Dress Like Yourself: 12 Ways To Make Your Personal Style Unique

In a world where algorithms decide what’s trending and Instagram feeds look suspiciously identical, dressing uniquely has never been harder – or more important.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of copying what you’ve seen on someone else. A viral jacket here, a trending trainer there. But style only really works when it feels authentic. You look your best when you feel like yourself, and confidence – the one thing no garment can fake – comes from alignment.

The secret isn’t buying louder clothes. It’s refining the details. Small, considered decisions that build a visual identity over time. From colour and fragrance to ruthless wardrobe edits, here’s how to make your style unmistakably yours.

Know Your Icons

Everyone has style references. Pretending you don’t is pointless.

Maybe it’s Steve McQueen’s no-nonsense minimalism. Maybe it’s a contemporary designer with a refined, monochrome wardrobe. Maybe it’s someone you know in real life who just always looks put together.

The problem comes when inspiration turns into imitation. Dressing head-to-toe like your style hero rarely translates, because you don’t share their body type, job, climate or life.

Instead, break down what you actually admire. Is it the simplicity? The muted palette? The relaxed tailoring? Extract the principles, not the outfit. Then apply them to your own context.

Style icons are reference points, not templates. Use them to sharpen your instincts, not override them. The goal isn’t to look like someone else. It’s to become recognisable as yourself.

Establish A Core Uniform

ASKET

Now, we’re not saying you should get up every day and put on the exact same thing – you’re not Mark Zuckerberg. But having a loosely defined uniform of staple pieces you can keep coming back to again and again can really help define your look and make getting dressed each morning infinitely easier.

So, find some key pieces that work for you and stock up on them. Maybe there’s a specific brand and model of T-shirt, Oxford shirt or shacket that you like and works well for you. If so, buy a few in different colours and use them as a foundation for your outfits.

Own A Signature Colour

Most men operate within a comfortable spectrum of navy, grey and black. Reliable? Absolutely. Memorable? Not exactly.

Choosing a signature colour is one of the simplest ways to carve out an identity. The trick, however, is picking one that actually flatters you. Skin tone matters. Cooler complexions tend to suit shades like forest green, burgundy or cobalt, while warmer undertones often work better with earthy hues like rust, olive or chocolate brown.

Once you’ve found your colour, use it consistently. It might show up in knitwear, outerwear, socks, scarves or even watch straps. It doesn’t need to dominate your outfit. In fact, subtle repetition works best.

Over time, that shade becomes associated with you. It’s not loud. It’s not obvious. But it creates cohesion. And cohesion is what separates someone who dresses well from someone who dresses with identity.

Edit Ruthlessly

Personal style is as much about subtraction as it is addition.

If your wardrobe is full of trend-led impulse buys, old versions of yourself and ‘maybe one day’ pieces, it’s going to be hard to see any clear identity emerging. Clutter creates confusion.

Go through your wardrobe and ask a simple question: does this still feel like me? If the answer is no – or even a hesitant maybe – it’s time to let it go. Clothes tied to a former job, phase, or style experiment that didn’t stick only dilute your look.

A streamlined wardrobe sharpens your taste. When every piece hanging there feels intentional, getting dressed becomes easier. More importantly, your outfits feel cohesive rather than assembled.

Make Friends With Your Local Tailor

Gieves & Hawkes

What could be a greater personal touch than having your clothes altered to fit you perfectly? A good fit goes a long way, and enlisting the help of a competent local tailor is the easiest route to get there. Sure, a garment might fit you OK straight off the peg, but having a few small alterations made could be the difference between looking good and looking fantastic.

Most decent tailors will be able to do things like reduce waistbands, shorten legs and sleeves, taper legs and take torsos in relatively easily. Sure, it’ll cost you a bit, but it will be worth the expense for clothes that fit like gloves.

Get The Hair Right

Getting a new trim is one of the quickest and most effective ways to change up your look. But it’s not necessarily as simple as just finding a style you like and asking the barber to replicate it for you. Of course, you can do that, but it won’t always yield the best results.

What you should be doing is picking a haircut that complements your face shape. This way, you’ll accentuate your best features, your face will look more balanced and, put simply, it’ll just suit you better.

There are five main face shapes: round, square, oval, heart and diamond. Stand in the mirror and establish which one of them best describes the shape of your face. Once you’ve done that, you can use our guide to pick a hairstyle that complements it.

Generally, the idea is to retain a nice oval shape overall. So if you have a round head, you might want to add some height on top, and if you have a particularly long face, you’ll want to keep it short and cropped.

Add Some Jewellery

A lot of men shy away from jewellery. Perhaps they’re worried about appearing feminine or they simply don’t know where to start. But we’re here to reassure you: men can wear jewellery too. What’s more, adding it to your everyday looks is a great way to quickly add a visual signature and bring simple outfits to life. All you have to do is select the right pieces.

If you’re a bit apprehensive about dabbling in jewellery for the first time, why not keep it simple? Instead of going full Mr T immediately, we suggest picking up something subtle to wear on your wrist. A metal or beaded bracelet is a great place to start, with the latter offering a way to add some colour to your outfits too.

Beyond that, there’s a whole world of rings, pendants and earrings to dive into, but we’d recommend checking out our guide to men’s jewellery before you start shopping.

Pick The Right Timepiece

A good watch is an expensive purchase, but think of it as an investment in your style. It’s something special you can wear every day, and it adds a touch of class and sophistication to even the most basic of outfits.

For a personal touch, spend some time researching watches, and find one that clicks with your personality and lifestyle. For example, if you’re very active and spend a lot of time getting your hands dirty, a reliable tool watch like a diver or a field watch would be a good match.

Alternatively, if you prefer the finer things and like to dress up at any given opportunity, why not look at luxury dress watches instead?

Refine Your Fragrance Wardrobe

Style isn’t just visual. It’s sensory.

A considered fragrance – or better yet, a small, curated rotation – adds another layer to your personal brand. The mistake most men make is chasing whatever’s trending or grabbing the first thing that smells pleasant in duty free.

Instead, think about what aligns with your personality and lifestyle. If you lean minimalist and clean in your clothing, a crisp citrus or light woody scent makes sense. If your wardrobe skews darker and more textured, something smoky, spicy or resinous may feel more authentic.

You don’t need ten bottles cluttering your shelf. One for everyday and one for evenings or colder months is more than enough. Wear them consistently. Scent is memory. When people associate a particular fragrance with you, that’s when it becomes powerful.

Add A Personal Touch

If the opportunity presents itself, you could get literal with personalising your look. Some brands and designers offer various personalisation options, from monogram embossing and embroidery to custom-coloured kicks.

Sneaker brands like Nike and New Balance offer programs that let customers reimagine their best-selling styles in their own colour choices.

That’s just one way you could make a piece your own, but there are plenty of others. Keep a lookout when you’re shopping and seize any opportunity to do things your way.

Don’t Neglect The Eyewear

Johann Wolff

It’s all too common for people to treat their eyewear as an afterthought. Sure, a pair of glasses is a tool for a job, but they can also be much more than that if you pick a standout design that works with your face shape.

A signature pair of specs can help frame your face, add personality to your look, and create a visual signature. Pick something striking but not too in your face – something that complements your style and personality and that you feel comfortable wearing.

We would always recommend heading into a shop to try a few pairs on. If that’s not possible, many brands offer a digital try-on service that allows you to test different styles out using your phone or laptop camera.

Try Some New Facial Hair

Some distinctive facial hair can be a real trademark. Think of all the pop-culture figures you can instantly recognise based on nothing more than their beard or moustache. It’s because a bit of well-placed fuzz can really define your look while giving the eye something to focus on and the mind something to remember.

Experiment with different styles, find one that works for your face shape and make it yours.