I’ve always been in awe of the girls who can pull off any look. They literally chuck on a shirt and jeans and look like they’ve just stepped off the pages of Vogue, looking effortlessly chic in something that makes me look like a boxy boy. However, while much of it lies in the genetics, I think part of the secret is knowing when to be creative, without complicating the outfit too much. Staying true to yourself but experimenting occasionally. Pushing the boundaries is fun, but you don’t have to do it to extremes, driving your style forward is all about personalisation.
I’ve never really considered myself as someone who has a ‘unique’ style. As a blogger, this is a bit of a worry at times, as I wonder whether anyone will want to read about someone who doesn’t really push the boat out – and instead, sticks to her fail-safes. However when you look at it within a bigger picture, everyone offers something different when it comes to style. Whether it’s the way you do your make-up, the way you write, the way you present yourself on social media, the way you decorate your room or the way you speak. Style definitely goes beyond the wardrobe and we’re all different. So it’s this aspect which makes all of us bloggers unique, even if we’re all sporting an Olympus Pen and wearing rose gold Superstars.
One inspiring lady who knows a LOT about unique personal style is 94-year-old fashion icon Iris Apfel, who has some amazing pearls of wisdom that I think we could all take heed of. According to her, personal style is all about knowing yourself, staying curious and maintaining a sense of humour. She’s always flaunted a very individual look, which I think is fab – however for many of us, who aren’t as confident and can’t pull off a colourful smock, I think baby steps are required.
She once proclaimed: “When you don’t dress like everyone else, you don’t have to think like everyone else.”
Which I think sums up how we should look at individual style. We should let our personalities shine through a little bit more and get experimental, because we’re all able to inject something different into an outfit.
She also asserted: “If you make a mistake in what you put together, the fashion police are not going to haul you into jail.”
Which again, is totally true. We can afford to get creative and go above and beyond what the trend pages are offering. There’s not going to be any punishment. Aside from the time I sported a fluffy pink jumper, black leather skirt and fluffy trim green knee length boots to a trip to the pet shop, whereby the pictures from this said occasion will haunt me forever.
Anyway, you get the idea. Individuality is fun and we shouldn’t be afraid to experiment with our personal style.
With this in mind, I thought I’d give some experimentation a go – tying in a catwalk show I was attending a few weeks ago, which as always, is a perfect time to get creative, since no-one really bats an eyelid. I decided once I’d watched the show, I would head off to Topshop and try and re-create what I’d seen, on myself. Considering some of the outfits trotting down the catwalk are VERY questionable, this was a rather risky bet with myself. But nevertheless, a fun idea.
So, as luck would have it – the show I attended featured a variety of mesh type combinations, plenty of monochrome and high black boots. It wasn’t the type of thing I’d normally sport but I was eager to give it a go. The bodycon look that all the models were rocking was COMPLETELY out of my comfort zone, as I hate my stomach area and would rather focus on other features, however – in the name of blogging, I broke this rule for once.
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I managed to find this mesh bodycon at Topshop for a rather reasonable price – and so popped it into my experimental basket and headed to the checkout. I teamed it with my knee high boots and put the final look together.
As I stepped out onto the street, I was reminded of yet another of Iris’ quotes.
“If your hair is done properly and you’re wearing good shoes, you can get away with anything.”
Old world glamour is all about you as a person and how you pull off a look. It’s not about worrying what others think.
After I stopped worrying about what others might think, I actually kind of loved this look. It wasn’t me, at all. But I think I made it my own, eventually. You might not see me nipping to Sainsbury’s in this combo, but getting creative has given me the incentive to not just stick to my fail safes all the time.
I can incorporate trends while still maintaining my own personal style. And this runs throughout all aspects of my life – not limited to my wardrobe. As many of you know, I’m dairy-free and egg-free (woo!) and so have to personalise lots of my favourite foods and cravings, creating them using different ingredients. In the car world, the DS 3 allows owners to personalise their cars to meet their own style statement needs.
Making a style statement doesn’t have to feature a whopping great flamingo outfit – or a giant hat. It can be totally unique to you.
“I don’t dress to be stared at. I dress for myself.” – Iris Apfel
What do you think of my creative style statement?
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New DS 3 and New DS 3 Cabrio make a winning formula even better. Designed with a clean new look the car is the automotive embodiment of Parisian chic. Beneath its stylish exterior New DS 3 is built on the DS foundations of technology, refinement and attention to detail. From DS LED vision headlights through to 7″ touch screen and mirror screen, the car is full of technology to make life easy. Watchstrap design leather seats is an example of the refinement in New DS 3, ensuring that our most compact car meets the exacting standards we demand of every DS. It’s also a car with a multitude of options to personalize so the the owner can make the car their very own style statement.
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by DS3 via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of DS3.
