How to Develop a Signature Style
Anna Wintour has her dark sunglasses, Donatella Versace has corn-blonde hair and Phillip Bloch is never seen without his Kangol cap. Learn from these style arbiters and find your signature statement to help personalize your look.
Difficulty Level: Average Time Required: Varies
Here's How:
- Take a serious assessment of your overall current style, deciding if you are traditional, modern, fashion-forward, casual, hippie natural, etc.
- Determine what you are trying to accomplish with your signature style -- to be more memorable, develop an always chic look or have more fun with fashion.
- Study famous tastemakers -- everyone from Karl Lagerfeld with his ponytail and fan to Carrie Donovan and her oversized glasses, black clothes and blond hair.
- Don't hesitate to imitate a look and make it your own, making sure it fits into your current style and personality.
- Decide what you would be most comfortable changing -- your hair, wardrobe colors or accessories.
- If you're choosing a striking new hairstyle or color, try the new look in stages to see how it works.
- If you are choosing a bold new wardrobe color, start by incorporating it as a shirt, tie or scarf color to see how well it works for you.
- Relying on accessories -- sunglasses, big pins, bright hosiery or vintage handbags -- is a safe, easy and inexpensive way to start a personalized look.
- Experiment and alter your signature style piece as you grow more confident.
- Once you have the groove of your signature look, be sure to change your supporting
wardrobe frequently enough so that you don't look the same everyday.
Tips:
- Use your signature style to camouflage flaws or draw attention to your best features.
- Try not to cross the fine line between signature style and affectation
- A signature look can be something as sentimental as a charm bracelet or as breezy as
brightly colored pantyhose -- just make sure it feels like you and fits your personality
and lifestyle.
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