What is Inclusive Personal Styling?

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Personal style is exactly that, personal. What makes one person feel wonderful might feel completely wrong for somebody else, and I think that’s what makes clothes so interesting.

Inclusive styling is about recognising that there isn’t one particular way that any of us should dress. Your clothes should reflect your personality, your lifestyle and, most importantly, how you want to feel when you put them on.

For some people, that might mean experimenting with genderless fashion. For others, it could simply mean moving away from traditional ideas about what they are expected to wear and finding clothes that feel much more like them.

What does inclusive styling actually mean?

For me, good personal styling has always started with the individual.

We all have different bodies, tastes, lifestyles and relationships with clothes. Some people absolutely love fashion and want to experiment, while others simply want to open their wardrobe in the morning and know that everything inside works for them.

Inclusive styling creates space for all of that. Rather than starting with rules about what somebody of a certain age, size or gender should wear, it starts with you.

What do you enjoy wearing? What makes you feel confident? What feels comfortable? And what would you love to try if you felt a little more confident doing so?

Does fashion need to be divided into menswear and womenswear?

Not necessarily. The traditional divisions between menswear and womenswear can be useful when you’re shopping, but they don’t have to dictate what you actually wear.

Genderless fashion takes a much more flexible approach. You might love the cut of a jacket from one department and the colour of a shirt from another. If the piece fits you well and makes you feel good, the label inside it really doesn’t need to be the deciding factor.

Sometimes looking beyond the section you usually shop in can open up a whole new range of possibilities.

Can inclusive styling help you feel more confident?

I think confidence often comes when we stop trying to dress for somebody else’s expectations.

Perhaps you’ve always felt that certain colours, shapes or styles weren’t “for you”. Sometimes all it takes is trying them in a slightly different way to realise that they can work beautifully.

A styling session should feel like a safe opportunity to experiment. There’s no pressure to suddenly become more adventurous or completely change your look. It’s about discovering what feels right for you.

What about fit and body shape?

Fit is incredibly important, but it shouldn’t become another set of rules.

Bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and clothes don’t always make that easy! Sizing can vary enormously between shops, which is why I always think the number on the label matters far less than how something actually sits and feels when dressing for your body shape.

The right clothes should work with your body and your lifestyle, while still allowing your personality to come through.

Is inclusive personal styling for everyone?

Absolutely. You don’t need to fit a particular fashion mould to enjoy clothes or benefit from styling advice. You might want a complete change, a little more confidence when shopping, or simply some fresh ideas for pieces you already own.

Ultimately, personal styling should help you create a wardrobe that feels like yours. And when you stop worrying quite so much about what you’re supposed to wear, getting dressed can become much more fun.