The A to Z Guide to Personal Style

“I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion, not for men.” ~ Marlene Dietrich

All the world’s a runway and we merely models on the catwalk. In our visual world, what we wear often says so much about us. Are you a prim & proper pearl-wearer or do you love leather & chains for a gritty edge? Finding and developing your personal style is key in showing the world who you are and what you’re about.

I tend to classify my style as Neo-Retro; a melding of the past with the spunk of today.  No matter what label you give your personal style it’s your calling card and it should be just that – personal. Wearing what’s natural, authentic and feels good for you is the first step in honing a truly curated style. And forgetting about the fashion mag style rules and listening to your own style barometer is the only way to true personal style.

And to have a little fun, here are 26 ways to perfect your personal style!

A  is for Attitude! Show off & show out. Decide what ‘tude you want to serve and let your style do the talking!

B is for Bells & Whistles; clothing is pretty standard; dresses, pants, tops. The devil is in the details and your accessories and little extras are icing on the style cake.

C is for Color: What color makes you feel your brightest? From rich reds to piercing blacks, wear it with a vengeance and work your power color!

D is for Decades: Is your style more 70′s than 40′s? More flappers than acid wash? Borrowing inspiration from the past is a great way to push your style forward!

E is for Experimentation; Take chances, commit sartorial suicide and have a great time with your style.

F is for Fit, Flair & Fun: Start with a great fit, add a bit of flair and most important; have fun!

G is for Guts and Gusto. Is there a dress you’ve been longing to wear but are afraid of its appropriateness? Screw the masses and wear what you love

H is for Hats & Hairdos! Nothing takes your style the extra mile than a topper or divine hair-do! Perfect your coif or don a hat, to take your style to new heights, literally

I is for Iris Afpel. The 91-year old is a fashion legend, known for her kooky patterns and barrage of accessories & signature glasses. Iris’s style is has been celebrated and is totally hers!

J is for Jovial Nature Developing your style is meant to be fun; not a rigorous fashion course. Have a good time, have sartorial snafus and don’t take yourself (or your fashion sense) too seriously!

K is for is Knowing Thyself: Knowing what you like is half the battle. Decide who you are and how your style will express that

L is for Loving your Wardrobe: My favorite saying is “Wear what you love.” If you’re not going gaga over a purchase, why buy it, let alone wear it.

M is for Maintaining your Style Mantra; whether it’s “less is more” or “bring on the glitz” your style mantra sums up your approach to style

N is for No Apologies, not for what you wear or why you wear it. Neither your life or sartorial choices are up for debate (see our Manifesto)

O is for Oufiting your Greatness. Women should wear the clothes, not let the clothes wear them. Your look should command attention without overpowering the dame within!

P is for Playing Dress Up. Put on your favorite dress up playlist and let your closet have it!

Q is for Quintessentially you! Who else would you be?

R is for Reinvention. Madonna isn’t the only mother of reinvention. Your style can & will evolve, grow and become more personal with each passing year

S is for Signature! Do you always wear a red bow or have an affinity for larger-than life cocktail rings? Having a signature piece, color or look will set you apart!

T is for Taking Risks; Flex your fashion muscle and wear something you (or anyone else) would ever expect.

U is for Understanding your Shape; there is a reason certain pieces work on certain body shapes; it’s not an evil Spanx plot. Understanding what works with your body will help you better clothe it.

V is for Vibrance, exuberance, flash, panache and all that jazz!

W is for Wearing Confidence: You’re never fully dressed unless you’re swathed in self-confidence

X is for  Xing out anything that doesn’t work. Point blank, period. If you hate wearing it, get rid of it.

Y is for Young at Heart, Forever with Style

Z is for Zeal. Dress with enthusiasm and you’ll feel (and be) your most best dressed self.

 

Whether you live for over the top style or prefer a more parred down ensemble, having fun with fashion and your style is key. Listening to dictates from fashion magazines is so yesteryear and today’s ladies know that the only trend to follow is the trend of our hearts.

How do you define your personal style?

developing your personal style, Fashion, fashion sense, Personal Style