Do you ever wonder if your personal style even matters? Is it worth investing the time, money and effort?  Well think about that day you happened to put on an outfit that  made you feel great.  You couldn’t stop looking in the mirror and you may have even stopped traffic a couple of times on that day.  It was the day where everywhere you went someone told you that you looked amazing.  Shucks, no one may have even had to say a word you just felt like a million bucks!  Don’t you deserve to feel like a million bucks all the time. Yes you do! So why not be intentional?

You open your closet to see rows and rows of garments but you still feel like you have nothing to wear or maybe nothing you want to wear.  Sometimes odd pieces in your closet symbolizes a style you like but aren’t fully comfortable trying.  Believe me when I say we have all had moments when we have tried a look that was so stylish for someone else but bombed for us. I remember a job that required me to wear all black.  It was cool for the first couple of weeks but eventually I felt as if I disappeared when I got dressed.  I literally grew to dislike getting dressed in all black.  Finally I figured it out!  All black was so blah on me and did nothing for my complexion.  The fact of the matter was that I looked like everyone else! No way,I felt expressionless and it did nada for my persona. Urgh! this was definitely a creative stifling situation.  It is important for me to remind myself who I am by using my garments as a way of expressing myself.  It’s beneficial for everyone in their own right!  Here are 3 questions to ask yourself when trying to discover your personal style:

1 .Where do I spend the most time in my day and what am I doing?

Before reviewing your current wardrobe let’s first consider your lifestyle. Think about what percentage of your time you spend on different activities. You don’t want to continue buying active wear  when you spend most of your time in a corporate setting.  You want to be able to wear your garments long term and get a ton of wear out of them.  Ask yourself which of these 4 possible facets do you spend most of your time on based on your lifestyle. What do you do on a daily basis?  You won’t get a exhaustive answer but you will get a good starting point:

Professional – time spent in a work or attending meetings

Active – time spent doing outdoor activities, walking, exercising or sports

Social – time spent out with friends or at special events

Family – time spent at home with, with children or family

2. Do I know what styles resonates with me ?

Discover styles that you like by making a Pinterest board. Pinterest is an online pin board, a visual take on the social bookmarking site. People typically pin or save images they found on the web (or on Pinterest itself) to different boards (used to categorize their image collections).  If you don’t want to use Pinterest you can make a collage using pictures from a magazine.

You can search for outfits or search for celebrities for style inspiration. Make a board specifically to create your own style inspiration board. After you have chosen about 20 different images take note of reoccurring themes. What do you tend to like? Are most of the outfits monotone, florals, prints, V-necks etc. What type of statements do a majority of the pieces make? What are you most attracted to? Make a list of these things. Just remember it’s ok if your findings are not what you expected

3. Do I know what compliments me and what doesn’t ?

Don’t go running out to purchase everything that  is listed as an hot item on the fashion trend list. Sticking to a plan will prevent you from splurging on items that will be out of style before you know it or just doesn’t suit you . Know what looks good on you to make more informed choices when shopping and choosing outfits. Not sure about what pieces best fit you? Keep an eye out for clothing that suit your body shape and colors that compliment your skin tone. This will most likely happen to be those items that get you more compliments, you feel most comfortable in, and you find most flattering in photos. Take note of outfits that make you feel great. Just remember understanding your personal style is really all about being authentic and embracing your true self and not trying to be like anyone else!

Be empowered!

*One of my favorite examples someone who made a change that impacted her lifestyle:

Before                                                                                                      After

Spent less time on appearance                                                                  Feels more confident

Less time on self awareness                                                                       Discovered more about herself

Comfy but less motivated                                                                           Seized new opportunities

Blended in with others                                                                                Stands out in a crowd

* I get it!  You may be asking yourself does what I wear really matter? Sometimes you just don’t know where to start  when it comes to your wardrobe.  No more standing in your closet aimlessly. Get started with the wardrobe essentials!  Wardrobe essentials or basics are pieces that will go with you from season to season. 

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What questions do you ask when trying to discover your personal style?

Tracey Evelyn is a wardrobe stylist, personal shopper and skin care expert who helps emerging women to reinvent themselves, feel empowered and  become unstoppable by embracing their authentic selves.

Tracey@Traceyevelynbeautifulyou.com

Twitter: @TraceyEvelyninc

Facebook: Facebook.com/TraceyEvelyn