These days, so many women are inspired by fictional characters such as Blair Waldorf, Carrie Bradshaw & Cassie (Skins), as well as all the celebs & models we see adorning the pages of our favourite, beloved magazines. Personally, I’ve never watched Skins or Gossip Girl (a confession that turned the Twitterverse into a manic frenzy, this afternoon!) & rarely buy magazines with “Steal this celebs style!” features– you can wear what the magazines tell you to wear & what TV show fashionistas are parading in, but in reality, very little of your personality is going to shine through.

Sure, it’s great to coo over Bradshaw’s latest Jimmy Choo’s– something I’ve done a million times, I’m sure! — but style is about personality, being yourself & not becoming a mold of someone else. It doesn’t follow trends. Subconsciously, I’m sure we’re all inspired by the amazing people that surround us– & inspiration is good! But outright style-stealing is bad.

Go shopping on your own. No, seriously. I know this is alien for some girls, but some of my best purchases have been made when I’ve been perusing the high street by myself. There’s no one to put you off of something you love or change your mind about something you hate. You might think that having a shopping partner is a bonus & they can tell you when you look good/bad, but often it can be detremental to your purchasing. If you love all things death metal & badass, & they’re a pink princess, they’re probably not going to like that blood-spattered band tee, no? In the same vein, they could convince you to buy something you initially despised, through flattery with lots of “ooh, but you look so good!” comments– I’m not saying your friends are deliberately trying to make you look awful, but it can happen, unintentionally.

You are not going to become your style icon. This sounds obvious, but it’s important to remember! No amount of Jimmy Choos, lunch-dates with your girls, sitting in a badly-lit room typing article titles & eating the best cupcakes that New York can offer, is going to turn you into Carrie Bradshaw. You are you & you need to remember that. Be the best that you can be! Why would you want to be anyone else?!

In the same way, don’t outright copy something of your friends, particularly when it’s someone you see regularly. As flattering as it is, it’s my pet hate, when I’ve bought something new & amazing that I love, or had a new hair cut & then one of my friends decides to get it the week after- argh! Make sure you have ideas of your own. No one is truly original or individual anymore, but don’t add to the statistic.

Be comfortable. You might look like a complete stunner, but if your shoes start to rub & your skirt rides up as soon as you step outside, you’re not going to have a good day, constantly taking breaks & yanking your clothes all over the place! You’ll be distracted & it could put you in a bad mood. Being comfortable doesn’t have to mean lounging around in your tracky bottoms & an old t-shirt– you can still be glamourous, but you just need to make sure you try clothing on before buy anything! This is a fatal mistake that I make too often.

Look fab & you’ll feel it. You know what I mean, right? Right now, I’m sitting here in my pyjamas, with my hair wrapped up in a towel– but if I was sitting here in my favourite heels & dress, I’d be in a completely different mood, probably yearning to go out & party! So even if you’re sitting in your house alone, dress-up if you’ve got time, even if it’s a slick of lipgloss or prancing around in your little black dress while you do the housework– it’ll cheer you up!

Don’t listen to the scales. We’re all a slave to the scales at some point, but it can be an unhealthy obsession! Just eat in moderation & do exercise & let the way your clothes fit you, do the talking. If your jeans are bigger than they were last month, great! If not, then work a little harder. In the same way, don’t listen to clothes sizes either. If you’re a 16-18 & you look & feel great, then stick with it! Worrying because you’re not a size 12, uses up valuable energy.

Don’t pigeon-hole yourself. Countless amounts of times, I’ve been asked about my style. Am I a rocker? Preppy? A mod? A trend-whore? Who knows, & really, who cares?! The danger of categorising yourself is, you may pass-by items that you love, because it doesn’t fit the specifics of your fashion genre. Maybe you love that glittery, sequin covered hoody, but it’s not ‘metal’ enough & so you never bought it. Fashion can be very fickle, so don’t give in!

Don’t listen to those who put you down. If you’re given funny looks because of something you’re wearing or doing, do your best to ignore it. It’s usually just jealousy! If you’re happy, then that’s the main thing.

Get inspired by real people. & by real people I don’t mean internet celebrities with more money than sense, hanging off balconies with unlit cigarettes in their mouth & Miu Miu hanging off their arm. I mean the average Joe (or in this case, Jo!) I much prefer to be inspired by my peers & bloggers are a great place to start! Look at Yishyene, Fur Coat, No Knickers, Lick My Cupcakes, Terminal 12, & Half Accidental for inspirational girlies! There are of course other outfit-photo-taking ladies out there too, so have a look!

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