Developing a personal style that feels authentic to you is a journey of self-expression and discovery. Your wardrobe should not only reflect your tastes and preferences but also embody who you are. Here’s a quick guide to help you create a wardrobe that resonates with your personality so you can feel comfortable and happy in your clothes.

Understanding Your Style

1. Reflect on Your Preferences: Start by identifying the colours, patterns, and styles that you are naturally drawn to. Consider what makes you feel confident and comfortable. If you generally feel comfortable in shades of black but want to eventually branch out, don’t worry—this is just a starting point. You don’t have to immediately go out of your comfort zone; you can start with a Black T-shirt and trousers and build the outfit up.

2. Identify Your Lifestyle Needs:Think about your daily activities and the environments you frequently go to. Your wardrobe should accommodate your lifestyle, whether professional, casual, or a mix of both. For example, if your job is quite active and you’re lifting and bending a lot, maybe you shouldn’t fill your wardrobe with Bardot dresses. Or your day takes you outdoors most of the time, as much as we’d love to be sunning it up in a hot country, if you’re ready for this from the UK, you’re probably going to have to think about some Jumpers.

3. Gather Inspiration:Look through fashion magazines, blogs (cheeky plug, but we happen to have several on this very LJ’s Website), or social media platforms, like our Daily Lives, to gather ideas. Even create a mood board with images that inspire you and reflect your ideal style. Sally loves to play around with outfits, so she often shares pictures of how she’s styled an outfit on our social media pages. Also, our LJ’s VIP page on Facebook has lots of LJ’s Customers sharing their Outfits to inspire you even more.

Building Your Wardrobe

1. Start with Basics: Invest in high-quality basics that form the foundation of your wardrobe. These include classic pieces like Plain Tank Tops like the Toni, a classic white shirt like the Davina, an everyday pair of Katya denim jeans, and black dresses like Reign that can be styled in multiple ways.

2. Add Statement Pieces: Incorporate items that make a statement and reflect your unique personality. This could be a bold jacket, a vibrant scarf, or a pair of standout shoes.

3. Mix and Match: Develop a versatile wardrobe by ensuring your pieces can be mixed and matched. This allows for creativity and flexibility in your outfit choices. For example, the Orlando 2-Piece Set can be an outfit in itself, mixed with another colour of the set, or paired with the trousers with a bodysuit or the top half with some jeans.

Expressing Your Personality

1. Incorporate Accessories: Use accessories to add a personal touch to your outfits. Jewellery, hats, and bags can significantly alter the vibe of your look.

2. Play with Colours and Patterns: Don’t avoid bold colours or interesting patterns if they resonate with you. These can be used to express different aspects of your personality. If you see an animal-print Jacket and you think, “I love that,” then try it! The worst that could happen is that you don’t like it as much, so take it back off and try something else. Or you might just find you’ve taken the plunge, and it looks Fabulous.

3. Stay True to Yourself: Avoid following trends that don’t align with your personal preferences. Fashion is about expressing who you are, not conforming to external expectations. Stiletto Shoes and big gold hoops might be all the rage, but if you’re uncomfortable in heels and your skin tone doesn’t work with gold, there’s no point forcing yourself to do it.

Maintaining Your Wardrobe

1. Regularly Edit and Update: Periodically review your wardrobe to remove items that no longer serve you. This makes space for new pieces that better reflect your evolving style. This is why wardrobe essentials are so important. They mean that when a season changes or your taste changes, you can always grow from that base layer.

2. Stay Open to Change: As you grow and change, so might your fashion tastes. Embrace this evolution and be open to experimenting with new styles. We don’t believe in this. I’m too old for this or too big for that. We think you should wear it if you like it and feel confident.

3. Prioritise Comfort and Confidence: Above all, your clothing should make you feel comfortable and confident. Choose pieces that align with your body type and personal comfort.

By understanding your preferences, building a versatile wardrobe, and expressing your unique personality through fashion, you can develop a genuine personal style. Remember, your style is an extension of yourself, so let it shine authentically.