YOU NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE

OUTFIT DETAILS: Top: Forever 21, Leggings: TopShop, Jacket: Forever 21, Shoes: Steve Madden

Fashion has so many faux pas. No white after labor day, no mixing prints, sequins and metallics are fabrics for night only, no socks with open toe shoes, and the list is endless. When trends are constantly evolving and changing, there is one thing that will never go out of style -- YOU! Personal style is always in season! In the summer I wear heavy oversized jackets, in the winter I wear crop tops, and sneakers paired with a dress is my thing no matter the season because they all reflect on my personal style. Finding your style is not as difficult as we portray it to be. Subconsciously we all know our personal style because our day to day encounters influence how we dress. The music we listen to, religion, spirituality, finances, personality, books, geographics, and demographics are all factors that we use as we learn our personal preferences for clothing. If you are having trouble finding your personal style here are 5 things to keep in mind:

1. Know Who You Are: Personal style is all about the individual. Knowing who you are is important in any situation, but especially when trying to determine your style. Are you fashion forward? Are you a risk taker or are you conservative? Do you like to innovate or are you traditional? These questions bridge the gap between someone who is comfortable wearing black for 365 days straight and someone who knows that Pantone 17-0627 TCX is this season's color.

2. Reflect On Your Lifestyle: Your lifestyle and goals also influence your personal style. As crazy as it sounds, society does not want to see a doctor or a lawyer in a sheer bodycon dress. Where do you work? Where do you see yourself in 3 years? Does your outfit reflect on these goals?

3. Influences: Choice of music, religion, food, culture, art, and many other factors influence how we dress. Just like the quote "You are what you eat", you are what you wear. All of these factors impact personal style. For example, the structure and silhouette of menswear has always been of interest to me, which explains my preference for oversized and structured clothing.

4. Inspiration VS Unoriginality: Use your influences as inspiration. Copying someone else's style is unoriginal and tasteless. Be careful not to lose yourself in inspiration by trying to recreate someone's exact look. Instead use them as a mood board and use their concepts to create your own look. Copying someone's style head to toe is no different from dressing off of the mannequin .. Whack.

5. Stop Giving A Fuck: Embrace your personal style. Do not let fashion faux pas or people convince you that your choice of fashion is wrong or not on trend. The most intriguing part about personal style is the rawness and the risk. Could you imagine having to wear a uniform throughout life? Walking around dressed like millions of other people? Think about that everyday while getting dressed and I guarantee that you'll style the most killer outfits! Remember, the best part about fashion is that throughout the years, the seasons, and the rules, YOU will never go out of style.