What is personal style? And why does it matter?
Style is the outward, physical representation of who you are. As this Psychology Today article puts it: ”
[m]ore than anything, style is more than mere clothes. For one thing, it takes less in the way of clothes to express style than you might think. Style is a little excursion into self-expression through clothes. It is self-knowledge and self-confidence expressed through what you choose to wear, a life-affirming expression of your character and spirit.
As this New York Times article defines it, “[s]tyle is an ethos; a way of moving through the world.”
One key to understanding personal style is to understand that style represents the person, fashion represents the empty clothes.
As an attorney, your writing style is important. It is how you string together words to make an effective argument, all your own. At some point in your career, people might even recognize your style before they get to your signature line. Your presentation style is also important. The way you deliver your argument in person is uniquely you.
Your personal style is no different. Just like your writing and presentation style, you want your personal style to be memorable, in a positive way.
What your personal style says about you is completely up to you. And oftentimes what we want our style to convey are the attributes of our personality we value most.
The three-word method is one way to find your personal style and ensure that it matches the traits you want to exude. According to this Glamour article, “[t]he method is remarkably simple in theory but extraordinary in its effectiveness: condense your personal style—wished or actual—into three words, no matter how disparate they might be from one another and no matter how silly you think the words are.
For me, I want my style to be timeless, powerful, and elegant.
It might seem too simple, but defining your style in this way will help you pinpoint the pieces that fit your personal style. Looking for a blazer? Only a few pieces will fit all three categories, and odds are they aren’t the basic ones that show up as the first results on your Google search.
The results from this method will be all your own, and no matter your three little words, you’ll find your own powerful style.