I’m not going to lie-- I’ve got style! Oh, I know what you’re thinking: “Ego alert!” But the fact is, I didn’t always have style. That’s why, when I log on to myYearbook every day and read your posts asking for advice on how to become more scene or more emo, I totally sympathize. The fact is, just knowing what kind of style you want is the first step in developing your own personal style.

When I first came to New York City, I wore overalls! No joke. Without irony or compunction, I would walk down the street with that ill-fitting bib hanging over my chest like a four year old on the school playground. No offense to those who wear overalls, of course-- if you can rock that style, then far be it from me to comment. New York City, though, is the fashion Mecca of the world and if you don’t put some thought into your style, you’re always going to look like the perpetual outsider in a sea of beauty queens. At first, I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. I knew that I looked different from all the glamazons I was surround by, but I couldn’t exactly put my finger on what made me so odd. Finally, perhaps after wearing my bib overalls to a club (I’m shocked they even let me through the front door), something just clicked. I realized that everyone had a unique personal style-- everyone, that is, except me. 

“In its purest sense, fashion is actually a great tool to let the inner ‘you’ shine through,” says teen stylist Casey. “When you get past the labels, trend-copying and celeb wannabes, the way you put your style together speaks volumes about what's inside.” There were certain things I just knew about myself, so when developing my personal style, I made sure to keep these things in mind. For example, I won’t wear anything that I find uncomfortable, no matter how fashionable it may appear. Some other girls may suffer for fashion, but I am not that person. Not only that, if you’re not comfortable in what you’re wearing, it shows. I remember going to a wedding with a good friend of mine. My friend’s friend brought a date who was around my size. All night we watched with a mixture of sympathy and agony as she teetered around on high-heeled shoes that were roughly six or seven inches high. Obviously she had never quite gotten the knack of walking around in heels—or maybe it was just those heels—so she ended up looking like a child who was playing dress up in her mommy’s shoes.  For a girl barely five feet tall, this was a huge mistake. Not only did she look incredibly uncomfortable, she looked completely awkward. So when designing my outfits, my first goal was to make sure everything I bought would look good with either flats or tennis shoes, since that’s pretty much all I will wear. Sound limiting? Not if you’re creative.

When developing your style it’s also important to take stock of your body type. Not everyone is tall and sleek like Kate Moss—in fact, very few people are—so it might not be a great idea to run out and buy every outfit you see her prancing around in. “Learn how to dress for your body,” suggests Casey. “You’re the only one who knows what you’re comfortable in so be the judge. Think about this: Brilliant eyes? Wear a color that complements them. If you love your legs, stock up on mini skirts and short shorts. If you have great arms, invest in a couple cute tanks. Have noteworthy abs? Don't be afraid to wear a belly-baring top! Proud of your chest? Wear a flattering camisole or halter.” For example, because I’m so petite, there are certain styles that are just off limits to me. Though I really admire 50s vamp/mod fashion, I know that wearing a pencil skirt and a low cut square blouse would only accentuate the assets I lack. So instead, I try to stick to fashion that is unique to my body type. No one else I know looks quite as cute as I do when I wear prep school fashion. Sure, I’ll never be able to wear a long poet skirt, but then again, not everyone can pull off suspenders and pageboy hats quite like me. 

A great way to get started is to look at fashion magazines and check out blogs. “Study famous tastemakers and what makes them visually memorable,” suggests fashion journalist Cynthia Nellis. Personally, I love the stuff that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen wear; so, often I will try to layer my clothing just like they often do. And because the Olsen twins are similar to me in size, I have a way of judging exactly what is going to look cute and what is going to make be look like a hobo before I attempt to put an outfit together. 

In the end, personal style is all about what makes you feel comfortable. Like myMag, personal style is all about you!