Don’t Get Influenced By Influencers: How To Find Your Personal Style

Trends are unstoppable. It drives consumers crazy

by Lisha

Photo by @minimalismlife / @asket on Instagram

A few years back from now, I didn’t have my personal style. My wardrobe was full of clothes that I didn’t wear more than 5 times, that I bought because of trends. On social media, (Youtube, Instagram, TikTok, etc.) there are always influencers that inspire people in both good ways and bad ways. Their technic is professional to look everything aesthetic. So in good ways, they motivate audiences from their lifestyle content and it brings us some joy. Influencers can give you the idea of wardrobe, the idea of minimalism, and authentic lifestyle. In bad ways, they are also working for some brands, so that there are of course the products they promote. And it always makes audiences feel as if we need to have the items.

Have you experienced that your wardrobe looks boring, nothing new, exciting?  And it makes us feel that we have nothing to wear? I have. A lot of times, before I found my personal style. I tend to have this feeling and always ended up checking on Instagram. Try to see if there are any influencers that can give me inspiration. But they gave me this desire that I want something new. Not to find from what I already own. 

Finding your personal style

What changed me is pretty simple. I found my own personal style. I no longer own any extra clothes that I won’t wear more than 5 times. And I understand it’s not easy to discover. Most people will probably start by decluttering their wardrobe. Looking through all of the clothes to decide what you need. But most importantly, you need to acknowledge what makes you exciting, what clothes feel comfortable wearing. Getting rid of clothes randomly might cause some regrets. You need to make your wardrobe always accessible that will bring you joy. Fashion is an accessory to make your day positively. There is no necessary maximum number that you can own. Because it depends on where you live, what job you have, what kind of weather is in your area. However, make sure to not just reducing wardrobe but building up the collection that makes feels the most of yourself. 

Step 1: Choosing the right color palette 

In the process of your discovery, you will find your favorite color to wear. However, it doesn’t mean your favorite color will fit well on you. Try to choose the color that will fit perfectly. You don’t need to stick around only one color all the time. It’s better to slowly explore other colors. Finding your personal style doesn’t equal finding your favorite. The bottom line is always what fits you perfectly, what makes you look good. 

Step 2: Find out your type of lifestyle

Acknowledge your mood, type of lifestyle. Whether you always seek a relaxing, comfortable mood or prefer to join some exciting thing. Whether you are a super outgoing person or love to spend time for yourself. Try to get to know what kind of lifestyle you always go with. It will lead where and who you are inspired from, and correctly you can find your inspiration.

Step 3: Create your capsule wardrobe

As I previously mentioned, randomly reducing your clothes will not help to find your personal style. However, after these 2 steps, you might find out what type of clothes you always choose, keep longer. And at the same time, they keep making you feel great. These items might be very simple, basics but if that brings you joy and it can go with everything, keep them as long as you can. Potentially, they will help you to build your unique style by providing a substructure for more exciting pieces.

Sustainability and minimizing wardrobe

Overall, finding your personal style is not only for you but also for the environment. Consumerism has a huge part in the responsibility for climate change. The clothes that threw away, tend to end up in landfills and they can are not compostable, never returned to nature. A lot of chemicals are released into the air, water and became pollutions. These facts happened because of overconsumption, overproduction in the fashion industry. 

According to the Road Runner ,“The volume of clothing Americans throw away each year has doubled in the last 20 years, from 7 million to 14 million tons” and “in 2018, 17 million tons of textile waste ended up in landfills”.

Minimizing your wardrobe, finding your personal style will change your purchasing habits healthier, less consuming. And it can be a potential key to reduce the number of clothes that end up in landfills. Fashion is a tool to find your identity, your mystique, your confidence. Don’t let consumerism take over your style.