This great quote is from my dear friend, Cindy Brokaw (hairstylist extraordinaire who works her magic at the Shear Pleasure Salon in Montecito). I love Cindy’s statement because it really shows how our inner beauty and outward appearance should be aligned.
Last night, we co-hosted a really fun event — it was a Style Party and Clothes Swap. This eco-friendly event allowed women to bring things they didn’t love anymore and trade them for new things. But we also focused on helping people get clear about their sense of style — which we project through our clothes, hair, makeup, and character.
Here is the handout I gave to the group.
Your style is an outer reflection of your inner character. Take a moment to discover your inner beauty so that you can create a style that matches who you really are.
- Thinking about your character, what would your best friends say are your best qualities?
- What would your family and/or coworkers say?
- What do you love best about yourself?
- Thinking of your body, what do you think are your best features?
- What features do you get the most compliments on?
- What colors makes you happy or look best on you?
- If you could describe your personal style in 1 sentence, what is it
or what would you like it be?
Once you are clear about who you are, it is much easier to create looks that enhance your image. How can you help others see more of who you really are? Be yourself, deliberately.
I love this added level of connection at a clothes swap party. So awesome. Have you seen the book, Style Statement, by Danielle LaPorte and Carrie McCarthy? Perfect and beautiful extension of your handout.
I have always enjoyed changing my style so that it cannot be described as anything but me. I change my hair, clothes, make-up, etc. At times, I have received flack for this and, for a time, became so self-conscious about it that I started trying to conform to one certain style. After taking a class on Gender & Sexuality, I realized that my style is part of who I am… and who I am is someone who has deep-rooted values, yet is open to all experiences and people. Therefore, my style adapts with me to many situations and at all times, no matter what any person’s judgment might say about it, I feel that how I dress reflects who I am, how I feel, and where I am at in life, literally and figuratively. I will never have one set routine for my clothing (or hair) and I love that about my style because it directly reflects the openness and possibilities in my life. 🙂
It’s great that you have embraced your style as the way you express yourself to the world. There is so much freedom is claiming the right to be who you are and look the way you want.