1. KNOW YOURSELF
"I love jeans. I wear a lot of jeans. I have that French-girl thing of always wanting to wear a cashmere sweater with a pair of jeans. I rarely wear skirts. My daughter is just the same. I’ll try to convince her to wear a skirt, or a dress, and she’ll look at me and say, ‘Why? You don’t.’ ” - says Emmanelle Alt, editor of Vogue Paris
As much as I love to get clients out of their comfort zone, it's important that they stay true to themselves - the best, most authentic version of themselves, that is! Your wardrobe should reflect who you are and be adaptable to your daily routine. For instance, I know I LOVE high heel shoes, but they're not always practical for me. I walk all over town and I'm jumping in cabs from here to there on a daily basis, so I gravitate toward flats mostly. I make sure they're a cute and comfy pair - I want to look good, but I also want to forget about what I'm wearing when I'm on the go.
Of course, I never know where I might end up, so I have a wardrobe that works whether I'm in heels or flats.
*Helpful tip: Start a list of clothing items/staples you love and feel comfortable in? Are you a single women living in the city or a mother of three running an entire household? When you're on vacation, do you head for museums or the beach? The answers to these questions describe your lifestyle and, in turn, help you define your personal style.
2. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY
"Today I work in fashion, so I want to communicate to others that I'm poised and in control and that I mean business, which may or may not be true, but anyway..." - says Garance Dore, French photographer, illustrator and author
What does your outfit say about who you are and what you do TODAY? It is important that you reconnect with your style based on who you are today. What you choose to wear when you wake up in the morning says a lot about how you feel on any particular day. The goal is to want to look great and feel fabulous at all times so that you impress the person who is most important to you: YOU!
*Helpful tip: write down what you want your wardrobe to say about you, then look for inspirational photos that convey this look and feel. Starting a new pinterest board called "my personal style" is a great way to manage and save all of your clippings.
3. KNOW YOUR BODY
“If you think of your wardrobe as a hiding place, how can it be any fun?” - says model, Candice Huffine (not pictured)
To know your body is to LOVE your body! Worry less about what size you'd like to be and more about how to dress the body you have right now. Know the shape and proportions of your body. Determine which parts of your body you have the hardest time flattering. For example, this could include anything from broad shoulders to thick thighs. Then, focus on your positive features. Determine what your best assets are. This could include slender arms or legs, or a balanced set of curves. Once you know your body type, you should play up your favorite features. The more practice, the better. Listen for the compliments too - when your co-worker mentions how great your legs look in your new pencil skirt, you know it's a keeper!
*Helpful tip: Stand in front of a mirror while wearing as little as possible. Focus on the shape of your torso, paying special attention to the contours that extend from the thinnest part of your waist to your rib cage and hip line. Determine which parts of your body are largest and which are narrowest. Determine your body shape (i.e. hourglass, pear...etc). Find pics of celebs who have body shapes that closely match yours and study the clothing they choose to wear. What areas of their bodies do they accentuate? From here, you can also create a list of "must have" items to better prepare you for your next shopping trip.
4. KNOW WHO YOU WANT TO BE
It's really on the streets, if I'm in a car, or I'm walking by, and I see a girl. And you can see it, on her face, you can see it in her step and the way that she moves and flows, and you're like: "You go girl." And it's fun, and sometimes you just have to go up and be like, "You look fantastic!" - says Socialite, Olivia Palermo
Everyone's heard of the expression, "dress for success", and as cliche as it sounds, it helps align the stars.
Are you reaching for a new career? Looking for love? Go on, dress for it! Our aspirations guide us in our style - and in our everyday lives. When you look the part, you feel the part, and most importantly, other people take you seriously.
The impact of personal style goes far beyond making a good first impression; great style is also about approaching each day with confidence, and the ability to feel legitimately beautiful in what we are wearing. Believe it or not, the right wardrobe can make a difference in that department.
Accept the challenge! Create outfits that make you feel beautiful, confident and comfortable.
May style be with you,
xx Gilda