How to Rock Your Personal Style (No Matter Your Size)

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When it comes to "personal style" where do I even start?? I follow dozens of fashion bloggers, but the pieces they promote look far from flattering on my own body. Turns out, I've been doing it all wrong! I never would have thought to look past the outfit and dissect style based on these five necessary steps. I am SO EXCITED to overhaul my wardrobe now and can't wait to go clothes shopping! #personalstyle #fashionsense #wardrobe #fashiontips #personalstyle

I am not a fashionista.

I can’t create outfits that magically seem to go together, I don’t particularly enjoy shopping for clothes, and being on the cutting edge of fashion isn’t something I’m super worried about.

But then I see others who were somehow born with this amazing skill. I start comparing my simple outfits to their trendy ones, and feel discouraged that I can’t rock a jean jacket or flowy top like they can.

A few years ago, instead of wallowing in that sense of comparison, I let it motivate me to make a better effort with my personal appearance.

I was tired of wearing tees, gym shorts, and yoga pants every day, and wanted to at least try to put some semblance of an outfit together….even if I didn’t quite know where to start!

Thankfully my good friend, Trina, wrote a book called, Embracing Beauty: Practical Style for Every Season and Shape of Motherhood, and even though I’m not a mom, I found it SO helpful in finding my personal style.

So if lack of time, money, effort, or a consistent waistline is keeping you from looking your best, you’re going to find the following tips super helpful. Be careful though, you might just find yourself enjoying your journey to fashion more than you thought you would!

1. Find Inspiration that Flatters

Fashion inspiration is everywhere — a quick search on Pinterest will bring up hundreds (if not thousands) of results. But what looks good on all those models in the pictures, doesn’t always look good on you or me. And why should we expect it to? We all have different sizes and body types!

Find inspiration that flatters by searching for outfits on bodies who mirror yours. Pin those to your boards rather than shapes and sizes that don’t reflect who we are right now.

It might take some digging, but I encourage you to try and find a style blogger who has a similar body type and watch closely to see what she’s wearing. You might just find a new favorite outfit that you never would have thought of before!

2. Establish Your Neutral Color

When you first hear the term, neutral color, you automatically think black, brown, white, or maybe even navy, right? Wrong. A personal neutral can be any color that you love and that flatters.

For me, it’s coral — I love the bright happy feeling I get whenever I wear coral, and it complements my pale skin too. In fact, if you came over to my house today, you’d see my closet is full of coral-colored pieces!

coral1

Establishing a personal neutral is a very good thing. It means less decisions when you go shopping (you can pass by all the colors that don’t flatter), and you can mix and match items in your closet that go with that specific color.

3. Add a Little Personality

Scarves, belts, and other accessories can do wonders for a basic ensemble. In fact, I feel so much more “put together” when I’m wearing a fun necklace or ruffly scarf!

However, accessories can lend themselves to going a little overboard, especially since there are so many options to mix and match, so I recommend you start with a few basic gold or silver pieces (whatever metal you like best), and add a few statement necklaces, bracelets, and earrings in for fun.

I’m sure you have a ton of accessories in your closet or jewelry box that you haven’t worn in a while, so now’s the time to bust them out! And if you’re looking for a few extras, Charming Charlie is my favorite shop to find great styling inspiration and inexpensive accessories.

4. Experiment, Experiment, Experiment

The best way to find your personal style is to simply experiment. You can pin inspiration all day long, but if you don’t get out and start trying clothes on, you’re not going to know what looks good and what doesn’t!

The thrift store is a great way to do this on the cheap, (and for moms of littles, Trina has some great tips in her book about how to shop without losing your mind). Plus, you can get a feel of what designers give you the most flattering shape so if you do decide to buy new, you know exactly who to try first.

If heading out to the store and shopping for clothes sounds like your worst nightmare, ThredUP is an online thrift store that I have had great experience with, and everyone gets $10 to spend if you haven’t tried it before! thredUp (1)

5. Don’t Equate Style with Worth

It is very easy to get caught up in the comparison game, but having a different style (or none at all) doesn’t mean you’re any less of a person. Instead, it’s the confidence in which we wear those clothes that makes the biggest, and most attractive difference.

As you explore your own journey to fashion, learn to love your body for the shape it is right now, not what you want it to be. There is no “ideal” body type as much as culture wants you to believe there is. In the 20’s it was boyish figures and flat chests. Today, it’s more Beyonce and Kim Kardashian. Doesn’t that tell you how much “ideals” can change?

Culture’s opinion of our shape should not define our shape. It’s time to be confident in who you are….because you are more than enough!

EB-book-coverIn Embracing Beauty: Practical Style for Every Season and Shape of Motherhood, Trina Holden packs practical suggestions for styling your ever-changing shape, and well as a perspective change every women needs to have in order to clothe her body well. Every chapter ends with a “Mommy Makeover”, which includes 5-15 minute activities to complete as you read! Get Your Copy HERE

How would you define your personal style?

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17 Comments

  1. I’ve been working on my personal stye and have to say I love ThredUp! I’m going to keep experimenting and buy some more neutral colors. Thanks for the inspiration!

  2. I am 65 and retired. I spent my entire career, middle management in suits and heels. So, I swore never to see a dress again! I’m a redhead who always wore black, but my skin is so white, (I have people telling me to put my head between my knees!); but now with some gray in that red, it’s too harsh. I don’t know if I want a dark gray or brown for a new basic?

    I have two pairs of dark blue jeans, one pair dress pants in black and one in navy. One cream button down; three dressy blouses, cream, navy, red. Three boatneck tees, cream, navy, red. The jewelry is silver, the accessories black, silver or navy I have a gray parka, black trench, and navy jacket.

    I recently donated all of my work clothes to a place that has clothes for those needing assistance dressing for job interviews. I think we need more of those shops!

  3. Two years ago our family went through some major changes. My husband left his job of twenty years to start a new one. We moved. We were blessed with our first grandchild. One daughter and husband moved to the UK. And all these things came to their conclusion in one week. I was exhausted and stopped working out. Over the last two years I have gained twenty pounds. This is actually okay, because I am not over weight…..but am out of shape. So what does all this have to do with clothes? All my jeans no longer fit. Surprise, right? But my flowy comfy dresses and skirts never deserted me. For the past year I have worn mostly skirts, dresses and tights. And I have causal sweats for stuff like housework and all those necessary tasks that need doing. I am so enjoying the freedom of dresses and plan on sewing a few 50’s style dresses and skirts for the summer. If my talent is equal to the task I will also make a dress for our sons upcoming wedding. My point is this…..embrace what you feel good in. And…..as your body changes be open to change. It’s okay to not enjoy skinny jeans and tight sweaters. My fifty-four year old body that has birthed twins, and two more children will never look like it did before babies. Love yourself were your at. And be healthy. Which means I need to start working out again. Not to change my dress size….but to upgrade up health. This is quite the novel for a comment…sorry. Have a wonderful blessed day.

    1. Thanks for the wonderful comment and outlook on life, Tina.

      I love the advice on being open to new fashion ideas as life happens!

  4. Love the idea of finding a similar size/shape fashion blogger. Now just need to find one.

    The pin it widget didn’t work for me either. Will have to try from laptop later if I get a chance.

    1. I think it had something to do with Rafflecopter. I took that option down until I can investigate it further!

  5. A great fitting bra works wonders! It really helps clothes fit better. I am a SAHM, so I dress casually, but not sloppy. I always feel my best with a casual jacket, dark wash jeans and a pretty top, and boots.

  6. I am pretty much a minimalist when it comes to my style. I have a uniform of either jeans or black pants/leggings, tank or cami and a cardigan. I wear mostly black, heathered grey and some Khaki although I have been adding some pinkish beige for it’s anti aging effect 😉 since black can be harsh sometimes. It makes shopping so much easier. I can buy my higher end brands used on eBay because I know my size and what flatters. It takes a little experimenting but its worth the time and trouble!

    ps I can’t seem to pin an image from the link above. The images don’t come up when you click on the “pin this image” button.

    1. Thank you for letting me know! I tried fixing it, but it’s still not working. Must be something on Rafflecopter’s end, so I took off that option.

      I had no idea pinkish-beige was anti-aging! Going to get some new tops in that color STAT. 🙂

  7. I’m only five feet tall, so I definitely understand why dressing for your figure is key. Finding clothes that fit is usually incredibly annoying, which is why I hardly buy clothes online. Still, I feel like I can never really go wrong with a dress or skirt. Seriously, I have so many dresses and skirts, I could probably wear a new one for every day of the month. These pieces always make you look so put together, even though there’s hardly any thought that ever goes into it!

    1. Dresses and skirts are something I really don’t have much of — it is probably because I went to private school that required them all the time, and when I graduated, I was ready to be done! But just recently I have started enjoying them again, and I completely agree — a simple skirt can make you look put together.

  8. What great insight! I’ve been working on my personal style, even if it’s as simple as jeans and a solid collar tee-shirt. I’m going to have to check out this book. I like Thred-up but I also really like Twice. Have you tried them yet? It’s a bit pricer but still good deals. I love finding deals from the comfort of my home!

    1. I’ve tried Thredup, and really love the convenience, but haven’t experimented with Twice yet!

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