MissLJBeauty

Developing a personal style is something that many people have to do over several years. It takes a lot of trial and error to get it right, and you don't always hit the jackpot on your first wardrobe redesign.

The good news, though, is that there are ways you can speed up this process. You don't have to wait a decade to get the look you want. All you need is a bit of know-how

Audit your existing wardrobe

The first thing you want to do is audit your existing wardrobe. It's incredibly difficult to build a brand-new aesthetic on a cluttered foundation.

When auditing your wardrobe, ask yourself what's holding you back right now. For some people, it might be the fact that they only own navy blue and black clothes and nothing that really makes sense outside of a professional context.

Also, check for items that you haven't worn for a while. If there's a piece of clothing you haven't put on for a year, there's probably a reason for that.

Look for patterns

Before buying anything, look for the patterns. Spend an afternoon gathering inspiration and creating a mood board of the sorts of looks that you like. If there's a celebrity or a famous person that you want to emulate, go on their Instagram or TikTok account to get more ideas for the type of style they have.

Don't worry about doing this. Even other famous people do it.

Build around high-quality basics

If you ever hire a personal stylist, they'll often tell you to build around high-quality basics. The idea here is to give you a cool wardrobe that you can add to over time and that isn't going to disappoint you once the season ends. If you feel the temptation to opt for cheap trend pieces, try to avoid it. Secure your wardrobe with high-quality options that really suit you first, and then from there you can accessorize and make additions.

Once you have these foundational pieces in place, they can serve as a canvas for more expressive items. The goal is to make your outfits look more grounded and intentional.

Don't overthink it

Of course, when you're trying to fast-track your personal style, it can be easy to overthink it. You might put everything on a spreadsheet or consult the latest science on what you should wear, but if you put something on and it makes you feel good, then it's probably a sign that you're in the right ballpark. Gut feelings in these matters are just as important as following a specific formula.