Have you ever stopped and pondered whether the clothes you wear match your personality? I frequently tell people that the work I do involves helping clients find a style that matches their personality. But lately I’ve been thinking about occasions in my own life where my personal style and personality haven’t always seen eye to eye. Leaving me questioning whether matching the two is necessary at all?
Matching
The concept behind the two being interwoven is that your personality comes through in the clothes you wear. How often have you read on blogs or seen elsewhere, quotes mentioning expressing ones personality through their clothes. There’s no denying that the clothes you wear provides you with an opportunity to express your personality. If your clothes aren’t congruent with your personality your style could come across as awkward. Sometimes having the right attitude to accompany the outfit makes the style.
If you’re comfortable with who you are in the first instance and your style goals have been met (a style that you like) then there’s a strong possibility that your style will match your personality. Alternatively, if you have no particular style in mind, but you’re comfortable being you, then you can dress to match your personality. If you’re really struggling and don’t know where to start in terms of your style then this would be where a professional could help.
Conflicting Personalities
But there are times where you maybe going through a transition with your style or personality even. My own example would be going back to my early 20s where I was making the transition from baggy hip-hop inspired clothing to smarter-casual attire. My personality certainly didn’t match either style to be honest, I was essentially ‘faking it, until I made it’. I wanted a classic, sophisticated style, but that certainly didn’t match my personality.
I could have gone out and bought a suave new wardrobe but inside I would have still been a man-child. You may find yourself dressing because others perceive you a certain way. In order to keep up appearances your style continues to represent how you’re expected to look even when inside you feel your personality would suit something different all together.
So as our personalities evolve, so does our style. You can go out and drop £1000 on a new wardrobe, but the same can’t be said for our personalities. They take time to develop and during these transitions, our style and personality may not always sync up.
As always I’d love to as you, my readers…
Are you going through a transitional phase with your personal style? or do you feel your style and personality match?
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I don’t think I’m in a transitional phase however I do feel that my style is constantly evolving with me as I mature and change as a person over time.
I think that overall my style and personality match. Looking at my outfits for the past year I can see that my style could be considered to be “all over the place” but that is just like my personality. I get bored easily and always want to be doing something new, creative or different. That is reflected in my clothing.
It’s an interesting topic.
bisous
Suzanne
Thanks for commenting Suzanne, great to hear your style matches your personality!
It’s funny, for me, since I was always very artsy and into experimenting with new creative elements, my personality for the most part has matched my style–even in those crazy punk, grey-to-black wearing youthful phases. But, I am content and very comfortable in my style, even more so now! On the otherhand, I do know a few people who (at initial greetings) maybe have milder, less voiceful, or sophisticated mannerisms, and use their clothing as a more expressive avenue to showcase themselves–a bolder aesthetic or perhaps it’s easier for them to convey other layers of their personality through what they wear. 🙂
Yeah that’s a great point about your friends that maybe can’t express themselves how they’d like verbally or when interacting with others but use their clothes as an outlet to get across their bolder side.
I think my style and personality do match…I have a range of styles within my personal style, of course, but I think now more than ever, my outside and inside match.
In fact, here we go again, I don’t how you do it, but you have inspired me to write a post about this (or something along these lines). I’ve had one lingering in the background for a few weeks, and you’ve just brought it out. I should be paying you!
That’s great to hear you’ve found a range of styles that all compliment your personality. I guess that partly comes with experience. Ha ha I’m glad I can be of service for you V, these two are on me ;-).
This is something I have thought a lot about in the course of my life. I always thought how wonderful it would be to have a “signature” style. But no person is only one thing, and I always felt it was hard to define myself via any of the “traditional” archetypes. I tried them all..preppy, alt rock, grunge…you name it. I now realise that I do indeed have a “signature” in a way, but it is mine and mine alone. Apparently I just had to arrive at it organically, like so many other things in life.
Yeah everyone goes through a similar journey in life while they try and find their own style. But ‘their’ own could be a number of different things at various different times in their lives. Your style doesn’t have to be static it’s ever changing, I’m pretty sure when you look back in another 10 years from now your style will be different to what it is now.
Your posts are so great and interesting 🙂
Check out my new post…lovely decor news from Hm Home 🙂
have a great day dear
LOVE Maria at inredningsvis – inredning it’s, Swedish for decor 🙂
Thanks for visiting and commenting Maria I’ll pop over to your blog when I get a moment :).
I think it all comes down to confidence. Even if you’re “faking it ’til you make it,” as you say, if you feel comfortable in what your wearing, you’ll almost never look awkward.
Yeah that’s very true, but you still have to push your comfort zone at some point and there maybe times when you feel uncomfortable while going through a transition or trying something new.
Great Post Arash! I couldn’t agree more, style does reflect personality as we chose the things that we think will make us look good and feel comfortable but you’re right about the transition period too. I find myself firmly happy and content with a smart dapper image- suits, shirts, brogues you name it, it completely feels like me through and through! ~Richard