Personal Branding: A Guide to Owning and Making Your Own Wardrobe
The trend-driven world of fashion is forever in a state of flux. Just as you feel you're on brand with what's hot, it becomes ice cold. It's tough to keep up, and you may be looking at your wardrobe thinking that you have nothing to wear, despite so many options to choose from.
If you're experiencing fashion burnout, then it may be time that you work towards developing your personal brand by making your own wardrobe. Curating your clothes to suit your style rather than every fashion fad will give you a functional wardrobe suitable for every era of your life.
It takes time to streamline your closet, but it comes with the benefit of building a personal brand that's always stylish and reflects your real personality.
Here's how you can do it.
Know Your Style
Developing your personal style is the first step towards curating your wardrobe. This goes beyond finding clothes that you think look good. You have to find pieces that speak to who you are as a person.
Like a business, your personal brand is what the world around you associates you with. Your brand is how you express yourself. It should reflect your likes, lifestyle, and creative side.
If you consider yourself a warm and bubbly person, then find bright and cheerful pieces that represent this quality.
Look for clothes that resonate with your personality. Don't immediately buy a piece, but rather take the time to browse what's on offer. Don't go shopping with a specific item in mind. Look for clothes that speak to you—even if they are outside of your comfort zone!
Don't Give Into Your Impulses
Just because your favorite influencer or TV star looks good wearing it and gets loads of likes and comments doesn't mean that it won't go unworn in your closet. Avoid impulse buying based on what looks good on other people. You are you!
Resist the temptation to give in to sales. Seeing the big red 'SALE' sign can send your logic right out the window. When we're confronted with a good price, our brains easily find ways to justify the purchase. Only give in to sales if it's for an item that you've tried, tested, and have wanted for a while.
Rather, go for good quality items that will last. Look for fabrics like cotton, linen, and wool. Buy sizes that fit you, not that you aim to fit into in the future. The clothes need to feel like YOU and make you comfortable.
Use Mood Boards, But Don't Oversaturate Inspiration
Mood boards can be a great source of fashion inspiration when you're trying to find your personal style. It's also a good way of finding different people wearing the same clothes. You can determine whether you really like the outfit or if you only like it because Gigi Hadid is wearing it.
However, obsessing over everything from designer Pinterest wardrobes to luxurious boudoir photo shoots and high fashion magazine spreads can become endless. And it's not always appropriate for your budget.
It's also too easy to compare yourself to others on your mood board, which is the wrong road to go down if you're looking to find your personal style. Personal branding is all about contentment, not comparisons.
Create A Color Palette
It's easier to mix and match your pieces when your wardrobe has a color palette. Narrow down the colors to ones that you are naturally drawn to or that you already see a lot of in your wardrobe.
You should also consider your skin tone and undertone when choosing a color palette. Your skin tone refers to the surface color of your skin. It's not a constant and factors like tanning, age, and sun exposure affect it. Your skin undertone is categorized into warm or cool hues and doesn't change. They're crucial for considering accent colors and tones to create a cohesive color palette.
If you're feeling a little lost, there are universal colors that work well with most skin tones.
Easy colors to go for include:
- True black
- Pastel pink
- Navy Blue
- Pure white
Get The Basics
You need the basics to form building blocks for your wardrobe. They should be versatile and able to stand the test of time.
Fitted plain T-shirts are always a good building block, and crew necks tend to be the most versatile. Choose a white, black, or grey tee as a basic.
Other good basics include:
- A crew neck sweater: This fashion staple is great for transitional weather and outfit building.
- A turtleneck: This item is classic, chic, and perfect for layering.
- A White Button-up shirt: There are many styles to choose from. Whether it's Parisian or a classic oversized men's button-down. Choose one that resonates with your style.
- A stylish jacket: A well-cut jacket in leather, linen, or denim is the perfect wardrobe staple. You can dress it up or down, add accessories or wear it on top of a layered look.
Learn How To Sew
There are many online tutorials that can get you started in sewing. You can begin with simple projects and work your way up. Learning how to sew will give you more freedom to develop your personal style.
You may find that the pieces in stores just don't resonate with you like they used to. Sewing can help you to tweak them or even make your own from scratch.
Make sure that you invest in the right tools. You'll need:
- A sewing machine
- Fabric scissors
- Pins and patterns
- A measuring tape
Knowing how to sew is also more sustainable in the long run. If you outgrow a piece, you can upcycle it rather than buy a new one. For instance, you can trim a long skirt or turn one that's too short into a top. Learning how to sew gives your old pieces new life.
Stay True To Yourself
If there's a pattern or piece that you like but has gone out of style, it doesn't mean that it can't stay in your wardrobe. Whether it's an over-the-top leopard print blouse or retro cowboy boots, hold onto the pieces that speak to you, even if you get a little tease for them.
Creating your personal brand through your wardrobe goes far beyond style. It's about gaining the confidence to express the real you, no matter the pressure from the outside world to present a certain way.