Expressing Yourself Through Fashion
How personal style can showcase who you are, without you saying a word.
When thinking of fashion, what’s the big deal? Why the obsession? Why is it so important how you look?
Fashion, put simply, is about how you feel. It’s less about “getting it right,” or being trendy, and more so about how you want to express yourself. How you want to showcase yourself to the world.
Contrary to some’s belief, it’s not about grabbing attention or putting on a masquerade— although you certainly can do that. It’s about expressing who you are freely. It’s about wearing clothes that make you feel good. Clothes that speak for you.
Naturally, when you’re authentic in who you are, and what you wear, it magnetizes people to stop and admire you. They will admire how you confidently radiate your soul’s essence, through what you wear and how you express yourself through the fabric of style.
In a world where all we do is talk, and put on masks to fit in, fashion is a way to tell who you are without words. To stand in your authentic presence, without feeling the need to justify it to anyone. It’s saying, “This is me. This is who I am— like it or not.”
Find clothes that speak for you. Clothes that make you feel sexy, handsome, and confident! The goal is to communicate who you are by how you dress.
So, how do you know what to wear if you’re not for sure what you want to communicate to people?
Start by asking yourself these questions:
How would you describe yourself? How would your friends describe you?
What qualities do you want to embody? How do you envision yourself being received by others?
What are aspects of yourself you hide from others, that are actually a big part of who you are? How would you dress if no one was watching?
If you were a character in a movie, tv show, or cartoon, what would your character look like? What would they wear? How would they carry themselves?
Throw judgement out the door. The fear of looking stupid, or foolish, will only hold you back.
Now that you have a base for the energy you want to exude, how do we construct our wardrobe? What are we searching for?
Grab a pen and paper— colored markers for extra fun and visualization— and prepare to jot down whatever comes to mind. Go wild with this page. Let it be a colorful, out of the box exhibition of who you are. Dream like you’re a kid, and write down what you see.
What thrills you to see? : colors, designs, shapes, textures, materials, etc.
What colors feel like your essence? How do these colors make you feel when you wear them?
What style and/or aesthetic pleases you? Try looking up “types of aesthetics” on Google for a starting point.
Keep in mind, you don’t have to stick to one style or embodiment of yourself. Your clothes should be as dynamic as you are. Let your clothes reflect all the different sides of yourself. How do you want to feel when you wear them?
Some key words to jumpstart your higher mind: powerful, confident, radiant, extreme, resilient, warrior, rockstar, professional, sleek, formal, sexy, daring, alluring, regal, classy, elegant, magical, retro, rebel, mysterious, peaceful, earthly, ethereal, dynamic, eccentric, unique, a hidden gem… the list goes on.
What decade or revolution do you want to appear from? Underneath the surface, we’re all fighting for something— what is it you’re fighting for? What is your rebellion?
Your style is your presentation to the world. How do you want to be seen? How do you want to be known?
After we’ve identified what we’re looking for, and how we want to feel and express ourselves in these clothes, now it’s time to make the purchase!
Helpful Tips When Shopping:
Set aside one day, or afternoon, of your week for the sole purpose of shopping and discovery. Try out different looks and styles that excite you. Let this be a time to explore your curiosity without judgment, and invest in yourself with a quality wardrobe that inspires you.
If you have no idea where to start, consider a personal stylist. Personal stylists can speak with you and get a good sense of what you’re looking for, and find your ideal wardrobe for you. It’s a huge stress reliever, and a fun surprise!
Consider browsing through online shops like Depop, thredUP, Poshmark, Etsy, Amazon, and other broad ranged stores, to get a sense of what it is you want.
Get basic essentials to have in your wardrobe. These are pieces of clothing and accessories that can be mixed around with almost any outfit. Items like: long sleeve shirts, pants, tank tops, underwear, scarves, coats, hats, gloves, sunglasses, necklaces, ties, etc. These will be your “go-to’s.”
I personally opt for a lot of neutral and earth toned colors myself, like: brown, nude, white, black, green, and deep orange. I also cannot resist passionate colors and textures like red, silk, vibrant green, leather, lace, mesh, and gold.
For accessories, it depends on the occasion. For a classy look, I might opt for some white pearls, diamonds, long silky gloves, or a beautiful satin red to make the outfit pop. For an earthly look, I might wear a forrest green scarf, crystal earrings, and perhaps some high rise brown socks.
Now, grab a piece of paper and set a timer for one minute. Write down all the clothing items and accessories you can envision in your mind for your dream wardrobe. Don’t think about it too much. Just write for one minute, and afterwards comb through and circle what you most adore. Start there.
Create carts. This is a simple step, yet one worth mentioning. Keep tabs open with your stores and go ahead and add the items you desire to the shopping cart. This is a great way to keep the sites organized, and add what you like while you finish deciding. When you have finished shopping, you can go back through your carts and delete what you don’t want. This is a great way to see your total price, individual prices, and make smart decisions based off your budget.
Gaining a new wardrobe, and look, doesn’t have to be expensive. You can start right where you are, with what you have. It’s all about presentation.
Remember: when you dress for yourself, you automatically become the most attractive version of who you are. You feel sexy, alive, and proud of yourself. You look good.
When you are in alignment with who you are, and dress accordingly, it shows. You shine differently. You will notice it’s less about what you wear, and more about how you wear it. The confidence in your outfits and style choice is what others will find mesmerizing. It lets people know you take pride in who you are. It draws on your uniqueness!
When this confidence is radiating off of you, you become a magnet for all you desire. Naturally, what you feel aligned and drawn to, will be drawn to you— because you’re allowing yourself to be seen, and therefore received.
It is all about the energy you exude.
— a. altman
xoxo