Finding your Signature Style
Looking ahead to the next season has been rather exciting in my world launching The Essentialist Collection. While I hope you adore this new line of handbags for your journey, I thought I would take a moment to share some signature style advice as you’re refreshing your wardrobe with new looks for the months and years to come.
Too often we let others dictate what we should wear instead of listening to our souls. From mannequins at the mall to the models on the runway, we’re influenced to think that the outfit we bought 90 days ago is already obsolete.
We can choose to look at fashion from two different perspectives. We can hang on to every trend to the point that it destroys our confidence when we don’t have a certain appearance or possess a specific body type. The alternative is looking to fashion to reflect our authenticity in a signature style.
Listen to your soul and pick the latter. Dare to be different and choose to be bold when it comes to your signature style. Don’t know where to start? Let’s focus on color.
Don’t be afraid to rock the colors that light you up. From my years of experience in the fashion industry, I can tell you the pantones are never ending. You’re bound to find that pop of color that makes you say “wow.” Don’t hesitate to share it with the world.
Maybe you can’t find your “wow” shade in your everyday clothing, or perhaps you need to dress in a specific uniform for work. Find other ways to incorporate these colors into your wardrobe through footwear, accessories, even your makeup if it’s plausible.
Ideally, these wow colors should bring you joy. They should ignite a sense of excitement and motivation. In some cases the happiness you feel from wearing your favorite hue can rub off on others. Did you know there’s such a thing as color psychology? While there’s a lack of research on this subject, we know that colors impact our moods and influence our decisions.
Those in marketing, art and design fields have been following this concept for years. Great thought was put into the colors of the cars you see in ads to the chosen hues in business logos. They’re carefully studying the effects different shades have on consumers.
These outside influences bring me to my next point. That must-have color of the season might not flatter you. Don’t let the runway and magazines tell you what colors you should and shouldn’t be wearing. Be your own fashion influencer – if something works with your skin tone and coloring, rock it and rock proudly. Treat this boldness akin to listening to your soul and ignore the distractions of the fashion industry.
When you find a signature color, own it. There are many celebrities and first ladies known for sporting one, but my favorite is actress and style icon Audrey Hepburn. Although she’s best known for wearing the little black Givenchy dress in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, look at her photoshoots over the years and you’ll notice she chooses the color pink, not black.
Making her color into a mantra to live by, she once said, “I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles." If you consider pink a derivative shade of red, you’ll note she’s also famous for saying,”There’s a shade of red for every woman.”
Make your signature color a proud part of your identity. When you’re tackling tough obstacles or going through periods of hardship, wear this color to remind yourself that you’re strong and confident to get through what life is throwing your way. Let it inspire you when your alignment means making tough decisions. Could your signature color be representative of your True North?
Regardless of the hues that represent your wardrobe, remember that confidence and a sense of ownership of your own style will always work if you believe in it. We spend too much time listening and worrying about what others have to say about our sense of style.
Chances are, it started from the time you were a child and you wore what was deemed “acceptable” by your parents. Later on, peer pressure that drove your wardrobe choices as a teen and young adult. It’s no wonder we look up to others the rest of our lives to tell us what we look good wearing.
If you truly desire fresh new looks this season, break away from tradition. Listen to your soul to find the styles and colors that best fit you.
With all my soul,
