5 Tips for Creating Your Personal Vintage Style

Do you have a defined personal style yet? Don’t worry if your answer is no…or even I don’t know. Whether you spend a lot of time on your style or are just starting out, creating a clearly defined personal style helps build a cohesive wardrobe. It allows you to communicate who you are to the world. Your unique style lets you express yourself to others in a way that shows off your personality and character even before you speak.

I hear these questions a lot, “How do I find the confidence to wear vintage daily?” or “How do I not feel like I’m wearing a costume when I wear vintage style?”

I truly believe that creating your own personal style is a vital step to developing the confidence to present yourself in any style, let alone a non-conforming style like vintage. You’ll feel much more comfortable and confident when your style reflects your personality and character. You are allowing your authentic self to shine through.

Let’s take this back to the basics, ok? I’m mean, you can’t really know how to style yourself until you really know YOUR personal style, right?

So that’s what we are here to do. I’m going to give you some of my tips on how to create your personal vintage style.

I’m not going to lie, this definitely requires some self-reflection and dedication. Developing our personal style can be a little intimidating at first. Self-reflection can be challenging, but I have faith in you!

Having a solid foundation of your personal style is beneficial in so many ways. It can help you save money, save you time, give you confidence and a sense of self, and promote sustainability.

Remember that YOUR personal style should never be set in stone. Your style should change as you grow and reflect the changes in your lifestyle, location, and interests. 

Grab a notebook, your favorite pen, and let’s get started!

 

Start Gathering Inspiration

Personally, I use Pinterest constantly for inspiration. For clothing, hairstyles, accessories, you name it. Create boards for different eras or styles that you are drawn to. Break them up into seasons if you want to really get specific. Create mood boards on Pinterest for the different subsets of the eras you like. For example, suppose you love the 1940s. In that case, you could create boards for styles like British wartime, American glamour, Land Girls/Workwear, Dior’s New Look, looks for the office, or leisurewear. This is also a great way to learn more about the various styles within each era.

Stay True to Yourself and Your Lifestyle

The whole point of a personal style is for your personality and character to shine through. Trust your instincts and choose pieces that make you feel the most like yourself. Your lifestyle, geographic location, and occupation absolutely should play a role in what items you decide to wear. For example: If you are a mom and spend a good portion of your day wrangling kids, make sure your garments are appropriate for those quick movements and are easily washable. If you are a student or working in an office, choose pieces that you are physically comfortable sitting in and are appropriate for the task that will allow your personality to shine through. 

Create a Wish List

Keeping a running list of items that you are searching for can really help you focus on building your style. You can create a Google doc or simply keep a list in your notepad on your phone. Your list should be as detailed as possible. It should include what colors, patterns or textures you are looking for, along with an idea of what overall look you are going for with this item. It also helps to figure out how you can incorporate the item into other looks.

Discover What Flatters You and Your Body Type

This can be another hard one and takes some trial and error. Truly knowing your body, measurements, and what features you want to show off is invaluable knowledge. Take photos of outfits that you love or go through your Instagram feed and objectively evaluate how a particular style looked on you. What kind of neckline suits you best? Does a full shirt or an A-line skirt favor you more? What colors really pop on you?

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BONUS TIP

Know Your Pain Points and Limitations

This is really where that self-reflection comes into play. It’s taken me years to learn and figure out this step. Knowing what your quirks are about clothing will save you time, money, and frustration. For example, I don’t like to show my knees. So when I’m searching for a dress or skirt, it absolutely MUST fall below my knees, preferably at mid-calf. I also have to think long and hard about buying a garment that doesn’t have pockets. Pockets have become so important to me that I actually get angry when I’m wearing something that doesn’t have pockets. So really sit down and come up with your own list, ask yourself things like, do you only want to wear natural fibers? How often do you layer your clothes? Does that alter what garments you might choose due to any details that might get covered up or change the final look’s silhouette? You should know your heel height limit for shoes and figure out if you’d be comfortable walking a mile in them or standing for an extended period.

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