'The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years,' fashion legend Iris Apfel said in an interview with ELLE in 2013. 'There's no how-to road map to style. It's about self-expression and, above all, attitude.'
In an age of influencers, Instagram and celebrity trendsetters, the concept of embracing individuality is becoming increasingly relevant. Instead of dressing like someone else, finding a style that represents who you are is a powerful communication tool. It can give you an identity - and on top of that, it sets you apart from the crowd.
But how do you break free from uniformity? We asked three ELLE women with unique personal style to tell us how they celebrate their individuality through what they wear.
Oli Kearon
ZEZI IFORE
Broadcaster & consultant
‘I’ve always loved expressing myself through clothes. When I was a kid, I would change my outfit five times a day – I just couldn’t help it. My mum is very glam as well. She’s a Nigerian woman who takes great pleasure in getting dressed, looking good and being her own kind of glamorous. That’s definitely where I got my love of glam style from. She’s always giving me tips on what to wear.
‘The most important thing style-wise is looking and feeling like yourself. It’s not good to outsource your taste to anyone else. It’s a choice, and I really love it when people use that choice and look like themselves.
‘I like volume, vibes, colour and glamour. Structure is important as well. Anything vibrant. I’m not a pastels girl. The styles that make me feel good are strong. I like a look! Even if it’s a going-to-the-shops look, it’s a deliberate, off-duty look. Colour always makes me feel invigorated and enlivened –anything graphic and bold. I always say I like things you can see from far away. I’m not interested in attention; I just like that bold aesthetic.
‘I feel most powerful when I’m in tune with my body, my surroundings and, most importantly, my feelings. My hair is also a big thing. No matter what I’m wearing, it means I feel like myself.
‘As a maximalist, my instinct is to just add. So, lots of jewellery, a chunky shoe and maybe pops of colour, like a cobalt blue. I love the Tommy x Zendaya houndstooth suit I wore for this shoot because it’s bold. The joy of statement pieces is that you can add, but you don’t have to do too much because it’s already there.’
Zezi wears: Blazer by Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya, roll neck by Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya, trousers by Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya, shoes talent's own, jewellery talent's own.
Oli Kearon
Singer in Anteros
‘Individuality means not being scared to do what feels best for you instead of what people want to impose on you. When I was growing up, I used to think I had to find one style and stick to it. Then I read an interview – I think it was with Kate Moss – and she was talking about how one day she wakes up and wants to be a sailor, then another day, she might want to go for a baby-doll look. I remember thinking, why should we stick to one style?
‘Music is such a male-dominated industry and for such a long time I was trying to be one of the guys. I love clothes and I love dressing up, so now I’ve been dressing up a lot more and I’ve been enjoying that. If I dress up to go into the studio to write, it impacts the song. If I’ve gone in my gym stuff, it makes the song a bit sloppier.
‘When it comes to finding your personal style, I think Instagram is probably the worst place for inspiration. If it’s on Insta, it’s not going to be anything new or different, right? Recently, I’ve been feeling that call from mother nature to embrace womanhood, so I’ve been watching more films directed by women, I’ve been making a point of reading more books and poetry written by women. There’s just so much out there at the moment to inspire us.
‘Expressing myself through style on stage is so important. In the last few months, I’ve been looking at women I admire in music who embrace that femininity and use it as a powerful tool. I was watching some old-school Moloko videos the other day. Róisín Murphy rocks some crazy outfits.
‘I love adding an element of surprise to what I wear. I don’t like to feel constrained. I was coming back from a festival recently and my most comfortable pair of shoes were these cute sandals, but I wanted to wear a tracksuit. And then I thought, why can’t I wear them together? We need to be free and unafraid to break the rules. If you want to wear heels and tracksuit bottoms, why not?’
Laura wears: T-shirt by Tommy Hilfiger, trousers by Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya, shoes by Saint Laurent, jewellery talent's own.
Oli Kearon
ELLE Fashion Editor
‘My style is ever-evolving. I don’t think there’s been one singular moment where I’ve gone “Wow, I’ve found my personal style!” because my style changes from time to time. But I have looked back and noticed patterns in the way I dress, silhouettes that I’m drawn to, items that I love. Over time, I’ve found those styles that I feel most comfortable in. I like to feel that I’m slightly underdone rather than overdone. That feels quite natural to me.
‘I love to have an element of toughness to anything I’m wearing. Something with weight, like heavy shoes or a great pair of leather trousers. Something that offsets the femininity. I like to clash styles together, so I might wear a tailored blazer with something unexpected, like a floral dress. I think I’m quite a relaxed, easy-going person. I’m never the loudest person in the room, so my clothes are never the loudest, but I like to experiment. I have a relaxed approach and I think my wardrobe is the same.
‘Trends as we’ve known them have definitely changed. I don’t think we get seasons when one item or one colour is the thing you should be wearing. Trends are moving slower in some ways. It’s more important to find your tribe or your moment that you’re really drawn to.
‘My advice to anyone who is still exploring their personal style is to go into your wardrobe and look at what you own. Go through the things you love to wear. Try them on and even take pictures, then really reflect on why you like that item and what makes you feel good. Try to find patterns. If it’s a pair of great jeans, what is it that you love? The fit, the colour? Find a common thread and amplify that.
‘If you’re styling a really strong, statement-making piece, my approach is to find something to counterbalance it. So, if it’s an amazing pair of snake-print trousers, try a white T-shirt or hoodie. Bring it into the real world and dress it down.’
Felicity wears: Jacket by Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya, trousers by Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya, top by Paul & Joe, shoes by Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya, jewellery talent's own.
Shop the looks and discover the latest Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya collection at uk.tommy.com
Photography Oli Kearon | Art Direction Leo Goddard | Styling Felicity Kay
