What is Style?

Thank you to Jandi Girard who is the founder, president and style coach of Inspire Style. As a former fashion magazine editor and marketing director, she combines her education, experience and diverse background to help clients realize their best personal style.

Ask nearly any designer or fashion professional what makes a person stylish, their answer is unanimously; confidence. When a woman knows her personal style and understands and embraces her body shape without apology, she feels most comfortable, thus making her confident. Fashion industry professionals will also tell you that those who live for trends are not the most stylish, as all trends don’t suit all people.

In Nina Garcia’s, Little Black Book of Style, she asked designers the question, “What do you find most stylish in a woman?”

Tori Burch answered, “The confidence to wear what looks good on you regardless of trends. Women who play up their assets and hide their flaws always look polished and pulled together.”

Vera Wang answered, “Women have to be true to themselves. You should adhere to your personal style, no matter what the situation. A woman is never sexier than when she is comfortable in her clothes.”

When determining your own signature style, listen to your instincts and trust your immediate reaction to clothes. Consider your body shape, preferences, lifestyle and goals. Look for favorite fabrics, silhouettes and accessories. Make your wardrobe go further, by playing dress up in your closet and attempting to mix and match unexpected pieces. Collect images of outfits you love from magazines or online and use them as inspiration before shopping. When you pull a look together, if you don’t love it, you are not going to feel confident. Once you have decided what to wear each day, commit to the look and wear it with confidence – then you shall be stylish!

Contributed by Jandi Girard, President of Inspire Style