Is Social Media Zapping Your Personal Style?
Over the last week, a reoccurring style theme has been emerging in my conversations in-person and virtually. And it’s given me some really interesting insight. It all started last week. I launched the Curate Your Colors class where I encourage you to find your “intuitive colors” in your wardrobe. The class is meant to encourage you to look inside your own closet, to really truly explore which colors intuitively make you feel GOOD. There is one point in the class (my favorite exercise in color, really) where you drape tissue paper and clothing across your shoulders to notice the subtle changes in your eyes, skin, and hair. It’s really interesting and fun! The purpose of the class is to start getting back to trusting your own intuition. Which gets me to my point…
One of my class members contributed a comment on our Facebook group page saying this:
‘Something I learned from taking the first 5 (lessons) - For the past several years I kept getting “influenced” to buy certain clothes and when I got them I was often disappointed because they didn’t look the same on me that they did on the influencers. Well, the influencers were dressing for THEIR best colors/style and more often than not they weren’t MY best. Just a lesson to know and understand what looks best on ME.’
This comment came directly after having an in-person conversation with a dear friend about how I feel that women are losing their sense of style due to following along with the style of so many others on social media. Isn’t that interesting? The aim of social media started out as a way to connect with others. But is it possible that connecting with soooo many others has allowed us to let go of our true thoughts, feelings, and intuition, especially when it comes to your style? We spend so much time browsing the ideas of others, only to be left (most often, but not always) feeling uninspired with our own self. Is social media zapping your style? Watch the video here!
Social Media & Our Personal Style
What started out as something positive (social connection and interaction) might very well be our own undoing (too many opinions). Can we see the forest for the trees? So how do we reign in control of our style and start listening to our own inner voice again? I’d suggest a few of the following things:
1 | Immediately unfollow or mute those that are causing you to feel uncertain or to think negatively about yourself.
2 | Dial back the amount of people you’re following and continue to follow those that inspire you, teaching you something, or cause you to feel better after having seen what they are posting.
3 | Stop asking for friends and families’ style opinions and pay attention to that little voice within YOU, your INTUITION, and ask yourself, “How does it make me FEEL?”
Here’s how I relate that to style: When you are trying something on, pay attention to that immediate feeling inside you get when you look in the mirror. If it’s a good, positive, thoughtful feeling, then you’re on to something. Lead yourself in that direction. If the feeling is one of uncertainty, unknowing, or at all doubtful, which might lead you to want to ask a friend or family member, then that’s your answer. No. It’s not that friends and family members don’t mean well, often they do. But it’s that they are coming from a place of personal investment in your emotions and are weighing in with their style preferences, not taking into account yours.
4 | Ask yourself, “What is my personality and lifestyle like?” “Am I dressing to match my personality or am I dressing to match someone’s personality and lifestyle I see on social media?” It’s time to start focusing in on what makes your style YOU. The very essence of this practice allows you to become more comfortable with your own style, not someone else’s.
How Do You Get Your Personal Style Back on Track?
Not sure how to start? In my class, Finding Your Style, I dive a little deeper into getting to know your style again. In one of those lessons, I talk about Style Descriptors. Style Descriptors are the adjectives that describe your style. It’s like your elevator pitch for your personal style. What I find important about style descriptors is that when you can pinpoint exactly your style words are, the better you can dress for your style! Lucky for you, here’s a copy of the worksheet to download so you can do the exercise for yourself. It’s a fun prompt for starting a better style relationship with yourself.
Style Descriptors
So if you’ve been feeling like many women lately, like you’ve lost a sense of who you are when it comes to your style, take those tips above and try them out. Work on the style descriptor exercise, take one of my style classes, or even book a virtual style session where I can dive deeper into these practices with you. It’s time to take back control of your own personal style! I’d love for you to share your thoughts below.