The Role of Personal Style and How to Develop Your Own Unique Look
Emma Chamberlain
Knowing what makes you, you, is the start of expanding your own fashion taste. What you wear on your body is a representation of your personality, so this is not something that is decided quickly. Thought, passion, and purpose are some of the key factors in developing your own personal style. What do you care about? For example, you could care about the environment (which we all should do), therefore, using sustainable fabrics and wearing ‘upcycled’ clothing would align with what you care about.
What is your identity?
Knowing your identity is the first step to evolving your style, your purpose is expressed through your fashion sense. If you are a bright and cheerful person, you may choose to wear bright colors, matching your style with your character. On the other hand, if you are an introvert and have a shy demeanor, wearing darker, more neutral materials may be your style.
We spoke with Rosie Robinson, Fashion Marketing and Communication student, where she expressed that “not only do I wear clothing that I like the look of, but also that makes me feel good and shows who I am as a person. I am very influenced by my mum; taking on her fashion advice from a very young age, which helped me choose what pieces of clothing to buy. However, I do have my own style now, but I still very much value my mum’s opinions on my looks.”
After speaking with Fashion Business Management student Chloe Turner, we dived deeper into the true meaning behind having our own tailored style. Chloe shares that “personal style is always developing from trends, to finding what works for you, and what doesn’t.
If you’re wanting to reinvent your style, social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok are great places to look for inspiration. You can even find creators that have a similar body type or hairstyle on these platforms to establish more of an idea of how different clothes would look like on yourself. ”
Harry Styles
Rosie Robinson continues to share that “we live in a time where we can wear the clothes we want, without it being an issue. Harry Styles is a great figure for representing the boundaries with his style, and everyone admires him for this.”
It is easier said than done however, knowing where to start with your wardrobe, and what to buy. “I think you need to buy a wardrobe of basics; plain one-color pieces, bodysuits, tops, staple jeans, and maybe a pair of black heels that will go with everything - starting out by having a handful of items which can make up multiple outfits,” Chloe adds.
You do not need to have an immensely clear vision of what your style is straight away, experimenting is the best technique to find out what suits you and makes you happy. Considering how you see yourself when you wear a piece of clothing is also essential, as the clothes you wear represent you, and most importantly, your character.
Rosie adds that “over the past few years I have realised that I prefer to invest in better quality, more expensive pieces which I really love, instead of getting low-price/low quality items that I have bought just because they were in the sale.” This point emphasises that your individual fashion style is an investment - an investment of your time, thought, and money, but is always worth it.
“I think your style shows what you’re like as a person, you can usually tell a lot about someone by what they wear” - Chloe Turner