Ten Inspiring Tips to Find Your Personal Style

You probably know some of the designers and stylists that we quote in this article. Hopefully, their advice about how to find your personal style will help you define your own aesthetic and solidify your look.

Personal style is just that, personal. But seeing what other people do can serve as great inspiration for your own look.

1. Style is mostly personal and interior; the clothes we wear say something about our own aesthetics and personal convictions. Don't be a slave to fashion. Find the looks that work for you, then decide if they deserve a long-term place in your wardrobe.

Fashions fade, style is eternal. - Yves Saint Laurent

2. Look for apparel that's built on unfussy lines that don't overwhelm the wearer with the designer's sense of aesthetics—clothes that allow your personal style to shine through.

Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance. - Coco Chanel

3. Trust your eyes and gut sense. Over the years we form convictions about the styles, shapes and colors that do and don't work for us. Those ideas can persist for decades even though our figures and coloration have likely changed a lot. Next time you're shopping, forget what you think you know and look in the mirror with an open mind instead.

Style is primarily a matter of instinct. - Bill Blass

4. Think ahead. To find that versatile piece destined to become an expression of you, think about how you plan to wear it. What sorts of occasions? What seasons? What other garments and accessories will you wear with it? Does it dress up or down easily? If the answers come easily and positively, you could well be looking at a future favorite.

Buy less, choose well. - Vivienne Westwood

5. When trying on a prospective purchase be sure all your movements are natural and unhampered. Take a breath in front of the dressing room mirror to get quiet and consider if your body feels at home in this garment. Being comfortable with yourself and dressing comfortably are energizing and emboldening.

A woman is never sexier than when she is comfortable in her clothes. - Vera Wang

6. Select clothes that fit. Wrinkles signal points where there is insufficient ease. Look for garments that skim your natural body shape lightly. Loose clothing can camouflage; use it strategically to conceal less flattering features. But shapeless is unattractive; emphasize your best features.

Clothes should fit comfortably - not too tightly - so that you have space to move in and think freely. - Issey Miyake

7. Think of your clothing as art. Treasure it the way traditional cultures value clothing as artifacts. In the future hemlines may be altered, embellishments added, damaged or worn spots repaired, faded cloth dyed again. Choose apparel that's infused with craftsmanship, made from quality materials, and intended for a lifetime of use and satisfaction.

...it [should be] a kind of love romance: you meet some fantastic clothing by chance, and you fall in love and you live this piece of clothing. You don't waste clothing but live with it. Please, don't waste clothing! - Yohji Yamamoto

8. Take care of the clothing you love. Less washing saves water and energy and extends the life of your favorite items.

The less you wash your clothes, the better, I was told that by the tailors on Savile Row when I worked there, and it's true, clothes last longer if you wash them less and care for them more. - Stella McCartney

9. There's no simple formula for selecting a color that looks great on you. View potential colors against your skin, eyes and hair and then trust your instinct in making a selection.

Finding your style is like putting puzzle pieces together. - Lara Spencer

10. Let your wardrobe tell a story—yours! That unique necklace you bought from a hill-tribe artisan in Thailand 20 years ago may not be something you'd find on the shopping channel, but it evokes your personal history and aesthetic.

Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak. - Rachel Zoe

I hope these tips can help you express your style with the clothing and accessories you wear.

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Ten Inspiring Tips to Find Your Personal Style

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