What does your appearance say about you? I love The Gap? I found this on my floor? I don’t care? Look at me? Don’t look at me? I still think I am 16? I feel like I’m 80?
Your style should be saying: I am comfortable in my own skin. I am unique, and I enjoy expressing myself.
But how do you find your original style when it seems like every other chica is wearing the same print tee-shirt from department store #8? It takes a little effort and a lot of courage, but finding your unique look will give you more confidence and let others know that you are an original- which you are, right?
You already have certain fashions that you lean towards, you just have to realize what they are and then take them a few steps further to create a style that is all your own:
First, open your closet and take a look. What themes jump out at you? Lots of bright colors? Floral prints? Black on black? Metallics? All business? Fresh? Funky? Write down the first five words that pop into your head when you look at your clothes.
Which celebrities do you admire for their style? Kate Hudson for her Bohemian funkiness? Gwyneth Paltrow for her classic lines? Scarlett Johannson for her sex appeal? Victoria Beckham for her risk-taking? We often admire people who we want to be more like. Identify your style icon and clip photos for inspiration, tacking them to your closet door if you want.
Get rid of crap. Somehow or other, we all end up with clothes we dislike. Have you ever looked down at your outfit and thought, “I look horrible and feel awful”? Give that outfit away. Now. It doesn’t matter what you paid for it, where you got it, who gave it to you or what memorable moment happened in it. Go through your closet and get rid of any clothes you dislike; you don’t have to have any other reason than that. If they stick around, you will wind up wearing them and feeling like an imposter.
Thrift stores are your friends, offering one-of-a-kind pieces at low prices. Thanks to a rough economy, many people who previously turned up their noses at second-hand stores are now giving them another look. On a day when you have time to treasure hunt, take twenty bucks and head to a local thrift store. Don’t edit yourself; slowly browse the racks and try on whatever calls to you.
Ban the bland. When you looked at your closet, was one of the words you came up with ‘khaki’? You need to branch out. When you think about it, wearing a bright red shirt is really not that much of a risk. What is your favorite color? Buy a beautiful dress in it, wear it, and collect the complements!
Make some effort. Buying your clothes at Target, JCPenney, Macy’s, Urban Outfitters or another giant chain is easy- and that’s why half the world does it. But if you want a unique style, you need to put in a little effort. If you want to be original, don’t buy your clothes where you buy your toilet paper.
Accessorize! Besides thrift stores, accessories are a fun, cheap and easy way to update your wardrobe and give it a lift. You know those super-cheap mall stores for teenagers like Claire’s? Those earrings fit you too, and you can pick up several pieces you like without breaking the bank.
What do you want your clothes to say? Pick three words that best describe your ideal wardrobe, drawing from your style icon and what you wish your closet said, like: fun, feisty, and feminine. Write it down, and every time you are about to buy a new item of clothing, think: Is this fun, feisty, and feminine? If not, toss it back. Only buy clothes you really, really like; if you have to mull it over even for a minute, put it back. You won’t miss it.
Take some risks. Remember, fashion is fun. If purple pants cause you to have an anxiety attack, start with some big red earrings or maybe a statement belt. You are unique, and your opinion on style should be expressed on the very best place of all: your body. By cultivating an original look, you will grow more confident in expressing yourself, creating a self-fulfilling loop of fashion and fierceness that will get you noticed.
You are now ready to embark on a mission to discover your unique style. Put down the plain tee shirt and walk away slowly.
