This quote from our cnscs_ people interview with Luh’ra sums up what personal style means, to us, really well:
“An item of clothing doesn’t make your personal expression, it’s more about how you choose to wear it – that’s where the expression comes in.”
We believe that developing your personal style is an important part of your slow fashion journey, because once you have a better idea of the clothes that make you feel good, you can buy with purpose and create less waste along the way. Having a good understanding of your personal style also helps you to resist fleeting trends, because your style is tied to your sense of self, instead of what others are telling you looks good.
This doesn’t mean that you have to be a minimalist (we certainly aren’t!), but it means that you are able to buy things you really love, you’ll have a good idea of how you’ll style them in many different ways, and you’ll be able to wear them for longer.
Here are a few of our best tips for developing your personal style:
Reflect on your current wardrobe
The best place to start, when figuring out your personal style, is to think about what you already own. There are a few guiding questions that you can reflect on, that will help you figure out what you look for and what you like in clothing:
- What are your most loved pieces, and why?
- What do you wear the most, and why?
- What do your most loved and most worn pieces have in common?
Create a moodboard and a wish list
Once you have reflected on your current closet, creating a style inspiration moodboard is a great next step. This is a great way of understanding what the clothes you are drawn to have in common and gaining inspiration for how to style different pieces in different ways.
It’s also a great way to find inspiration on how to style the clothes you already have in new ways. Something to think about is looking at different styling silhouettes, you can recreate someone else’s outfit with clothes you already have. This TikTok trend shows how everyone interprets the same clothing combos to suit their style.
You can also create a wish list of pieces you are coveting. Wish lists help you make more thoughtful and considered investment purchases, instead of impulse purchases. This is because each item is on your wishlist for a reason, and you take the time to reflect on it, save up for it, and look out for it. By the time you buy it, you have already been looking forward to it, and have plenty of styling ideas! You can use wishlists for thrifting and for investing in new items.
Here’s a peek into what Masego’s style inspo moodboard looks like, at the moment:
Here’s a peek into what Stella’s style inspo moodboard looks like, at the moment:
Thrift
Thrift stores don’t have mannequins, big posters, and catalogues, glaring at you as you walk around and showing you how to style the garments. When you thrift, you have to sift through baskets and make your way through rails of clothing. So, the items you are drawn to are more likely to reflect your personal style.
Plus, thrifting is a much less wasteful way of shopping, because you are repurposing preloved clothes. It’s a great way to be playful and experiment with your style. And, remember to always dress for yourself first!
Borrow
Borrowing clothes from friends and family (with their permission, of course!) is a great way to experiment with styles that you have been eyeing out. Then, if you do really love the piece and eventually buy something similar, you know for sure that you will wear it loads.
P.s. make sure you take good care of the items you borrow!
Figuring out your personal style is a continuous process and it can be really fun! The more you get to know yourself, the better you will understand what you love to wear. We hope these tips can help you start that journey.
With love,
Masego and Stella
cnscs_ 