Written By Sian Clarke
We all have a style personality whether we are aware of it or not. For some people, it is really clear and easy to define and for others, it is like trying to see the woods between the trees. It becomes another thing to add to your list that stresses you out about your own style.
A perfect example of a celeb with a strong sense of style is Kate Middleton. You will immediately be able to picture her in her classic, elegant and well put together style, right? You might be thinking well she’s Kate Middleton so has to have a signature style, but this is where you are wrong, YOU too have a personal style, it just needs to be unlocked from within and your style journey ahead of you will easily fall into place. You might not even like her style, it’s not my cup of tea but I really admire her and it truly reflects her nature and job role which is the most important factor with your personal style.
What is a style personality?
A style personality combines the traits of your personality, personal tastes, lifestyle and most importantly how you want to feel or what you want to reflect which are then communicated through your clothing choices.
Your clothing choices include everything from the specific shapes, cuts, prints, colours and items of clothing you wear including everything from shoes right up to your hat choices. For example, some people love and really rock a headband and others would feel overdressed in a headband. Some people would want a block colour and some would rather have a texture or print, the list goes on.
Why is having a style personality important?
At the beginning of your style journey, it can be great to have a visual aesthetic to focus on. This helps you to base your colour choices, prints, shapes etc and use the visuals as a guide to editing your wardrobe, pulling looks together from that and making your new purchases on whether it sits within your dominant style personality.
Why is it hard to define your own style personality?
As you can see from the above, there are a lot of choices to be made with style personality. If you know your body shape and what season your complexion is that can take a few decisions out of your hands. If you aren’t sure of yours you can find out more here.
We also have preconceived ideas about what we can and can’t wear that holds us back from experimenting and taking the joy out of exploring different styles. For example, you could have had a nightmare in a changing room 10 years ago in a jumpsuit and convinced yourself that jumpsuits aren’t for you when actually, with your vintage and edgy style personality – they are the perfect wardrobe staple for you!
We also are guilty of having tunnel vision towards ourselves. We focus on what we dislike and what we used to or want to look like. Or we fantasise about our dream outfits which are more than achievable, we just need to know how to achieve them and where to start.
Can your Style personality change?
YES, absolutely so this is another factor as to why it’s so hard to define. We all have a dominant style personality – one we relate to the most but we can be influenced by another personality too. Influences like colour, texture, shapes can be taken from our second style personality and mixed up with our dominant one to make our own unique style.
We all develop and grow year after year – sometimes it can be as short as a season. That development will of course be reflected in how we dress. Remember, clothing is a way of letting the world know who you are without having to speak.
The seasons can affect our personal style too, the most obvious example is people usually wear lots of colour when the sun shines but darker shades in the cooler months. You could have a delicate and flowing romantic style in the sunshine but not relate to that in the winter and feel like you prefer a more classic and timeless vibe. Understanding the different personalities can really help you understand your preferences and reconnect with who you are.
What are the style Personalities?
Little disclaimer…These are my own versions of style personalities because, through my years of working one-to-one with clients, these are the options that work best for each person and their own unique style. Check out my individual style personality boards over on Pinterest here.
The classic is poised, elegant, well put together, simple, coordinated, chic and simple. They prefer colour matching and neutrals to keep it fresh and clean. People in the public eye like Emma Watson, Kate Middleton and Victoria Beckham have this timeless style.
The dramatic style personality is full-on. Its glam, striking, makes a statement, is strong, bold, has lots of detail and really turns heads. They love high contrast and statement colour palette and are not scared of any combination. Examples of celebs or characters with this style are Samantha from SATC, Rhianna and lady GaGa.
The neutral/ Scandi style personality is a very relaxed, unfussy, easy going, girl next door style that is easy to wear, laid back with looser fitting clothes. They nail jeans and a nice top but always have a gorgeous flare to add. Their colour palette tends to be inspired by nature, neutrals and uncomplicated. Celebs with this style are Jennifer Aniston, Rosie Huntington Whitely and Alexa Chung.
The creative style personality is unconventional, individual, adventurous, eye-catching and makes up their own set of rules. They love to make a statement with their creative flair and tend to turn heads. They love clashing colours and mixing it all up with textures like leather and sequins too. Well-known examples of this style personality include Emily from Made in Paris, Miranda from SATC and Katy Perry.
The romantic/ boho style personality is very feminine, soft, whimsical, fluid and flowing and is incredibly charming. The style is delicate and gentle on the eye and loves lace, florals and even netting and bows. They have a hazy colour palette. Examples of celebs would be Sienna Miller, Florence Welsh, Taylor swift and our gal Carrie Bradshaw.
The urban style personality is harder to define, this is because it is there are lots of different vibes that influence this personality. It can be inspired by sport, street chic, and it is eclectic, captivating and casual and have been inspired by utilitarian and edgy styles. They have a mixed palette of blacks and bold colours and like the creatives have no rules to follow. Celebs with this style include Dua Lipa, Gigi Hadid and Zoe Kravitz.
The edgy style personality has glam rock and vintage influence. It’s sexy without trying, coll but effortless, experimental, imaginative and flamboyant. They love to mix animal prints with glitter, sequins, feathers, lots of leather and are obsessed with a metallic colour palette. They love black and colour equally and dress quite differently on a regular basis. Examples of a well know edgy style celeb is Miley Cyrus, Ellie Golding, Stevie Nic’s and Debbie Harry. This is what im going to experiment with this year.
How to find your personal style
Now you have discovered the 8 style personalities that I work with, check out my Pinterest boards on each one and see which visually catches your attention first. Please note that the mood boards are very OTT and at the strongest end of the scale of each personality because it’s easier for me to show them in their truest form visually. You can adapt it to where you fall or want to fall within the style. Have a peek into your wardrobe and see if anything you already own falls into your preferred style category. Also, check out a second option and take inspiration from it if one calls to you. You could even have a natural style in the day and for play but for work and going out you could have a more urban style. Have a play and enjoy experimenting. If you are still struggling, you know who to ask…
Stay safe,
Sian x
Personal Stylist based in London. I am a colour analysis expert, wardrobe stylist, and personal shopper. I specialise in body shape style, wardrobe edits, and personal shopping for clients. I am also a virtual stylist. I do online styling, online style advice, virtual body shape workshops, virtual wardrobe edits and online personal shopping. Fashion Stylist in London. Personal Stylist in London. London stylist.
Sian Clarke
I'm Sian Clarke, a seasoned personal stylist and expert in the realm of fashion, specializing in areas such as color analysis, wardrobe styling, and personal shopping. With years of hands-on experience working one-on-one with clients, I've honed my understanding of individual style personalities and developed my own unique approach to help people unlock and express their personal styles.
In the article dated Jan 20 by Sian Clarke, the focus is on the concept of "style personality" and its significance in the realm of personal fashion. Let's break down the key concepts discussed in the article:
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Style Personality Defined:
- Style personality is a combination of traits derived from one's personality, personal tastes, lifestyle, and the desired feelings or reflections communicated through clothing choices.
- It encompasses specific elements like shapes, cuts, prints, colors, and types of clothing, from head to toe.
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Importance of Style Personality:
- Having a visual aesthetic based on your style personality helps in making informed choices about color, prints, shapes, etc.
- It serves as a guide for editing your wardrobe, creating cohesive looks, and making new purchases that align with your dominant style personality.
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Challenges in Defining Style Personality:
- Numerous choices, such as body shape, complexion, and preconceived ideas about what one can or can't wear, make defining a style personality challenging.
- Tunnel vision towards oneself, focusing on dislikes or past experiences, can hinder the exploration of different styles.
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Dynamic Nature of Style Personality:
- Style personalities can change over time due to influences like color, texture, and shapes.
- Personal development, seasonal changes, and evolving preferences can impact one's dominant style personality.
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Style Personalities:
- I present eight distinct style personalities based on my experience working with clients:
- Classic: Poised, elegant, coordinated, and chic.
- Dramatic: Glamorous, bold, statement-making.
- Neutral/Scandi: Relaxed, easy-going, inspired by nature.
- Creative: Unconventional, adventurous, eye-catching.
- Romantic/Boho: Feminine, soft, whimsical, and charming.
- Urban: Eclectic, casual, influenced by street styles.
- Edgy: Glam rock and vintage-inspired, experimental.
- I present eight distinct style personalities based on my experience working with clients:
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Finding Your Personal Style:
- Encourages readers to explore the Pinterest boards for each style personality.
- Suggests looking into one's existing wardrobe for items that align with the preferred style.
- Recommends experimenting with different styles for different occasions.
In conclusion, the article by Sian Clarke serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding and embracing one's style personality, providing practical advice for navigating the world of personal fashion.
