Exploring your personal style
Fashion is ever-changing, but style is not. Being tied to the world of fashion teaches you a thing or two on modifying your own, just as it taught me. If I look at my own style from years back and compare it to what it is now, it’s obvious that a lot has changed.
Keeping up with trends is fun, but knowing what works for you every time, makes you look and feel great, is another. Your style is something that is close to your heart; it's what you picture yourself flaunting, and you're absolutely confident with. It can leave a statement, or even be absolutely basic. Whatever it is, it's personal!
This week, I'm about to explore my own style through this very special article. I will be sharing everything I've learned and loved that has shaped my style to what it is today. And I encourage you to explore your own, define it and let it evolve as you beautifully grow each moment.
Over the course of time, I realised that I like to keep it simple. I enjoy trying out trends. But most often, I stick to what I feel the most 'me' in, and that is — the basics.
Plains are my best friends as they complement almost every other piece. Love embroideries; I barely opt for prints and when I do, it's usually florals and in rare instances, stripes. I love muted and neutrals tones, but I do have a soft corner for colours. So, my typical style is to pair something colourful with something neutral, getting the best of both.
Going back to basics for a bit, a tip for myself is to invest on good quality. It's definitely a hard one to follow as it gets tempting to rather buy more trendy or eccentric pieces. At the same time, we all get the most wears out of our basics. Tank tops, plain tees, denim — we all need them every day. So, it's a good idea to spend on better quality, durability, and comfort.
Coming to my body-type, which is basically a pear-shape I'm careful in choosing pieces that make me feel confident and does not highlight my insecurities; let's be real, we all have them.
When it comes to western fashion, I prefer a cute top with a pair of pants that fit really well. A tip that I religiously follow is to pair 'a loose with a fit'. The balance between baggy and fitted is what looks the most flattering on me.
So, I pair loose apparel with form-fitting ones to achieve an overall chic. Often, I like to wear dresses and jumpsuits given they have a nice form and fitting. For traditional wears, I love salwar kameez and sari equally. Once again, I go for simple pieces that fit well; I love a touch of intricate embroidery or zardosi work on them.
What defines my personal style has to be how I try to style each piece in a number of ways. I think of as many ways to fashionably style and wear it on different occasions to get the most wear and look!
I have a cropped top that I've worn like a hundred times, styling it as a top, innerwear, dress and even a blouse with my sari. The goal is to not be overwhelmed with the need to constantly buy new clothes, but to maximise the potential of your existing wardrobe through your own sense of style.
Speaking of which, what works best for me is to think of my outfits and how I would style them ahead of time. It's super helpful to plan a few days prior to going somewhere. This saves me the time and panic of having to figure it on the last minute. By planning ahead, I make sure my outfit pairs and fits well and is suitable for the place. Whether or not I feel comfortable and assured in it is crucial.
Accessorising plays a big role to me. It gives life to my simplest of wears. For anything casual, I prefer dainty jewellery. I gravitate towards rhinestones and pearls. I love earrings and can never leave the house without wearing them.
For anything extra, I go for big studs or drop-earrings. I prefer contemporary designs; exception being traditional occasions when deshi-designs and jhumkas have my heart! For shoes, my preference is simple and specific; a comfortable pair of heels in a neutral shade and medium height is my usual.
To end, I have to add that I am a huge believer in taking inspiration. I am inspired every day to love and play with fashion, try out trends and incorporate new elements. My style evolves continually as I take inspiration to further explore its depths. And it ultimately makes me passionate to style, excited to feel my best and love my own self in this little journey of life.
Photo: Zohaina Amreen