Let's Talk: Personal Style

I get asked for fashion advice frequently, and while I’m always very flattered, I also have slight imposter syndrome. Although I love fashion, it’s intuitive for me, and I am no expert or professional stylist. At its core, I think style is very personal, and it should reflect who you are as a person and how you wish to be seen. This is my primary difficulty in answering other people’s fashion questions because I never want to project onto someone else.

So, instead of giving advice, I’m just going to do a deep dive into my style because that is one subject I am an expert in.

If I had to describe my style in three words, it would be preppy, Parisian, and princess. Depending on my mood and the occasion, my outfit may veer more towards one niche, but for the most part, there’s an element of each of those words reflected in my everyday style. More recently, I’ve realized that those three aesthetics combined create a style reminiscent of old money.

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Style Strategy:

CONFIDENCE: In my opinion, confidence is the cornerstone of style. Half of the battle in finding a personal style is having the confidence to be experimental and unapologetic in what you wear. While I’ve always loved fashion and playing dress-up, self-confidence was never a strength. Honestly, the process of finding my style and using fashion as a form of self-expression improved my confidence more than anything else in my life. Naturally, there were some awkward phases, moments where I felt extremely self-conscious, and times when I was on the receiving end of some unpleasant comments. However, I gradually realized that I will always feel more confident wearing an outfit I love versus something that someone else loves.

Before achieving genuine confidence, I lived by the motto “fake it ‘till you make it.”

FOCUS ON THE SILHOUETTE: Standing at an extremely intimidating 5’0 (and ¾ on a good day), my biggest challenge is adapting the outfits shown on models to my frame. It’s taken many years and a lot of experimenting to figure out which silhouettes fit me the best and make me feel the most confident. Here’s what I’ve figured out:

• I prefer my pants to be high-waisted with either a straight-leg or tailored wide-leg fit. The high waist elongates my legs, and the overall silhouette is more streamlined and classy (in my opinion).

• The 1940s/1950s are one of my favorite eras in fashion. I especially love the shorts of the 1940s, which were typically high-waisted with a wide leg and tighter around the waist. Even with a plain white t-shirt, I think tailored shorts or shorts with a bit more structure are effortlessly chic.

• In general, I don’t like tight-fitting clothes, so I opt for oversized tops. However, to create a shape, I will tuck the respective top into my high-waisted pants. Occasionally I will pair a tighter-fitting top with an unbuttoned button-down or a blazer for a similar effect.

• I love the boxy structure of an oversized blazer or a Chanel-style jacket, especially with straight-leg jeans or shorts. Aside from the shape, I love the juxtaposition between a professional-looking jacket and casual bottoms.

BUY MULTIPLES: Piggybacking off of that last point, once I find an item I feel confident in, I will almost immediately purchase that same piece in several colors; this is why I have too many buttons downs and ballet flats. Since sizing and silhouette are the most challenging aspects, buying the same piece in multiple colors eliminates time wasted trying to find something new.

NEUTRALS: When I said I buy things in multiple colors, those colors tend to be white, black, beige, light pink, and navy blue. I don’t have an unlimited budget, so it just makes more sense to stick to a color palette. In doing so, everything goes with everything, and I don't have to buy an entirely new outfit every time I go shopping. Plus, I love how classic and elegant neutral colors are.

EXCITEMENT THROUGH ACCESSORIES: My accessories tend to make up for the lack of color in my clothes. The reason is two-fold. First, I am an accessory girl through and through. The second reason is more cost-based. I spend money on clothes with the intent that they will easily integrate into my wardrobe. For me, accessories dictate the “mood” of the outfit, and since they tend to cost less, I don’t mind being more experimental and fun when it comes to shoes and accessories.

Closet Essentials:

I’ve spent the past few years refining my closet, and I’m finally at a point where I feel like I’ve covered all of the basics, and anything else I buy is just a bonus. My style is essentially comprised of the following:

• Button-downs

• Blazer

• Trench coat

• White tops

• Crew neck sweater

• Straight-leg jeans

• Wide-leg tailored pants

• Black shorts

• White pants

• Ballet flats (preferably cap-toe)

• White sneakers

• Black loafers

• Headbands

• Scarves

• Bows

• Canvas tote bags

How I Shop:

INTENTIONALLY: I have two main rules when it comes to shopping. First, I have to be able to wear the prospective piece with numerous outfits. Second, I have to envision myself wanting to wear it for at least five years. If the item fails this test, I don’t buy it. The second stipulation also helps to ensure that I’m buying quality items that will last. While I understand the draw to fast fashion brands, they’re not my first choice, and it’s proven to be more economical to buy high-quality items versus continuously replacing cheaper alternatives.

TRENDLESS: Arguably a by-product of being very decisive regarding what I do and do not want to wear. I don’t care about trends. As is the nature of fashion, my personal style will fall in and out of style every few years. It just so happens that right now, mass-market fashion trends are aligning perfectly with my style, which does make shopping so much easier. Regardless, building a capsule wardrobe or a personal style is much easier to do without the external pressure of having to dress like the masses.

DISCOUNTED: Despite my preference for the old-money style, I am not from old-money (or new-money). Unless it’s been given as a gift, I don’t think I own anything that’s been purchased at full-price. I shop exclusively in the sale section, and since becoming a college student, I will always seek out places that offer a student discount.

Where I Shop:

Ok, this is probably the question I get asked the most. I am a stickler for quality items that will last more than a few washes, and therefore am willing to spend more than the average person. So, here are my current go-to brands:

J. CREW: Anybody that knows me knows my obsession with J.Crew. My best friend refers to it as “Leah Land”..., which is fitting since most of my wardrobe is from J.Crew. There are very few days when I’m not wearing a stitch of J.Crew. Although I’ve been a loyal customer for years, the recent rebrand under the new creative director has turned J.Crew into my epitome of perfection. There isn’t much I don’t love, and I often find myself on the website looking for style inspiration.

LEVI'S: Hands-down my favorite place for denim. I love the cropped 501s because they are so classic, durable, and the perfect length for my short legs. Bonus points for the student discount!

EVERLANE: For anyone that is concerned with sustainability issues, Everlane is one of the more guilt-free places to shop. Aside from their incredible commitment to environmental and social sustainability, they are also price transparent, a rarity in the fashion industry. In terms of quality, I love everything I've purchased so far.

MARGAUX NY: Since becoming obsessed with ballet flats, Margaux NY has been a go-to. Their shoes are on the more expensive side but well worth the price. Ballet flats aren’t known to be the most comfortable shoe in the world. However, the Demi flats are padded and come in three widths. As someone with wide flat feet, I often struggle to find cute shoes that fit, which is why I am willing to splurge on Margaux flats. The Demi flats are a classic silhouette, and my pair have survived both the cobbled streets of Paris and my habit of walking into things.

ANN TAYLOR: As much as I love J.Crew, I do not have luck with their bottoms. This is where Ann Taylor comes in. Especially for business wear, the Ann Taylor petite section has been amazing!

TED BAKER: I don’t shop here often, and most of what I own from Ted Baker was a gift. That said, everything is beautiful, and I love the elegant details of the brand. My favorite Ted Baker item is their white sneakers. I’m on my second pair, and they are one of my most complimented items.

MY MOM'S CLOSET: Sharing is caring. This is mainly a joke, but not really. I love scarves and have been “borrowing” scarves from my mom’s closet for a long time. She doesn’t always appreciate my habit of sneaking off to another state (or country) with one of her scarves, but really it can be considered a compliment to her good taste. So thanks mom :)