A recent TikTok trend got me thinking about my personal style identity.
It goes…
If you were a song, what would you sound like? (Aphex Twin — Jynweythek Ylow)
If you were a place, where would you be? (Greece)
If you were a drink, what would it taste like? (A negroni)
Establishing a personal brand or style identity has become increasingly complex over the years. We continuously catch ourselves questioning if we truly ‘like what we like’. Are we unique enough? Is our personal style innate? Do I really like negronis because they are bitter and nice, or was it just that carefully curated IG image that tricked me into absorbing this as part of my personal style?
For now, I like to dress like Jerry Seinfeld. But I’ve been contemplating an uncoupling from 90s dad jeans of late. Should I upgrade my uniform with staples from Matilda Djerf’s Djerf Avenue — a fresh take on normcore as seen all over Instagram?
I just think it’s waaaaay more ‘me’… But is it?
We recently asked you about your personal style identity. Most of you said that it’s a work in progress. You listed 90s Julia Roberts, Pinterest off-duty model style, Zoë Kravitz, Scandinavian Instagrammers, your daily mood, and the weather as your primary sources of wardrobe inspiration.
Let’s just consider for a second how fashion royalty like Josephine Baker, Princess Di, and Jane Birkin cultivated their seemingly ‘effortless’ personal style identity in years past, i.e. before Meta. The roaring 20s, Woodstock, Versace, Catherine Walker, smokey French jazz café culture, and sailing the Mediterranean all spring to mind.
Being influenced is nothing new.
The difference is that today inspiration is at our fingertips. We are overstimulated and have access to a wealth of possibilities, style options, and ecommerce.
You might forever question whether your style is your choice or if it’s the ‘best’ it could be.
I think personal style can be a choice. But, as in life, every small choice you make adds up to form a whole. Similarly, every purchase you make ends up defining your style identity at any given point in time.
Our style-dentity will essentially never be ‘complete’, but to find uniqueness in a sea of sameness, I’d advise you to follow this golden rule: always ensure you feel good* in everything you put on your body — and ears, for that matter. *wink*
* good — whether that means smouldering hot, on-trend, comfortable, or sustainably sourced/made, it’s up to you. You know best.
