A “signature style,” as I’m using it here, is essentially the irreducible terms of your natural best look. Even though I consider personality the driver of personal style philosophy, I also think of it as the shaper of objective data. That is, if your goal is authentic beauty, you cannot simply ignore objective facts in favor of personality. You want to find some “sweet spot” where personality and objective data can work together.
If you think of signature style elements as points of differentiation, then you can understand them as things that set you apart as a distinct personality. Think of a lion’s mane, a leopard’s spots, or an elephant’s trunk. Those animals would not look like themselves if they were minus these features, would they? Likewise, we erase our presence in the world when we wear colors and lines that contradict everything about us. And yet, a surprise personality element can work when it does not dominate.
Read here to see why you need a signature style.
Unpacking “Signature Style”
I used to confuse “signature style” with branding. There is some overlap, but they aren’t quite the same. No wonder I was confused, though. “Signature style” doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone. (Neither do the words “signature color,” “power color,” or color “seasons.”) That’s why I define it for these purposes as the “irreducible terms of your natural best look.” It is possible to expand on that with something you have adapted to yourself that isn’t literally “natural”–like your hair color, a preferred silhouette, or a favorite color that might not be someone else’s idea of your signature color–but I suspect that’s the exception rather than the rule. But for the present purpose, let’s build on the basic core of the idea of a “signature style” that is based primarily on natural traits.
The Difference Between a Signature Style and Branding
Could you turn your signature style into a brand? See that mermaid-and-child image in the heading of this site? It was derived from a personality based exercise I did. It also works pretty well with my signature style, even thought it’s not precisely the same thing. Like my actual signature style, it has wavy lines, an element of water, and a sense of movement built into the artwork. So, yes, I think it’s very possible, if not always practical. If I were publishing a medical or legal site, I would probably have chosen something sparser and possibly more linear.
Elements of a Signature Style
What might a signature style contain if we are talking about expressing ourselves authentically? Here’s a partial listing of the kinds of things that go into your signature style:
Colors
- The triad of your hair, skin and eyes.
- Colors with punch–the complementary or opposite hues to your skin tones, or possibly the deepest or brightest color of your eyes
- Your favorite color from your palette
- Your favorite color NOT from your palette (you rebel, you)
- neutrals vs. color-colors
Your natural silhouette
- An alternative, adapted silhouette that you prefer instead
Details
- Geometric
- Rounded
- Fringe
- Ruffles
Prints, patterns, solids
- Naturalistic patterns
- Delicate vs. bold
- Color blocking
Materials
- Textured or smooth
- Metals
- Leathers
- Draped or stiff
There are endless possibilities. However, out of all the possibilities, only a few will surface over and over in your preferences and recs. You’ll find that you don’t quite feel yourself without them.
Examples
A personal example: I need a bit of elongation and drape at all times because of my long face and smooth outline. Hair functions as an accessory, and my hair manifests that quality of elongation and drape. One day I put on a long draped skirt + a long scarf and it felt like too much. I hadn’t factored in the element of my hair, which I normally wear down and loose. As long as my hair is worn regularly, one more draped element is enough for most purposes. BUT….if I put my hair up and have nothing else slightly droopy or elongated, then I must add the droop/elongation back in through a long scarf, necklace, topper, elongated drop earrings, etc.
That’s an example of a signature element: something you must have in your style to look like yourself.
The main thing is realizing that a signature style is a limited collection of elements that you tend to wear again and again but not necessarily all at once, all the time. It’s just that you can’t do without them altogether and look or feel complete. It might be the elements themselves or certain combinations of them that give you your authentic look. These will be what you return to again and again, though everything else you put them with may change.
I doubt a style consultant can ever tell someone else precisely what their signature look ought to be. This will typically come from a combination of your best recs plus your own preferences. (There’s where personality comes in.) You will naturally gravitate to some of your recs more readily than to others. You may also feel the need to modify some of them to allow for self-expression. (Just remember not to add in too many self-contradictory items. If they make up over 40% against your best lines and colors, you are way over the line.)
What are your favorite things to wear and why?