On Personal Style

And how to get there in an era of distraction and consumerism

Apologies for this newsletter being a little late this week, I totally forgot the havoc two kids starting the same school would have on all aspects of my life! But they now have the same drop off in the mornings and I can’t quite believe it, this summer (and since May really, when we decided to save some money by cutting our nursery hours down to 2 days a week) have really been a piecing together of minutes/hours here and there in both work and home life but this new regime will give us all a more structured week. It’s a constant reshuffle, isn’t it?!

With that back to school feeling, it’s inevitable we start talking about the new season. I will be pulling my Autumn/Winter clothes down from the loft this week - and thought it a good time to discuss Peronal Style instead of trends…

I honestly think if we all knew our personal style more, then we’d be in a far better position sustainably. Once you dress for yourself, know what works for you and what you feel good in, you make better decisions about what to buy and when to stand back.

I don’t want to start this by discussing innate style because although some people do tend to be able to throw things together effortlessly, there are a lot of formulas and tricks you could follow to look stylish. But by stylish we really mean ‘on trend’ - all the dressing formulas on TikTok: sandwich dressing, the wrong shoe theory, colour theory - they’re supposed to help us get dressed but I also think it just leaves us a bit more confused. And it’s kind of why there are a lot of people on social media all with a very similar, curated aesthetic.

These icons are not included in that, obviously.

Clockwise from top left: Kurt Cobain (where my love of stripes, Converse and red sunnies comes from), Jane Birkin, Bianca Jagger, Rei Kawakubo

It’s very easy to copy and emulate style but knowing your personal style is different. And it’s not groundbreaking, it’s about picking those outfits that you love wearing and feel good when wearing them. And, of course, it can be different for everyone.

Tracee Ellis Ross’s colourful style: with neutrals and tailoring

Is Personal Style the same as a uniform?

I think it can be, it’s a bit more literal but I am drawn to women who have the confidence to wear the same thing every day. Once you know what works, it can really simplify decisions (and washing!).

While we focus on how it makes us feel, it is also about how others perceive you, too - the impression you give to the outside world, which is why it is even more important you feel like yourself.

Grace Coddington is her signature black, Diane Keaton in wide leg tailoring.