What Style Means to Me & How to Find Your Signature Look

When you think of style or someone that has a good sense of style, the first thing that most likely comes to your mind is a person, maybe a friend or celebrity, that is up-to-date on all of the latest trends, or maybe it's the polished, over the top looks that grace the glossy pages of magazines. While this could all be very true, over the past five years I've learned style is so much more than that.

To me, style is a form of expression; it's an extension of our personality. I truly believe what you wear plays a huge part in how you represent yourself to others. While there are certain styles that are more popular than others, you don't need to look like you just walked off the pages of Vogue to have a good sense of style.

Having a good sense of style means you feel confident in what you're wearing, and it expresses who you are or how you feel. I have to admit, having an idea of what colors and silhouettes best suits you can help out a little too. Oh, and a little side note, I'd love to write a post on this if you're interested! Now that I've establish how I understand style, it's time to find your personal style!

Discovering your personal style takes a little trial and error, but it's seriously such a fun adventure! I definitely have had my style misses. Think: Juicy Couture tracksuits, neon peace sign t-shirts, and a plethora of brightly colored skinny jeans. Through it all, I discovered what kinds of shapes, silhouettes, and colors I felt the most comfortable and confident in, and found a wardrobe that is 100 percent me.

My Style: 

I describe my style as romantic and girly with pops of Disney. I wear a lot of pink, pastel hues, and gravitate towards pieces that are very delicate like chiffon and lace. I love bows, floral prints, and polka dots too! You'll rarely see me dressed in all black, but I definitely break out the darker colors like burgundy and black during the fall time. Oh, and I love a nice bright red; that's the Minnie Style in me. For accessories, I love dainty pieces like a simple necklace and pearl earrings, and a headband or hair bow is usually my go-to. I'm a big fan of the 1950's, my favorite silhouette is an A-line dress; I just love love love Christian Dior's "The New Look." It's probably no surprise to you that I wear dresses and skirts way more than pants, but I like to be comfy too, so I don't shy away from leggings. This may sound cliché, but I found my personal style by simply wearing what makes me happy. Check out my tips below to help you figure out your personal style too!

1. Pick a Color Palette

Picking a set of four or five colors that you fill most of your wardrobe with is a great place to start. Now, I'm not saying only wear the same four colors for the rest of your life, but this will make creating a cohesive style way easier.  When I started to figure out what style I liked the most, I went through phases wear I'd find myself buying a lot of blush pink, then mint green, and then light lilac. Before I knew it, I had a cohesive closet full of pastel hues and prints that worked together.

When I stick with pinks, pastel hues, and the occasional bright red, this makes shopping pretty easy. New clothes I buy are able to fit into my wardrobe pretty seamlessly and I'll have a variety of options to wear with it. 

2. Choose a Style Icon

Is there a certain celebrity's style you're always drooling over? A designer you can't get enough of? A specific time period you're completely obsessed with? Finding a style icon will spark inspiration when it comes to shopping and picking out new looks. I love Audrey Hepburn's classic, elegant, and feminine style. I'm constantly drawing inspiration from Taylor Swift. Her vintage, girly vibe is seriously #StyleGoals for me. Sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in the Speak Now era, but I don't think that's such a bad thing. Also, Ariana Grande's style from 2013, you know the girly 1950's looks she was always sporting, yeah, I'm sure it's no surprise I adore those too. 

3. Discover Your Shape 

Finding a silhouette that you feel comfortable in is crucial. I mean, this is essentially the foundation of your outfit. Maybe you're a boho girl and love flowy babydoll dresses, or you love a crisp clean look and want to stick to tailored pieces and defined lines. Hey, you may even love accenting a certain body part, who knows? Whether you gravitate towards one way or the other, it's easiest if you figure this out in the beginning. I love accenting my waist and like having an hourglass silhouette to my looks. Because of this, I'm drawn towards highwaisted pieces that represent Christian Dior's "The New Look." 

With these three tips, you'll be on your way to truly finding your dream style!