I know it’s unnecessary to state at this point, but times are difficult. With our ordinary schedules and social lives put on pause, lots of us don’t quite know what to do with ourselves. How do we balance relaxing with productivity? How do we stay connected without being hyperconnected and accumulating hours of screen time each day?

I’m certainly not qualified to answer these questions, because I’m still fumbling for the answers myself. I’ve tried setting a schedule, writing to-do lists, and dressing for success, but alas, success in getting something done during this break still eludes me. But perhaps one of those strategies will turn out to be the turning point for you, and I encourage you to experiment with different strategies for existence at this point. When I eventually figure out how to put myself to proper use, I’ll let you all know.

Amidst all the uncertainty and unproductivity and unknowability, I think creative outlets are more important than ever. I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: fashion is an incredibly fulfilling form of self-expression. A particular choice of outfit can bring a new persona onto your skin, a new smile onto your face. Although fashion should be a choice all your own, I’ve found that compliments on my outfits bring me an extra bit of much-needed joy, particularly on tough days or from people I typically don’t interact with. Being able to craft a personal style that reflects your unique personality is priceless — although you certainly don’t need to spend a fortune, or truly anything at all, to find out what styles make you happy.

So, after watching far too many hours of fashion-related videos this past week, here’s my personal advice on finding what styles make you feel happy, empowered, and comfortable in your own skin. It’s really only been this school year that I feel I’ve started to contemplate fashion deeply and develop a truly personal style. The choice to care about fashion is, of course, a personal one, but I do believe that putting an extra touch of effort into how you present yourself to the world can do wonders for your self-confidence.

Without further ado, here’s SIFT, my 4-step formula to formulating your unique personal style.

1. Search
   • Explore your current closet. Which items do you gravitate towards most frequently? Does a particular color palette, style era, clothing cut, fabric, texture, etc. tend to appear?
   • Consider your current interests. What music genres do you like? What movies do you prefer, and do they tend to have a similar aesthetic or era? Do you have any cultural heritage or historical ties that could influence your fashion choices? Your interests likely already influence what you wear subconsciously, so feel free to explore styles reflected by your interests more consciously.
   • The fun part: Scour the internet for inspiration! For me, Pinterest has factored hugely into what I see, what I wear, and what I like. My fashion board started out as a dump of all the outfits that appealed to me, and slowly it’s morphed into a behemoth of the different clothing styles that influence me. Just pin anything that catch your eye — this is just the stretch-out-my-feelers phase.
2. Identify
   • You’ve got a general picture of what you like. Now take a more analytical eye to those things you like. Is there a general trend happening? For example, are there lots of pastels, mini skirts, and oversized fits going on (e.g., kawaii/soft girl)? Maybe you have a darker mood going on; Doc Marten boots, dark-hued flannels, black, washed-out colors, and fishnets are often indicative of a grunge style.
   • Most people don’t fall neatly into one category of style trends, which is awesome! Your different preferences are what make your style unique. Generally, though, there will be a few clothing items, colors, or cuts common throughout your fashion board. Identify these common elements.
3. Find
   • Now that you have a precise idea of what clothing pieces and elements you want your style to reflect, find out which of those pieces, if any, are missing from your wardrobe.
   • Most likely, you’ll find the majority of your desired wardrobe elements hiding in your closet somewhere. Don’t be afraid to check out parents’ or siblings’ closets — I’ve basically gotten dozens of free vintage clothing from my parents! If there are some wardrobe staples from your desired style that you don’t currently own but feel you would wear frequently, create a list of those items. When you go clothing shopping (which should not be for a long while), prioritize the items on your list — don’t be distracted by sales of clothes you don’t actually want or need!
4. Try
   • At this point, your wardrobe has the essential elements needed for your individual style. Now play with those elements! Try constructing a few outfits on your own. Reconstructing your favorite outfits from Pinterest or celebrities whose style you admire is a great leaping-off point. This is the most important part of finding your style: trying out different elements on your body in your life and seeing for yourself what makes you feel most confident!