How to Make Your Personal Style More Exciting
Most of us develop our own personal sense of style over time, choosing things we love and things we think look good on us, and no matter how good we get at it, eventually we will fall into a rut, start dressing on autopilot, and it seems like we always wheel out the same pair of jeans and “ironic” T-shirt, or skirt and blouse combo. Sometimes, we might go really wild and wear our sneakers with our floral dress instead of our jeans and our ironic top with a silky skirt instead of our usual pants. But, that’s about as exciting as it gets. But, you know what? It doesn’t have to be that way!
Making your personal style more exciting doesn’t require burning everything you own or spending your rent money on clothes you’ll wear once. It’s about small tweaks, bold choices, and a little bit of attitude.
Let’s talk about how to shake things up, without looking like you’re trying too hard.
Step One: Stop Dressing Like You’re on Your Way to Do Laundry
If every outfit you wear could double as your “running errands” look, it’s time for a reset. Comfort is great, but there’s a difference between casual and I gave up on joy three months ago.
Ask yourself: would I wear this to brunch with someone cooler than me? If the answer is no, toss it back into the abyss of your wardrobe and keep digging.
Step Two: Color Is Not the Enemy
Neutrals are safe. Black is slimming. Beige is… fine. But if you’re trying to make your style more exciting, living in a grayscale world isn’t doing you any favors.
Try this: pick one color you love but “never wear” and build an outfit around it. Maybe it’s a green satin skirt. Maybe it’s a bold red jacket. Maybe it’s lavender trousers that make you look like a 1970s prom chaperone, but in the best way.
You don’t need to go full rainbow. Just add a splash of something unexpected and see how it changes the vibe. Spoiler: it usually makes people think you’ve got your life together, even if you don’t.
Step Three: Play With Proportions Like a Fashion Architect
Oversized blazers, cropped tops, wide-leg pants, boxy jackets—it’s all about proportion. If your wardrobe is full of same-same silhouettes, things start to feel a little…meh.
Try mixing it up. Pair a big, slouchy sweater with a fitted pencil skirt. Or go with wide-leg trousers and a teeny-tiny tank. It doesn’t have to make sense at first. The fun is in the experiment.
Some combinations will look like you got dressed in the dark. Others will make you feel like you belong in a street-style blog. Both are valid. Learning what doesn’t work is half the battle.
Step Four: Add One “Unhinged” Piece
Every wardrobe should have at least one item that makes you question your own judgment, in a good way. Maybe it’s a leopard print coat. Maybe it’s faux leather pants. Maybe it’s a neon green bucket hat that screams chaos.
You need something in your rotation that throws off your usual vibe. One wildcard to keep things interesting.
Don’t overthink it. If it sparks joy and mild confusion, you’re on the right track.
Step Five: Accessories Are Not Optional
You know what makes a plain outfit interesting? A ridiculous pair of earrings. Or an oversized scarf. Or sunglasses that look like they were stolen from a futuristic fashion show.
Accessories are how you fake having style when all you’ve got is a plain black tee and your best jeans. They add texture, interest, and personality without requiring a full wardrobe overhaul.
Pro tip: hats are dramatically underused. Put on a good hat and suddenly you look like someone who owns a weekend home and probably writes poetry. Even if all you really own is a laundry backlog.
Step Six: Layer Like a Style Goblin
Layering isn’t just for winter. It’s for anyone who wants to look like they “just threw this on” while actually spending 25 minutes making it look perfectly effortless.
Layer a turtleneck under a dress. Add a shirt under a corset top. Wear a blazer over a hoodie. Treat your wardrobe like a playground and mix things that weren’t meant to go together. That’s how personal style evolves.
And if you’re feeling really bold, shop trendy corset pieces to layer over T-shirts, dresses, or button-downs. It’s like adding drama to your outfit without saying a single word. Peak fashion without peak effort.
Step Seven: Footwear Deserves Better
We spend way too much time ignoring our feet. Shoes can make or break an outfit, but most of us settle for “whatever works.” Time to level up.
Start rotating in more interesting shoes. Platforms. Colorful sneakers. Loafers with personality. Ankle boots that aren’t brown or black. You don’t have to toss the classics, just give them some company.
Good shoes say, “I thought about this.” Even when the rest of your look says, “I had coffee for breakfast and called that a win.”
Step Eight: Stop Dressing for “Someday”
Here’s a brutal truth: that outfit you’re “saving” for the perfect occasion? Wear it now. Today. To the grocery store if you have to.
Most of us are hoarding pieces we love because we think they’re too special for everyday life. But unless you’re regularly invited to rooftop cocktail parties (and if you are, please share your secrets), there’s no point in letting great clothes sit in your closet untouched.
Wear the statement jacket. Wear the bold lip. Wear the giant necklace that clinks when you walk. If someone stares, that’s their problem. You’re busy being iconic.
Step Nine: Borrow From Literally Anywhere
Inspiration doesn’t have to come from the runway. Steal ideas from everywhere. Movies, musicians, old TV shows, strangers on the subway, your weirdly stylish aunt.
Try copying an outfit from a character in a film you love. Update it with your own twist. Mix in your style icons, whether that’s Rihanna, Harry Styles, or a Muppet with attitude.
The more references you mix, the more unique your style becomes.
Step Ten: Let Go of the Fear of Looking “Too Much”
One of the biggest reasons we play it safe with style is fear. Fear of being noticed. Fear of being judged. Fear of looking like we tried too hard.
Here’s a tip: let them think you tried. Trying is good. Effort is good. Looking like you put thought into your appearance doesn’t make you vain. It makes you confident.
The most stylish people in the world are the ones who don’t shrink into the background. They take up space. You can too.
Dress like the main character!
