Pamela D'Ettorre, a resident of Guelph, is an instructor of fashion arts at Humber College in Toronto. She has more than 20 years of experience in the fashion industry and holds a bachelor of applied arts in fashion design, apparel management from Ryerson University. Her industry experiences range from textile and apparel research and development, to apparel buying, fashion forecasting, and offshore importing. Pamela enjoys the variety in styles, quality and price points available within today’s world of fashion, allowing every person to form their own style identity.
For some, it is a point of pride. These people dress each morning with a sense of adventure and passion, believing that the clothing they wear expresses their unique personality. Others feel a sense of dread as they stand frozen, gazing into their closet. Having spent much of my life obsessed with the world of fashion, I offer one major lesson: fashion is what we are told we should wear, and style is what we know we should wear.
You probably have a favourite outfit, the one that makes you feel taller, slimmer, stronger, smarter. It is this feeling, which goes beyond what you see in the mirror, that makes this outfit the perfect style for your body. And it is this feeling that projects confidence to the world.
Style does more than cover your body; it expresses your true personality. Your style should show the world who you are and provide you with a sense of confidence.
Of course, your ideal style is also about showcasing your best features and disguising those you feel less confident about. It will also recognize the fact we all have very different body shapes and unique ideas about beauty. Critically evaluating your body size is not a healthy method for identifying your style; understanding the actual appearance of clothing on your body is key.
Remember that what might have been considered an attribute when you were young may become a detractor as you age, so review your body shape honestly — see it as it is now, not as it was.
In future columns, I will offer tips for dressing various body silhouettes, but for now, start by assessing a favourite outfit — one that flatters you. Study it, check its shape and drape on your body frame. Look at the garment’s silhouette, fabric texture and construction. Ask yourself why this style works while others are less flattering.
Often this will have a great deal to do with your own physical shape and the shape of the garments you are placing on it.
Once you define your particular style, you will probably find it suits your lifestyle as well. For example, if you are highly active and find yourself on the move for most of the day, your style may be reflected in pieces that are less restrictive, not overly decorated, and easier to care for. Or you may be drawn to clothing that is more conservative, choosing styles that are more constructed, in muted tones and darker palettes. Or your personal style may be highly creative, infusing colour, pattern or texture into each and every outfit.
Whatever your personal style, remember that it is yours. The latest fashion trends may be infused into your style seasonally, but they should never overtake it. If this happens, you become a victim of advertising and not a woman of style.
When you think of some of the world’s most famous style icons, such as Princess Diana, Jackie Kennedy, Grace Kelly or Coco Chanel, you can immediately visualize these women. They did not follow the fashion trends of their time completely. Rather, they took the trends and incorporated only the key points that reflected their image, and only trends that helped to showcase their own personal style.
We all have a style icon inside of us. For some, she may be a little harder to find, but she is there. Know that your body is unique, and that you are special.
Fashions change seasonally, style lasts for a lifetime.
