How To Create An Unforgettable Signature Look
Some call it a repeat outfit, I call it a signature look - regardless of its name, a signature look is something you should consider if you want to make getting dressed and looking good as easy as possible.
A signature look is the key to making sure you always have something to wear that you feel good in and that you know looks great on your body shape. Having your own “look” is like having your own personalised uniform, it’s one of the biggest indicators of somebody who knows and is confident with their style, but it also leaves a lasting impression and gives people something visual to remember you by.
Think of a signature look as an outfit that people picture you wearing, when they think of you. The outfit that you would wear if you were made into a cartoon character …
The concept itself is not new. When you think about it, nearly every single style icon, from Audrey Hepburn to Twiggy had (or has) a strong signature look that springs to mind. Having a signature look signifies a considerable amount of self-knowledge; you know what you like, who you are and what suits you and it’s this confidence that makes it all the more powerful.
Here are a few modern day examples of famous personalities well known for their signature looks -
EMMANUELLE ALT
Ankle Length Denim, Basic Tops, A Pair of Pumps & Minimal Accessories
KATE MIDDLETON
Pencil Dresses, Waist-Cinching Garments, Neutral Clutches & Small Drop Earrings
DITA VON TEESE
Body-Hugging Pencil Dresses, 10-Inch Heels, Cat-Eye Sunglasses, A Red Lip & Winged Eye-Liner
VICTORIA BECKHAM
Button Up Shirts, Trousers, Coats/ Blazers, Clutch Bags, Pointed Heels & Smokey Eye Make-up
Having a handful of outfits that you can fall back on, eliminates a common struggle that most women have when it comes to dressing and that is not knowing what to wear + a lack of time to even think about it!
To create your own signature look, start by collecting/ saving images of outfits that inspire you and that you can see yourself re-creating (ideally using pieces that you already own). From here, deconstruct those outfits to identify 5x elements that reoccur in each inspiration image.
Jot down these 5 headings (these are the 5 elements) -
CLOTHING
COLOURS
ACCESSORIES
HAIR & MAKE-UP
STYLING TWEAKS
Now take a look at your outfit inspiration images -
Clothing
What clothes can you see repeatedly worn throughout your inspiration? Do you notice lots of skinny jeans, maxi dresses, basic tees or blazers? You’ll want to take note of any clothes that consistently reoccur because they will become the start of your signature look. What happens though if you notice an item of clothing just once or twice? In this instance, I’d consider it a one-off which could be introduced to your wardrobe as a “trend” piece, rather than the clothes that make up your signature look.
Colours
Is there a dominant colour palette or a lot of the same colours? If your preferred style is minimal, it’s likely that your inspiration would consist of neutral colours such as black, white, grey and tan. This tells you that your signature look should likely include black, white, grey & tan.
Accessories
Can you see a lot of the same accessories? You may notice a lot of large tote bags? Perhaps the shoes are either heels or ankle boots in classic styles? Maybe there are lots of fuss-free sunglasses and belts? Again, we are looking for accessories that show up more than once or twice - at least 5+ times depending on how much outfit inspiration you’ve collected.
Hair & Make-Up
Are there any similarities between the hair and make-up looks? Are most hairstyles worn out and effortless or tied back and polished? What make-up looks do you see? The make-up could be quite minimal but a bold lip is seen throughout. There might be no heavy make-up looks or creative faces, just simple, understated looks.
Styling Tweaks
A styling tweak is a way in which you can change the look & feel of an outfit by the way a piece of clothing is worn. Styling tweaks are often the difference between clothes & accessories looking great on your body shape - think shirt tucks, rolled sleeves, cuffed jeans & trousers, layered clothing, the way a bag is worn or even how a scarf is tied. Without these styling tweaks, outfits don’t look as considered. Notice any styling tweaks that constantly show up throughout your inspiration and take note of these.
After you’ve deconstructed your inspiration, you should have a small list under each of the 5x elements. From here, you can begin to create as few as 1 or as many as 3-4 outfits that you can use as your own signature look/s aiming to always ensure that you’ve chosen clothing styles & colours that suit your body shape and skin-tone and remember these outfits need to work with your lifestyle too -
EXAMPLE SIGNATURE LOOK 1
T-Shirt, Skinny Jeans, Belt & Heels
EXAMPLE SIGNATURE LOOK 2
Flowy Dress, Tote Bag & Sneakers
EXAMPLE SIGNATURE LOOK 3
Camisole, Midi Skirt, Sunglasses & Sandals
Once you’ve created your signature look/s, the elements that contribute to those outfits (specific clothes, accessories, hair & make-up) should then take top priority when shopping. In an ideal world, you’d aim to have about 3-4 variations of each piece of clothing and/or accessory to be able to mix & match and come up with different and exciting outfit combinations. It’s also a great idea to keep your signature looks exciting by introducing different colours, prints, styles and fabrics based on what you like that’s on trend.
Arianna Huffington once said that "women already bear the cost of sleep-deprivation & burnout so celebrating and owning the idea of repeats is a great way to begin to close the gap, affording women the same freedom (in the form of time, money and thought) that men have in putting together their outfits for the day".