Why I Stopped Chasing a Signature Style (and What I Do Instead)

Last week, I realized that although I’d regularly accessorized my daily outfits with a necklace or a cotton bandana, a watch, and my colorful bracelets, I hadn’t thought to put on earrings. For several days running. That might not seem like a huge shift, but for me, it was.

Earrings used to be the one item of jewelry I always wore, and often said I felt “naked” without. From the time I was sixteen and convinced my mother to let me get my ears pierced, earrings were my thing. I skipped over the pearl studs my friends wore, and opted for hippie dangles, then 80’s statement earrings, then hoops and drops. Over the last few years, I’ve gone smaller and lighter as my earlobes started to droop from years of heavy pieces, until I’ve mostly been wearing more diminutive stud designs. (Yes, I tried clip-ons but never found them comfortable.)

After that realization, I tried adding a favorite pair, but they just felt “off” somehow. So I’m listening to my style intuition, and giving earrings a pass for now.

When Your Style Intuition Speaks Up

This got me thinking about the ways that my style has shifted over the years. I’ve always deeply admired those people who seem to have developed a distinctive signature style and stuck to it consistently over the years. Even if it’s a style that I know wouldn’t work for me, it conveys such a sense of “knowing who you are and dressing accordingly.”

But for many of us, “who we are” can shift quite a lot over our lives. Not just the externals, but how we see ourselves and what we want to convey. And it makes sense that our personal style would shift as well. (And if it doesn’t, we may feel out of sorts with our wardrobes, or wind up with a full closet but “nothing to wear.”)

Why I Wore So Much Black

Those who have been reading this blog for many years may remember that I used to wear a lot of black. At the time, I was working in a corporate environment with few women in leadership roles. As a petite woman, I felt I was always struggling to be taken seriously, first as a department head and then as an executive. Black felt serious and solid, and bolstered my sense of projecting authority and competence.

I’d also become fascinated with what was being marketed as French style (hence the original name of this blog) and the cool sophistication of black. And black was easy: easy to find, easy to use as a base for outfits. Not to mention, I’d been told all my life that black was “slimming.” (I’ve since moved past that as a style priority.)

Finding My Way Back to Color

But after I left the corporate world 10 years ago, I started to feel adrift in my style. Black felt heavy and ponderous, but every time I tried to add color, it felt like it didn’t belong. After floundering for a few years, I made an appointment for Color and Style Analysis with Red Leopard in London. It was exactly the reset I needed, and gave me the tools to not only figure out my personal style, but continue to evolve it.

I learned why some colors and styles felt natural on me while others felt forced. Working within my Golden Spring palette and Natural Gamine style parameters gave me a framework that wasn’t about “correcting” anything, but rather being in harmony with my features and expressing my personality.

It was such a life-changing experience, that I knew I wanted to be able to offer this to women (and men) here, so in 2022 I returned to London for an intensive course in Color and Style analysis with Red Leopard.

👉 If you’re feeling adrift in your own style, or your wardrobe no longer feels like you, I offer Color and Style Analysis both in person (Los Angeles area) and virtually. You can learn more here.

Style Signatures: A More Flexible Approach

Rather than attempting to create a singular “signature style,” I now rely on a few style signatures: elements I consistently choose that make my outfits feel like me. This is how I’ve been able to build a more cohesive wardrobe over time. When I update or add new pieces, they work with what I already own.

My Style Signatures

• my three style words: neat, cool, quirky
• a mix of structured and relaxed, and “softly structured” pieces
• playful accessories: colorful bead bracelets, scarves & bandanas
• a mix of feminine and masculine elements
• simple and functional styles with interesting details
• denim
• stripes

As long as my outfits incorporate at least a few of these, I feel like my best, authentic self in what I’m wearing.

While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with maintaining a defined signature style — and I still admire those who have it — personal style doesn’t have to be static to remain authentic. Over to you…how has your style evolved over time? And what are your “style signatures?”

Related Reading

5 Myths About Personal Color Analysis Debunked

The Navy Guide: How to Find Your Best Shade by Color Season

Personal Style Is a Process (And That’s Perfectly Fine)

The 10 Style Personality Profiles

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