“People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anyone.” – Audrey Hepburn
Have you ever looked in the mirror and not fully seen yourself looking back? Or go to your wardrobe after the ebbs and flows of life only to find your clothes just aren’t you anymore? Do you find yourself in a rut or that your physical state is holding you back to some extent? Dissatisfied with how others see you? Whether you’re yearning to refine and refresh or even simply craving a delightful switch-up, I’ve got you covered. Today I will be walking you through the steps to develop, implement, and maintain your coveted look all while creating the desired effect.
Originally I had asked for questions to create a Q&A, but this one received I thought this would be a great stand-alone topic. Typically I cover these sorts of questions one-on-one with a client, but really enjoy making fashion accessible and digestible through this channel.
So this viewer said, “Can you go over fashion rebranding for an individual? Like what to do if you want to change people’s perception of you.”
A rebrand is the transformative art of crafting an alluring image that captivates the senses, igniting a burning desire to conquer any objective in style. Through this, you position yourself strategically to get the desired impression or outcome you wish simply through your impression. Personal branding is about building a reputation, not just through internal development but also externally as well. To “perceive” a person is to pick up on and act upon social signs about individuals and their connections to others. Unlocking the essence of a person’s style is akin to unraveling a captivating fashion narrative, where every social sign becomes a vital clue. It is through these sartorial connections that we embark on a journey to perceive and ultimately embrace the unique tapestry of individuals.
Some people’s impressions of other cultures are colored by preconceived notions and broad generalizations. This is on a grand scale, but we each stand within it to some extent.
Similar to an argumentative essay, think of pathos, egos, and logos. You want to establish trust and authority and be able to back this with your emotions and logic. This isn’t just for professional occasions, but personal as well. In psychology, there are also multiple perceptions, so ultimately the goal is to create an image that conveys a message, as fashion is this universal non-verbal language, you can use your substance to create your style. This by extension will change of others see you. It’s not about looking outside for validation but looking within and this means that it’s not purely about appearances, but also personality, well-being, and overall mindset.
Many times when people try to “glow up” or conduct a rebrand on themselves, they skip the necessary steps to create their coveted look and don’t get the response they want because it’s not as simple as just going on a shopping spree or getting a new haircut. Some of the things that affect these first views are the shape of the face, the way a person speaks, how beautiful they are, and how they are feeling in general. So just by changing what you would sport. That is almost like wearing a costume if you cannot back your style with substance. When this happens, the vicious cycle continues where you are left feeling dissatisfied and trying our different trends for answers that aren’t just physically, but emotionally tolling as well. This is because we as people develop and form our identities over the course of our lives, at our core through we have set traits. This does not imply any kind of self-betrayal, but it does need a reimagining of who we are.
The first step is to define your “It” factor for yourself. The facet goes beyond a person’s appearance, transcending physical beauty to a radiance that comes from within that further enhances the outside through thoughts, feelings, and personality. The it factor cannot be defined as one look or attitude, it varies from person to person, but always has a distinct presence that captivates the eye and commands the room.
For example, I speak more in-depth on this in my supermodel and it girl analysis, but Yasmeen, a woman of substance who was an avid reader, driven, and intelligent, was able to channel this in her looks. While just by looking at her we wouldn’t know she read 10 books a month, her grounded natural charm, self-assurance, and vulnerability through how she carried herself added this regal, yet airy factor to the ensembles she showcased.
But obviously, a supermodel has a group of professionals putting her together to go out on the runway and she is channeling the aesthetic of the brand she’s working with, so if I can do it you can too. Another example is Song Jia on Singles Inferno, this is an instance of personal branding. We see that she creates the strongest impression and even see she speaks about creating an impression that isn’t necessarily true to form as the others didn’t necessarily perceive her right on the mark, but she isn’t stressed about correcting them. Rather she continuously carries and styles herself as she is.
Defining it factor isn’t about explaining yourself, it’s about creating an impression. It’s not to define yourself by your career, relationships, or skills but to look within and think about who you are. What are you trying to share? What problem are you trying to solve?
It’s politically incorrect to say outside matters but It is unfair and true. For a very light example, doctors have restrictions around tattoos being above the neckline or beyond the wrist for instance because of their profession. One of my favorite writers G Bruce Boyer, “Most people don’t take clothing seriously enough, but whether we should or not, clothes do talk to us and we make decisions based on people’s appearances. Because most individuals have a fairly fixed notion of who they are and how they should look and behave, their meta perceptions tend to be accurate. For example, Serena in Gossip Girl has this self-concept that she is nice and friendly, in turn, she looks more welcoming and open.
When you decide the basis of your look, you’re not boxing yourself in, but rather boxing out what you do not want, what doesn’t work for you, and not allowing other’s expectations to interfere because you don’t want to look into the mirror and see societal expectations or the pressures of life you want to see yourself. Instead of adopting a victim mentality from other people, you should feel empowered by the beliefs you’ve earned through diligent self-work and lived experiences. To act without reservation as the person you consider to be your best self. Start imagining yourself being treated the way you want to be treated and don’t try to make it happen. Putting your trust in the praise of individuals you actually admire rather than in the approval of strangers or norms. To be free to follow your own path in life, unrestrained by the opinions of others. It’s like a weight has been lifted.
This brings us to step two now only defines your voice, but the tone. Body type and color palette, I have guides available on the channel if you need help understanding this for yourself. But also knowing how to do your hair to embrace your face, your makeup to suit your features, your clothes to not only look good, but to convey that “it” factor your hold. What makes you unique?
If I were working with a client I could provide a checklist or do personal shopping, but since it is a video and you all have different aesthetic goals instead I want you to Take inventory of your closet and analyze what is working for you and why? For every piece you pull, come up with a replacement. See which colors, cuts, brands, and pieces you have already, and make a wishlist of what you can envision. I would recommend doing this on a site such as Pinterest so everything is visually together and you can see that vision in front of you then tweak it before splurging on something that may not work or suit the rebrand. Impulse shopping is very easy these days and when you don’t look the way that feels authentic and comfortable for yourself, it distances you from the life you want, the life you deserve.
Use the trend cycle to your advantage
Rather than indulging and splurging on trends, investing in basic pieces that can be styled a variety of ways and then coming in with the glitz and glamour at any price point results in some of the most beautiful and enduring looks. It allows you to be creative and experiment with your look, but also always look chic and have a foundation that is classic. It is not about price tag, but the execution. Think Sex and the City, how costume designer Patricia Fields would mix vintage and designer runway pieces with thrifted or common market fashion. Style is much more than anything you can wear or buy, it comes from something within you that you choose to share outwardly.
Trends are not necessarily a bad thing, you are allowed to enjoy something that is trending if it speaks to you. A trend can be just that to someone but serves as a staple or statement piece to another. It exists for a reason, there’s a huge difference between looking more vintage once a trend passes than dated. There is a quote by Gianni Versace where he explains, “Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way to live.” So as we know trends cycle and if you have your personal style developed you can use this to your advantage. When a style comes back that you like during this time, you can shop smart and use this period to get something you really love with a surplus of choices instead of having to hunt down a specific piece. When making the purchase you choose what truly speaks to you, that you can still wear once the trend passes. It won’t look outdated because it will work with your look. This will aid in making it a timeless piece, transcending a boundary. That’s stylish and elusive. In fact, it’s a fairly laid-back approach to fashion trends that takes personality into account.
So now that we have the concept down, let’s go into implementation. Your body is a bit like a blank canvas.
3. Movement
So I’m not going to give you advice on how to take care of your body, I will leave that in your doctor’s hands but what I will say is that finding some sort of movement you love will improve how you carry yourself. This could be as simple as going for a little walk out in the sun listening to your favorite music or podcast, taking dance classes, doing a home workout video, or working with a trainer. Your aesthetic goals in terms of your body are your own to define, but simply having regular movement, it will improve how you carry yourself and how you look. The same way that actors will train for a film and develop a body to fit the character, is the same way you can train our bodies to develop muscle memory that will then be somewhat present in your life. For instance, I did ballet when I was young and then went on to competitively figure skate. Even though I don’t compete anymore, a lot of those movements are present in how I hold, carry, and mind myself. Plus with regular movement, you will have a bit of a glow to you and that’s always a nice bonus. A lot of people are rather sedentary due to school or work so you also will be more in tune with your body, and it will feel more natural to present yourself.
It’s natural to fear being rejected, judged, or treated harshly, but if this rebrand is something you wish for yourself you have to need to be conscious that you are stepping out of the box and you need to do so with grace.
For example, designers such as Hedi Slimane transformed YSL into the brand we know today for eternal style, Karl Lagerfeld transformed Chanel from being on the brink to a powerhouse, and Virgil Abloh made LV join together streetwear and high fashion for a completely new kind of luxury. If they didn’t do those rebrands, we wouldn’t have the avenues of fashion. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea necessarily, they transformed the perceptions of these brands.
Possessing self-knowledge and concept gives you power over yourself and as an extension power in your presence rather than leaving it in another’s hands to decide, hence exuding a quality that is hard to define because you’re the one defining it for yourself.
The more you make this routine, the more instinctive it will become if it’s not too natural to you at first. Please don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t come easily to you, everyone has their own strength and this is something you can become good at too. Or if you are looking to refine, you will find that your old look, style evolution, and experimentation. will actually benefit the rebrand
Picasso was at a Paris market when an admirer asked if he could do a quick sketch on a paper napkin for her. He agreed politely and quickly created the drawing on a napkin, when he told her the price she was shocked and exclaimed “How can you ask for so much? It took you five minutes to draw this!” “No”, Picasso replied, “It took me 40 years to draw this in five minutes.” Style is the same in practice, and luckily it doesn’t take 40 years to become stylish. The more you make this routine, the more effortless it becomes since you allow it to be a part of you. Slowly it will become like an extension of yourself and your spirit since it will be from within.
