Naturally Stylish - Rule #2

First of all, I would like to re-word the latter part of the above commonly quoted quip to read - "style one possesses." As I noted in my last post, we are all naturally stylish and by adopting a few guidelines/rules you will be enabled to tap into that style. Therefore, I present you with rule #2...

Rule #2 - Know Your Style

Now I'm sure this sounds like I'm asking you to do all the work yourself.  I'm telling you that I want to help you tap into your naturally stylish self and then I ask you to, in effect, determine that here, but this is something that you really have to shape and define in a concerted and focused way.  I can guide you through some exercises to get to the crux of your style, but you have to be the one that it comes from (because it is all yours and completely innate as I've mentioned).

A really helpful tool for pinpointing your style is an inspiration board.  This inspiration board can be a canvas, a bulletin board, a conglomeration of your Pinterest pins, or a sketch - whatever is most appealing to you.  Now on this board put all the pictures that appeal to you in a personal way.  Pull pages from magazines that you are particularly drawn to - focus on quotes, colors, outfits, scenes, looks, etc.  This board then becomes  a snapshot of your style preferences and usually the seemingly random parts (clippings) work together to make a whole (style profile).

Another fun exercise is to take a few of the free "What is your style personality?" quizzes online.  The results you end up with that claim to define your "style" are by no means all-inclusive substantial style profiles, but they help to get you thinking and stimulate creativity.

Picture your perfect day: the locale, the people, the interactions, the weather, the colors, the scene, the activities.  Take into account your personality, what makes you laugh, what makes you cry, what is important to you, what you like, what you don't.  Now translate this into your look, into who you want to be today and the type of mood you are in and what clothes best represent that and you.  This is a similar thought process to the way designers come up with their style profile for a collection.  There is a story - in this case, the story is your life  There is also a theme - in this case, your style.  Then there is a collection - your closet.  You are the designer of your style.  How cool is that?!

Once you have completed these exercises and put some energy into thinking about your style, you will be one step closer to tapping into your naturally stylish self and walking the runway that is life.  Next I will move onto Rule #3.  We've gone over Rule #1 (Knowing Your Body) and Rule #2 (Knowing Your Style) and now it is time for Rule #3, which will deal with putting the two together - Making Your Style Work For You.

In the meantime, happy strutting and remember - fashion can be bought, style one possesses!

Image courtesy of La Dolce Vita.