Finding my personal style didn’t happen overnight. It was a journey filled with fashion mishaps, ill-fitting pieces, and a LOT of trial and error. There wasn’t a single moment where everything just clicked, it was something that just that kind of happened over time.
I didn’t truly discover my love for fashion until I was in high school, and even then, it was just the beginning stages of my journey. Back then, my style was heavily influenced by trends. If I saw something cute or popular, I wanted it. I would buy pieces simply because they were “in” without really thinking about whether they fit me, my body, my personality, or my lifestyle. And for a while that worked… until it didn’t.
That phase lasted longer than I expected. The crazy part is that my closet was full, but it still felt like I had nothing to wear. I was constantly chasing what was trending instead of understanding the basics of creating and outfit and what pieces actually made me feel confident.
As I got older and gained more life experience, things started to shift. I became more aware of what I genuinely liked versus what I was just influenced to like. I started paying attention to the colors I gravitated toward, the fits that made me feel comfortable, and the pieces that made me feel the most like myself.
I began to notice patterns of what I reached for the most, what stayed untouched in my closet, and what made me feel confident the moment I put it on. That’s when I realized that personal style isn’t about having more clothes or keeping up with every trend. It’s about understanding yourself. It’s about knowing what works for you, what reflects your personality, and what makes you feel your best without needing validation from what’s popular at the moment.
My style didn’t transform overnight, but piece by piece, it became more intentional. More me. And that’s the beauty of it, your style evolves as you do.
This outfit is a perfect example of my signature style: classic pieces, a defined silhouette, and one statement detail that makes the entire look feel like me. I love starting with timeless basics, like a button down and denim, then I love adding something unexpected, like a bold red pointed toe shoe, to give the outfit personality.
If you’re reading this and you relate to that overwhelming, nothing-to-wear feeling, I want to hold your hand as I say this, it’s not about needing more clothes. It’s not about needing more money or a bigger closet. It’s about discovery, It’s about giving yourself permission to figure out what your style actually is, not what it’s supposed to be. It doesn’t matter what others tell you to wear, it’s about how you feel in it, how it fits you, and whether it truly reflects who you are.
That journey changed everything for me. It changed how I shop, how I get dressed every morning, and honestly, how I move through the world. Style became less about performing and more about expressing. Less about fitting in and more about showing up fully as myself.
And that? That’s when getting dressed stopped being a chore and started being the best part of my day.
As time went on, The more I understood myself, the easier getting dressed became. And as a petite woman, that also meant learning the “rules” of petite dressing and then deciding which ones to follow, which ones to bend, and which ones to throw out entirely. Because personal style, at its core, is about owning your choices. Not apologizing for your proportions. Not trying to create the illusion of something you’re not. Just being fully, unapologetically yourself.
Another part of my journey to discovering my personal style is that I had to come to terms with accepting my body, learning to love it, not feeling ashamed of my flaws, and embracing myself as I am. I no longer wanted to use clothes to hide or cover up parts of me I didn’t like.
No matter where you are on your journey to finding your personal style, I’m here to help. Remember, nothing about this journey is permanent and you’re allowed to change your mind, evolve, and start over as many times as you need. Your style story is still being written and every chapter counts, even the ones that didn’t fit. And honestly, my personal style found me when I finally stopped running from myself.
Below I’ve listed some tips to help you on your personal style journey
Give Yourself Permission to Experiment
Your style won’t come together overnight and that’s okay. Try new combinations, mix textures, step outside your comfort zone a little. Some outfits won’t work, but that’s all part of the process.
Try Things On (and Be Honest About Fit)
Fit changes everything, let me say that agin, fit changes EVERYTHING! (this is where I’m switching my focus on during this part of my journey.) You can have the cutest piece, but if it doesn’t fit your body the way you like, you won’t wear it. Start paying attention to what actually flatters you and feels comfortable, not just what looks good on someone else because clothes are not one size fits all.
Stop Chasing Every Trend
Trends come and go fast, and trying to keep up with all of them will leave you confused. Instead, pick and choose what actually fits you. If it doesn’t align with who you are, skip it, no matter how popular it is.
Define How You Want to Feel
Style isn’t just about how you look, it’s about how you feel. Do you want to feel confident, effortless, bold, put together? Use that feeling as your guide when choosing outfits instead of just copying what you see online.
Pay Attention to What You Already Love
Before buying anything new, look at what you’re already wear consistently. What pieces do you reach for again and again? Is it certain colors, fits, or fabrics? Your current closet already holds clues to your style, you just have to pay attention.
Audit Your Closet
Pull everything out and only keep what makes you feel good when you put it on. If it doesn’t fit, flatter, or feel like you, let it go.
Create A Mood Board
Pinterest, Instagram saves etc., start collecting images of outfits that make you stop scrolling. You will start to notice a pattern.
Identify Your Lifestyle
Your style should work for your actual life, not a fantasy version of it. It’s easy to get inspired by outfits for vacations, events, or lifestyles you don’t live every day, but your wardrobe needs to support your real routine. Think about where you actually go, what you do, and what you need to feel comfortable and confident throughout your day. When you dress for your real life instead of an imagined one, getting dressed becomes easier, more practical, and much more aligned with who you are right now.
Learn Your Body
Take the time to understand your proportions and discover which silhouettes make you feel the most comfortable and confident. Don’t focus on what you’re “supposed” to wear based on fashion rules or your body type. Instead, pay attention to what you genuinely love wearing and what makes you feel like the best version of yourself. The most flattering outfit is the one that makes you feel confident every time you put it on.
Find Your Color Palette
By paying attention to the colors you naturally reach for and the ones that instantly light you up when you wear them. Notice which shades make your skin glow, boost your confidence, and feel the most “you.” Let those colors guide your wardrobe choices instead of forcing yourself into tones that don’t feel aligned. This becomes an easy starting point for building a more intentional and cohesive personal style.
Shop Intentionally
Slow down before you make a purchase and really check in with yourself. Ask whether the piece goes with at least three things you already own, and if it actually fits your current lifestyle and wardrobe. Most importantly, ask yourself if it feels like you, not just something that looks good in the moment. When you start shopping with intention instead of impulse, your closet becomes more cohesive, and getting dressed becomes so much easier.
Study Your Style Icons
By finding people whose style truly resonates with you and going beyond just liking their outfits. Get specific about what draws you in, whether it’s the colors they wear, the way their clothes fit, or the overall vibe they give off. Pay attention to patterns in what you consistently admire so you can understand your own preferences more clearly. This helps you gather inspiration in a way that actually translates into your personal style, not just copying looks.
Dress For Yourself First
By letting go of the pressure to please others or keep up with what’s trending. Ask yourself how it makes you feel when you wear it. Your confidence and comfort should always be the priority, because that’s what truly makes an outfit work. When you start dressing for yourself first, your style becomes more authentic, effortless, and aligned with who you are.
Document Your Outfits
By taking pictures of the looks you love. Over time, this becomes a visual library of your personal style and helps you see patterns in what you naturally gravitate toward. I also share my outfits on social media as a way to inspire others who are on their own style journey. It’s a simple habit, but it makes your growth more intentional and easier to understand.
Your Style Journey Starts Today
If there’s one thing I hope you take away from my story, it’s this: your personal style isn’t something you find in a store, magazine, or online. It’s something you discover within yourself.
And honestly, it won’t happen overnight, and that’s okay. Some days you’ll love your outfit. Other days you’ll wonder what you were thinking. Both are part of the journey.
The goal isn’t to have a perfect wardrobe. The goal is to create a wardrobe that supports the life you’re living today and helps you show up as the most confident version of yourself.
Remember, style isn’t about having the most expensive clothes or following every trend. It’s about feeling comfortable in your own skin and choosing pieces that reflect who you are, not who you think you’re supposed to be.
As your life changes, your style will change too. And that’s a beautiful thing. You’re allowed to evolve. You’re allowed to outgrow old versions of yourself. You’re allowed to change your mind.
So give yourself grace.
Experiment.
Play.
Get it wrong.
Try again.
Because every outfit teaches you something about yourself.
Your closet isn’t just full of clothes, it’s full of opportunities to tell your story.
And I can’t wait to see the one you create.
