ELEMENTS OF STYLE
I am Imani Smith and I’ve been a freelance wardrobe stylist in the Greater Cincinnati area since 2011. Self-expression is the cornerstone of my life, and my favorite way to express myself is through my personal style. My personal style consists of so much more than just clothing, it’s everything from the art in my home, to the gift wrap that I choose, down to the color of my nails. Style is serious business. It’s not always the easiest concept to grasp, especially if you’re not a stylist by trade. Of the numerous dictionary definitions of the word style, I prefer to focus on “a distinctive manner or custom of behaving or conducting oneself.”
Respected celebrity stylist and designer Rachel Zoe’s observation of style is often quoted at cliché levels: “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak”. Clichés only become clichés if they are true, and this quote fits the bill. As we all know, fashion is a billion dollar industry. You can very easily spend your entire Saturday afternoon (and paycheck) at your local mall and become an instant consumer of fashion. Unlike fashion, style is not something that can be purchased. In order to develop and maintain a strong sense of style, it takes a little work. If you’re interested in putting together more cohesive and impactful looks for yourself, follow my high-level guide to the elements of style.
A SENSE OF SELFHow do you feel? Your sense of self can be determined in a number of ways. In my opinion, maintaining a sense of self is about simply checking in with yourself on a regular basis, and knowing who you are. It’s easy to assume that you prefer a certain color or style of dress, and think that those preferences are the end all, be all. If you haven’t checked in with yourself recently, or asked yourself what your current thoughts and feelings are, your opinions may have changed. With the passage of time, we all have new experiences which often result in a change of perspective. With all of your new growth and perspective, you may find yourself feeling differently about things you may have scoffed at in the past. Stay in touch with yourself because you might learn something new!
CONFIDENCE
The second element of style transcends clothing. Confidence impacts every single facet of our lives. When you hear people throw around the term ‘pulling it off’ it’s a direct reference to confidence. With uncertainty, fear and shame comes an overall lack of confidence. True confidence is built on a foundation of high self-esteem and unconditional love for oneself. This means loving your body, your quirks and even the things that you wish you could change about yourself. You don’t have to like everything about yourself, but you do have to love everything about yourself- it’s what makes you, you. Confidence doesn’t just appear overnight, nor can it be purchased, contrary to popular belief. If you’re currently low on general confidence, building confidence in your wardrobe is an easy place to start.
Building confidence can begin with making a series of small choices (do you like the red sweater or the green sweater better?) and being comfortable with those choices. When observing your choices, they become preferences. Being aware of your preferences contributes to your sense of self. A strong sense of self enables you to be more decisive. Decisiveness when styling yourself is the most direct route to ‘pulling it off’. When each component of your look is a piece that you chose because you loved it, you can be confident that your style is all your own.
QUALITY VS QUANTITY
Would you rather have a closet overflowing with dated, ill fitting, cheaply made pieces OR a curated selection of pieces perfectly suited for your lifestyle needs that you can’t wait to wear? I hope the latter was more captivating. Having too many clothes can become overwhelming. A high quantity of clothing, shoes and accessories does not directly translate to a high quality of style.
If something no longer fits you properly, is damaged beyond repair or hasn’t been worn in over a year that item no longer serves your wardrobe and it must go. It’s easy to hold onto something for sentimental reasons, or because you love it or even because it was an expensive purchase. All of those reasons lose their meaning when every time you challenge yourself with the task of getting dressed you find that you have ‘nothing to wear.’ Don’t be afraid to let things go! Fill your wardrobe with well-constructed pieces that will serve you over a long period of time. Working with a stylist can help you determine what kinds of pieces are essentials to a well-rounded wardrobe.
AN UNDERSTANDING OF CLOTHING
When it comes to shopping, it’s important to understand that clothing isn’t always designed with YOUR particular body type in mind. That doesn’t mean that your body is the problem, it simply means that your garments may need to be altered. It’s just that simple! Don’t take it personally if a pair of jeans doesn’t fit you right off the rack. If alterations aren’t in your budget, try shopping at a different store. The sizes of mass produced clothing vary so drastically from brand to brand that it’s almost unbelievable. If it fits you properly, is well made and you like the way that it looks there’s no sense in getting caught up in the size of your clothing. Never let anything as trivial as numbers on a tag define your self-worth.
In regard to clothing, it is also important to understand that fashion is cyclical. This means that everything old eventually becomes new again (whether we want it to or not). When applying this logic to the process of cultivating your personal style, it’s important to understand that a well-rounded wardrobe contains both classic AND trendy pieces. Fashion changes constantly. That’s what makes it so much fun! Your style is how you choose to incorporate fashion into your everyday life. Stylish people don’t always have to follow every trend, and following every new trend doesn’t always equate to stylishness.
