Develop your own signature style
January 25th, 2008I encourage my clients to create an individual stamp by throwing that “something special” into their clothing and accessory mix. Style is a celebration of individuality and no-one should look like a cookie-cutter version of someone else.
This “something special” can be one thing, or it can be a multitude of things. It can also be a decision to refrain from wearing something. For example, I intentionally never wear earrings or bracelets. I prefer to make a statement with specs and necklaces. And when it comes to necklaces, I’ll narrow down my selection to some form of funky pearl and virtually nothing else.
There are countless ways to introduce a personal stamp. Some people choose to wear a lot of one particular colour in their clothing or accessories. Others add an ethnic flavour or stick to neutrals. You might like to be adventurous with many colours, or wear lots of vintage clothing. Perhaps you’re known for dramatic hairstyle changes, wearing a scarf every day, opting for dresses instead of pants or sticking to classic, clean-cut clothing. Your personal stamp can and should evolve over time.
This is how people create a recognizable signature style. After all, personal style begins and ends with a strong sense of yourself.
I’d love to hear about your signature style in the comments, or on the forum.
January 25th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Most of my wardrobe is very basic clothing, which I pair with interesting accessories. Scarves, jewellery, handbags, bold specs, shoes, and even the occasional hat. I feel more comfortable wearing statement accessories and relatively neutral clothing. I just find it easier to feel put together that way, because I’m not terribly good at working with complicated clothing.
January 25th, 2008 at 9:51 am
I change my hair almost every time I get it cut or colored. I think it’s a good way to keep thing fresh and have fun with it. I love the reactions I get when I go from blonde to brunette…and it’s even funnier when people don’t notice.
January 25th, 2008 at 9:54 am
I love the sound of your style Lannie. I cannot stress enough how accessories make the outfit (and I include shoes and bags into the accessory category). The style of your specs, the shape of your bag the scale of your jewelry and the heel on your shoe speaks volumes about your personal style.
And you’re known for dramatic hairstyle changes Meg. Super!
January 25th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Most of my clothing is basic and I’ve been skewing towards buying alot of black lately so I rely on my accessories as well to liven up my outfits. I bought a rust/brown/orange pashmina style scarf in Italy and have been wearing it non-stop to punch up my black basics. I also love necklaces, I used to buy shoes but ran out of room in my closet so now I buy necklaces I never seem to have enough, my favorites are from Target or Forever 21. I also invested in a pair of statement specs and now I actually look forward to wearing my glasses and don’t really have to accessorize when I’m wearing them. Small details really add to your signature style.
January 25th, 2008 at 11:12 am
I choose to wear glasses too and have a few pairs that I alternate depending on my outfit.
Angie - would you do a post for stylish spec wearers? I’d really appreciate some tips for when I go shopping for my next pair!
January 25th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Under Angie’s coaching I’m pushing the envelope for me and trying different things. Not sure what “my style” or signature is yet. I think I’m classic–but I do love the dramatic. I also love sophisticated casual. I’m searching or maybe I just like lots of variety. Hey, maybe variety is a style!
January 25th, 2008 at 11:34 am
This is a very interesting post. It’s got me to thinking. My natural tendencies are to dress very plain. I’m a jeans and t-shirt kinda gal. I’m talking fitted t-shirts often with a v-neck, and stylish designer jeans. For winter, fine-knit sweaters or long-sleeve t-shirts and jeans. For dress-up, black dress slacks, and a fine-gauge sweater or in the summer, a tank-style sweater. I’m not afraid of bright colors, like a bright pink sweater with jeans, but my basic look is jeans or slacks with a T or sweater on top. I’m not a huge fan of layering, although I do have a few denim jackets I like to throw on with a patterned skirt and tank for church in the summer.
Lately I’ve been trying to change it up a bit b/c I feel like my “uniform” must be so boring. But the truth is, it just works for me. Where I do enjoy venturing out a bit is with handbags and lately with shoes as well. I have some great bags, and I’ve always enjoyed bright colored and patterned handbags. I’m wondering if THAT is where my signature style is and maybe I don’t need to worry so much about putting more variety in my pants and tops.
So this mega-long post is basically a simple question. Can handbags and occasionally shoes be that “something special”??
As far as other accessories are concerned, I’m afraid I’m pretty boring there as well. I generally wear diamond stud earrings and call it a day. (Plus my wedding rings and a sapphire and diamond anniversary band on right hand.) Again, I”ve been feeling like I should try to invest in some more interesting pieces, but this post is making me think maybe those pieces ARE my signature style.
Thoughts? Sorry I just wrote a book!
January 25th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
i don’t really think in terms of “something special” — i (try to) think about getting something well-designed even in minor items, i.e. not just buying something bland bc i need a pair of pants or a cami or whatever. angie, you had a post about sleeveless vs. cap sleeves which was really eye opening to me, and i think that sort of attention to small details is more what i try to learn about and pay attention to. when i think of really well-dressed women like jackie o, it’s the coherence of the whole look that i admire rather than one individual piece.
January 26th, 2008 at 11:52 am
It goes without saying that it’s “the overall appearance” of a well dressed man or woman that makes them stylish. Breaking style down into tangible bits that can be applied is how everyday people can accomplish a stylish appearance, and creating an individual stamp is merely one of the elements.
Of course handbags and shoes can be that “something special”, but to m’s point, you can’t look fab if you’re badly dressed but wear the best shoes and handbag.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Hey Angie! I’ve been lurking around and reading your blog which I just recently discovered. Since last week or so, I’ve read lots of your archived posts and they’re all so interesting and intelligent. This is one of the most incredibly insightful, well-organized fashion blogs I’ve read! Consider me your newest long-term fan
Boots, boots, boots. My signature style is definitely tall (flat) boots during fall, winter, and part of spring. I’m also one to pick flowing tunics and leggings over jeans and blouses anyday…I’m just a dressy person in general (even out to the supermarket or running errands). And when I am wearing jeans, they are dark skinnies (I’m what you call a ‘racy rectangle’). Not sure if those are “stamps”, but they are definitely my personal fashion patterns.
Oh and just one question I’ve been wondering—when is the time of year that a lot of outerwear goes on sale? I’ve been looking to invest in a timeless, classy peacoat for some time now, but the prices are a little steep for a student like me.
January 27th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Heya. Love your blog, but irked by this post.
Not trying to be snarky, but why do you have to mention this to clients? Doesn’t “personal style” naturally emerge in what a person likes, the pieces they favor, the colors and styles they naturally veer towards? It seems a bit trite to “throw something special” in, like boots or necklaces or scarves or what-not, as if style can be manufactured with a few rules or add-ons or removals.
Surely everyone’s got a personal style organically, to some degree? This feels like one of those rules that “What Not to Wear” would tout. Sure, Clinton and Stacy know what suits a woman’s figure, but everyone ends up looking the same (shiny straight hair, wrap dress, trouser jean), with one manufactured “personal style” element tacked on, be it scarves, boots, whatever. Slightly dull.
January 27th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
i have to say that my style is also quite bland ( like dcrmom) but works for me. i’m a denim girl and favor some type of jacket over a fitted crew neck shirt of some kind. I don’t have a “signature” piece…it just somehow works and i’m told that it looks good on me. What i do have is a signature smell. I have worn the same perfume for almost 10 years now - i have tried other scents, but keep coming back to the same one. I have had many different people ask me about the scent over the years and have been told that without it, i don’t seem to be, well, me.
January 27th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
All outerwear is currently on sale Wendy. It went on else the day after Christmas. If you can find your size in what you love, now is the best time to buy coats despite the fact that stocks are limited.
Some people bring an element of their own organic personal style into their ensemble mix, often without realizing it Lex, while others don’t. It’s interesting to think about what that something special is if you weren’t conscious of it. In other instances it’s fun to evolve that something special to the next level so that we continue to celebrate our individuality. It’s not a rule, it’s more like a playful aspect of your style that you’ve identified.
January 27th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
It’s been interesting to read the comments. My wardrobe has been going through a lot of change, so I’ve been feeling like I’m floundering for personal style a bit. But this post got me thinking…
I guess my signature style is that I wear skirts as a main staple instead of pants, and wear jeans once in a while (the way most people wear their skirts) with a dress or tunic. I never really thought of that as anything special until now, just because women wearing skirts is really common in the circles I grew up in, but now I realize that it really does make a style statement. I like that.
Thanks, Angie!
Oh, and brown. I always feel fabulous in chocolate brown, even if it’s just a t-shirt, so there’s a lot of it in my wardrobe (I have to consciously try not to buy everything in brown). And it’s natural with my other favorites of earthy greens and fresh pinks.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Well I have 2 key looks. I am a shoe-oholic. My signature shoe: pointy toed flats. But on occasion I will vary with pointy toed heels of boots and rarely a round toe flat.
My friend’s can spot my shoes a mile away.
In terms of clothing, I am pretty classic/basic and tend to stick to classic shapes, solid colors and sometimes a classic pattern. There are many new trends out there I am trying out (like the trapeze) but overall I tend to go back to colorful t-shirts, cardigans and classic pants or pencil skirts.
January 28th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Now that you mentioned it I like to wear earrings, big ones, as my only jewelry my cloth is mostly solid colors and I specially like black. I colored my hair black and I love the contrast of the earrings with it. I have been adding rings to match and I am liking it. Never wear necklaces!!
February 4th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I’ve wondered a thousand times about the subject of this post, and I never reach the same conclusion.
I look at my mother and my mother in law, and they DO have their styles each, but I always wish they tried a little change… I wish my mother would wear happier colors (it’s ok with blue, gray and black, but that’s TOO much), and my mother in law would understand once for all that her skirts are not timeless, are unfashionable and unflattering, and she should wear only trousers.
But, should I say my thoughts aloud? Who are they wearing they clothes for? Me, people in general, or themselves? I wouldn’t like to hurt them, but who wouldn’t feel hurt if someone very close (like a daughter) says things as such?
My definite thought is: if I don’t like what they wear, they probably don’t what I do. So I keep comments to myself, unless someone asks my opinion.