The endless cycle of trends can be exhausting. If your wardrobe is already overflowing with the season’s hottest pieces, ask yourself: Do the colors look good on you? Does the cut flatter your figure? Does it make you feel confident? If you’re still feeling lost, we asked fashion experts—designers, editors, buyers—to share their styling tips.
With the rise of fashion trends like “Office Girl,” “Tomato Girl,” and “Vogue Girl,” finding your own style can seem impossible. While there are still some stars with distinct personal styles like Chloë Sevigny, Grace Jones, and Alexa Chung who deserve emulation, the trend is becoming increasingly homogenized, which can be confusing.
Why can’t I find my style?
We asked five fashion experts: Margaret Austin, founder of Outline Brooklyn; Jalil Johnson, fashion coordinator at Saks Fifth Avenue and author of “Consider Yourself Cultured”; Naomi Elizée, editor of American Vogue; Steff Yotka, content director at SSENSE; and Susan Korn, jewelry designer at Susan Alexandra. They will share their style secrets and offer inspiration, shopping tips, store reviews, and more.
How would you describe your personal style?
MA：
Comfort, sophistication, practicality, and stripes. I try to stick to natural fibers and love Pleats Please Issey Miyake and Comme des Garçons.
JJ: Eclectic and preppy.
NE: My style is a blend of all my interests and hobbies. I consider myself a chameleon; my outfit depends on my mood, not any particular style! If I’m feeling energetic that day, I’ll throw on my brightest Christopher John Rogers sweater and rhinestone-encrusted Martine Rose jeans. For me, dressing is about experimenting, being comfortable, having fun, and being myself, so there’s never “too much” or “too little.”
SY: I love plaid, stripes, black with a pop of color, maxi skirts, and platform shoes. After I buy these clothes, I put them together every morning to create my own style. I believe that as long as I buy something I love, it will look good on me.
SK: There’s a touch of Victorian vibe, but overall, she’s a sophisticated, cool Danish girl.
When did you develop your current style?
MA: The lockdown during the pandemic. Being alone allowed me to ditch my pre-pandemic extravagance and opt for more minimal pieces.
JJ: I’ve been developing my style since I could speak! My family is very into style, and getting dressed is like a sacred ritual. It wasn’t until I moved to New York that I started pushing the boundaries of fashion. The city has a uniquely free spirit that makes experimenting with different pieces less intimidating.
NE: My style evolution began when I was little, observing my mom’s outfits. I was amazed by the sheer variety of clothes, shoes, and bags. At that age, everything seemed endless. My style is deeply influenced by my mom, Teen Vogue, Tumblr, and lookbooks. During my seven years at Vogue, my style became even more unique.
SY: My style has never changed. My mom loves looking at pictures of me when I was five, and I was wearing pretty much the same outfit I wear now: a ruffled black top, a plaid skirt, and martini boots. I still have a lot of my clothes from my teenage years, and I still wear them—one year I wore my prom dress to the American Council of Fashion Designers awards ceremony.
SK: When I was three, I loved a purple velvet dress with a lace collar. I wore it everywhere, until my mom accidentally spilled bleach on it. What I wear now is what I wore as a kid.
Where do you usually buy clothes?
MA: Mostly from Outline, but also from favorite shops like Neighbour in Vancouver, Rennes in Philadelphia, and The Broken Arm in Paris. I also used to love shopping at Tiina in New York.
JJ: I love buying vintage, so I usually go to vintage shops or look for vintage pieces on auction/resale websites.
NE: I love treasure hunting, so I look for vintage on eBay, Poshmark, and Etsy! Even though Etsy seems a bit strange, it has so many beautiful vintage pieces hidden away. Online, I love Net-a-Porter, Moda Operandi, and Cettire. And when I shop offline in New York, I always go to Tokio 7 and Loewe.
SY: Of course, I love shopping on SSENSE. My job allows me to browse different products every day, which has pushed me to try more styles and become more adventurous with my clothes. I also frequently buy vintage on The RealReal, Etsy, and Instagram, and I shop when I travel. I always come back from Florence with at least 10 new items, from skirts to baseball caps. I’ve recently discovered two stores with a great selection of oversized skirts: L’Arabesque in Milan and Ewa i Walla in Sweden.
SK: My first choice is my loved ones’ spare clothes, followed by The RealReal.
What advice would you give to someone who is trying to develop their own style?
MA: Don’t force yourself into wearing something that’s “cool” but uncomfortable! I spent so much of my early 20s chasing trends that I often felt like I was in costume. That being said, experimenting is still important, but don’t let it stop you from feeling like yourself.
JJ: Embrace the discomfort that comes with constant “trying.” Because discovering your style is a game of trial and error, not a quick win. If you want to explore and refine your style, don’t limit yourself to a formula. Watch every Alfred Hitchcock movie you can find, then watch “Grey Gardens” and “Paris is Burning.” Flip through the September 1989 issue of Vogue, watch “Sex and the City,” and then watch it countless times. Always seek inspiration, because you never know where it will come from!
NE: Don’t be afraid to experiment. Most importantly, dress for yourself!
SY: Wear what you truly love! Never stop trying, but say no when a piece or trend doesn’t work for you. If you love something, it’s okay to buy two.
SK: Wear what makes you feel most comfortable, and add some color!
Who do you think has a unique personal style?
MA: My friend Diane Valiergues (true Parisian chic for me), Rym Beydoun (Super Yaya), my mom Wanyong, and my father-in-law Carl.
JJ: Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, the Olsen Twins, Leandra Medine Cohen, Rachel Tashjian, Tracee Ellis Ross, Naomi Elizée, Jenny Walton, and Amanda Murray, to name a few.
NE：
I admire so many people, but I’ve always been inspired by Chioma Nnadi, Julia Sarr-Jamois, and Chloe King.
SY: So many! My friends are a huge source of inspiration: Nick Tran at Dover Street Market in Paris, Rachel Tashjian, Lynette Nylander, Fiona Hartley, Calvin Holmes, Becky Akinyode, Renee Gibson Fox, Anna Sui, Liana Satenstein, Sam Hine, Brandon Seah, Ylo Lek, Brandon Seay. For me, Noah Johnson is the ultimate fashion icon; if he likes something, I’ll go out of my way to buy it. On the surface, Noah and I have completely different styles: he loves brown, I love black, but he still introduced me to another ultimate fashion icon, Angelo Urrutia of 4SDesigns. Evan Kinori, Lauren Manoogian, and Cawley Studios are all designers I love and admire.
SK: My father, my friend Doria, Ally McBeal, the Green Lady from Brooklyn, and Ginger from Casino.
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