Discover You Own Personal Style

By Judith Rasband, AICI CIM

Snoop shopping in our local malls, you can find classic clothes and sporty clothes, trendy clothes and snazzy clothes, leather jackets and sweat knit hoodies, tailored styles and cutesy styles.  We’ve got a lot to choose from, yet few are choosing.

Fashion books and experts continually advise us to discover, develop and stick to a personal style.  They point out that the most memorable, secure and successful people can be identified by a consistent style of dress and grooming.  This is generally true.  And next thing you know, they’re telling you what the latest “must have” is.

So how does one go about figuring out their own personal style?  Personal style is usually defined as the way we take an existing fashion or fad and make it uniquely personal.  It’s not just the clothes that count, it’s the way you wear them—your way.

Personal style is an acquired quality that develops from within.  As we observe, imitate, and learn from the styles of others, we edit those observations and ideas to fit our personal needs.  We, in essence, become a visual composite of many people and many styles, ultimately projecting a unique image of ourselves.

Discovering your personal style comes right down to the nitty-gritty of deciding what specific characteristics of dress and design you are most comfortable wearing most of the time–and feel you could wear for the rest of your life.  Personal style implies a consistency in the selection of lines, shapes, colors, patterns and textures.

The specific degrees of each of these details of dress communicate your personality traits and reflect your values, attitudes, interests and lifestyle as they project to self and others an image of the person within.  This is personal style.

Personal style may reflect a woman as daringly dramatic, daintily demure or a delightful blend in between;  as super sportive, radiantly romantic or a surprising and complementary combination of both;   as a traditionally classic conservative, a trendsetting free spirit, or a marvelous mix in between.

And again, if you think this applies to women only, think again.  A man’s personal style may project him as being macho or mellow, traditional or trendy, shabby or sharp.

For some, the discovery and decisions about dress come almost intuitively.  They seem to have an inherent sense of what feels and looks “right” for them.  For others, it takes conscious effort to become more aware, to study and to experiment.

Personal style is not something you are born with, can borrow or buy.  Regardless of how you acquire yours, it takes years of living, learning and experience to develop a style of your own.

And in the final analysis, I must admit that personal style is often more easily felt than explained.

Copyright Judith Rasband and Conselle L.C. 2009

Judith Rasband is the Image Expert and would love to help you discover your own personal style!  Visit www.conselle.com or call 801-224-1207 to learn more.

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‘People Watching’ Pays Big Dividends

By Judith Rasband, AICI CIM

Remember those people you always watched in high school? You know, the girls and guys who looked just right, as well as the few who looked like a fright. Let’s face it, people are continually noticing one another, forming impressions and making judgments based on appearance. So why not do it with a purpose once in a while?

Purposeful ‘people watching’ can help you become more aware of specific dress and grooming practices. And as you become more aware of your own appearance and can then make a change for the better if it’s called for.

“People watching” may help you avoid altogether some of the most common mistakes. Anyplace where large numbers of people gather is a good place to ‘people watch.’ The people in the library, grocery store, cafeteria or movie theater are often more interesting than what is in the books, on the shelves, the menu or the movie screen.

A large metropolitan airport is an ideal spot for people watching. You’ll see people with total variety in lifestyle, cultural and geographical backgrounds, values, attitudes and interests, as well as the random assortment of sizes and shapes. Pick your place, clear your mind and just watch. Take a few moments out of your own shopping time and plant yourself on a bench where you have full view of the comings and goings. (And don’t panic if they notice you’re watching—just smile and turn your attention elsewhere.)

Watch what people are wearing and how they’re wearing it. Is the clothing appropriate for the occasion, the weather and the person’s age, personality, figure and personal coloring?

Try to become aware of your own reactions to those you see. Catch your first impressions. If you don’t like the way someone looks, try to figure out why. Maybe her skirt pulls tight over her fanny and the hem hikes three inches shorter in back than front. Or maybe his plaid pants fight with his striped shirt and polka dot tie.

If your first thoughts were “sharp,” “looks terrific,” or “I’d like to look like that,” try to figure out how the various parts fo the outfit have been put together and how the grooming details contribute to the harmony of the total look. You’re sure to pick up some pointers.

“People watching” can be a fun, fascinating and informative pastime. It’s a never-ending adventure in expanding your awareness, sensitivity and objectivity. Use it to your advantage.

Copyright Judith Rasband and Conselle L.C. 2009

Judith Rasband is the Image Expert and would love to work with you!  Visit www.conselle.com or call 801-224-1207 to learn more.

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