The Crescent Spring 2024

Five Ways to Develop Your Personal Style

By Amanda Bernard (Loyola-New Orleans)

As long as I can remember, I have always loved fashion. From the ‘80s scrunchie tie on a t-shirt to ‘00s platform sandals, I’ve stayed on top of trends throughout the decades. Yet, by the early 2010s, the conventional approach of replicating trends no longer suited me. As I transitioned into adulthood, I needed to let my attire mirror my evolving sense of self instead of conforming to external influences. Drawing on years of fashion experience, here are the five concise ways I cultivated my style. I hope they help you do the same!

1. Evaluate

To kickstart my style transformation, I emptied my closet and meticulously evaluated each item. Rediscovering forgotten pieces buried in the clutter, I sorted them into keep or purge categories. Items with tags, bought impulsively without considering my body and lifestyle, ended up in the purge pile. It was a tedious process, but I was left with a closet full of pieces I wanted to wear and enough room that I could see what I had.

2. Identify Needs

Next, I evaluated what I truly needed, acknowledging my tendency to label wants as needs for shopping justification. Considering my daily activities and preferred outfits, I identified essential items. Working in a casual office with occasional business casual requirements, I found confidence and polish in outfits like jeans paired with a blazer. Recognizing these as genuine needs, I focused on building a wardrobe that aligns with my lifestyle, ensuring I'm wellprepared for work without unnecessary purchases driven by fleeting desires. This process led to a more purposeful and practical selection of clothing that truly serves my daily requirements.

3. Develop Style Goals

After securing my essential wardrobe components, I delved into the enjoyable task of selecting additional items to enhance my style. This is where personal flair takes center stage. Whether it's pairing jeans and a blazer with sneakers and a graphic tee or opting for heels and a feminine top, the core pieces remain constant, producing distinct looks. Beyond the basics, the crucial consideration is the message your outfits convey about you. My style objective revolves

around confidence, femininity and fun, reflected in numerous dresses and pieces adorned with feminine embellishments like ruffle trims.

4. Prioritize

Between core wardrobe needs and style goals, I like to maintain a list of pieces I am currently seeking. If one of my essentials is no longer serving its purpose, replacing it becomes my top priority. While I would love to have an unlimited clothing budget, until then, it's crucial not to be sidetracked by chasing too many trends. Instead, I focus on my wardrobe holistically. I do incorporate a few trendy pieces each season to keep my style fresh, but I am discerning about not overspending on trends. I've learned to only invest in trends that truly resonate with me, regardless of their popularity.

This aspect is highly personal, depending on individual taste, budget constraints and lifestyle considerations. Generally, during the spring, I look for lightweight dresses, opt for a new swimsuit or shorts in the summer, choose denim in the fall and prioritize sweaters in winter. Additionally, I often set my sights on a larger "investment piece" each year. These may include designer bags and shoes, jewelry or an upgrade in the quality of a core wardrobe item.

5. Organize and Reevaluate

It's been more than 10 years since I embarked on this wardrobe refinement journey, and while I'm currently content with the state of my closet, I continually assess and make adjustments based on shifts in my lifestyle and societal changes. As a millennial, I still appreciate my skinny jeans, but I acknowledge that a wider fit is currently more in vogue. Consequently, I find myself reaching for those jeans more frequently nowadays.

Ultimately, the goal is to wake up and effortlessly prepare for the day without feeling overwhelmed by the contents of your closet. Wasting time sorting through items that don't fit, that you don't like or that don't complement anything else in your wardrobe is counterproductive. Dressing up is a daily ritual — it shouldn't induce stress but should be approached with intention.

Meet Amanda!

Amanda Bernard (Loyola-New Orleans) works full time in finance and runs a blog and social media channel inspiring women to wear the clothes they love. You can keep up with her fashion adventures at @dressedofintentions on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.