Do you know your personal style?

[AlertCat]

I have never found one ‘look’ that I’m always happy with. I like hippy stuff, biker stuff, boho stuff, ordinary things like jeans and jumpers. My hair goes between long and short and has done since I was 10. I’m a proper chameleon. Then I see people who’ve essentially had the same haircut since they were 12, wear the same style of clothes, who really seem to know who they are and how to reflect that in their look.

Am I odd? Or is it a normal dilemma? Sometimes I think ‘yes, this is it, this is me now’ but then after a few weeks or months I’m dissatisfied with it again and need something else.

Normal for some of us. It’s good not to conform right? Just dress how you feel. I mean I know some stuff doesn’t suit me so there is that.

I’m not even sure any more what suits me or doesn’t. I have things I really like but never get compliments when I wear them, and other things I’m a bit ‘meh’ about and people always say I look nice in them.

My style is led by feel. I like clothes to feel good so all natural fibres. No tight waistbands, nothing I can’t fold my arms in or bend in. Actually I could do yoga in everything I wear!

I love a big sturdy boot or brogue and a bit of jewellery. Have a lot of men’s clothes and also lots of asymmetric, balloon or bubble hem or kid of folded dresses, wide trousers and chunky jumpers and cardigans. Jackets are oversized and generously fitting. I would not call myself stylish at all but I do have a style which I like and I enjoy its comfort, colour and that it is unapologetically punky/boho or masculine.

I definitely have different looks for different moods! I have preppy days where I will wear a tweed skirt with a little cardigan, but I also have a lot of "alternative" stuff from Disturbia which I might feel like wearing to the office on other occasions. Sometimes just jeans and a jumper. I like not being limited to a particular style and just selecting what I feel like on the day, and also mixing and matching a tweed skirt with a jumper with spiders on it! Maybe I look a complete mess but it makes me happy.

Style changes and evolves with age and confidence and your body I think. At 49 I’m clear on what I don’t like and what suits me - but I’m still trying to figure out my style, which I’d describe as 1970/early 1980s preppy/secretary/nerd/romantic/disco kid 😂

I'm in my 50s and I know what suits me and makes me feel happy. I don't have an aesthetic you could put a name to, I'm quite eclectic, but in winter I tend to lean towards what you might call preppy or academia, and in the summer I lean towards boho, or a 90s ditsy print sort of look.

In my sixties now and have settled into a style that I would describe as Punk Land Girl. It feels right for me.

I’d love to see pictures of all your styles, you all sound awesome!

Sounds quite normal to me OP 😁
@Poppolo are you me? You're ahead of me tho as I'm just about to charity shop the last uncomfortable jeans and the like.

I have a very definite look and like that it stops me from being swayed by clothes that I will not end up wearing. Having said that, there’s a bronze sequin mini skirt hanging in my wardrobe that I bought for Christmas Day that doesn’t meet my usual style - I’m in denial that I’ll wear it but it will be going back 😂. I’m going to wear a chocolate midi satin and lace skirt instead which is more my vibe.

I definitely know what I like but it's not carved in stone. It's changed before and I'm sure it'll change again. In fact I actively enjoy it when I discover something I'd previously dismissed as not being 'my style'.

I think there's a tendency on this board to aspire to knowing what suits you as though it's some kind of settled science, but I don't see it like that and I don't find it any more admirable than deciding which genre of fiction you like and not reading anything else.

That said, if someone's buying clothes all the time but can never find anything to wear then I'd agree something isn't right.

@thedevilinablackdress we need to start a clothing brand that unifies quite different styles under comfy and washable. Today I have bamboo yoga pants on and a men’s oversized striped cotton jumper. Snugly warm and comfy with pockets for everything I need and a fold over waistband for belly warmth! I don’t shop a lot but have to use a few different places plus vented to find my faves.

In my 50s now - but have always had to dress for my shape.

In my head i'd like to be waif like and wear simple shift dresses a la Audrey Hepburn or swirly hippy clothes and gypsy tops.

However i'm a busty hourglass and i look better in clothes with stretch and cling as it shows i actually have a rib cage and a waist ! Anything which even slightly falls from the bust makes me look like a darlek!

Outfits i happily wear one week i wouldn't be seen dead in the following one if i'm having a 'i hate everything' few days.

I don't really think in terms of style TBH, I have 'days' instead.
So today might be a goth day or a retro day or a flouncy dress day or a comfy casual day.
I think the only thing I'm not keen on is that classy, neutral look. I mean it looks fine but it just doesn't feel like me.

I have a friend who I have known for many years and she has a very definite style which has never really changed, and I am always a bit envious of that. I am more like you OP in that I chop and change, I love getting dressed up and looking smart but at other times I want sloppy knits and biker boots.

I have never really worked it out, and I am in my mid fifties, so I just go with however I feel on any given day. I think feeling good in what you wear is really important and I try to be true to that rather than following fashion or rules about what is or isn't stylish.

I have flirted with various styles over the decades but have come to accept that I only feel like ‘me’ when I am wearing tailored clothing. My ‘style’ most closely resembles ‘Dark Academia’.

Oh, I am a bit like this ..”which me do I want to be today?’ .. it’s fun and freeing.
I am comfort all the way though.. natural fibres , cotton, linen, wool.
I think there is a French expression “Le Petit Imperfect”.. I little imperfect.. if everything is too perfect then it’s wrong.

One thing I am trying to do is wear a bit more red.. suits my colouring .. just a dash .. lippy or a bandana or a peep red sock.

I'm a mood dresser, however this year have been in fitted/tight bottoms with oversized baggy tops.

Through the summer that was cycling shorts with large drop shoulder teeshirts and trainers.
Autumn and winter has been bright coloured leggings with baggy (generally mens) oversized sweaters, scarves and chunky boots. I miss my skinny jeans, but can't find any that fit me as nicely as they did through my teens and 20s.