How to Curate Your Personal Style

By Lelalo

Finding and curating your personal style can feel overwhelming in a world where fashion trends shift overnight, and social media is filled with “must-have” pieces. But the truth is, your style isn’t something you stumble upon by accident - it’s something you build with intention.

Curating your personal style is less about chasing what’s popular and more about creating a wardrobe that reflects who you are, how you live, and how you want to feel.

You see, there isn't much point in curating your wardrobe to fit an aesthetic or trend, your brain. tells you you need to do this to fit in and feel safe in a social setting, and so it can be a tempting mission. In truth, expressing yourself is about finding the unique combination of things that make YOU happy. You add these pieces up to create a beautiful collage of small joys that add up to a full picture of what makes you, you.

So let's take a look at how you can tune in to your inner voice and create a unique style that only you could create.

Step 1: Get Clear on Your Lifestyle

The first step to curating personal style is practical. Clothes should support your life, not fight against it. Ask yourself: Where do you spend most of your time? Do you need professional outfits for work, casual clothes for errands, or dressier pieces for frequent social events? If your wardrobe doesn’t match your lifestyle, you’ll always feel like you have “nothing to wear.”

By grounding your choices in your daily reality, you set yourself up for a style that’s both authentic and functional.

Step 2: Reflect on What You Already Wear

Open your closet and take note of the pieces you reach for most often. Do you wear your favourite jeans three times a week? Do you have a jacket that seems to complete every outfit? The pieces you naturally gravitate toward are telling you something about your preferences. I'm a huge fan of finding a piece that fits comfortably, highlights your favourite "assets" and brings you joy, then buying 4 of that same item on Vinted when it becomes available.

On the flip side, notice the items you rarely touch. Maybe they’re uncomfortable, too complicated to style, or they simply don’t feel like you. Learning from both your favourites and your mistakes helps you refine your wardrobe.

Step 3: Focus on Feelings, Not Just Looks

When curating your style, it’s easy to think only about how an outfit appears in the mirror. But true personal style goes deeper - it’s about how clothes make you feel. Does a blazer make you feel confident, or restricted? Does a loose dress make you feel carefree or sloppy?

Keeping a style journal for a week or two can help. Each day, jot down what you wore and how it affected your mood. Over time, patterns will emerge, showing you what kinds of clothes actually support your confidence.

Step 4: Build from Pieces You Love

Here’s the most important part: your personal style is about the combination of pieces you genuinely love, not about following a trend or fitting into one rigid aesthetic. You don’t need to label yourself “minimalist,” “bohemian,” or “edgy.” Instead, think of your style as a collage. Maybe you love a classic white button-down, playful sneakers, and a statement necklace.

On their own, these pieces might feel unrelated. But together, they create a style that’s unique to you. When you build your wardrobe from individual loves, rather than from what’s trending, you naturally create a personal signature that no algorithm or influencer can duplicate.

Step 5: Edit and Simplify

Curating your style isn’t just about adding new pieces - it’s also about editing. A cluttered closet makes it hard to see what you really like. Take everything out and ask yourself: Does this piece align with how I want to dress? Do I feel good in it? Does it fit my life?

Donating or reselling what no longer serves you clears space for a wardrobe that actually works. Fewer pieces you love are always better than a packed closet full of maybes.

Step 6: Use Inspiration as a Guide, Not a Rule

Inspiration is valuable, but it should be a starting point, not a prescription. Pinterest boards,

Instagram saves, or celebrity street style, can help you see what excites you, but don’t feel pressure to replicate looks exactly. Instead, identify recurring elements - maybe you’re drawn to neutral palettes, or maybe bold colourful accessories keep showing up. Use those patterns as hints about your taste.

Step 7: Experiment with Intention

Curating your style doesn’t mean getting stuck in a rut. Leave space for experimentation. Try a new silhouette, colour, or accessory, but do it with purpose. If it feels good, keep it. If not, let it go without guilt. Over time, your experiments will sharpen your understanding of what belongs in your wardrobe and what doesn’t.

Use reselling sites to try things out while being kind to the environment and your wallet.

Step 8: Create Style Words

To make your style clearer, choose three to five words that describe it. For example: classic, relaxed, modern or playful, colourful, bold. These words act as a compass. Whenever you’re shopping or getting dressed, ask yourself if a piece fits those words. If it doesn’t, it might not belong in your curated wardrobe.

If it does still speak to you, there may be an itch in your brain that you've yet to explore! And a new word to add into your personal style mantra.

Conclusion

Curating your personal style isn’t about copying what’s popular or finding a perfect label - it’s about building a wardrobe that reflects you. Start with your lifestyle, notice what you already love, focus on how clothes make you feel, and edit ruthlessly. Let inspiration guide you, but don’t let it dictate your choices.

Most importantly, remember that your style is made from the pieces you love individually, combined into something that only you can wear. Trends come and go, but the clothes that make you feel like yourself are timeless. By curating intentionally, you’ll create a style that doesn’t just look good - it feels right.

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