One of the keys to personal style is knowing what you like (and what you don’t like – more on that next week). For me, experimentation has been the key to figuring out my true likes and dislikes, distinct from fashion trend cycles and social media hype trains. My likes boil down to things that (a) feel good on my body, (b) spark joy, and (c) create congruence between the inner world and outer presentation. In other words, they allow me to present myself to the world in a way that aligns with my experience of identity.
Likes and dislikes can change over time, but I’ve found that, once you home in on the authentic ones (aka self-driven, not society-driven), they tend to be quite resilient. Personal style is more fluid because it’s more than just the sum of its parts. The way I put together my fave pieces is constantly evolving, in small or not-so-small ways, but the pieces themselves tend to remain consistent. That wasn’t always the case; in my early to mid 30s, I cycled through a lot of fave pieces while trying to figure out what I actually, really liked. Thank god for thrifting! [Yes, that’s the obligatory plug for secondhand shopping. New year, same old philosophy.]
OK, so what are some of the things I like?
Midi Skirts
First thing that comes to mind when you think Adina’s Personal Style, right? I love both fitted, column-style skirts and wide, voluminous skirts, but they have to hit at the right spot – anywhere from just below the widest part of my calf to just above the ankle. This helps create the elongated vertical line I love because it makes me feel taller, which in turn makes me feel more confident. Basically, it’s my power move.
High Rise (Everything)
I love high-rise pants and skirts for two reasons: I find them most comfortable, and they help create that long vertical line I just talked about. I have a long torso/short legs situation, and a high-rise visually “redistributes” my proportions. Comfort-wise, I prefer a waistband to hit at my natural waist, which sits a little higher than my belly button, because then it doesn’t compress my stomach area (which can be painful for me).
Cropped Chunky Sweaters
I love the look of a chonky, even oversized sweater – I find them both stylish and comfortable – but I prefer them to be cropped. That means they must hit above my hip bones or higher; ideally, around my natural waist. It’s the other side of the equation vis-à-vis high rise pants and skirts. A match made in heaven … at least according to moi.
The summer counterpart of the cropped chunky sweater is the cropped, fitted top. There, I prefer either short sleeves or wide straps.
Vests
I love vests. They’re a versatile layering piece, and you know how much I love a layered moment. I prefer form-fitting vests that hit around or just below my natural waist. I’m sure you can guess why.
Turtlenecks
I live in a cold climate, so turtlenecks are the staple of my style for about 6 months out of the year. I like thick ones that serve as “standalone” sweaters, but I especially like thin ones that can be layered under other things (other sweaters, dresses, etc.). Having that extra, lightweight layer gives me more latitude to wear my fave clothes year-round. A thin merino wool (or cotton wool blend) turtleneck can be surprisingly warm.
Voluminous Dresses
I love the drama of twirly dresses. My two fave flavours are: (1) loose and tiered, and (2) fit and flare. In both cases, they have to be midi+ (aka below calf length). While I also enjoy long, column-style dresses, I find them less comfortable unless they’re made from a fabric that skims the body rather than clings to it and are cut on the bias. I have curves and they love a bias cut!
Blazer-style Jackets
Whenever I hear the word “blazer”, I have flashbacks to the early 2010s and a very specific style of office wear … which is not my current jam. But, for better or worse, the jackets I love can probably best described as blazer-style. It’s more difficult for me to explain precisely what I like than it is to describe what I don’t like. I don’t like fitted blazers made from light suiting material that hit around the hip bone. I don’t mind that style if the material is tweed. I don’t mind light suiting material if the cut is looser and longer. I also like shorter, more cropped styles, but then I prefer a boxy cut (which starts to take us out of blazer territory).
Low Heels
I don’t do “real” heels anymore, but I like a little stacked heel to elevate me a couple of inches off the ground. Sandals, pumps, boots – you name it. I tend to avoid flat shoes, unless they’re loafers. Even there, I prefer a platform sole so that, while technically not a heel, I’ve got those extra inches. Nowadays, I find ballerina-style flats almost as uncomfortable as 3 inch+ heels to wear; plus, I don’t love the aesthetic anymore either. With flats, I prefer a chunkier shoe. I think it suits my current style better.
So, what about you?
If you haven’t done so before, I recommend making a list of Things You Like because it can be a great tool in understanding your personal style and in guiding clothes shopping decisions. I’ve eliminated a lot of my regret purchases over the years by keeping this sort of list … along with a list of Things I Don’t Like, which can be equally important. Come back next week and we’ll dive into that.