Are you familiar with Roger Daltry, the band The Who, and the opening song to CSI Miami, “Who Are You”? It is a catchy tune and the opening line is “Who are you… who-oo, oo-oo? Well, it is playing in my head as I write. It is also what I’ll ask you to consider as you approach your wardrobe, your overall presentation, and how you want the world to experience you. What three words would you use to describe your personality and values, and do you actually project them day-to-day? Who are you and who does the world see?

Each of us is capable of being appropriate in our life roles without losing ourselves in the process. Even those of us who need a little coaching can shine through.

I was recently speaking with a client and she was surprised by my pre-consult questionnaire and how many questions I was asking about her before our initial session: her three descriptive words, who her style icons are, how does she describe her own style, what a week in her life looked like, etc. I explained that the better I knew her, the more I could help her meet her objectives. Another woman shared with me that she didn’t want to dress like I do and was shocked when I told her I didn’t want her to – that she should be herself, but be her best self. The first step in being your best self is in figuring out who you are and having that consistent thread evident through your attire, behavior, and communication.

With Spring fashion arriving in the stores, you’re most likely thinking of a closet refresh. Before you actually start the process, (it’s okay to start humming some Roger Daltry here…), think about “Who Are You?” and what makes you unique. Do you have beautiful/handsome broad shoulders, long legs, big green eyes? Think about your body shape, hair style, and other characteristics that make you special. Remember, sometimes things you may initially think are flaws can actually be fabulous – it’s all in how you approach them. Embrace yourself and have fun with this!

Once you have given some thought to your “uniqueness”, consider how to make the most of what you have and use these characteristics to your advantage. For example, someone with a tiny waist might buy beautiful wide belts to accentuate her waist – or – a custom-made silver belt buckle to draw attention to his; a man or woman with green eyes may make a particular shade of green his or her signature color and make it prominent throughout clothing and accessories; although ruffled tops may not be the best look for a woman with broad shoulders, she’ll rock a halter or V neckline, so she should forgo the ruffles and shop for
halters and V-necks. Many people have a flair with scarves or jewelry or other signature accessories that they use as their signature style. As you can see, there are many ways to shine through.

The trick is to do your homework before jumping into the latest trends . Audit your closet to see what will work and stay for this year, and edit everything else out. Make a list of what you need in order to flesh out your wardrobe for the season, and then hit the stores. Consider each purchase, and make sure it conveys your “personality and values” words and that each item works for your body type, coloring, and other signature characteristics. This may
sound like a lot, but if you take it in bite-sized pieces and you master these key skills, you’ll be genuine from head to toe and able to easily answer the ever-pressing question “Who are You?” without having to say a single word!

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