Fortunately, finding your personal style isn’t an expensive or difficult process. You can certainly choose to hire a professional stylist – someone who will scrutinize your closet, create outfits, and help you shop for staples you might be missing. If you have the budget, a stylist can take the guesswork out of your brand style, but if you’re not ready to take that leap, you can brand your own personal style with the help of Google and your instincts.
Start by finding inspiration. Are there celebrities or prominent women whose style you admire? Perhaps there is a film or television show whose characters’ wardrobes appeal to you. Which retail stores are you attracted to?. Spend some time online searching for and digitally saving photos of these individuals, scenes, and outfits.
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Match your inspiration with your intention. Go through those photos you saved, and start to put them together with the words they match. I recommend taking time to paste the photos and words into a PowerPoint presentation to give you a visual representation.
Second, set your style branding intention. What would you hope someone would say about your brand style? Choose three or four words as your intentions. Think of words like smart, savvy, confident, sassy, approachable, etc.
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tart your list, and go S shopping. Make a list of pieces you might need to add to your wardrobe to make it shine like the words and photos you’ve chosen. Shop first in your own closet (you own much more than you think you do) and then in stores with a specific budget in mind.
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The first key to success is changing your mindset to pair your style with your brand. How do they go hand in hand and complement one another? The second key to success is to take your time. You can’t compile a stylish and brand friendly wardrobe in days or weeks. Choose pieces carefully and over time, and whenever you shop, ask yourself, “Will I feel like the embodiment of my brand in this piece?” Hopefully this process will begin to make that morning closet routine more strategic and less haphazard. Soon, your brand will change in the same ways!
17POWERCULTURE APR2013