Inform me should you’ve seen it too: In our hyper-connected, digital world, trend now not appears to be a matter of non-public type. As a substitute, Y2K developments are in a single week, adopted by 70s vibes (à la Daisy Jones) a number of days later. And don’t get me began on the battle between low-rise and thin denims. I’ll take no matter’s comfy, thanks very a lot. The purpose is, as we cycle by means of core developments, our outfits of the day seem to repeat a templatized construction. However, if you wish to break away from the lots, you’ve come to the correct place. Right this moment, we’re chatting learn how to make maximalist trend your personal.
Featured picture from our interview with Mariana Velásquez by Belathée Photography.
Maximalist Fashion: Tips for Curating a Wardrobe That’s Uniquely You
But first, let’s clarify. “Maximalist” fashion can conjure up ideas of going big or going home. And while we love exploring bright colors and fun prints, especially in the summer, the core ethos aligns with the simple guideline of following your sartorial bliss. So how do you make that happen? I chatted with two of my favorite fashion creators, Courtney Pentimalli and Alejandra Hernandez, to learn the way we will all sift by means of the noise and embrace the type that feels finest for us.
On Defining and Developing a Personal Style
The idea of creating a personal style can feel deeply elusive and impossible to pin down. It’s one of those things that when you see it, you know it. Someone dawns a bold print that wears like an extension of their personality. Or perhaps a coworker rocks an all-black ensemble every day with confidence. And while we love seeing others owning what feels best for them, doing it ourselves can come with a few roadblocks.
Below, Courtney and Ale share their tips on finding and continuously evolving a personal style that’s entirely your own.
Shop with intention.
Like many people, the idleness of the pandemic inspired Courtney to get creative with her closet. “I got really into Etsy—retail therapy was my coping mechanism. People would say how good I was at finding these unique pieces, and I think it came down to being really intentional about what I was looking for.”
Building on this, she adds that shopping with intention honors the intimacy inherent in building a wardrobe that feels like a reflection of yourself. “Knowing your body, what feels good, and what you feel comfortable in is such a deeply personal experience,” Courtney notes.
“I’ve always felt that putting together an outfit is like putting together a puzzle.” — Courtney Pentimalli
So how do you make this happen? It can start with a simple journaling session, reflecting on the types, prints, colours, and shapes you’re drawn to. From there, jot down what could also be getting in the best way of carrying these items. Is it associated to physique picture? Or maybe somebody made an unkind remark once you wore one thing out of the norm? Oftentimes, our clothes can contact upon elements of ourselves that transcend getting dressed. It may be useful to debate these questions with both a therapist or a trusted buddy that will help you acquire readability.
From there, create a imaginative and prescient board that outlines your intention and visualize the wardrobe you wish to construct. Collect pictures on Pinterest or from magazines and create a digital or bodily collage that expresses the feel and appear you wish to exude. You possibly can even add phrases, phrases, or mantras that seize the vitality you wish to carry to your appears to be like.
Prioritize consolation.
Ale admits that, although she’s constructed a devoted group round proudly owning your distinctive type on Instagram, she struggles with figuring out her aesthetic every now and then. However regardless of this ebb and movement, she is aware of that feeling comfortable is what’s most necessary. “I’ve realized that, on the finish of the day, I’m going to really feel most comfy and joyful after I put on what aligns with my true self.”
Nevertheless, like most issues in life, it’s all about putting a stability. She notes that it may be enjoyable to take dangers together with your type. “You’ll by no means know should you love one thing should you don’t strive it,” says Ale.
Courtney speaks to the bodily factor of consolation, encouraging girls to embrace the modifications our our bodies undergo over time. “Change is inevitable—personal it. Confidence is one thing that many ladies wrestle with,” says Courtney. However she encourages rising by means of these modifications, letting go of the developments, and embracing what works for you. “Mentally and bodily, all the things simply falls into place when you begin carrying what feels finest in your physique.”
Step outdoors of what’s marketed to you.
As a method marketing consultant, Courtney sees numerous shoppers holding onto garments that join them to a selected expertise or that they really feel deeply nostalgic about. “Garments ought to be a car that assist us transfer all through the world with confidence,” she says. “Not the opposite manner round.” Once more, we could really feel that we’ve to be a sure dimension or physique form to put on one thing. However Courtney desires us to let go of that perception instantly.
“So typically, we’re not comfy within the garments we’re carrying as a result of we’re solely deciding on what’s been marketed to us. We have to step outdoors of that field and have enjoyable experimenting with the items that resonate.”
Keep in mind: private type is completely different for everybody.
Creating your personal type is a course of—be affected person and curious as you uncover what resonates with you. Whereas Courtney nonetheless loves to take a look at what’s trending, she’s cautious to strategy it by means of a unique lens. “I ask myself: Can I purchase this classic? Can I purchase this secondhand?”
She encourages exploring the developments you end up drawn to. Nevertheless, it’s necessary to not make investments too closely—financially and emotionally. With our tradition of overconsumption and the fixed biking of “-core” developments, it’s straightforward to burn out. “And,” Courtney provides, “you don’t wish to quit that valuable closet actual property to a bit that isn’t actually you.”
In relation to type on social media, how do you tune out the noise and discover inspiration versus copying a development totally?
“We have now to watch out to devour solely what makes us develop, what evokes us, and what makes us higher,” says Ale. It’s such an necessary reminder that goes past type. Keep in mind: social media is a software. As customers, we’re empowered to direct the algorithm in a manner that serves us inspiring, uplifting, and in the end optimistic content material. And as Ale notes, we will be taught by what others are doing on social media and add our personal twist. “However bear in mind,” she cautions, “not each development is so that you can undertake.”
“We have now to watch out to devour solely what makes us develop, what evokes us, and what makes us higher.” — Alejandra Hernandez
Courtney views social media equally, seeing it each as “an incredible place to be impressed and uncovered to new issues” in addition to a mirrored image of our collective push to overconsume. She admits that she’s needed to unlearn a number of the patterns she’s skilled by diving deeper into the style group on-line. “It took realizing that these issues—that subsequent buy or piece—weren’t giving me the worth I assumed they might.”
Once more, that’s the place intention is available in. “Our cash is our energy, and the place we spend it says lots about what we assist,” Courtney observes. So as a substitute of instantly shopping for no matter is least expensive and on-trend, she encourages trying to small enterprise homeowners or stylists who you possibly can construct a relationship with and be ok with supporting together with your buy.
If somebody desires to have extra enjoyable with their type, however is afraid to department out, how may they construct the boldness to strive one thing new?
Courtney’s response underscores the reality that discovering your private type is a course of—and one which will probably be crammed with loads of paradoxes. Whereas it’s necessary to get particular in regards to the wardrobe you wish to construct, you can too be taught by the way you reply emotionally to items and patterns. “Don’t suppose too exhausting about it,” she says. “Keep in mind, it’s a course of and it’s necessary to mirror on how sure items, colours, and shapes make you are feeling. It’s not about different folks complimenting or commenting on what you put on—it’s about what makes you are feeling vibrant.”
She provides that, on the subject of who you observe, discover folks on the web you relate to. Whether or not you might have the identical physique form or gravitate towards related items, get impressed by how they put on these types. Conversely, unfollow anybody who makes you are feeling fearful to be courageous together with your type or strive one thing new.
Ale agrees, citing experimentation as a core a part of her course of. “Take a danger! If you happen to like a development or a method however suppose you couldn’t rock it, simply strive it.” Finally, what it comes right down to is letting your reality paved the way, however by no means be afraid to courageous and daring together with your type.
“It’s not about different folks complimenting or commenting on what you put on—it’s about what makes you are feeling vibrant.” — Courtney Pentimalli
