Throughout the years my personal style has gone through several changes, and each shift in my aesthetic has usually corresponded with whatever season of life I was in at the time. From 90’s sweat suits, to Hollister cardigans and Areopostale t-shirts, to combat boots and plaid, to the bold and the avant garde, and finally to relaxed and minimalist, I’ve tried it all. While many of them were not great, each phase helped to bring me closer to the truest version of myself stylistically speaking. For me, clothing is about more than just functionality. It’s a form of creativity that allows me to express more about my personality and values to the world. So each time I get dressed, my clothing becomes a medium for others to see glimpses of who I am. This is my favorite part about cultivating personal style, but the truth is that it takes a lot of time, trial, and error. So in this post, I want to share some of my favorite tips, tricks, and pieces of advice to help you get the ball rolling and discover your own unique style too.

How to Find Your Personal Style

1. Take note of what you’re drawn to- Many times our personal style is influenced  by the things that we see around us. So the first step is just to become more aware. Then, when you see a cool outfit that you like or something that inspires you, take note of it and see if you can recreate it later on.

2. Just try things out- As mentioned before, I found my personal style through a lot of trial and error, and sometimes I got it really wrong. However, I was never afraid to just go for it and try things out. If it didn’t work out, then I simply wouldn’t do it again, and likewise, if it did, then I had another cool element to add into my aesthetic.

3. Drawn inspiration from others- The wonderful thing about fashion is that it is so collaborative and there are so many talented people out there to be inspired by. So I recommend finding people either in real life or even on social media who have aesthetics that you resonate with, and allow them to be your muse in terms of learning out to build your own look. 

4. Create style mood boards- Having a visual aid of the types of colors, textures, accessories, and articles of clothing that you like posted on a mood board can help you when you are trying to put together an entire cohesive wardrobe. This way you can shop for things with more focus and intention instead of just picking up whatever catches your eye.

5. Know the silhouettes that suit you best- As someone who now leans towards a more minimalist look, I find that I pay way more attention to the cut and silhouette of the clothing that I purchase. This is because it can really make a piece more interesting. Plus when your clothing has a good cut and silhouette, you will automatically look more chic and put together.

6. Learn what you're comfortable in- At the end of the day what you wear is all about what you feel good in. So, if you think you look good and you’re comfortable in whatever it is that you are wearing, then that is all that matters.

My Top Wardrobe Basics *For Women*

While everyone's wardrobe varies depending on their personal style, I do think that there are certain articles of clothing that everyone could benefit from, especially if they are looking to create a minimalist look. Some of my personal favorites are:

• High Waisted Mom Jeans

• High Waisted Skinny Jeans

• Monochromatic/Neutral Colored Shirts and Dresses

• Minimalist Gold Jewelry

• Black Belts

• Black Undergarments

• Neutral Colored Sandals and Shoes

Sustainable Ways to Build Your Wardrobe

1. Thrift shop- Thrifting is one of the most well known ways to build up your wardrobe in a cost effective and sustainable way because you can typically buy one of a kind original pieces at really low prices. I love thrifting because it gives me the opportunity to test out different looks without spending a ton of money. Plus, these days thrifting has lost most of its negative stigma. Since it’s all the rage now, you can thrift without shame.

2. Create A capsule wardrobe- If you are on the journey to living a minimalist life, or you just want to downsize the amount of stuff you have, then a capsule wardrobe may be the way to go for you. This is when you curate a small 35-40 piece collection of clothing that is versatile and enjoyable for you to wear, and stick to only wearing those pieces. Your capsule wardrobe should consist of a few necessary core items, some bottoms, some tops, a couple pairs of shoes, and a few accessories. This may seem limiting at first, but in the long run it will allow you to spend less time and money on picking out clothes, and it will push you to get creative. 

3. Buy, sell, trade stores- Recycle your gently used clothing at your local buy, sell, trade store and receive cash or store credit to put towards some new clothes. The amount of money or store credit that you are able to get back will vary from place to place, but this is still a great option to be able to update your wardrobe without spending any new money.

The most important thing to remember when developing your personal style is to just be yourself, and to stay true to you. For me as a believer, this looks like actively choosing to dress more modestly even when the world around me praises outfits that are more revealing. However, for you it could mean something completely different. Either way, the point is to maintain your sense of integrity no matter what. Beyond our daily attire, we can also choose to clothe ourselves in the word of God too. In Colossians 3:12 it says, 

 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” 

As we adorn ourselves with these fruits of the spirit, our connection to God becomes evident to others by the way that we live. Similar to how our physical clothes reveal aspects of our identity, God reveals himself through us whenever we choose to put on the spiritual garments of The Lord.