Adding Personality Into Your Outfits

*This is a collaborative post about adding personality into your outfits

If you’re dissatisfied with your current look, then you might be tempted to make a major investment in a string of new shirts, shoes, and accessories. But blithely spending on new clothes is often a poor substitute for what’s really required: a little bit of your personality and character.

When you know what you’re doing, the clothes you wear can be a wonderful means of expressing yourself. But exactly how do you approach the task of adding personality to your wardrobe?

Identify your personal style influences

Your personal style won’t come from thin air. The chances are that you’ve already seen clothes that appeal to you. These might be the things you see on other people in public, on models, or on Hollywood A-listers. Try to be conscious about what speaks to you, and to put all of your influences together in the same place. A mood board can be a great way to bring your influences into the same place, so that you can take stock of them.

Experiment with colour, texture and pattern

It’s often safest to favour neutral shades and textures. These can be more easily mixed and matched, which makes them perfect for capsule wardrobes.

But bringing together items that traditionally wouldn’t complement one another can be a great way to draw attention, and turn the everyday into the distinctive. Try to experiment with different combinations of colours and textures.

Use accessories to express individuality

Of course, if you really want to add something special, then the right accessory might provide a great way of doing it. Watches, scarves, belts, bags, and jewellery can often be completely transformative. Assess your options, pick out the ones that interest you, and don’t be afraid to experiment until you find something that works.

The good news is that your options are broader than ever, thanks to the growing appeal of second-hand and vintage items. Pre-owned jewellery is particularly big. This trend is largely a product of heightened concern about the environment, and pressure on household budgets. But your look can benefit, too!

Mix contemporary pieces with vintage or statement items

Another benefit of looking at the second-hand market is that you’ll be able to find vintage and statement items of a kind that are simply not being created anymore. These can often be mixed with more contemporary items in order to create striking juxtapositions. Again, experiment with items that speak to your personal tastes.