What is Personal Style? How to Find It. How to Stick to It.

Personal style. Do you know yours? It is something you’ve struggled to find? Or something that has come easy for you? Me, personally, I finally know what mine is. After years and years of searching, trying different trends/styles, having different style icons, and some serious missteps. The journey wasn’t easy but it was fun and now, I’m truly comfortable with my style. Now, I feel I have a style that is mine. What a feeling!

Tips for Finding Your Personal Style | Defining Personal Style | Louella Reese Life & Style Blog

So let’s start off with, what is personal style?

Personal style is an attitude, a way of life, and ultimately how you express yourself to the world, how you share your story through clothing. Deep right? Well it’s true, what you wear really shares a lot about you. What you like, what you don’t like, what you find to be comfortable, and the list goes on. What you wear is a representation of you, it’s your personal style.

So, how do you find your personal style, if you haven’t yet? I have a couple of recommendations. These tips helped me discover my personal style and figure out what I liked and didn’t like.

Find Your Style Icon

This step is a big one and will be incredibly helpful in finding your personal style. Look at celebrities, movie + television characters, fashion bloggers, and your friends. Who inspires you? Who are you constantly drawn to because of their appearance? Who has you adding to your clothing wish list every time you see them? Create an album in your phone of screenshots or create a Pinterest board and save photos. Doing either of these two {or both} will help compile all of your favorite looks + icons, you’ll start to see a pattern in what you’re saving. More than likely, you’ll have more than one style icon. I personally, have a couple. My style icons are Reese Witherspoon, Blair Waldorf, and Julia Engel. These ladies constantly inspire me and I find myself drawn to what they’re wearing.

Label Your Style

You have your inspiration photos and your style icons. Take a look at these images, what words pop out to you? Preppy, edgy, feminine, classic, bold, polished, etc…What words describe the style in the images? Three to five words is the ideal list to help label your style. For me, I say my personal style is feminine, preppy, and a little Parisian. These three words now help me define my style and choose new items when shopping. They’re my reference, my guidelines in a way.

Update Your Closet

Now that you’ve labeled your personal style, it’s time to update your closet. Clear out the items that don’t fit those three to five words you selected. Chances are you haven’t worn those items in months, maybe even years. Or if you have, it’s been a one and done item. You may like this item {or items}, even the style of it, but it’s not your go to style. You’re not 100% into it or comfortable wearing it. That’s why you don’t find yourself wearing it often. So go ahead and clear it out {and others like it or of totally different style} and make room for new items that fit your three to five words.

Now I’m not saying you shouldn’t ever wear something that isn’t completely your personal style but more times then not, you’ll end up wearing it once or twice and be over the item. Definitely step out of your fashion comfort zone here and there, it’ll help you evolve your personal style and find new items you love.

Pick A Signature Item

Reese Witherspoon loves fit and flare dresses, Blair Waldorf almost always rocked a headband, and Julia Engel reaches for blush a majority of the time. All of these woman have a signature item or color, it’s what they love and what they feel confident in. Think about the celebrities, movie + television characters, and/or bloggers you choose for your style icon, what is their signature? Do you want your signature to be similar or something completely different?

For me, blue is my signature. I find myself drawn to the color over and over again. Truly, I cannot get enough of it. Also, I love flats. I’m finding that they’re becoming a signature piece of mine more and more. I choose ballet flats, loafers, and oxfords over heels 90% of the time. Mainly because I’m more comfortable and confident in them. I also love the Parisian feel they provide.

Finally, how do you stick to your personal style?

You have your style icons, your inspiration photos, a label for your style, an upgraded closet, a signature item, now what? Shop for items that fit your personal style. Work on embracing this newly discovered style, refine it by finding what you like and don’t like within the style of your three to five style words, and stay true to it! If you’re feminine, classic, and polished don’t reach for an edgy new handbag. You’ll wear it for an event or two and toss it to the back of the closet. Or feel uncomfortable wearing the trendy handbag. If you are in fact edgy, don’t reach for a lace fit and flare with pearls, you may find yourself feeling silly or again, uncomfortable. Reach for items that reflect your personality and defined personal style!

I hope you find these tips to be helpful and fun! I’d love to hear about your personal style and signature items. Comment below and share! 

31 Comments

  1. Heather wrote:

    So many insightful tIps laura! I love the idEa of labeling your own style and cleaning out anything that doesnt fIt the description. Have a wonderful weekend!!!

    Posted 10.6.17
    • Yay that makes my day that you found the post to be insightful! Thank you so much for your sweet comment. Have a wonderful weekend as well!

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 10.6.17
  2. Megan wrote:

    Such great tips on DefiNing your personal style! I defiNitely go for things that are casual, comfortbale, cozy and neutral!

    xo megan

    Posted 10.6.17
    • Thank you Megan! Happy to hear you enjoyed this post. Your style sounds pretty great! I love the cozy aspect of it. Can’t go wrong with that!

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 10.6.17
  3. This post was so good and helpful! Such great tips! Thanks for sharing!

    Posted 10.6.17
    • Aw yay! Thank you so much gal! I am really, really happy to hear you found it to be helpful!

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 10.6.17
  4. Ruthie wrote:

    Loving these tips!!! I go for a timeless style with a little bit of edge! Love your style!!

    Posted 10.6.17
    • Awesome! So thrilled you loved them!! Your style is fabulous lady and I would say that description fits it perfectly.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 10.6.17
  5. Morgan wrote:

    You have such a definitive style and this was one of my favorite posts EVER of yours!! You really know what you’re talking about and I’m getting so much inspo right now to define mine! My Pinterest will be blowing up tonight haha!

    -Morgan
    How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com

    Posted 10.6.17
    • AHHH making my day lady!! Seriously, thank you for your comment!!! Can’t wait to see what you pull together on your Pinterest. You’ll definitely have to show it to me.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 10.6.17
  6. Kileen wrote:

    I love this post girl! I did notice you incorporate blue in all of your outfits! I Love that! I like to wear outfits that can be worn in and out of the office!

    Kileen
    cute & little

    Posted 10.6.17
    • Thank you Kileen! Yay, so glad you love that little piece of my style. Your style sounds very versatile, which is incredibly important. I like it!

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 10.9.17
  7. I love these tips. I do notice that Julia Engel does wear pink a lot, and you wear blue a lot. So everyone does have a signature style.
    https://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/

    Posted 10.6.17
  8. i’m still struggling to find my style. Sometimes I think I’m edgy sometimes I think I’m nerdy and ultimately I’m just confused. But I love how you help me figure it out with this post. Such simple tips to really help me find who I want to be through my clothes!

    Danielle | FollowMyGut.com <3

    Posted 10.7.17
    • Girl I 100% understand that. I was definitely in the same boat up until a couple of months ago. Styling items I thought people would like to see on the blog vs. what I actually truly loved and would wear regularly. I am SO happy you found these tips to be helpful. I hope they really do help you find your personal style.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 10.9.17
  9. Rach wrote:

    So many great tips! I totally agree with all of them and I love your definition of personal style. so spot on!

    http://www.rdsobsessions.com

    Posted 10.8.17
    • Thank you so much Rach! Love that you agree with them all, that’s awesome. You’re so sweet, thanks gal!

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 10.9.17
  10. This was a great post! I dont think I have just one personal style, but ill try Some of these tips to find out! XO

    Jamaria | http://www.throughjamseyes.com

    Posted 10.8.17
    • Thanks Jamaria! Definitely understand that. Some people have two sides to their style and that is wonderful! Hope you enjoy testing out the tips though.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 10.9.17
  11. Once I found my personal style I found it so much easier to mix and match items in my closet because everything already paired well together!

    Posted 10.8.17
    • YES! I completely agree gal! It’s easier to wear more items in your closet, rather than always reaching for the same look. So glad you found your personal style too!

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 10.9.17
  12. Jenna Colgrove wrote:

    i love this post! such a neat perspective!

    Posted 10.8.17
  13. Kim wrote:

    These are great tips! I feel like it takes a while to find personal style, and I love the guide.

    Kim

    http://trendkeeper.me .. $100 BOUTIQUE GIVEAWAY! & Cable Neck Sweaters

    Posted 10.12.17
    • Thank you so much gal! It definitely takes awhile to find it. It’s surprisingly, not an easy task.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 10.12.17
  14. nice info about style..

    Posted 10.12.17
  15. jessica wrote:

    I’m always reaching for navy and blush lately. I still need to figure out my signature “pieces”. Because one day i love a good dress and another jeans and a tee. But I’d say I’m mostly jeans and a tee kinda gal.

    xo Jessica
    My Style Vita

    Posted 10.12.17
    • I love navy on you! You always pick amazing pieces in the hue. Well you rock both styles very well so I say you might have two signature styles.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 10.12.17
  16. angelle Marix wrote:

    I absolutely agree!!! Finding your style is key!I have recently started to only buy items that 100% my vibe. Great post.

    xo,
    Angelle
    http://www.dashingdarlin.com

    Posted 10.12.17

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