10 Ways to Develop Your Personal Style

How do you like to dress? Are you wild or more conservative? Do you prefer business formal or casual comfort? Is your current wardrobe classically elegant or fashion forward? Consider the persona you want to present to the world.

Think about:

Remember that you don't need to buy designer duds to express your personal style. Even jeans and T-shirts can be stylish if you feel comfortable in them and choose the right ones.

Find a celebrity or model (or a few) who best captures the style you want to emulate. Flip through the pages of leading fashion and entertainment magazines to find pictures of your style icons. Cut out those pictures and paste them into a binder or hang them up around your room to inspire you. Don't copycat --just use elements of that celebrity's look as a springboard to create your own style.

Take your own pictures. Carry along a camera or sketchpad as you window shop.

Inspiration can come from a variety of sources. Don't just look at what's hot today. Scour vintage clothing stores and flip through the pages of old magazines and history books so you can see the origins of the latest styles. Look to both modern and classic fashion icons, like Jackie Onassis or Grace Kelly. You might find that your personal style combines elements from both your grandmother's era and your own.

Do you want to get a new, high-powered job? Are you trying to meet the guy of your dreams?

Take out a notebook or journal and write down your goals -- in life and in fashion. Then start to think about which design elements and accessories can help you accomplish those goals. If you want to get a better job, think about adding a few pieces to your suit collection. If you're headed back to school, you'll want to trade in a few of the suits you already have for some casual knits and jeans.

Once you have your list in hand, take it with you when you shop. It can also help to bring along some pictures or descriptions of what you already have in your closet. Ask the salesperson to help you pick out pieces that will enhance your current wardrobe and help you accomplish your goals.

What are the best parts of your body? Focus on the areas that you like best; choose clothing and accessories to highlight them.

For example, if you have gorgeous blue eyes, show them off with eye shadow and liner colors that really make them pop. Endless legs deserve to be seen in short shorts and mini-skirts.

Know your measurements so you can find clothing that fits well. Write down your measurements and bring them with you when you shop.

Try to dress to your body shape. For example:

Don't know your Armani from your Kmart casuals? Do you have to twist around and check the label to know what you're wearing? Time to brush up -- fashion illiteracy can stop your personal style quest dead in its tracks.

You don't need a degree in fashion to understand clothing. You just need to be more aware when you shop. Look at different fabrics. See how polyester feels compared to silk. Learn the difference between plaids and houndstooth prints. Figure out how to see differences in an outfit's stitching and cut.

Look for a variety of fabrics when you shop. Choose some cotton pieces for everyday, silk ones for dressing up, wool for the winter and linen for spring and summer. Learn how to care for your fabrics too: Cotton/polyester blends are great for everyday because they barely wrinkle, but you'll need to keep your linens carefully pressed if you don't want to walk around looking rumpled. Silks are more delicate, so be extra careful about spills.

Know which fabrics and textures are most flattering. Shiny, bulky, or stiff textures can make you appear bigger than you really are. Smooth, matte surfaces, like cashmere and jersey, can really slim you down.

As a student of fashion, your "textbooks" should be the big magazines, like Vogue, Marie Claire and Elle. Study the ads and articles, including the picture captions, to see what fabrics and colors are "in" this season. Look to the masters -- Dior, Dolce & Gabbana and the like -- to see what elements they use in their designs. Use those designs as inspiration to create your own fashionable looks more affordably.

Get to know the contents of your closet. Looking through your wardrobe will help you identify your current style -- what you like about it and what you wish you could change.

A walk through your closet will help you get a sense of what you feel most comfortable wearing -- short skirts or long flowing dresses, business suits or track suits. Look at your clothing styles and colors, as well as your shoe and accessory collections.

Also use this opportunity to do some spring cleaning. Pull out each piece in your wardrobe and ask yourself:

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, put that item into a bag. When the bag is full, give it to charity and take the tax write-off, or sell it at a consignment store and make some extra cash that you can use to fill your wardrobe gaps.

You don't need to reinvent your entire wardrobe. That would cost a fortune. Instead, update it. Start by introducing a few up-to-date pieces that reflect your style -- some earrings, a new pair of shoes or a scarf.

Don't be afraid to experiment a little, but take baby steps. If you've been very conservative your whole life, buy one "out there" piece. Shop in places you wouldn't normally go, like an antique clothing store or (if you can afford it) a high-end designer boutique. You might find that you like taking a few risks with your wardrobe.

To save money, try updating what you already have. Do you have an old pair of jeans that's starting to look ratty? Crop or roll them up into Capri pants or shorts. Have a pair of pants that no longer fits? Have them tailored to look like new. Re-invent an old boring dress with a new belt.

Although change is good, it's also important to maintain a core wardrobe composed of a few well-designed and constructed pieces. Keep some classic staples in your closet that you can mix and match to give you more bang for your fashion buck. Head to the next page for some pointers.

Now matter what your personal style, every spectacular wardrobe has to start with a few basic pieces. You can incorporate these classics into a variety of looks.

Here are the must-haves for every wardrobe:

Black pants. The quickest way to dress up any shirt is to put on a pair of black pants. Pick a versatile fabric that will take you through the seasons.

Black tank top. Wear it solo during the day, or throw a blazer over it to dress it up for nighttime.

Black turtleneck. Unless you live in Miami, you need this winter wardrobe staple in your closet. Just like the tank top, it can stand on its own or be used for layering.

White blouse. A plain white blouse never gets old, and you'll never run out of ways to incorporate it into your wardrobe.

Jeans. Have a couple pairs of everyday blue jeans and a pair of black jeans for going out. Just make sure they fit you well, and don't forget your skinny jeans -- they're real lifesavers on those "I feel fat" days.

Little black dress. This isn't a cliché. Every woman looks great in her little black dress. It's slimming, sexy and versatile.

Pencil skirt. Perfect for interviews or elegant dinners, this classic piece looks best hovering about two inches above the knee.

Trench coat. It looks stylish, and it will keep you dry and warm when the seasons change.

Cardigan sweater. Throw this over a tank top to transition an outfit from fall to winter.

Black high heels. Nothing shows off a great pair of legs better than a set of high heels. Black is the most versatile color. When you're looking at heel height, go for both design and function. You can't look good if you're stumbling.

Once you have these essentials hanging in your closet, you can keep them updated with trendy jewelry, belts and shoes.

Don't suffer in stiletto heels when you'd rather wear flats. And don't suck in your stomach to squeeze into a skin-tight pair of designer jeans. Wear what makes you comfortable.

If you're not sure what makes you comfortable, look to your closet for inspiration. Sift through your clothes and pull out your favorites. Ask yourself why you love them. Do the fabrics feel good on your skin? Do you like the way the clothes make you look? Do you get a lot of compliments when you wear them? Use those favorite pieces as a springboard when you shop for new looks.

Speaking of shopping, don't just rush in and out of stores -- take time when you're trying on clothes. Consider the ease of putting on the article of clothing, how good you look in it, and how well it fits in with your current wardrobe and needs.

No matter what the hottest designers, celebrities and stylists are saying on the pages of the fashion magazines, ultimately the only person you have to please is yourself. Buying an article of clothing that you hate just because it's trendy is never a good idea. It's going to hang idly in your closet until you finally decide to throw it out or give it away.

Similarly, don't give in to pushy salespeople who are trying to convince you that they know what looks best on you. If don't like what you see in the dressing room mirror, you won't like that outfit any better once you get it home. Thank the salesperson for his or her time, and make your exit.

At the same time, if your instincts are telling you to put on the same ratty sweat suit you've been wearing for ten years, that's the time to ignore them. Turn to the people you trust to help you weed out items in your wardrobe that didn't showcase your best judgment.

For more fashion tips, take a look at the links on the next page.