How to Find Your Personal Style in the Age of Microtrends
In the age of fast fashion and microtrends, it can be difficult to distinguish between the styles you’re told to love and the styles you actually love. You may find yourself wondering, “do I like this mini skirt trend, or am I just seeing it all over social media?” Social media can be a bit of a double-edged sword when it comes to developing your personal style. On the one hand, it can be hard to decide what clothing items suit you when social media influencers and brands seem to be dictating what you should wear. On the other hand, social media is a great place to find outfit inspiration and learn about fashion. If you are facing this struggle and want to discover your personal style, follow the tips below.
Evaluate your current wardrobe
Your current wardrobe is a great starting point for discovering your style. Go through your closet and pick out the items you wear most frequently. Next, ask yourself these questions-
What do these articles of clothing have in common?
What do I like about these items? (the color, the material, the silhouette)
What brands are they?
Asking these questions will help you identify what styles of clothing you are drawn to and enjoy wearing. You can reverse this method and pick out your least worn clothes, asking yourself what it is about them that you do not like.
Create a fashion mood board
Another great way to discover what styles you like is to find images of outfits you love and create a mood board. Pinterest is a great spot to find inspiration. You can also search for images of celebrities whose fashion sense you admire. Remember, however, that social media is a double-edged sword. Don’t get caught up saving images of popular trends.
Wear and buy clothes that spark joy
You’ve likely heard organizing consultant Marie Kondo’s wise question, “Does this spark joy?” Kondo suggests holding up an item and if it sparks joy, you keep it, and if it doesn’t spark joy, you get rid of it. This concept applies to clothes. Fashion is supposed to be fun, and your clothes are supposed to make you feel confident. Using that logic, your personal style should consist of a collection of garments that make you feel your best. For some people that’s Louboutin heels, for others that’s Birkenstock sandals.
Shop second-hand
Buying clothing items to fill the gaps in your wardrobe is an essential part of developing your personal style. Shopping second-hand is super helpful because you can find one-of-a-kind pieces that are unique to your style. Buying second-hand and staying away from fast fashion brands also helps you avoid buying into microtrends.
Don’t confine yourself to a single aesthetic
Do not equate personal style with sticking to one specific look. If you have the mindset that you must stick to one way of dressing, you can get caught in the trap of buying items you don’t love simply because they “match your aesthetic.” The exciting thing about fashion is that you can experiment. If you love wearing neutral colors, for example, you can try out a nude athleisure outfit one day and an all-black, edgier look the next.
It can be tough to turn a blind eye to microtrends and seek out the clothes that speak to you. Follow these tips above, however, and you will be well on your way to finding your personal style in this age of microtrends.
