At a certain point in one’s life, the stage of mimicking current fashion trends has come to an end and it is time to establish your own look. In this article I will share with you 5 rules to assist you in your query of how to develop personal style, however, the way you present yourself should be reflective of your own taste and sensibilities.

Foreward:

To set the tone for today’s article, I would like to begin with a few quotes that reflect the sentiment one should have when asking themselves how to develop personal style.

“A man should look as if he bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care, and then forgotten all about them.” – Hardy Amies

Now this quote needn’t be gender-specific, the sentiment applies to all. If you make the right decision in your purchase of an outfit and take the time to make yourself look good before you head out, it should not be of any concern to you throughout the day. When considering how to develop personal style, a good rule of thumb is if you feel self conscious walking around in the clothes that you have on, take that as a sign that you aren’t wearing something true to your nature.

“Always dress like you are going to see your worst enemy” – Kimora Lee Simmons

Who is the person that we most want to impress and intimidate? In who’s eyes do we want to be seen as a force to be reckoned with? As a put-together individual with a strong sense of self? Maybe it’s your worst enemy, maybe it’s a person who you wish to court. Either way, it’s a good idea to imagine that person when considering how to develop personal style. You just might find yourself in a situation where they are.

“To me, clothing is a form of self-expression – there are hints about who you are in what you wear.” -Marc Jacobs

Herein lies the key on how to develop personal style. Understand that the way you present yourself outwardly is, to those viewing you, a reflection of who you are inside. This doesn’t necessarily mean you must present yourself honestly, only that you must consider how it is that you want to be presented.

Rule 1: Create a colour palette

When thinking on how to develop personal style, A good place to start is the colour wheel. It’s good to know which colours look good on you, and which ones you should avoid. All of this is dependant on skin tone, hair colour, and most importantly, your own eye. If you like certain colours, you will feel more confident while wearing them. Confidence is something that you want to integrate into your style, so take note of which colours make bring out that feeling in you.

I would recommend that you pick 3-5 colours to begin with and start designing your wardrobe around those. This consistency will give you more room to play with other aspects of your style. Too many colours creates an air of confusion and disarray. Unless that is what you are going for, it’s best to limit the amount of colours you wear.

Perhaps you are an extremely colourful person, and you don’t want to limit yourself to as few as 5. Perhaps, to feel comfortable and true to yourself, you need to be able to tap into the full grid of seeable colour. If that is route you are going down, create consistency in other aspects of your style to balance out the inconsistency of your hues. For example, wear the same style of shirts, or dresses, or suits, making colour the only variable factor.

If you don’t know where to begin in regards to colour, start with black and white, and add small accents until you find a colour that you want to give more space in your look.

Rule 2: Start small – build sustainably

When beginning to build your wardrobe, don’t go overboard right off the bat. Developing style takes time, so it’s best to start small. If you walk in to a store and purchase 10 pairs of pants, 18 shirts, and 26 shoes, chances are you aren’t going to wear the majority of them within the year. Be picky, start with the basics, and incorporate more daring themes as you go.

Where you go with this really depends on the types of clothing that you like to wear. If you like jeans, or slacks, you really only need a couple of good pairs to begin with. Enough that you can maintain cleanliness and not ware them out too quickly. The same applies to skirts or blazers. You want to have enough variability that you aren’t wearing the exact same items every day, but you don’t need to have an endless and overwhelming wardrobe.

When it comes to accessories, I feel this rule applies most strongly. When figuring out your style, don’t go overboard on accessorizing. Start with one item and build from there. If you have a watch, emphasize the watch. Having too much jewelry without direction just appears scattered.

Rule 3: Consider functionality

How to develop personal style depends heavily on your lifestyle. Remember, you have to wear your clothes as you go about your day. You don’t want your outfit to inhibit the activities you are going to participate in. Take that into consideration when designing your wardrobe. If your lifestyle is one that is full of activity, let your clothing reflect that. If you must be able to move quickly and work up a sweat multiple times a day, stuffy, restricting clothes are a poor choice.

Regardless of lifestyle, you can develop a unique and personal style that is both functional and attractive. We spend much of our time at work, and unless there is a strict uniform, you have opportunity to establish yourself as an individual. From tradesmen to office worker, consider how you can incorporate comfort and style into your work clothes.

Rule 4: Add accent

At certain events or occasions, you may want to elevate your style out of the usual. You don’t necessarily have to reinvent your look, or have a special outfit for these occasions. Think of how you might accent your already existing outfit. For example, if you tend to wear collared shirts, add a bold tie. Wear a new piece of jewelry that requires more attention than your usual accessory. Even style your hair in a suddenly different way. These accents say a lot without doing a lot.

As usual, be sure you are comfortable with this new accent. If it shakes your confidence and ability to carry yourself, don’t add it. All that you have gained by mixing things up will be lost in your change of demeanour.

Rule 5: Practice

Developing style takes practice, and it cannot be done in a vacuum. You must try things out, bring them into the world, and evaluate how you feel. Through trial and error you will begin to shape your style until it becomes less about your clothing and more about how you walk, talk, and act. With youth comes the opportunity to try bold new things, even if you may laugh at them later on in life. As you age, you will become more sure of yourself and have more of a concept of what works.

Don’t be turned off from failing stylistically. The reality is, no one is the authority on good style. It’s known when it’s seen. Do what feels right to you, and present yourself in the way you want the world to see you. Many people who criticize the style of others do so because they lack style themselves, and would never be bold enough to try anything other than whats agreed to be acceptable by the majority. Pay no mind to those people, there are benefits to getting under peoples skin.

In Conclusion:

Style is how we present ourselves to the world. It’s good to question how to develop personal style, as taking time to curate a wardrobe is a necessary step in adulthood, and if done properly will help you stand out in the eyes of others. You should start minimal, with a few colours that suit you and a few items that hold quality, and grow your wardrobe as you develop your style. Use accents and bold items when you feel it necessary, and most importantly; practice your style out in the world.

Authors Note:

I thought I’d take a break from this weeks philosophical discussions and write about something more light and practical. After all, if one spends too much time staring into the abyss, it tends to stare back. Speaking of which, Friedrich Nietzche had impeccable style, just look at that moustache:

This being the fourth entry into the House of Lamont, I hope you are beginning to get a feel for the quality that I will bring to the table each time. I don’t use ChatGPT or other forms of AI to write my content. I am choosing topics that I am interested in and that I hope you are also intrigued by. I do hope that you share any comments, concerns or questions with me. I hope to make this a conversation.