The one thing I regret the most about wearing a uniform in high school was that I never had the opportunity to really think about my personal style.

I always look back, thinking if I had been given more freedom, I might’ve been more comfortable and sure of myself. I’m sure you’ve all felt the same way at one point or another. Who am I? What do I like? Who do I want to be?

An aesthetic isn’t something you should necessarily focus on, but nowadays it’s becoming so popular that you kind of want to see what niche you fit into.

Are you grunge or preppy or bohemian? The titles are endless. It is also just as fun to find your own personal style, one that can’t really be tied to anything but yourself.

When I look back to my first year of university, my clothing choices were so…not me. They weren’t bad, so to speak, they were just random.

I think I’m finally at a place where I understand myself better and know what I like; how I want to dress and present myself. But it has been a long process, one of continual changing, tossing out clothes and buying new items.

I thought I’d share my process that helped me to find my own personal style. I guess my hope is that it’ll help jump-start your own journey, if you are trying to figure out this sort of thing. So, let’s get into it!

Comfort is better than looking good

Soft is better than scratchy. Loose-fitting is better than tight. Breathable is better that suffocating. You should try to wear items that emphasize comfort more than how it looks.

If you’re going to spend at least 8 hours wearing it, you want to do it with a smile on your face instead of a scowl.

You’d be surprised how easy it is to find comfortable clothes that also look really pretty. For instance, I lean more towards linen and corduroy than denim items. It’s more comfortable and movable; I can wear them at home or out and about.

Items that compliment your body type

I have a story for this one. Whenever I go into this one store and try on a pair of jeans it never fits perfectly even though it is the right size. I’ve discovered that the pants there are better-suited for tall women instead of women of average-to-short heights.

Also, being a girl of curvier form, I’ve realized that baggy tee shirts or sweaters don’t look as nice on me; not the way I want them to. So, I aim for cropped tee shirts and sweaters instead, as they compliment the curves of my hips and so one.

At the end of the day, you should always wear whatever you want if it makes you happy. But I have learned as well that fitting your clothing pieces to your body type makes the whole ensemble look better, therefor increasing your confidence.

A color/pattern palette to narrow it down

If you like pastels, you might not want to pair them with bright neon colours. If you like floral prints, you might not want to match them to bold patterns like checkerboards or stripes. If you like gold, dainty necklaces, you might not want to wear them alongside chunky chains or spikes.

There are many ways you can find your ideal color palette for your wardrobe. First, you can empty out all your clothes on the bed and sort them into piles based on color or style.

Second, you can create a visual/mood board of colours and clothing items. The key is finding what catches your eye, and what looks cohesive when you put it all together.

For instance, I like to pair warm, darker colours together; dark yellow and red, forest green and maroon, chestnut brown and navy blue. With a little bit of vintage floral prints thrown into it and minimalist tee shirts.

Signature pieces that show your quirks

A great way to find your signature piece is to accessorize to your heart’s content. Do you have jewelry items that you always wear on instinct? A hat you never leave the house without?

Or perhaps you’re like me and you always roll up your jeans to show off your eccentric, patterned socks.

These little accessory quirks show off your personality through your clothes. I like to think about Luna Lovegood from “Harry Potter”; how she used to wear butter-beer cap necklaces and always wore her wand tucked behind her ear.

Some more ideas could be a belt, scrunchie, hair clip, scarf, handbag, shoe laces, rings, and glasses.

Find your sources and stick to them

You know how some people have coffee shops they regularly visit? You can do the same thing with where you choose to find new clothes.

If one place has clothing items you really like, they’re bound to keep restocking similar things in the future. These can be department stores, brands, online stores, thrift shops, and even relatives with hand-me-downs.

Jot down, save photos, make collages

There are so many ways to find inspiration to cultivate your personal style and wardrobe. One of my favourite things to do is create boards on Pinterest. Later, I might scroll through it for outfit inspiration; see which ensembles I can recreate.

Another thing you can try is following your style icons on social media like YouTube or Instagram. While you don’t want to copy other people’s styles, seeing their photos and watching their videos is a neat way to get excited about fashion and styling your own clothes.

On so many occasions I will see themed look-books on social media. Now I want to create my own themed look-books in the next few months.

Don’t be afraid to dress like a cartoon character

While social media is a great source of aesthetic inspiration, it is sometimes overwhelming. There are moments when I see how other people dress and I feel like I have to have such a curated, versatile, large closet.

It’s totally okay if that’s what you want to do; if you want to wear lots of different things. It is also just as fine to only wear certain things you like.

So, if you wear a lot of similar outfit combinations, don’t shy away from it. it is every kid’s dream to dress like a cartoon character at one point or another. I know I am happily guilty of it on more than one occasion.

If you only like wearing black clothes, wear them. if you like to wear jumpsuits or overalls every day, wear them. If you like wearing cute tee shirts and shorts like me, wear them!

This is just another element of your closet that shows your personality and quirks, and you shouldn’t shy away from it.

Also, be yourself and not anyone else!

While it is a great idea to find your style inspiration from other sources such as photos and videos, you shouldn’t want to copy that other person’s style. Because then you wouldn’t look like you.

Just have fun with it and don’t put pressure on yourself to look a certain way, emulate a certain image. After all, fashion is meant to be fun. Aesthetic is meant to be fun.

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