Are you ready to change your style and and add some new outfits to your wardrobe? Perhaps you are changing jobs, or you are a student wondering how to make that transition from a sporty casual look and develop your personal style for your career. Whatever the situation might be, clothes play a vital role in our lives. The question then arises: who are you becoming? I have changed my style at different stages in my life to adapt to who I am becoming. Clothes reflect who we are and the identity we are creating for the world. I share my personal journey, what I have learned and how I developed my own style. I hope this will help you with some ideas and encourage you to develop your own sophisticated style.
My interest in clothes began when I started ballet dancing at the age of three and developed a passion for tutus and ballet shoes. In my teenage years I became aware of fashion and the clothes that other teenagers and friends were wearing and I began wearing similar styles. There were moments when I didn’t feel comfortable in my ripped jeans and the fashion at the time but if it was a popular item of clothing and a mannequin in the store was wearing it, I bought it! I wanted to wear clothes that I felt comfortable in, but I also wanted to wear the fashion items even if they looked terrible on me and the colour did not match my skin tone. I could not understand why anything that was IN FASHION did NOT suit me, the clothes on the mannequin always looked better!
HOW TO MAKE FASHION WORK FOR YOU?
I realised at an early age that I wasn’t going to be a catwalk model and my years on the dance floor would not last forever, my tutus and point shoes would eventually be stored away in a cupboard. However, it was during my years of dance that I developed my classic style. I was excited to wear beautiful costumes but I had to endure hours of costume fittings to make sure the costumes were the correct size for my body. I realised that wearing fitted clothes is very important and my attitude towards clothes changed as it was no longer just about fashion but feeling comfortable with what I was wearing.
Dancers are very much in tune with their bodies and emotions are expressed through dance and costumes play an important role to give life to the character in the story. Our life is a story, the body is an instrument and we use clothes to convey our thoughts and feelings to the world. Personal style develops over time, and is part of the journey of self-discovery and finding out who you are and what makes you feel good. Expressing your individuality through clothes in your own style is a way to communicate your beliefs, culture and experience. The way you dress is usually a reflection of who you are and this conveys a message to the world. How do you want to be seen, what message do your clothes convey about your personality as you walk in the street? You can use fashion to learn about different styles and choose a few fashion pieces to develop your own unique style that reflects your personality. If you have never paid attention to fashion before, don’t worry there’s good news for you, it IS possible to develop a sense of style and you don’t have to be a model. It’s a skill that can be learned like everything else, it just takes a little time and practice.
DRESSING CLASSY AND ELEGANT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE
If you have just finished school or university and you are starting to apply for jobs and looking at career opportunities, you are probably wondering how to make the transition from a sporty casual look to a more sophisticated elegant way of dressing. You CAN look elegant and sophisticated in any situation with a few simple quality pieces to add to your wardrobe when you are first starting out and creating your new personal style. You will make mistakes along the way and that’s okay as it’s all part of the learning process. I know that spending hours in the store and sometimes not being able to find anything that fits is a waste of time, but don’t despair it does get easier with practice, soon you will know what clothes look good on you and never again be deceived by the perfect clothes on the unrealistic store mannequins! I have found the best way to start is to look at what you already have in your wardrobe and you can match those clothes with some stylish pieces for that important job interview or special occasion. It is easier to match classic and minimalist styles as they are usually neutral colours, shapes and fabrics. When I buy clothes now, I always think if the item of clothing will be comfortable and that the colour will match my skin tone. If you feel good in your clothes then your confidence will shine and you will be ready to face the day. Classic styles never go out of fashion and investing in quality outfits and items of clothing will still be wearable many years from now. Creating a classy and elegant style doesn’t need to be expensive as you can wear your outfits to work, and almost any other occasion! It is easier to invest in a few quality pieces of clothing rather than quantity as it will be easier to mix and match these items. For example, the black dress is a simple and classic style and can be dressed up or down.
HOW TO CREATE YOUR CLASSY WARDROBE ESSENTIALS?
The four basic natural fibres that are the foundation for any wardrobe are clothes made of cotton, linen, silk and wool. Always read the care labels and washing instructions on these garments to care for them properly and make them last longer. I made the mistake of adding my wool cardigan in the washing machine and got a huge shock when I realised it had shrunk to half the size! Bye bye lovely cardigan.
Here are some of my favourite essential pieces of clothing and accessories to start building your classy wardrobe:
- White shirts can be worn with everything, look for good quality cotton or linen as these can be worn for work or to create a casual look with jeans on weekends
- Pencil skirts or A-line skirts, classic knee-length look elegant for work and you can match with other pieces of clothing for a versatile look.
- A smart trouser/skirt suit, find the best fit for your body shape
- Black blazers, can create a casual or chic look and can be worn with jeans and high heels for dinner or you can match with a dress
- A collection of cardigans and sweaters are versatile and look fabulous with most essential pieces of clothing
- Trench coat
- A wool coat
- Scarves always look elegant around the neck and you can also tie them around your ponytail. Wool scarves in the winter are versatile and will help keep you warm outside
- Simple black heels for the office, make sure these are comfortable and the heel is not too high as it can be a long day at work!
- High heel boots look great worn over jeans, with skirts and dresses. There are many styles so choose the ones that feel comfortable for you
- Smart black trousers can be worn to the office or match with sweaters, cardigans and white sneakers for a relaxed look on the weekend
- A black dress is a must-have in the wardrobe as it can be worn to the office, and accessorised for a special occasion
- Classic pair of black, white or blue jeans for the weekend
- Hats and berets are some of my favourite accessories, and they are useful if you live in a cold climate
- An elegant bag for work in a neutral colour, a smaller evening bag for a special occasion
This is just a start to building your classy wardrobe, you can mix and match and gradually start adding other items.
If you don’t know much about colours, the safest option is to start with neutral pieces in white/cream, navy blue, black, and grey. As you start to feel more comfortable with the different styles of clothes you will be able to experiment with patterns and start to mix and match your clothes and create your unique style. It can be a challenge sometimes to find the right size of clothing to fit your body as it is either too big or too small. It is important to dress for your body shape and have a good fit. If the pants are too long or an item just needs a little alteration, take your items to a dressmaker or tailor to be altered to fit properly on your body.
KEEP ACCESSORIES SIMPLE
Thank you for staying with me, if you are still reading my blog it means that you are ready to make some changes in your life and learn new ways to develop your style. I love jewellery but for a classy look it’s best to keep it simple wearing a few delicate pieces of jewellery.
Here are some of my choices:
- Earrings: diamond studs or small gold hoops
- Necklace: pendant necklace or cross, pearls for a special occasion
- Watch: gold or silver watch, one delicate bracelet
- Ring: classic piece on middle finger or wedding band/engagement ring
- Scarves: if you are wearing neutral colours, scarves can add some colour to your outfit. They can be worn in a variety of ways, I prefer silk for warm weather and wool for cold weather
PAY ATTENTION TO HAIR, MAKEUP AND NAILS
An outfit is not complete if you have not paid attention to your hair, makeup and nails. I don’t spend too much time on makeup when I’m working from home but I make sure to add moisturiser, some blush and a lip gloss to add colour to my face. If you only have 5 minutes for makeup in the mornings, focus on your eyes, cheeks and choose a neutral colour for your lips for the office or a bold colour for a special occasion. Choose a hairstyle that is easy to maintain if you don’t have much time for styling, or you can tie your hair up in a sleek ponytail. Look after your hands and nails as manicured hands show that you care about your appearance. It is best to keep nails short and add a clear nail polish or french manicure. If you are wearing sandals in the summer, a pedicure is necessary, I prefer wearing nude nail polish as I find this works best. Having regular manicures and pedicures should form part of a grooming routine to improve your overall appearance.
DEVELOPING A CLASSY AND ELEGANT STYLE TAKES TIME
It takes time to develop a personal style on your journey of personal development, learning new skills and ways of thinking. I learned about the different types of clothes I should wear for my body shape and skin tone over time and with some courses in personal styling and makeup I started to develop my own sophisticated look. I enjoy a minimalist lifestyle as I prefer quality over quantity and I have found that this works well for my schedule and career and makes me feel comfortable with who I am. I believe that clothes are part of the journey of personal development, creating a personal style is about finding out who you are and what makes you feel comfortable for your lifestyle. The clothes you choose to wear tell a story about how you feel, how you have developed in your life, where you are going and who you are becoming.