5 No-BS Ways to Develop Your Personal Style
Based on my 15-year fashion journey, here are ways to help you build your personal style, including tips you might be hearing for the first time!
I’ve been experimenting with fashion for fifteen years. I’m thirty years old now, so that’s half my life! When I started, there weren’t a lot of places you could get fashion inspiration, especially if you were looking for a more eclectic style.
Magazine stands were filled with Western print media, where skinny white women were centerfolds. TV didn’t help much either, mostly because we didn’t have cable! The only thing I did on the internet was scroll through Friendster—a popular social networking website in the Philippines, kind of like how MySpace was all the rage in America.
Fortunately, I found solace in Japanese fashion. I adored its maximalism! It was like a breath of fresh air.
That started my journey of experimenting with different styles and pieces. I might make a separate post about my fashion evolution, but today, I’m going to share what I’ve learned over the years.
From knowing what you want outside trends to building your fashion staples based on YOUR style—this is something people don’t often talk about!—these are my tips that will hopefully help anyone reading find their personal style.
1. Know what you want outside of trends
There are so many types of media you can get fashion inspiration from nowadays.
It’s not that hard to build an outfit when it’s as easy as typing “dress over pants style” on Pinterest.
And even if you’re not looking for fashion-related content, you might stumble upon a TikTok about the latest Onitsukas everyone’s hyping. It will almost make you want to say, “Yes, I want that!” But do you really?
We even have micro-trends that seem to pop up every week, and the more we are exposed to them, the more we’re hypnotized into thinking that’s what’s cool.
Do you really like it? vs. It’s just a trend!
First of all, don’t feel bad if you follow trends, especially if they make you happy. Criticizing you for it would make me such a hypocrite.
There are trends that I love, which I incorporate into my personal style, like bows and bag charms. I absolutely adore seeing women who are wearing the same things as I am, like, “Heck, yeah, I see you, girl!” It’s like we’re all in this little club together. Trust me—I get the allure!
However, I know some people feel like they’re victimized by trends, mostly because they spend a lot of money on pieces that they don’t feel like wearing anymore once they go out of style. Remember Jordan 1s? Yeah, me neither.
So, do you really like it or is it just a trend?
Here are ways to know!
Do you see yourself wearing it after 3 years?
If you said yes, there’s a big chance you really love the piece, not just because it’s a trend. That said, I know we can’t predict the future. Who knows, maybe you’ll find it tacky in three years, even if you said yes!
But you know what? That’s okay. You can make a “mistake” of buying a trendy item and not wearing it after a few years. That’s just how we learn sometimes!
However, it’s still important to ask ourselves if we think it’s something we can rewear over and over again. Be mindful of overconsumption!
Don’t rush into buying
Before diving in and buying what’s trending, give it time. This will give you a chance to think about whether you really like it.
When the initial excitement dies down and you feel like you don’t want to own it anymore, that means you might’ve just been influenced by seeing everyone wear it.
There’s nothing wrong with building your wardrobe slowly. You don’t need to have everything all at once. In fact, you don’t need to have everything—period.
Just buy one thing
For example, if the color yellow were to trend tomorrow and you want to start wearing it too, try buying just one yellow fashion item and see how you like it. You don’t have to buy a whole wardrobe all at once.
There’s also nothing wrong with building your wardrobe slowly. You don’t need to have everything all at once. In fact, you don’t need to have everything—period.
2. Try and try and try
Trial and error is the best way to figure out what you want.
I used to hate sleeveless tops. When I first started experimenting with them two years ago, I thought they were all the same—spaghetti straps, halters, tube tops—they were all just pieces of clothing that made me feel insecure.
However, after trying several styles, I realized I actually love tube tops. They show off my beautiful tattoos and with the tropical weather, it’s hard not to love them.
Eventually, I developed the same love for spaghetti straps and halter tops after realizing that I could rock them too!
You’ll never know unless you try.
Stop saying, “(XX) are so cute, but I don’t think I could ever pull them off!” The only one stopping you is yourself. Try one on—pronto. Believe me when I say, no one’s looking, no one’s judging. But even if they are, would you really let other people’s opinions stop you from living?
3. Buy something you feel excited styling
That cute dress you saw in a shop window that made you go inside and try it on? Yeah, you should definitely buy it!
Fashion should be fun, especially for those who like dressing up. So, if you feel excited about styling something, that’s a telltale sign that you really like it. And chances are, it’s something you’d wear over and over again.
Recently, I purchased my first designer piece—the Bijou De 02 from Gentle Monster’s Jewelry Collection. I think it’s a great example of buying something I’m excited to style. Before even purchasing it, I had already thought of hundreds of outfits it could go well with.
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Plus, it helps that it’s versatile. It can even work well as a necklace, thanks to the chain and claps attached to it.
4. Know your body
I don’t really believe in figuring out what shape your body is or what fruit it resembles. I’m an intuitive fashion girlie and I would rather try things myself rather than follow a formula because I personally think it’s too restrictive.
A lot of those rules say that I shouldn’t wear oversized pieces or I should cinch them because it’s “more flattering” that way. I beg to differ because I think they look good on me!
Some pieces are just meant to be oversized and that’s okay.
So, feel free to follow the rules, feel free to break them—it’s your choice, really! But know that no one can tell you what to wear and what not to wear. Relish in that freedom.
I can’t even tell you the last time I wore jeans. It’s time we collectively admit they’re so uncomfortable.
5. Build wardrobe staples based on your personal tastes
Okay, maybe now you can start building your wardrobe. When it comes down to it, it’s normal to have the basics first. But what are the basics?
A lot of people would tell you well-fitting jeans, a versatile little black dress, a crisp white shirt, maybe a statement jacket, and some good attitude to go well with them.
While this will work for some people, it won’t work for anyone—though the last part is definitely a must-have.
I can’t even tell you the last time I wore jeans. It’s time we collectively admit they’re so uncomfortable, so yeah—they’re not a staple for me and my style.
I have these chunky yellow Astro Boy-esque boots—no, not the one from MSCHF, but something similar—that have been a staple piece in my wardrobe. Whenever I feel like I have “nothing to wear,” I know my trusty cartoon-y footwear will be there to swoop in and save the day.
Maybe it’s the maximalism in me, but I think this can also apply even if you’re leaning toward simpler styles. You can have your own definition of versatility.
So, how do you know which ones are your staples? While I think this is better figured out on your own because we all have different tastes, here are some tips:
Know your color palette
I learned that I tend to lean more towards reds, pinks, blues, and greens. When choosing my wardrobe staples, I either pick those shades or colors that I think would complement them. That way, it’s be easy to style my staples with my other pieces!
Pretty neat, right? I know this isn’t really an original idea, but hey—it works!
Choose something comfy
Sometimes, choosing a wardrobe staple isn’t just based on what it looks like. You can also keep comfort in mind!
I have this striped green button-down I bought from an online thrift store and even I was surprised by how much it became a staple piece in my wardrobe. Whenever I’m having a bad body image day or I just can’t think of a stylish outfit, I like reaching for it.
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I also find it quite versatile. It matches other pieces in my wardrobe because most of my bottom wear is pink, red, blue, and white.
Consider your lifestyle
Are you an office worker? A digital nomad? An on-the-go-CEO by day and a party animal by night? Whatever drag you do daily will affect your wardrobe staples.
Since I work remotely and usually go out just to hang out at a cafe with my girlfriend, I like comfy pieces, which mostly mean pants or maxi skirts.
The skirt I’m wearing below was thrifted for 35 php, or 6 cents in USD. I usually reach for it because it’s so comfortable and versatile. Sometimes, I even wear it as a dress!
Conclusion
Overall, building your personal style requires trying different things. It doesn’t have to burn a hole in your wallet. You can simply try on several items in stores to see what you like or don’t like. It takes a few trials and errors to figure out what works best for you, and that’s totally normal. Look at me, it took me fifteen years to get to this point, and I’m just getting started. Don’t forget to have fun in the process. Fashion is meant to be fun, not restrictive. It should excite you and make you feel good. Otherwise, what’s the point?
I've always been so intrigued by your look so this was personally a treat to read!
Also just very affirming. Thank you for the gentle reminder that you should be wearing things that make you happy and that it's okay to keep trying things.
This is really helpful!