This week’s guest blog is by personal stylist & slow fashion promoter Daisy Schubert. I met Daisy networking a number of years ago in Kensington and what struck me immediately was her strong confidence and intense knowledge on what looks good on someone and what doesn’t. Daisy believes that no woman should be at war with her wardrobe. That was me for years. Hating shopping and hating important events, as I never knew what to wear. If it wouldn’t be for Daisy, I’d still wear black at all times looking like a ‘ghost’ as black is the worst colour for my complexion because I am a spring on the colour palette. Daisy’s details are at the bottom. Connect with her as understanding your colours & shapes will make a massive difference to the way you come across, on and off stage.
Would you like to know the secret to always looking pulled together and ‘on brand’ no matter what you wear? Would you like to radiate confidence and authenticity from clothes that make you feel and look your best when speaking from stage and beyond?
Defining your signature style will help you to achieve just that. So, what is and isn’t a signature style, and how can you develop one?
A signature style isn’t about wearing a company uniform, or buying the exact same jeans and t-shirt ten times to give you enough identical looks until laundry day (unless of course that works for you and is part of your brand).
Instead, your signature style describes the true essence of who you are as a person through the clothes you are wearing. It is defined by your own personality, your mood / the weather on a particular day and the audience you are likely to encounter. When you have a ‘nothing to wear’ moment, it’s not because your wardrobe has been robbed of its contents. As Caitlin Moran puts it: “There is nothing here for who I’m supposed to be today”. Let’s find out what characteristics your clothes need to reflect so that you’ll always feel true to yourself, regardless of the occasion.
How to define Your Style Personality
Think of three words that best describe who you are as a person. Ask yourself:
- Who am I?
- What words best define my identity?
- What style do I love the most?
You could create a mood board with images that you are drawn to, or make a list of ten things in your life that you absolutely love. There will be a common thread linking all the items or images together: that’s your style personality! As these three words are intrinsically you, translating them into pieces for your wardrobe will create consistency for your signature style.
What’s Your Mood Today?
One day we feel bold, the next day we may just want to chill. Naturally, your mood will change from day to day, and that’s okay! Check in with your mood and ask yourself:
- How do I want to feel in my clothes?
- What do I need them to do for me today?
Your clothes can match or shift your mood (ie. a power suit and heels can boost your confidence levels significantly), so it’s up to you to decide which clothes will serve you best for how you feel, or how you want to feel. Being true to yourself in this way makes your signature style more authentic.
Who’s Your Audience?
Whoever you will encounter today, you can influence what they think and conclude about you within the first 10 seconds, regardless if this is your public speaking audience, a potential client or a hot date. You don’t need a slogan t-shirt to tell your audience who you are and what you stand for. To influence what people will think when they first see you, ask yourself:
- What do I want my audience to believe about me?
- If I suddenly went mute – would my outfit convey what I wanted to say?
Defining the first impression you want to make rather than leaving this to chance will give your signature style purpose!
Now you should have 3 words for each of the three categories. Combined, they are the criteria for your outfit on any given day. As an example, my look today was influenced by these nine characteristics:
- Style Personality – Timeless, Bold, Structured
- Mood Today – Casual, Effortless, Breathable (it’s a hot day in London)
- My Audience’s Perception of me – Professional, Approachable, Memorable
Focus on creating authenticity, consistency and purpose – and voila, you’ve defined your Signature Style!
To connect with Daisy, join her Facebook group Speak in Style – Styling Advice For Woman Who Speak or schedule a short complimentary session here.
Keep the momentum and join 2,000 other professional & aspiring speakers in the Speaker Express Facebook group here or join our free training taking your through The Speakers’ Method, our proven way to grow your speaking business.
We are looking forward working with you or meeting you at one of our events.
To your speaking, Elliot & Annik x
