4 Tips for Discovering Your Own Authentic Style

You only need to spend a few moments checking out Instagram or Pinterest or just walking around a busy city center to see that all kinds of people out there are rocking all sorts of really cool, unique, and interesting styles.

Some people seem to be natural fashion pioneers, always showcasing a fabulous sense of what to wear. By exhibiting just the perfect amount of of self confidence, coordination, and pride in their sartorial choices, these fashion forward individuals are able to pull off some of the most fascinating runway worthy styles.

But there are also those who have not yet really discovered their own authentic style. Perhaps issues with self esteem are holding you back from truly expressing your genuine sense of style. Or maybe you just don’t know where to begin to create the perfect outfit that adequately showcases who you really are and the image that you want to portray.

It is quickly becoming common knowledge that the way you dress has an important impact on how you feel. And since we have to put clothes on every day before we walk out into the world, why not dress to feel great every time you see your own reflection. If you are struggling with finding your own person style, below are some inspiring tips that will help you more authentically express yourself through fashion.

1. Explore popular fashions without getting too fixated on originality.

When trying to create the ideal style template for yourself, it is easy to get a bit hung up on the idea of being original when exploring different fashion choices that are available to you.

But here’s the thing. We are all unique. Even if we are all wearing the same clothes, we will still style them in different ways that suit our personalities best. Even if you tried to completely copy someone else’s outfit, it is unlikely that you will look exactly like that person simply by virtue of your own individuality. Something will still be different and unique to yourself as we simply do not live in a world of identical automatons.

So while you are exploring different fashion choices, avoid getting stuck in the originality trap, that will come naturally. Instead, focus on finding the type of outfits that best portray who you are and what image you want to present to the world. If you don’t know where to begin, start with exploring current popular trends. There are an infinite number of trending styles at any given moment as the fashion industry is quite fickle, so you should be able to discover a few trends that really speak to you and your personality. When you discover a style that grabs your attention, it is worth exploring further to find out how it will fit into your own personal wardrobe.

If you want to get ahead of the fashion game and lead by example, you can begin by investigating things like fall outfits for 2019. We find inspiration in all sorts of places and as far as style inspiration goes, much of it will come directly from sources rooted in the fashion industry. You can look to fashion magazine, blogs, or Pinterest to find what is currently trending.

2. Be bold enough to experiment with styles that speak to you even if you have never tried them before.

When it comes to exploring and expressing your own personal style, diminished self confidence can really hinder you. You want to feel confidently yourself in your clothes. If the idea of wearing a particular outfit makes you feel extremely anxious, it is most likely because that style is just not in line with your personal taste. If an outfit or particular style makes you feel out of place or inappropriately dressed, then it is probably not the right style for you.

But there is also the possibility that you are simply afraid of going outside of your comfort zone when it comes to style choices. Don’t let this type of fear hold you back from expressing your authentic and fabulously stylish self. Self-consciousness and the fear of being judged negatively by others can wreak havoc on our self esteem which in turn inhibits our creative expression through our clothing choices.

But if you pay careful attention to what outfits and trends really speak to you, and get in tune with your own personal taste regardless of what others think, be bold and try them out. You are not stuck with these fashion decisions forever if you try a certain style and decide that you don’t really like it after all.

So if there is a trend that has really caught your attention and you are afraid to give it a try because it is outside of your comfort zone, start small. First put the outfit on at home and wear it around the house. As you become more comfortable, wear the outfit to run a few errands. Then be really bold and put together your favorite outfit that you only have dreamed of wearing in public and showcase it at a party or some other special event.

3. Focus on whether you like the outfit you are wearing, not whether you think other people will like it.

In psychological terms, an internal locus of control refers to the belief that you have control over the outcomes in your life as opposed to other people having control over these outcomes. Generally speaking, when people allow themselves to become seriously disheartened and paranoid about what they are wearing, it is usually because they are directing their attention outward rather than inward., being too concerned with the opinions of others rather than focusing on how it makes you feel.

If an outfit makes you feel good, if you like it, then you should focus on that and give it a try. If you choose instead to focus on the opinions of others about your style choices, the result will be unnecessary and unproductive stress and a moving away from expressing your true authentic self.

4. Find your favorite style icons and pay attention to what fashion choices they make.

Back to the idea of finding style inspiration. It has to come from somewhere, so honing in on your favorite style icons is an effective way to discover outfits that are worth trying out. If there is a particular fashion icon that you see often on television, in movies, online, or in magazines and you always admire their sense of style, then it is time to pay attention to the details in their outfits and start experimenting with replicating some of it in the way that you dress.

Keep in mind that not all styles work for all people. There may be a style that you love to look at on someone else, but it just may not work or you. Give it a try and see what happens. If it isn’t for you, that’s okay. But you may be surprised and discover a whole new side of yourself that you never knew existed. You’ll never know unless you try. And great things happen when you step outside of your comfort zone.

Have you ever tried a certain style that you were unsure of and then found out it was one of your favorites? A true expression of your authentic self?

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

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