish?

Fashion and style is subjective. Everyone has an opinion and not everyone has the same one. 

Above all, it’s important to stay true to who you are and wear what makes you feel confident. All stylish people know what works for them and they wear it with no regrets. 

In conclusion, learn how to dress your body and highlight your best features. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new styles. Do that and you will find your style!

That’s it! I hope you enjoyed my recommendations and tips for you.

How Does A Personal Style Feel Authentic?

I remember dreading to open my closet. I had many styles, prints, colors, and patterns that just didn’t belong together.

It was like I had all these pieces to a puzzle, but all of them were from different puzzles! Trust me, curating an authentic, personal style is a process.

With so many personas and styles out there, how can one possibly identify with just one?

The good news is that you don’t have to choose one style and stick with it for the rest of your life. After all, we’re dynamic people and we change all the time!

The key is to have a theme in our wardrobe that speaks to our personality. 

It needs to be “you” to be authentic. This is where my tips and tricks on how to find your style come into play!

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Comment below if you tried any of my tips or share a new tip that I haven’t mentioned below!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclaimer for more info.

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