The 4 Best Ways to Find Your Personal Style for Men
Via Pinterest
Oftentimes, style is viewed differently than other forms of self-expression.
Visual communication is often dismissed as frivolous and ineffective, particularly if you feel you can't conceive a highly personalized version of yourself.
No matter where you stand on the issue, you wake up and put on clothes every day. Whether you like it or not, the decisions made (conscious, subconscious, or otherwise) when deciding how you choose to take up space are entirely within your control.
At its core, style is a complex, sometimes complicated practice of self-preservation. It’s the manifestation of our thoughts, desires, creativity, and reaction to the world around us.
To foster a meaningful relationship with fashion, one must understand that there is no end goal and no singular right way to go about honing personal style. The search for genuine self-expression is an ongoing, ever-evolving process meant to slowly uncover who you are and how you want to express your unique perspective to the outside world.
This is your task: to identify what style means to you, to cultivate it, to craft it, and make it all your own.
If you’re ready to feel not just at peace, but at home in your clothes, here are four steps to find inspiration, define your look, and project your most authentic self.
# 1: Identify Inspiration
Men’s Style Board. Via Pinterest and Style Turner
There’s a reason why I initiate every one of my styling clients’ services with a customized “Style Board’’—my version of a mood board. It sets the stage for transformation by enabling each client to visualize themselves within their soon-to-be aesthetically enhanced existence.
Establishing a clear style direction initiates a powerful subconscious change by aligning our internal desires with external real-world references; thereby, laying the groundwork for real, tangible change.
Learning more about yourself and what sparks inspiration can sometimes require you to step out of your comfort zone to get a sense of what stimulates your creativity and, equally importantly: what doesn’t.
A great place to start is by identifying a celebrity whose style you admire. Look at tons of photos and begin saving (I suggest Pinterest) the ones that really spark your interest. After a while, you’ll start noticing patterns like colors or styles that resonate with you.
Don’t stop at celebrity photos; get out onto the street to see what people are wearing and how they’re wearing it. See someone wearing something you love? Take note—like, literally write it down in your phone. This extra step will ensure that vital elements of your taste level are being acknowledged and tracked.
Additionally, old movies, magazines, documentaries, and museums are all perfect resources to discover what you genuinely connect with.
# 2: Find Trends in Your Current Wardrobe
Via Pinterest
Many times in life, what we’re searching for has been inside of us the whole time.
It sounds cheesy, but it’s true! We’re more aware of our internalized desires than we think.
To test this, perform a closet audit. Take out all of your clothes hiding in drawers or packed deep into your closet and lay them out so that you can quickly view every piece.
Next, you’re going to assess the dominant trends in your closet as well as the pieces you love and the pieces you hate.
Questions To Ask Yourself:
What are the dominant colors?
How about styles? (For example, do you see a ton of striped button-down shirts or graphic tees?)
What are the five pieces you enjoy wearing the most?
What are the five pieces you dislike?
Study these findings closely. Are there commonalities? Are there elements reflective of your personal style icons or inspiration found in Step 1? What do you like about your five favorite go-to’s? Does the color make your eyes pop, or does the fit feel great on your body?
Next, think about the five pieces you dislike. What doesn’t feel right about them? Why don’t these specific pieces feel like “you”? Identifying your dislikes is just as important as figuring out what you do like.
Take note of your learnings to use when shopping for new pieces. You’ll precisely know what you want and what you don’t want; streamlining the shopping process by eliminating regretful impulse buys and wasteful spending.
# 3: Fuse Together What Inspires
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Personal style is a wearable narrative born from the amalgamation of life’s experiences.
The intersection of these experiences, references, and inherent interests is where personal style flourishes.
In other words, style isn’t about abiding by the stringent rules of fashion; it’s about identifying what’s important and meaningful, then strategically combining these elements to create a look that’s unapologetically you.
This is where the beauty of contrast comes into play. Contrasting details are what make an outfit interesting, dynamic, and compelling. Without it, you’re dressing without intention.
Confused? Here’s an approachable example of what I’m talking about.
Pull together styles to create a unique, personalized look. Via Pinterest and Style Turner
To drill down this idea here’s a more extreme example. Notice how this man pulls in varying styles and eras to create a look that’s decidedly unique.
Although a bit extreme for the average man, this look epitomizes the fusion of different styles and eras. Via Pinterest and Style Turner
For example, a friend of mine recently discussed his difficulties when trying to figure out his own personal style. He felt that his life experiences as a preppy New England ivy leaguer turned successful NYC tech guru and soon-to-be dad living in Brooklyn was forcing him to commit to a specific aesthetic path. He felt he had to choose between a conservative tailored look, a cool & casual tech dude look, or the all too familiar “I can’t be bothered with style” look.
His “aha!” moment happened when he realized he could embrace all of these facets that have made him into the man he is today. No longer does he feel beholden to one style, compromising key aspects that have informed the person he is today.
He learned he could pair his favorite classic menswear with his equally beloved casual pieces to create outfits that combine all of his favorite styles into one complete look that thoroughly represents who he is.
In short, never feel bound by a singular interpretation of style; experiment with different elements to find the right combination that works for you. Goth banker? Sure! Conservative biker dude? Right on!
It’s all about how you finesse the elements to build a wardrobe that communicates who you are without ever opening your mouth.
# 4: Write it Down & Keep it Simple
The final step in this process is articulating your style in your own words. Your LIKES and DISLIKES.
This simple yet effective method provides a clear idea of all the factors that make up your unique perspective.
To avoid second-guessing, I suggest listing your style description as quickly as possible without overthinking it.
You can write everything, including colors, styles, and details, together in one list or break down each element into its own section.
For example, here’s my list:
Via Style Turner
As you can see, my style focus paints a clear picture of who I am and what my personal style is all about. Perhaps this doesn’t cover every little detail, but it’s a great, high-level overview of my aesthetic preferences.
To Sum It Up:
Inspiration sets the tone. As with any creative endeavor, seeking inspiration is the best starting point to get the juices flowing and the wheels turning. Whether inspiration is found in a magazine, blog post, or on the street, identifying what resonates with you is a crucial first step.
Your closet says a lot about you. Even if you dislike most of your wardrobe, there’s always something—a dominant style, color, or brand—that can signal your inclination toward (or against) a particular aesthetic. Knowing why you have certain pieces and deciding if you like them or not is vital.
Style is more than one thing. Never feel beholden to one style “type.” Combining all your interests and experiences—no matter how conflicting they may seem—into a distinctive look is how true personal style takes flight. If you want a head-to-toe preppy look without any other influences, that’s fine; but realizing your style can (and should) contain contrasting multitudes is where the magic happens.
Put it on paper. Articulating your exact style specifications will remove any cloudiness or uncertainty from your mind. Breaking down each aspect of your personal style is like drawing a roadmap to your destination. Without it, you’ll inevitably drift off course and end back at square one.