If you’re feeling the urge to “reset” your style at the beginning of a new year, you’re not alone. We’re constantly told that now is the time to reinvent—new trends, new silhouettes, new rules.

But personal style doesn’t actually work that way.

More often than not, the most grounded, confident style comes from rediscovery, not replacement. From paying attention to what already resonates, refining what no longer fits, and getting clearer about your criteria.

This isn’t about dressing for a new version of yourself. It’s about dressing for the person you already are.

1. Start with what you already reach for

Instead of asking, “What should I be wearing?” start with a simpler question:

“What do I actually wear—over and over again?”

Open your closet and notice:

* The pieces you instinctively grab

* The outfits that make you feel like yourself

* The items that always seem to work, no matter the season

These aren’t accidents. They’re clues.

A few years ago I was having a full-on style identity crisis. My closet was a mis-matched collection of sentimental items I really didn’t wear or quite know how to style. I felt the urge to throw everything away and start from scratch.

Spoiler: I didn’t. 

Instead, I started taking photos of my outfits and (very timidly at first) posting them on my personal instagram. After some time passed I noticed something interesting–-patterns started to emerge. Similar silhouettes. Repeat colors. The same types of pieces showing up again and again. 

Those patterns helped me see more clearly than any trend report ever could.

It shifted my perspective on what my personal style was and what it was slowly evolving into. (You can read the blog post I wrote about this!)

Personal style shows up in repetition. Paying attention to the pieces you choose again and again is more helpful than chasing something new. 

2. Identify how you want to feel (not how you want to look)

A common mistake is building outfits around an aesthetic instead of an emotion.

Instead of aiming to look:

  • on trend
  • cool
  • put together

Ask yourself how you want to feel when you get dressed:

  • Comfortable
  • Confident
  • Grounded
  • Effortless
  • Bold

    When something doesn't feel right--even it it looks good on paper--that's information worth listening to.

3. Notice what you admire on others (and why)

Inspiration doesn’t mean imitation.

Pay attention to outfits that stop you in your tracks and ask:

* What exactly do I like here?
* Is it the silhouette? The texture? The ease?
* Would this work for me, or do I just appreciate it on them?

For a long time, I did the opposite of using others as an inspiration. I let my own self-doubt tell myself “I could never dress as cool as her” or “I could only dream of looking that put together.”

The moment I switched this thinking an entire world of inspiration was unlocked. And I found myself putting my own spin on items or looks that I admired on others. 

It reminded me that inspiration isn’t about comparison–it’s about possibility.

4. Define your criteria

This is where your personal style gets personal.

Your criteria might include:

  • Fit over bran
  • Timelessness over trend
  • Comfort over perfection
  • Versatility over novelty

There’s no right answer—only honest ones.

When you’re clear on your criteria, decisions get easier. Shopping becomes more intentional. Getting dressed feels less like a question mark and more like a reflection.

5. Let style evolve slowly

Personal style isn’t static—but it doesn’t need to be rushed.

You don’t need a new wardrobe to grow. You need time, curiosity, and permission to change your mind.

Even as I write this, I’m in the middle of another shift in my own personal style. Just last night I pulled everything out of my closet and challenged myself to think of more ways to style each piece before I hung it back up.

As I went through this process, I started a new note on my phone–jotting down items I wanted to add into my wardrobe that would help me pull off the looks I was imagining. 

If you want to experiment with evolving your personal style try:

* Mixing pieces in unexpected ways. Take a look at your wardrobe and see which items you can combine differently.

* Adding one small element at a time. If you are stuck on getting the achieved look out of a piece- identify if there is something you can add to your wardrobe that will bring this look together. 

* Taking notes and observing. Notice what you are drawn to and how you want to interpret it. They these observations guide your wardrobe changes instead of forcing them. 

Style evolution feels better when it’s gradual–and when it grows out of curiosity rather than pressure. 

A final thought

If your style feels unclear right now, that doesn’t mean you’re lost. It usually means you’re paying attention.

Personal style isn’t about arriving somewhere—it’s about staying connected to yourself as you move through different seasons of life.

And that process? That’s the good part.

So remember as 2026 gets going and all the noise of “out with the old and in with the new” clutters our feeds, take a moment and remember what matters most to you and your personal style.