Why Style Should Be Personal
We’re surrounded by constant suggestions—social media, ads, catalogs, influencers—all telling us what to buy and how to wear it. The result? A copy-and-paste mentality. There are so many options, but strangely uniform.
If we look at the definitions:
Style – a distinctive appearance, guided by principles of design.
Personal – belonging to or affecting one individual, not everyone else.
This gives us the idea that YOUR style should actually reflect your real life and personality. There are many ways to make you look like a better version of yourself (that’s my job), and many of fashion’s most iconic pieces began as solutions to ordinary problems, refined into something elevated.
The Birkin Bag
Take the Birkin bag. Jane Birkin’s belongings once spilled out of her purse during a flight. The head of Hermès, sitting nearby, suggested creating a larger, more practical bag for her. That very personal problem became an enduring fashion icon.
Image via Sotheby’s
Cartier “Juste un Clou” Bracelet
The Cartier “Juste un Clou” bracelet. Designer Aldo Cipullo took an ordinary nail—something industrial and unremarkable—and reimagined it as a piece of fine jewelry. It was a simple, personal idea that became a luxury statement worn around the world and is one of the brand’s best sellers.
Image via Hypebae — “Cartier’s New Campaign Pays Homage to the Iconic Juste un Clou Bracelet”
Denim
Denim—my personal favorite. It began as durable workwear for miners and laborers. It wasn’t about fashion; it was about solving a problem. Today, it’s one of the most worn fabrics in the world.
Personal style can work the same way: start with what you have, what you need, and what suits your body—then elevate from there.
Image by Jason Leung via Unsplash
Here’s a simplified process I use with my clients:
1. Take inventory
What do you wear, avoid, and what flatters your body? (Photos help.)
2. Map your lifestyle
List daily clothing needs, gaps, and future goals.
3. Define yourself
Pick adjectives, colors, and items that capture your personality; things you like.
4. Create a mood board
Collect styles you love for inspiration. Do as many as you can.
5. Compare & elevate
Compare your mood board to your lifestyle list and your personality description, then figure out which pieces would make the most sense; they should combine those elements. Then make a list of pieces to acquire. Note: this is usually the hardest part and the reason why I have a job, but keep it simple. The point is to make a list of items to shop for that will (1) fit your real life, (2) are elevated, (3) fit your personality. This can be as simple as buying loafers instead of sneakers, wearing color instead of black, pairing athletic pants with a cashmere sweater, etc.
Example in action:
Say someone feels very feminine but wants to streamline because they work in an urban environment that is more serious, and in their mood board they keep picking blazers but their personality says feminine. No problem—just put the two together. Maybe you wear a blazer, but it’s a lighter color, lessening the severity, and you wear more delicate accessories or add some ruffles underneath. The trick is not abandoning the things you like or what’s needed for your lifestyle. Just work at it and look at as many examples as you can!
6. Shop with purpose
Buy only what’s on your list; pick nicer versions of your staples (richer fabrics, tailored jackets, polished shoes)
