At my professional conference a couple of years ago, I listened to a speaker discuss signature style. It was interesting, but for my practice, I prefer to take it a step further. To me, signature style refers to those pieces you love and reach for all the time. It’s really that simple. Of course, as your Carmel Personal Stylist, I can make some educated and improved choices, but at the crux of this, I am not going to change your choices or “uniform.”
We all have a uniform, whether we realize it or not! The best way to explain this is to talk about myself and my style and personal uniform.
Your Carmel Personal Stylist’s Perspective on Style Uniform
Even before I became a stylist, I preferred certain pieces because I had been living with my shape my entire life. Hands down, even beyond my work wardrobe, I am a huge fan of blazers and jackets. This is not surprising since I have the traditional triangle shape (although not as much as when I was younger). Jackets gave me width and depth, and helped me take up space and show up professionally. So jackets, tops, and jeans, or a more dressier version of this, were definitely my uniform. I find even today I seldom divert from that ensemble. One exception is this winter when I gravitated toward sweaters and jeans as temps became frigid.
This photo illustrates a more dress-up version of my blazer/top/jeans uniforms. I really don’t wear suits–although I have them–I like to use unique colors and combinations. This outfit features a blue blazer, navy-blue polka dot blouse, navy pants, and purple pumps. The day I was out and about in this ensemble, at least four people commented on my shoes. They said – I would never have put that together. And of course, I told them I was a stylist.
My secondary uniform is a dress. As someone who has great difficulty finding many pants and jeans that really flatter me, the dress has always been so easy. It’s one and done; it’s comfortable, it’s me. I add variety to this uniform by adding a blazer, some type of jeans jacket, or a cardigan sweater.
I love all types of dresses, and really cannot narrow down to one style. That’s because my style is creative, so I love so many prints, stripes, and fabrics. I can switch from extremely tailored and classic to flowy Bo-Ho in a minute.
The only limit I have, however, is how I wear those dresses. I have to be aware of how certain shapes look on me as I pick the outfits I love.
Identify Your Style Uniform with a Carmel Personal Stylist Appointment
In my foundations Carmel Personal Stylist appointment, we go over your style and try to pinpoint your “uniform.” We also go over the best shapes in light of your style…top and necklines, dress shapes, and pants shapes. This knowledge will translate into buying clothes that flatter you and pieces you will keep for years.
Pinpointing your uniform is just the first step. That alone is great, but it doesn’t go far enough. Book with me, and we will discover your best “you” together.
Keep it sassy, Indy.
Beth Divine, MA, AICI-CIC
