Personal Style Categories – The Newbie’s Guide
While fashion can sometimes feel like uncharted territory, personal style categories can help you let go of the need to be told what to wear and start creating a way of expressing yourself that is truly original and authentic.
As our team Style and Fashion Consultant, Devina Bhaga always says, “there are no rules in fashion”. And with this sort of unbridled confidence and originality, your personal brand is guaranteed to stand out and attract your target audience through your self-expression.
Personal Style That is Unique Transcends Individual Articles of Clothing…
…and eventually becomes a powerful vibe all of its own. But did you know that there are categories of personal style that can help you eliminate trends that don’t feel like you and focus on fashion themes that encompass your unique look?
In this article, we are going to walk you through The Beginner’s Guide to Personal Style Categories, so that you can ditch your fears around fashion and instead cultivate a wardrobe that embodies who you are as a person.
Classic Personal Style Categories
The classic personal style category revolves around pieces that are timeless.
If you tend to gravitate towards items that are always in style, you likely have a classic sense of style.
You don’t necessarily need to be modest to have a sophisticated fashion sense, but you definitely err on the side of less is more.
Signature items to have in your classic wardrobe are:
- A black blazer
- Button-down or collared shirts
- A leather loafer
- Nautical stripes
- Vests and cardigans
- Trouser pants
Classic style icons to get inspiration from are:
- Uzo Aduba
- Margot Robbie
- Blake Lively
- Naomie Harris
- Dakota Johnson
- Natalie Portman
Key brands to look to for classic fashion trends:
- Ralph Lauren
- Chanel
- Liz Clairborne
- Tommy Hilfiger
- Coach
Feminine Personal Style Categories
Anything that looks and feels soft, delicate, and dainty falls under the category of feminine personal style.
If you tend to be attracted to lace, cap sleeves, peter pan collars, bows, and ruffles, you definitely have a feminine sense of style.
You don’t have to dress in all lace and frills to have a feminine sense of style. As calico prints, gingham checks, pastels colors, and floral prints all embody the characteristics of soft, delicate, and dainty.
Signature items to have in your feminine wardrobe are:
- Blouses with small cap sleeves
- Shirts, skirts, and dresses with lace trim
- Blouse and dresses with peter pan collars
- Items with small buttons and bows
Feminine style icons to get inspiration from are:
- Elle Fanning
- Keira Knightly
- Diane Kruger
- Emmy Rossum
- Rooney Mara
Key brands to look to for feminine fashion trends:
- Chi Chi London
- Kate Spade
- Revolve
- Vita Grace
- ShopBop
Dramatic and Trendy Personal Style Categories
The dramatic style is all about FLASH and making a statement.
When you have this sense of style, you aim to stand out and be noticed.
If you fall into this category, you aren’t afraid to try the most daring, out-of-the-box trends of the season. And your wardrobe likely changes on a regular basis to keep your style fresh and exciting.
Signature items to have in your dramatic wardrobe are:
- Items with a dramatic use of color, such as neons, or black and white patterns
- Anything with sequins, velvet, satin, gold lamé, snakeskin, feathers, furs, beads, fringe
- A leather jacket (dealer’s choice on color)
- Costume-inspired items with dramatic silhouettes and lines
- Off-the-shoulder blouses and dresses
- Mini-skirts
- Bare-back dresses and tops
Dramatic style icons to get inspiration from are:
- Dua Lipa
- Lady Gaga
- Rihanna
- Janelle Monáe
- Solange Knowles
- Zendaya
- Adwoa Aboah
Key brands to look to for dramatic fashion trends:
- Alexander McQueen
- John Galliano
- Paco Rabanne
- *most brands will feature some dramatic items
Sporty and Natural Personal Style Categories
Think late 80’s early 90’s college student vibes for this category. Here, you’ll see comfort and versatility being the priority for the sporty and natural personal style category.
Being “fashionable” honestly isn’t a priority, and that’s perfect for this style type!
If you tend to gravitate towards stretch materials, cotton, fleece, and anything that gives you room to move, you definitely have more of a sporty/natural style.
Signature items to have in your sporty/natural wardrobe are:
- Athleisure wear (anything with an elastic waistline)
- Boyfriend jeans
- Pullover styles
- Knit t-shirts with ribbed cuffs
- Puffer jackets
- Bomber/leather jackets
- Baseball hats
- Crossbody bags
Sporty/natural style icons to get inspiration from are:
- Julianne Hough
- Kelly Rowland
- Hailey Baldwin
- Selena Gomez
Key brands to look to for sporty/natural fashion trends:
- Nike
- Puma
- Adidas
- Gymshark
- Alo
- Lulu Lemon
Boho Personal Style Categories
Natural stone jewelry, flowy skirts, earthen colors, and leather purses define this style category.
Boho style is all about choosing items that reflect characteristics of the earth through texture, color, silhouette, and movement.
If you tend to fall in love with textures, neutral colors, fringe, and flowy pieces, you likely have a boho sense of style.
Signature items to have in your boho wardrobe are:
- Flowy skirts and shirts
- Flare jeans
- Wide-brimmed hats
- Bandanas
- Leather belts, shoes, and purses
- Floral patterns
- Corduroy
Boho style icons to get inspiration from are:
- Jhené Aiko
- Sienna Miller
- The Olsen Twins
- Zoe Kravitz
- Florence Welch
- Vanessa Hudgens
Key brands to look to for boho fashion trends:
- Free People
- Anthropology
- Christy Dawn
- For Love and Lemons
- Chloe
- Tularosa
Romantic Personal Style Categories
To the romantic, there is no such thing as being too dressed up.
If you have a romantic sense of style, you love to tweak your look until it is exaggerated, chic, and elegant.
If you love ruffles, covered buttons, pearls, bows, satin, silk, sparkles, and rhinestones, you have a romantic sense of style.
Signature items to have in your romantic wardrobe are:
- Form-fitting silk/satin dresses
- Low-cut blouses and dresses
- Ruffled skirts
- Tailored pants
- Corsets
- Pearl jewelry
Romantic style icons to get inspiration from are:
- Kat Dennings
- Selita Ebanks
- Jennifer Lopez
- Kerry Washington
- Aishwarya Rai
- Christina Hendricks
- Eva Mendes
- Sherilyn Fenn
Key brands to look to for romantic fashion trends:
- Dior
- Tiffany’s
- Galmeetsglam
Yes, it takes time, intention, energy, and self-awareness to create your own personal style.
But when you discover which of the personal style categories aligns most with your personality, your closet will easily become filled with a variety of pieces that come together to create a feeling that embodies who you are as a person.
Want to continue learning more about on-camera confidence and personal style? Check out these helpful articles from our blog!
- 5 Expert Secrets for Creating Your Personal Brand Signature Style
- 5 Quick Tips About How to Feel Confident in Front of The Camera
If developing or refining your personal style is your next step, we invite you to book a Complimentary 30-minute Call with our founder and lead brand strategist, Tristan Thibodeau, who can help you decide your next steps, and if appropriate, connect you with Devina Bhaga, our team Fashion & Style consultant!
Ready to book a Complimentary 30-minute Call? Click here to schedule!
About the Author
Tristan Thibodeau is the founder of Wild Womn Haus and is a brand strategist for entrepreneurs in the wellness, beauty, and lifestyle brand industries.
She specializes in helping companies create and maintain their image. She works with market research, industry analysis, and consumer trends to offer strategic insights for brands so that they can enhance their marketing efforts and grow their bottom line.
Tristan also hosts The Wild Womn Hotline, which is a podcast that features expert-level conversations for growing your brand in bold and strategic ways. Follow her on Instagram @tristan.wildwomnhaus and follow the agency on Instagram @wildwomnhaus and TikTok @tristan.wildwomnhaus!
Image Credit Shoutout Goes to…
Devina Bhaga, who is the Head Personal Stylist & Fashion Expert for the Wild Womn Haus Team!
Learn more about Devina through her website or follow her on IG @devinastyles.
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