How to Develop Your Authentic Style
I have a confession to make: Getting dressed sucks.
This labor-intensive task of picking out clothes and committing to how you will present yourself for the day is mind-numbing. Anyone who says they like getting dressed must not have worn a pair of Interval pants before.
I would much rather throw on some of my favorite Ten Thousand workout wear and start the day. One day, I asked myself: “why can’t I just throw on some comfortable workout gear and head out the door?” Then, it hit me — I absolutely can!
In this article, I’ll dive deep with actionable insights on how you can be present in the moment by finding your personal style.
Getting Dressed Can Cure Your COVID Funk
We can break the rules as long as we know what rules are being broken. In this case, blending athleisure with everyday outfits to create a style that crosses over the boundaries of restriction and aligns comfort and functionality for ultimate productivity.
The impact of 2020
I get it; Life is a FUNK right now. The year 2020 can’t end soon enough for many, and we’re all ready for a fresh start. But why wait until Jan. 1st when we can start fresh today.
The only easy day was yesterday, and the sun will rise anew each day. Every day presents an opportunity to renew, so you don’t need to wait for calendar resolutions to make a strategic lifestyle change.
With WFH being the new norm, complacency has set in where we don’t leave our homes. A place usually reserved for relaxing and recharging now must serve many roles, including work and play. This skid doesn’t have to continue and will only take a small change to produce major returns.
You don’t have to give in to the funk
This simple way to begin your fresh start is to get dressed. I’m not talking about changing from your sleep pajamas to your work pajamas. I mean, get dressed from top to bottom as if you were heading to work.
Yes, that includes your socks.
Getting dressed allows you to stay self-aware and prompts personal accountability. Don’t believe me, conscious reader, read on.
There is an emotional transformation that occurs when you get dressed. As the wise philosopher, Deion “Prime Time” Sanders would say: “Look good, play good. Play good, pay good. Pay good, live good. Live good, die good.”
Truly, it’s a domino effect.
So, grab your hammer and shatter the glass around the frail defense that is holding you back from resetting your life — it’s time to break out of the funk.
High fashion runway DOES NOT EQUAL personal style. Personal style is personal for a reason — it is tailored to who you are as a person.
To put it in context, we will take a quick trip to our local grocery store. When you shop at the grocery store, you don’t just buy proteins and expect to have a meal.
The same applies to your style. Having just one type of outfit won’t allow you to taste and experience all the different flavors life has to offer.
I have learned from multiple deployments overseas to create a routine when everything else seems uncertain. In uncertain times, you can thrive by controlling what is controllable. In this instance, that means what you wear every day.
The impact of personal style
I see personal style as having a two-fold impact on our lives.
First, personal style is a form of self-care. When we don’t do the seemingly little things to take care of ourselves, we can begin to FEEL different as the funk starts to set in.
On the flip side, when we take the time to honor ourselves through style, like getting dressed in the morning, we’re actually caring for ourselves and taking some initiative to do so.
Second, personal style is a powerful tool for showing up intentionally in the world. Developing a personal style that’s authentic to who you are and what you do allows you to visually show up, which lets you show up for others as your true self.
When you show up more strategically, you are more present, and you feel more confident.
Style matters because it’s a reflection of who you are and how you perceive yourself. This visual introduction is a representation used to make your first impression — preparing you for whatever the day holds in store.
Regardless of whether you are looking to get that job or go on a hot date, your appearance influences and affects every aspect of your life on both a mental and physical level.
Committing to personal accountability and showing up for yourself creates a snowball effect. Taking the time to feel good about what you are wearing will positively benefit how you eat, sleep, and experience the world around you.
Your mantra
You’re reading this article because you are dedicated to continuous improvement. You don’t believe in overnight success, miracle drugs, cure-alls, quick-fixes, or short-cuts.
You do believe in working to progress. You believe in the value of your failures and in dusting off and getting back up. You’re a believer in grit, tenacity, and grinding — every day faster, stronger, and operating under your internal philosophy, centered around being better than yesterday.
This is a mantra you live and breathe.
You lead, compete, and create at the highest level with a mastery only earned through tenacity and commitment. You desire to be real and connect with others on an authentic, emotional level. You take action without motivation all the time.
Do you need some sort of huge inspirational epiphany to take a shower?
No, it’s just something you do. These monotonous actions are the very principles you should be utilizing as momentum to take further measures.
Day one should be about gradually taking a little bit more action and being happy with that. The next day, remind yourself that it wasn’t so bad. In fact, it felt pretty good to implement change, so do a little bit more.
If you do this consistently day after day, gradually and organically, both sides of your brain will be in agreement. Like a phoenix, you’ll very comfortably start to rise from the ashes, becoming the person you were earlier in that month.
Developing Your Authentic Style
Developing your personal style is not a Medieval task, and it doesn’t take a significant investment to achieve your desired end state.
Ask yourself these two questions:
- How would you describe your style right now?
- How would other people describe your style?
I am encouraging you to be brutally honest with yourself here.
It’s not always easy to admit that you’ve been holding yourself back. How often have you brushed something off and said I will take care of that later?
The time is now to take responsibility and show up for yourself. It’s time to evaluate and understand the difference between REAL limiting factors (things you can’t control) and limiting beliefs (things you absolutely can control).
Let’s acknowledge that anyone would be hesitant to deal with the pain you expect it takes to find your personal style. It’s easier to remain stagnant within your comfort zone and stick with the basics you rely on.
After all, they’ve gotten you this far.
It is an area that doesn’t always seem important until someone actually transforms firsthand.
In reality, it’s not that hard to establish your style once you know how to do it, and the happiness that occurs once it’s found makes it well worth the effort invested.
Keep it personal
Let’s circle back to a concept from the previous section: personal style is personal. It’s all about who you are, how you perceive yourself, and how you want to be perceived by others.
Some soul searching will need to occur about the qualities you possess and what makes you “You”. We all have a gut instinct of what works best for us in terms of clothing. If you don’t, this process can help to draw that out.
When you are selecting clothes, you are likely drawn to certain items — embrace them! Whether it’s a particular style or detail, it’s comfort you crave.
The same is true for items that provoke disinterest or disdain when setting your eyes on them. Know what you like and be confident in that. Use that as a baseline for having a sense of what you would and wouldn’t wear. This helps to refine your style.
You should also be conscious of what is appropriate for the setting — whether it be work, errands, or a special occasion. Be purposeful in dressing accordingly for what you are doing. Work clothes are not your pajamas.
You can do this while staying true to your personal style by incorporating some of those details that reflect your personality into the appropriate attire for the environment you’re in.
Once you’ve gone through the self-exploratory process and mastered the core concepts of developing your authentic style, you’re ready to take action and create a wardrobe that works for you.
The Style Guide
Congratulations, you are almost there!
By the end of this section, we will have covered four different looks that you can implement TODAY!
As previously discussed, rules are about to be broken.
I am going into my personal closet to take the Ten Thousand gear I already own and pair it with pieces that either dress up or down the outfit.
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): Ten Thousand’s athletic wear uses basic cuts with clean lines that make it easy to transition with other styles.
If you’re looking to start off small, the short sleeve Versatile shirt is a stand-alone item that can be worn in multiple ways. On its own, it’s useful with pants, shorts or jeans.
The shirt is also a perfect basic for wearing with a blazer or sports jacket in a darker or complementary color. You can even add a button-down, leaving it unbuttoned, so it’s seen as an extra piece in between the shirt and blazer.
The Interval pants are another great entry point to use as a base piece. For a work outfit, substitute these pants for your khakis and wear them with a polo or button-down shirt. The tech hoodie with your favorite jeans is also a perfect combo.
For a monochromatic athleisure or casual suit outfit, wear these two as a pair in the same color for a matching set. Then, you can finish with a designer sneaker or Chelsea boot.
Finally, the long sleeve Versatile shirt in a neutral color — like black or limestone — can be worn underneath a V-neck merino wool sweater. In these same colors, it also works well layered under a button-down shirt. You can wear it fully open for a more casual look or half buttoned for a cross between casual and business casual.
Here again, there’s the option to wear the long sleeve on its own layered with a puffer vest to add dimension and texture for something more styled. As a bonus, the puffer vest also provides warmth.
As you can see, there is so much more you can do with Ten Thousand line than just wear them to work out. Think of combining these items with what you already have and what new items you could use to create your new style.
Closing Thoughts
Finding your authentic personal style is an act of self-care and the first step toward being present in the moment. With this guide, you have the actionable insights you need to develop a style that will change the way others see you. More importantly, it will change the way you see yourself.
Are you ready to experience the positive effects of showing up for yourself?
Keep me posted on your journey.
Tony Nash is a Ten Thousand Athlete, Combat Veteran and currently a Graduate Student at Cornell University.
