Developing a distinctive personal style starts with auditing what you already wear and love, then curating deliberately around it instead of chasing seasonal trends, according to stylists and menswear experts. Maintaining that style over time means staying consistent, shopping with intention, and revisiting your choices as your life and body change.
Personal style and fashion are not the same thing, according to experts interviewed by GQ Middle East. Mike Belgue, brand director at Reigning Champ, distinguishes between the two: personal style reflects a person's true self and what makes them feel comfortable, while fashion responds to marketplace impulses. Understanding that distinction is the starting point for anyone trying to build a look that feels like them rather than a copy of a trend cycle.
Start by auditing what you already own
Stylists Courtney Pentimalli (The Fair Court) and Alejandra Hernandez (Vintage Butterfly), quoted on Camille Styles, recommend a journaling session to track the colors, prints, and shapes a person is repeatedly drawn to before buying anything new. Pulling out the pieces already worn on repeat and noting what they have in common — color, cut, fabric, brand — reveals the outline of a style that already exists, rather than one that has to be invented from scratch.
A step-by-step approach
Audit your current wardrobe and set aside the pieces worn most often; note their shared colors, cuts, and fabrics.
Build a mood board from magazines, Pinterest, or Instagram images that resonate, then look for recurring themes rather than copying any single outfit.
Separate personal taste from marketed trends — ask whether a piece is being bought because it was designed for a demographic or because it genuinely fits how you want to look.
Invest in a small set of foundational, versatile basics that can be dressed up or down, rather than spreading a budget across trend items.
Experiment deliberately with new colors, shapes, or combinations instead of only repeating what feels safe, and pay attention to how each choice makes you feel.
Curate the accounts and media you follow, keeping sources that encourage experimentation and dropping ones that push adoption of every trend.
Review the wardrobe periodically, since bodies, routines, and preferences change over time.
Where inspiration comes from
Jeremy Smith, co-founder of the clothing brand Standard & Strange, told GQ Middle East that inspiration can come from unexpected places, including the uninhibited way children combine clothes. He also noted that most people remembered for their style simply wore well-fitting clothes typical of their era — meaning style icons should serve as reference points, not templates to copy outright.
Style is something that you create through the will of your personality.
— Bruce Boyer, menswear writer, quoted by GQ Middle East
Steve Knorsch, managing director of tailoring house Cad & The Dandy, illustrated how personal history shapes style choices: his repeated wear of navy blazers and gray slacks traces back to his Catholic school uniform, according to the same GQ Middle East interview.
Foundational pieces experts point to
Foundational wardrobe pieces cited by menswear experts (GQ Middle East)
Piece
Why it's a foundation item
Wrinkle-free cotton dress shirt
Works across casual and formal settings without upkeep
Cashmere cable-knit sweater
Adds warmth and texture that layers easily
Classic jeans
A versatile base that pairs with dressier or casual pieces
Herringbone trousers
A tailored alternative to jeans for smarter looks
Tailored blazer
Elevates casual outfits and anchors formal ones
Trench coat
A classic outer layer that suits multiple seasons
Loafers
A smart-casual shoe that bridges dress codes
Canvas sneakers
Keeps the look grounded and wearable day to day
Maintaining style as life changes
Comfort — both physical and mental — should guide ongoing choices, according to Pentimalli, who describes change as inevitable and something to embrace rather than resist, referring to how bodies and preferences shift over time. This means a wardrobe built once will need periodic reassessment rather than being treated as finished.
On the shopping side, Camille Styles reports that intentional curation — asking whether an item could be found secondhand or vintage before buying new, and building relationships with small businesses and stylists — helps keep a wardrobe aligned with a person's style rather than with short-lived trends. The GQ Middle East experts add that consistency in a few recognizable choices, worn repeatedly, demonstrates a defined style more clearly than scattered trendy purchases.
Questions
What's the difference between personal style and fashion?
According to Reigning Champ brand director Mike Belgue, personal style is an expression of a person's true self, while fashion is a reaction to marketplace trends, as quoted by GQ Middle East.
Where should I start when trying to develop my own style?
Stylists quoted by Camille Styles recommend auditing your current wardrobe for pieces you already wear often and noting their shared colors, cuts, and fabrics before buying anything new.
Should I follow seasonal fashion trends to find my style?
Experts interviewed by GQ Middle East suggest separating personal taste from marketed trends and treating style icons as reference points rather than templates to copy.
What are good foundational pieces to build a wardrobe around?
Menswear experts cited by GQ Middle East point to items such as a wrinkle-free dress shirt, a cashmere sweater, classic jeans, a tailored blazer, a trench coat, and loafers as versatile starting pieces.
How often should I revisit my personal style?
Stylist Courtney Pentimalli, quoted by Camille Styles, says change is inevitable and should be embraced, implying a wardrobe needs periodic reassessment as a person's body and preferences shift.
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