Difference between style and fashion
Fashion versus Style. Do you know the difference?
Fashion is something you end up buying because of a trend. Fashion is more about the garment wearing you, concealing the true you, concealing your true style.
Whereas style is you. Style is what you decide to do with fashion, to express who you are.
When you put outfits together, we want to make sure that we're finding out what works and what doesn't so that when we're doing this, we gain confidence about dressing. And the best way to gain confidence is to figure out what style is so that you can use fashion as a tool.
In this blog, I'm going to walk you through three simple steps to help you figure out what your style is. So you can begin dressing confidently. So go to your wardrobe and get ready, because we're about to start.
Step 1: Start with your worn pieces
Start with your favourite pieces.
Go through your wardrobe and create a favourites pile. Put all of them in one area. Then you're going to figure out why they are your favourites. Is it the colour, the fabric, the fit, the print, the style, or the brand?
Find out why are they your favourite pieces?
This will help you in starting to define your personal style because you will begin to learn what it is about these favourite pieces that you tend to gravitate towards all the time.
Some examples could be, are you loving that it's oversized and flowy? Do you have a lot of the same? Maybe you have a lot more tailored and structured pieces, or maybe you have a bit of both. Maybe you're a mix of the two, or you have a lot of floral, and not enough trendy pieces.
So once you see a theme, you'll be able to shop and dress with a purpose. And I want you to note down some words that are going to represent each of these favourite pieces. What do they look like? Why are they your favourites? This is step one.
Step 2: Observe, learn and identify
We all have a sense of style, but it can take effort to figure out what that actually is. So I want you to start paying close attention to the people around you and the people that you watch online, including me.
Start looking at these people and observing what it is that you like about their outfits. Why do you like it? What are they wearing? Start observing and asking more question. Then you are going to document. What is your favourite part of the outfit?
Is it a specific colour?
Is it an accessory piece?
Is it super basic and clean?
Is it worn a certain way or is it the overall vibe?
My clients frequently tell me, "I really like this outfit, but I'm not sure why." And it all came down to the person wearing the outfit with confidence.
So, is it the confidence that you're attracted to?
After about a week of doing this, you'll notice a bit of a pattern. You'll then discover your own sense of style, as well as the styles for which you can shop.
Step 3: Get comfortable being uncomfortable
The final thing I want you to do is get used to being uncomfortable. I understand how this sounds, but we'll do it together. Everyone whose style you admire and are drawn to has felt this way, and they've all been through the same style journey.
The only way to gain confidence in your own style is to experiment with different outfits and something completely new. I want you to go into a store and try on a variety of styles. You'll make notes and even take photos of yourself with what you like and don't like.
The goal isn't to buy.
It is to style, to learn, to observe, and to discover what you like.
Who am I? That's the goal we are chasing.
This activity will also prevent you from purchasing trendy items and last-minute sale items. We are here to style, not buy.
This is a technique I frequently teach my clients. We are styling rather than buying. And if you loved it so much that you have to have it, and you know you have to have it, then that is your permission slip to buy the outfit.
Then go home and think about every outfit that made you feel amazing.
Again, write down why you like them and what you dislike about them. You will notice a trend because we need to become the style. We don't want to waste money by purchasing items on the spur of the moment, because someone else is wearing them, because someone else told us to, or because it was on sale.
If you want to be confident in your own style, you must first identify it.
Summary:
Start with your favourite pieces.
Why do you like them? What's the trend? Are they more fitted? Is it the colours? Is it the print? What is it?
Then, choose a couple of people in your life or online and begin learning about their personal style. What makes you like their style? Is it similar to anything you already have? Is it something completely out of your closet?
And this is going to lead us into number three.
Get uncomfortable because that's when we get comfortable. That is when we start to find out who we are.
Make it fun, figure out what you like, figure out what else you like out there, and then try it on and just keep repeating that, and eventually, you'll get so comfortable knowing what your style is, knowing who you are, and that way you won't waste any more time or worrying about the latest trend or what to wear to the next event that you're going to because you know who you are, you are style. Style is you.
