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Even if you love fashion, life has a way of putting personal style on the back burner. Years of prioritising careers, families, and other endless responsibilities can mean many of us fall into a style that’s more about convenience than self-expression.
While there’s nothing wrong with the “safe” choices – your dependable tops, comfy jeans, and go-to shoes – there comes a point when many of us feel the urge to reclaim our personal style. Style, after all, is about more than just clothes; it’s a way to express yourself, spark joy, and boost confidence. So, if you’ve fallen into a wardrobe rut, how do you begin to rediscover your style?
To inspire you, we’ve teamed up with Bella di Notte, a UK fashion boutique. In a world focused on fast fashion, Bella di Notte is all about championing a slower, more intentional approach to style. By creating a limited number of pieces, their timeless collection focuses on quality, durability, and elegance.
So, with a little inspiration from Bella di Notte, here are eight ways to rediscover your personal style.
1. Reflect on your current wardrobe
Before you make any new purchases, it can help to reflect on your current clothes by pulling everything out of your wardrobe, trying it on, and considering how each item makes you feel. Which pieces do you wear repeatedly? Which pieces make you feel particularly good?
If something no longer fits your body or your lifestyle, consider donating it. For items you’re unsure about, try wearing them for a few hours at home or out and about. Pay attention to how you feel; if you’re tugging at it, adjusting it, or counting down the minutes until you can change, that’s probably your cue to let it go.
It can be tempting to hang on to clothes “just in case” or because you once loved them. But a smaller, carefully curated selection of clothes that you feel comfortable and confident in is far more valuable than an overstuffed wardrobe that overwhelms you every morning.
Once you’ve identified the clothes you wear most often, have a think about why you’re drawn to them and look for patterns in the outfits that make you feel best. Are you reaching for them out of habit – or because you genuinely love them? If you notice jumpers-and-jeans is your go-to look, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck in a style rut; rather, it’s a place to begin your exploration. You can then play around with cuts and colours, have fun with layering, and introduce accessories to update the look.
2. Define your personal “nos”
Rediscovering your personal style is about more than figuring out what works for you; it’s also about knowing what doesn’t. With the endless possibilities in fashion, trying to consider everything at once can feel overwhelming. Giving yourself permission to rule some things out isn’t limiting…it’s liberating.
Your “nos” are the shapes, fabrics, or details that you intentionally avoid – whether because they’re uncomfortable, unflattering, or simply not your vibe. For example, you might be at a point in your life where you’re simply unwilling to wear uncomfortable shoes, no matter how elegant they may look. Or perhaps you know by now that beige will never work for you, even if you like a neutral colour palette.
Identifying your personal “nos” can help you more easily clear out items you no longer wear, so you can focus on building a wardrobe filled with pieces that make you feel good.
Exclusive Rest Less Offer
Designed by women who care how you look and feel, Bella di Notte creates versatile, timeless style inspired by North Yorkshire heritage – with flattering design and an exclusive Rest Less saving.
Use code RLA10 for 10% off your order.
Discount code only valid on full-price items. Offer ends midnight June 30th.
3. Look more than you buy
Before you start buying new items, perhaps take a moment to really see what’s out there. It can be helpful to approach shopping as a form of discovery rather than a task of making purchases. Wander through clothing shops – or scroll through online collections – with the aim of exploring, experimenting, and refining your style.
If a piece catches your eye, why not try it on, even if you don’t plan to buy it? Style is supposed to feel like dress-up and be fun and experimental, so give yourself license to enjoy playing with clothes and taking risks. Notice which shapes, fabrics, and colours make you feel most confident and comfortable, so you can understand what suits you – and keep impulse purchases at bay, too.
However, when browsing online, try to be intentional, as scrolling through endless listings can quickly become exhausting and uninspiring. Instead, try to treat digital exploration as a purposeful and playful way to discover the styles that resonate with you.
4. Revisit your foundations
It can be tempting to focus right away on outer clothing layers, but what you wear underneath plays a significant role not just in how your outfits look, but in how you feel. Well-designed, well-fitting bras, briefs, and shapewear can transform the way clothes hang on your body, creating a sleeker silhouette while offering the perfect amount of support.
Bella di Notte’s range of lingerie is designed with exactly this in mind, and their thoughtfully designed bras and briefs can improve posture, comfort, and confidence. When you’re not feeling uncomfortable or restricted, or constantly adjusting straps or elastic, you simply carry yourself differently…and that confidence shows in everything you wear.
If it’s been a while since you checked your sizing or updated your basics, this can be a powerful place to start. Our bodies change over time, and items that once felt like a second skin may no longer offer the same support. Just like building a home, the right outfit always starts with strong foundations, and investing in good-quality undergarments can make even the simplest outfits look more put-together. Bella di Notte’s customer care team are all expertly trained in bra fitting and can advise on the best styles and fit for you.
5. Invest in timeless, high-quality pieces
Instead of trying to keep up with the latest trends, it can be better to focus on purchasing classic, well-made items that feel effortlessly chic. Bella di Notte creates timeless, beautifully-made clothing that balances elegance with wearability. A perfectly cut blazer, some tailored trousers, or a smart-yet-versatile dress can become a wardrobe staple – items you reach for again and again because they’re so well-suited to your body, personality, and lifestyle.
Choosing quality over quantity doesn’t just make your wardrobe look better; it makes getting dressed feel easier and more intentional. At the same time, rediscovering your personal style should be fun! Try mixing those classic staples with a few modern touches: a crisp white blouse with a statement skirt or a bold jumper can completely transform a look, letting your personality shine while keeping things elegant.
Exclusive Rest Less Offer
Designed by women who care how you look and feel, Bella di Notte creates versatile, timeless style inspired by North Yorkshire heritage – with flattering design and an exclusive Rest Less saving.
Use code RLA10 for 10% off your order.
Discount code only valid on full-price items. Offer ends midnight June 30th.
6. Experiment with colours and textures
If you’ve always worn dark, neutral colours out of habit or convenience, now could be the time to have fun experimenting with colour. Even if you decide that neutrals are most suited to you, exploring beyond your usual palette can be a great way to refresh your wardrobe.
Colour also plays a key role in expressing personality, so try on different shades and see how they make you feel. Rich, vibrant tones like ruby, emerald, and sapphire can be empowering, while soft pastels can bring a sense of calm.
Experimenting with textures at the same time can also help mark this new time of discovery in your personal style. Think soft merino tops in rich jewel colours, a sleek silk blouse, or a patterned skirt. Layering different textures can add depth and dimension, turning simple outfits into ensembles that feel thoughtful, personal, and packed full of character.
7. Develop a uniform
The idea of putting together a personal ‘uniform’ can sound counterintuitive when you’re trying to rediscover your style. But rather than being restrictive, it can actually be incredibly liberating. Your ‘uniform’ is simply a handful of combinations that make you feel confident and comfortable, and you can repeat, time and again, in different variations.
Think about what you naturally reach for in your wardrobe every morning. Is it straight-leg jeans with a tucked-in shirt? A midi skirt with chunky knitwear? Tailored trousers with an oversized cardigan? Try to spot patterns in your favourite outfits; that recurring combination is the foundation of your uniform. Then, once you’ve found your uniform, you can have fun refining it. Play with proportions, experiment with fabrics, and create variations in different colours and textures so it never feels stale.
8. Be true to yourself
One of the reasons personal style can feel confusing is that we’re often encouraged to look outward before looking inward. Trends, celebrities, and the often insidious influence of social media can make it seem as though we should be imitating looks. But true style comes from knowing and trusting yourself and is developed over time.
It’s shaped by how we feel about ourselves and how we want to be perceived – and that’s something that can’t be learned by emulation. Wearing what you love and feel good in is far more rewarding than replicating someone else’s outfit, and can bring you closer to understanding your own style.
When you begin dressing authentically, your wardrobe will naturally start to feel like a reflection of who you really are. And through experimenting and trying new things, you’ll learn what works for you and what doesn’t. Trust your instincts, and your style will evolve in a way that feels truly authentic to you.
Exclusive Rest Less Offer
Designed by women who care how you look and feel, Bella di Notte creates versatile, timeless style inspired by North Yorkshire heritage – with flattering design and an exclusive Rest Less saving.
Use code RLA10 for 10% off your order.
Discount code only valid on full-price items. Offer ends midnight June 30th.
Final thoughts…
There are many reasons why our personal style can begin to slip through the cracks. Parenthood, getting older, career shifts, divorce, or retirement can all change our priorities, and often, we don’t notice how much our relationship with clothes and fashion has changed along the way.
The good news is that it’s never too late to rediscover your personal style. Style, after all, isn’t something you uncover overnight. It’s something you find with time, experience, confidence, and self-awareness. It isn’t about rushing out to buy a whole new wardrobe, or slavishly following trends; it’s about knowing what works for you.
From having fun with colour and texture to developing a uniform, knowing and trusting yourself is the key to choosing clothes that feel like a reflection of your character. This approach to style is something Bella di Notte reflects in all its collections. The brand focuses on creating pieces that work with real lives and real bodies, paying close attention to fit, tailoring, versatility, and durability, while also stocking exclusive prints that add a distinctive, individual touch to every wardrobe.
Head over to Bella di Notte to browse their timeless collection – or, if you’re looking for more inspiration, head over to The Bella Blog.