Personal style can be quite an abstract concept. It can take many forms, and evolve over the course of one’s lifetime. For myself, my personal style has had at least a dozen iterations over the past 20-25 years, from wearing vintage 70’s polyester printed shirts with ripped jeans and combat boots every day of my junior year of high school, up until recently when I was expecting my 2nd baby, in my daily uniform of maternity leggings and boxy button-downs. No matter how cringe-worthy one’s past personal style may be, it should hopefully be a grounding point as you approach trends, the needs of your day-to-day life, and as a means of expressing yourself. But, what if you don’t yet know your personal style? Well, here are a few steps to help you figure it out!

First, find your style inspiration. Pinterest is a great resource to get you started. Put together a board for images that speak to you. These can range from celebrity looks to pieces of art, to photos from your favorite store’s catalog. Then look for patterns. What colors, silhouettes, and actual patterns keep repeating in these images? Those repeats are the groundwork for your style. Of course, when pinning/collecting celebrity pictures, you have to take into account the real-world wear-ability. Most of us aren’t going to have a need for ball gowns or semi-ridiculous fashion pieces that are meant for the red carpet only.

Next, put your images into words. This may seem a bit abstract, but it’s important to pick the best adjectives to describe the style in the pictures you’ve gathered. Are the looks classic? Modern? Chic? Preppy? Bohemian? Finding the right words to describe the outfits that attract you will help clarify and define your style. If you conclude that you like romantic looks more than sporty apparel, you can skip active-wear and go straight for dresses. It the end, this step will save you time when you’re shopping and putting together future ensembles.

Have a signature go-to piece. All the best style icons had their signature item, think Jackie O and her sunglasses, Audrey Hepburn and her black cropped pants, or Liz Taylor and her diamonds. No one is suggesting your personal style needs to reach epic levels of chicness like these ladies, but think about an accessory, shoe, or garment that can work as your signature item to epitomize your personal style. For me, it’s “schoolboy” blazers. I have more than I’m willing to admit hanging in my closet. They are great for work, but I also throw them on with jeans and a T-shirt for weekends, wear them as jackets in the spring and fall, and layer them over dresses. This signature item not only speaks to my personal style but is also versatile for my lifestyle. Your signature piece could be something as simple as a favorite necklace, or go-to little black dress, or more statement-making like leopard print trousers or a sequined jumpsuit.

Next, look to your closet. If you’re truly at a loss at finding a signature piece, notice what you wear on the regular. Chances are your signature can be found in some of the clothes you already own, especially if you have more than one version of a particular garment, like multiple striped tees or chunky cardigans. There is a reason you purchase several of the same pieces — it’s because they work for your body and your lifestyle. Embrace these repeat buys as your potential signature, and think about how to work them into the inspirational images from above.

While you are in your closet, do some cleaning. Once you have an idea of what items you already own that are working, look to what isn’t working and get rid of it. Pieces that don’t fit both physically, and with the images and words you’ve set aside as inspiration, can be donated or “yard saled” to make room for new buys that better represent the personal style you are working towards.

Don’t forget to play to your strengths. If people tend to compliment you when you wear a particular color or type of garment, those pieces should definitely be incorporated into your personal style. Of course, if people say you look great in dresses, but wearing a dress every day isn’t really a functional option, no worries. Keep the dresses for special occasions and think about what is so compliment-inducing when you don a frock. Is it because people think you have great legs? Then opt for straight-legged pants for your day-to-day. Do they complement the fact that you’re just generally dressed up? Then try to add a bit more polish to your daily look. Alternatively, it could be the color of a particular dress that catches people’s eye. If so, try to work that color into other ensembles.

Lastly, trust your gut. If you’re not comfortable in something, then it definitely should NOT be part of your personal style, no matter how many compliments it receives, or how often it comes up in your inspiration board. I love the idea of jumpsuits, but they aren’t at all practical for me, or very flattering for that matter. On the flip side, if you find yourself feeling great in a piece that doesn’t necessarily fit into what you think your personal style should be, give it a second chance. Don’t restrict yourself away from wearing garments and styles that make you feel like your best self. Personal style doesn’t have to be just ONE thing; it can be a mix and match of aesthetics, trends, colors, and designs.