How To Find Your Personal Style ⏤ A Man’s Guide
“I just don’t know what style would look good on me!”
Of all the questions we get from men, that tends to get asked the most - how they can find their personal style.
So many guys think they have to dress a certain way because they’re lean, tall, short, built, bulky, etc. Here’s the thing: developing your own personal style isn’t as complicated as you may think it is. It also has nothing to do with your height or weight.
Your body does not dictate the style of the clothing; it will simply dictate the size and fit of the clothing.
To give a quick example, imagine you wanted to decorate your home or apartment in a Mid-Century Modern style. Now imagine someone telling you that because you’re in a certain size home, that style wouldn’t work. “Oh, you can only do mid-century modern in studio apartments, not 3-bedroom homes”. That would be absurd - the interior style scales with the size of the home. The same applies to clothing.
But let’s dial this personal style thing in for you and take a deep dive into how you can find your own personal style, why it can make you look and feel more comfortable in your own skin, and some tips for creating a wardrobe that’s unique to you and makes sense for your lifestyle.
Finding Your Personal Style
Whether you realize it or not, you’re always inherently drawn to a particular style of clothing. And the minute you put something on, you know if it feels like you or is definitely a pass.
Try throwing pastel shorts on a guy who lives in flannels and jeans (or vice versa) and see what happens. Neither is “wrong” - it’s just wrong for that individual.
The same is true for the imagery in magazines or online, and those brands that seem to catch your eye when you’re shopping. It’s not just a coincidence; something about the aesthetic draws you in.
But many guys will readily admit that what’s hanging in their closets isn’t exactly their ideal style and does nothing to draw them in.
If you’re feeling uninspired by your existing personal style, there are a few simple things you can do to help get you out of that rut.
Get Style Influenced
Creating a personal style is a visual process, and it’s always the first step. Your eye likes what it likes, right? And since most of us are glued to our phones anyway, it’s a great place to start.
For example, whether it’s a Hollywood icon from the 21st century or someone on Instagram who rocks a style you admire, start looking for a common thread in the outfits you like the most.
You can save those images to a folder on your desktop, create a personal style board on Canva, save photos on Pinterest, or even make a physical collage of them.
What you’ll notice is some obvious trends emerging from the photos you’ve selected. Maybe the majority of your photos are of guys wearing tailored suits, crisp button-downs, and silk pocket squares. Or, it could be the complete opposite; you might be drawn to guys rocking logger boots, thermals, and trucker jackets. Again, there is no right or wrong here; there are simply styles that you resonate with and ones you don’t.
Now, for the fun part—there are billions of outfit photos floating around online, but they will typically all fall into one of our seven PIVOT style archetypes: Classic, Preppy, Rake, Rugged, Rock, Bohemian, or Street.
Let’s dive into each one to help you better understand where your personal style leans. Try to identify your personal style here. Once you do, it makes it easier to understand what to look for in the future, where to shop, and how to put outfits together.
Categorize Your Personal Style
CLASSIC:
This personal style is characterized by timeless and sleek elegance, simplicity, and a focus on well-fitting, high-quality pieces. It exudes sophistication and is often associated with a refined, understated aesthetic: simple, minimalistic pieces with a premium on material and fit.
Adjectives: Clean, Modern, Simple, Elegant, Minimal, Polished, Timeless, Crisp, Neat, Refined, Tailored, Quiet Luxury
The Classic Style
PREPPY:
Known for its classic, polished look inspired by the traditional attire of Ivy League universities and East Coast prep schools. This personal style is ideal for those who appreciate a classic wardrobe that resembles traditional American fashion.
Adjectives: Ivy League, Conservative, Nautical, Collegiate, East Coast, Country Club, All-American, Old Money
The Preppy Style
RAKISH:
Often associated with a bold or flamboyant fashion sense, characterized by its daring, slightly unconventional elegance. This personal style blends classic sophistication with a touch of boldness and flair. It's about making a statement through confident sartorial choices.
Adjectives: Maximalist, Pop, Sprezzatura, Flamboyant, Flashy, Playful, Statement, Eccentric, Fashion-Forward, Vibrant, Bold
The Rakish Style
RUGGED:
This aesthetic is about looking effortlessly put together, with an emphasis on clothing that is both functional and stylish. It's a balance between looking good and being ready for outdoor adventures and is one of the most popular personal style choices for men.
Adjectives: Masculine, Tough, Gritty, Outdoor, Utilitarian, Americana, Heritage, Workwear
The Rugged Style
ROCK:
Defined by its edgy, rebellious spirit, often drawing inspiration from various eras of rock music as well as skate and biker culture. This personal style is characterized by a bold, unconventional look that incorporates leather, denim, and statement pieces.
Adjectives: Gritty, Gothic, Rebel, Grunge, Skate, Metal, Punk, Biker, Edgy, Dark, Vintage, Leather, Distressed
The Rock Style
BOHEMIAN:
Characterized by its laid-back, artistic, and often eclectic aesthetic. This personal style draws inspiration from various free-spirited and artistic cultures, combining vintage, ethnic, and earthy elements.
Adjectives: Organic, Relaxed, Ethnic, Vintage, Artsy, Hippie, Gypsy, Free-Spirited, Earthy, Nomadic
The Boho Style
STREET:
All about contemporary, casual fashion that blends comfort, functionality, and some bold design. Influenced by the urban lifestyle, hip-hop culture, skateboarding, and modern trends.
Adjectives: Urban, Streetwear, Athlesuire, Hip-Hop, Graffiti, Athletic, Relaxed
The Street Style
A Closet Comparison
Once you’ve identified which style archetype resonates with you the most, take a look in your closet. What do you see? Do your current clothes jive with the archetype you’re most drawn to? If so, congrats! You’ve nailed your personal style without even realizing it.
If not, well, now you know! You can begin to make some changes and improve your style. Start by weeding things out, and then we can start replacing items that align more with your personal style.
As discussed earlier, sometimes we get into a style rut for whatever reason: family, career, economics, where we live, age, interests. They all play a massive role in influencing what type of clothing we wear.
It makes sense that our wardrobes tend to mirror where we are in life. While most of us have seen our personal style evolve over time, sometimes we don’t invest in new clothing that more accurately reflects those changes in our lives. When that happens, our closets start to resemble a time capsule—intriguing, for sure (if not comical!), but not exactly suited for who you are and, for that matter, who you aspire to be.
You may also have a closet bursting with clothes but find yourself wearing the same 10 things over and over again. That’s worth noting; sometimes, what we aren’t wearing can tell us a lot.
It’s good to think about those clothes. Why aren’t you wearing a specific item? Is there a negative memory attached to it? Does it fit weirdly? Maybe it drives your skin crazy every time you wear it.
Take all the clothes you aren’t wearing and put them in a pile. Try to figure out the commonalities; is it the fabric? Color? Pattern? Then, simply avoid buying more of that type of clothing.
At the end of the day, our clothes should always make us look and feel our best.
What’s the point of spending money on something that does the opposite? It’s not only a waste of cash, but wearing something that doesn’t look or feel like you won’t do you any favors when building your self-confidence or image. Everything you buy should be something you want to wear. The items in your closet should reflect you, not just what is fashionable this month.
Learn more about how we can get you clothing that looks the part right here
Style Trial
Sometimes, figuring out your personal style requires some trial and error, so don’t get frustrated if the process takes some time and effort.
Start by creating a visual representation of icons, celebrities, models, and influencers wearing outfits you like and admire. See how your closet compares; it will help you determine the missing link(s).
You may discover that while you’re drawn to a style archetype, it doesn’t make sense for your lifestyle. This is totally fine; sometimes, it’s a matter of adding just a few certain elements rather than a head-to-toe representation of the style archetype. It could also be a matter of mixing and matching: a little bit of Rock, a little bit of Rugged, etc.
If you are able to do this on your own and feel confident about the wardrobe changes you want to make, great! We’re glad you found this article helpful.
If you need a style assist for this whole thing, we’re here to help. In our virtual program, you work 1-on-1 with an expert stylist. It’s specifically designed to help men figure out their own personal style, step by step, including which colors look best on you, hairstyle and grooming transformation to make you look your best, and a ton of additional resources that you can have at your fingertips.
We even take the guesswork out of shopping by doing it for you, while also educating you on all aspects related to developing and understanding your unique sense of style so that you can make the right clothing choices in the future. Learn more about that here.
Personal style is… well, personal. No two people dress exactly alike, even if they share the same tastes. Discovering your own unique sense of style goes deeper than the brand of jeans you wear; it’s a way of expressing yourself and cultivating the image you want the world to see and, more importantly, what you want to see reflected in the mirror.
Cheers!
Kate
P.S. you can book a call with us right here to lean more about how we can help you improve your style, redesign your closet, and get you clothing that fits and looks incredible.
