New Year, New You: Establish Your Signature Style in 2015

I’ve been asked a number of times to describe my style and it’s always left me a little stumped. I mean, Do I even have a signature style? Perhaps this is a question that you’ve been asked (or asked yourself) once or twice. If I had to describe my style, I’d define it as equal parts classic and trendy. I like to play with new shapes, textures, and styles but I never venture into things that don’t feel me. Over the years, I’ve learned that some styles work for my body and others – no matter how chic and trendy – do not. My signature style, I guess, is just kind of... me. Which is actually exactly what your signature style should be.

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A signature style doesn’t necessarily mean that you exclusively wear black clothing, or that you only wear your hair in one particular style. Your signature style should be the style that is most you – making you feel beautiful and confident. It may be something that you do every day but have never really considered as being “your style.” Once you recognize and own it, you can really define who you are through that look – superficial as it may sound. Like it or lump it, how we dress and present ourselves tells the world a lot about us. Ask yourself what you want your look to say.

Now, let's create YOUR personal style!

If you feel like you don't have one - or you're struggling to really define your style - ask yourself the following questions:

1. How would you define your personal style?

Are you strictly a jeans and tee-shirt girl? Perhaps you feel most comfortable in tights and a dress. Perhaps you consider yourself to be casual, conservative, edgy or glamorous – maybe you see yourself a mix of casual and glamorous. Whatever you want your style to say and how you want to feel should be first and foremost in your mind when shopping or dressing yourself. You should also consider how much time you have to devote to your style: do you have two hours to master a super glam hairstyle every morning, or do you have 30 minutes to get ready and get out the door?

2. How do you want to feel?

Sometimes, in the busy-ness of life and parenting and work, we find ourselves in a stump and our “personal style” becomes less personal and more about efficiency. Perhaps your weekday look is based almost entirely on your office dress code, or on what’s most comfortable (and practical) for a day of running errands and taking the kids to the park. If your current style doesn’t make you feel good, it’s time to change it up.

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3. What’s your one thing you feel best with?

With the exception of days I’m staying in the house alone and not going anywhere, I always wear Blackest Black mascara and black eyeliner. Always. I might be rocking Day 4 unwashed hair in a topknot and have leggings and a sac dress on because I’m sick, but dammit if I don’t have mascara and eyeliner. I’ve even been told that I “don’t look like me” when I skip my eyeliner and mascara. (Which is basically a nice way of asking me "where are your eyes?")

Whether your "one thing" is red lipstick, a white streak in your hair – maybe it’s just that you always rock a super edgy, short hairstyle or you can’t live without your blunt-cut fringe – whatever your one thing, own it and rock the shit out of it.

(I also have a thing for red or burgundy nails. In fact, I wear those shades for my manicures almost exclusively. And they're almost always quite short and squoval.)

4. How can you create a style with these ideas in mind?

One of my girl friends once described herself to me as a “tom boy in red lipstick”, and it’s always stuck with me. There’s just no other way to describe her or her look. She regularly rocks boyfriend jeans, simple tees and blazers or moto jackets and heels, booties… but she always wears red lipstick. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen her in a dress in over 20 years of friendship. Ever since we were kids, she gravitated towards cool, casual and yet edgy pieces and she owns it.

As I said before, your personal style does not have to mean that you always wear a graphic tee, distressed jeans and a blazer: your signature style can be as simple as red lipstick or black nails. If you want some inspiration on creating a signature style, look to celebs like Kim Kardashian or Jennifer Aniston – two ladies with very distinct but very different signature styles. Once you’ve found yours, stick to it but don’t be afraid to grow with it and experiment from time to time.

But remember: In order to be YOUR signature style, it needs to feel like YOU.