It’s all about style isn’t it? Stylish home, stylish look, stylish life. Easier said than done. So what can we do to accomplish this? The main thing is to determine your perfect style. Determine the images that reflect your personal preferences. Everyone is different and has different views on things, so embrace this. Determine your ideal and bingo! You are half way there. Below you can find 5 easy steps to help you pinpoint the look you prefer. Remove the rest and make choices that support this throughout your life. Once you know your direction you can ignore the sidelines and the distractions.
Step 1: Look for the archetype
Next time you look at magazines, look for the archetypes of each era that still influence and define today’s looks. Look for:
- Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich or Josephine Baker from the 20’s and 30’s with All That Jazz and Art Deco.
- Any model portraying Christian Dior’s iconic New Look from the 50’s. See Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face and Grace Kelly in Hitchcock movies.
- Jackie O and Twiggy. Audrey Hepburn dressed by Givenchy. Look at the iconic scene of Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
- Then again, you might prefer the bohemian look from the 70’s, the groupie look or the glamorous Studio 54 influences.
- You might prefer the Old School prettiness of the Royals or the pop culture of Vivienne Westwood.
Step 2: Choose what you like
Choose the image you like best and keep it in your mind. Think about it and determine the elements that speak to you. Is it the colours, the shapes, the idea behind it? Do you want to feel sexy like Brigitte Bardot or pretty like Audrey Hepburn? Is the bohemian ease more you? Whatever it is, keep it close to your heart.
Step 3: Reality check part I
Well, now it’s time for the reality check. Take an honest look in the mirror and decide on your best bits. What do you love about your body that you can showcase with your true style? Forget about dieting, exercising, etc. Now, today how can your beautiful eyes smile more? Isolate the elements that flatter you and ignore the rest.
Step 4: Reality check part II
Look at your life style, your everyday activities, and your workplace. Look at who you are and who you want to be and balance the two. Balance them in a way that is the most flattering and the most respectful of your identity. No point investing in heels when your life involves running around all day. There are so many choices in sport shoes today, they can be as ornamented or as plain as you like.
Step 5: Discipline
Last point is discipline. Yes, discipline comes into this as well! Once you identify your look, stick to it. You buy nothing out of this spectrum of colours and shapes. This pays off in style and in money. You don’t end up with unfit pieces that don’t match with anything. Impulse buying can be uplifting, but treat it with scepticism. And don’t mix different styles together. Every piece has an identity; it belongs to a category. Nothing worse than a boho dress with a sharp jacket. You can mix and match options but they need to belong to the same category. Let your message be clear.
On a final note, pinpoint the image you like and have fun with it.
Let it be your signature, a point of reference for your choices. No style endeavour is going to be complete unless you look at your mind as well as your body. Make sure your choices respect your unique personality.
Make your dressing ritual a source of confidence that leads to a beautiful day.
And smile!
Evgenia's Writing Atelier 