Nothing Personal, Just Style: Reasons To Strive For Own Personal Style

With my 10 year high school reunion right around the corner I am being bombarded by a plethora of high school photos that hilariously remind me how my style was back when I was in my teens and how my creative expression was so out of the box and unconventional. I remember how I used to take the studs off my studded belts (the early 2000’s “Skater Boy” aesthetic is unmatched) and would then glue the studs on pieces like my first blazer from Old Navy or my black Ed Hardy sneakers that till this day I still adore. My hair was dusty brown from all the peroxide I used to dye it the days before, and I would stay in a pair of black readers because it felt “cute” and “chic” to me at the time. I even won “Most Likely to be ‘Next Top Model’” because the girls knew my style was individualistic and unique only to me (plus I had a NASTY walk. Still do). It was like my calling card. Now many years later, I can honestly say that my style, my personal style that is, has definitely changed for the better and now I am not only able to express myself in a more mature & innovative manner through but I feel more comfortable and more confident in my fashion choices as well. It is for these reasons why I feel like finding one’s own personal style, regardless of whatever that may be, is the best thing for anyone.

Firstly, finding your personal style is a great way to create a basis for your closet so that it becomes easier to dress yourself in your day-to-day life. It’s almost like creating a formula for your wardrobe in that you know how you want your clothes to fit, you know how you want to layer your clothes, you know what colors and patterns you want to wear together as well what styles complement you personally. By following this formula it expedites the process of getting dressed and cuts out a lot of uncertainty and insecurities about your fit. Also, by honing in on your own personal style it also allows room for growth and opportunity to play and experiment with trends & fads that are constantly in rotation within the fashion industry. I’ll use myself as an example. A core part of my personal style is casual corporate because I’m constantly in meetings and going physically into the office, so I like to look presentable and professional whilst still maintaining a level of comfortability in case I have an event to run to after work or errands to run. As such I like to pair business-like attire with more casual pieces, such as blazers with nice T-shirts and dress pants with comfortable sneakers. And so one trend that I decided to try and integrate into my personal style is the wide leg pants trend, which has seen a noticeable rise within the past year especially in tailored clothing for men. For me, the perfect place to start was smart pants which I slowly introduced into my casual corporate stylings with simple colors that could easily pair with what I already own. Now, after testing out the trend, I can honestly say that wide leg pants is a staple in my wardrobe due to how easy they are to style, how effortless they look on my taller frame, and how comfortable they are especially when in office thanks to them being breathable and allowing more air to circulate for my legs.

Finding your own personal style is also a great way to truly foster your own identity and self expression through means of fashion and choices of clothing and accessories as well. With your own personal style you are able to communicate without words and many times set the tone for potential conversations & networking opportunities. One of the best ways to do this is to invest in statement pieces that truly speak to who you are as a person and what you feel your fashion encompasses. You can also do this by investing in pieces of a vibrant or bright color, pieces that may be unconventionally constructed, or even pieces that simply have an eye capturing design or pattern. Integrating these clothes and/or accessories into your daily style naturally opens the door commanding attention and creating connections. Think about it: you wear something that captures a strangers attention, say a bag from Zara, which may lead to the phrase “Oh I love your bag! Where did you get it from?”. Next thing you know you’re in a full fledged conversation talking about shopping horror stories and dressing room odors all because your Zara bag caught someone’s attention. For me, my style has been my right hand man for many years. It has been my introduction when I had none, my statement maker, my foundation, and overall presentation. When I didn’t have the confidence to speak, my personal style spoke for me. And many times my personal style in the personal style of others that has led to conversations that has allowed me to create friendships and or relationships that I still nurture till this day.

The process of finding one’s personal style can be a long one, however, it can also be just as fun and is a great way to maintain creativity & comfortability, especially as we mature and become older. In a way it is a form of self-love and self-care as you truly get to pinpoint how you want the world to see you through your own sense of fashionable expression. It’s how I was able to truly let my own personality show was I was younger, and how I’m still able to let it shine now. And it is for this reason, and the others mentioned above, that I will always advocate for one to find their own personal style.