Find Your Style

We all have clothes in common. No matter the place on Earth, everyone covers their bodies with some sort of apparel.

Each culture around the world has a unique take on clothing. Some feature loud colors and patterns and others are more subdued and simpler. The differences say a lot about people and what they value.

Same goes for you. At school, you can tell a lot about someone by what they wear, right? It may be a T-shirt with a favorite band, or it could be a brand that shows someone is an athlete.

Apparel has been a constant throughout history. Unsurprisingly, it is one of the very first things mentioned in the Bible.

Notice what God did for the first human beings: “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Gen. 3:21).

Clothing is so important to God that He crafted garments for the first man and woman. Clothing should also be important to us. Likely, it already is. Everyone wants to look and feel good—and even show a little bit of who they are.

God has certain guidelines to help with this. Often, these can be seen as restrictive and like you cannot dress the way you want. Yet He does not want us all to wear the same things and look the exact same way. Each of us is unique and has different likes and dislikes. Some may like red and others blue. Some may like textures and someone else prefers smoother fabrics.

It all comes down to you.

There are a lot of ways to express yourself and have your own unique style—while also doing what God says. To do this most effectively, you need to build your own personal style.

Why Clothes

So why did God go out of his way to make clothing for Adam and Eve? When they were in the Garden together, they were naked and unashamed. This is fine for a husband and wife alone. However, as society started to grow, God wanted to set the right standard. We should not be naked in public. Anyone who has had a nightmare where they were not fully clothed and had to give a presentation in class or at work knows how that feels!

Modesty is a main reason for clothing. We should cover ourselves up. Yet everyone in the world has different standards for this. Some Muslims think women should wear a burqa that covers every inch of their bodies—even their eyes. Many females in the West feel perfectly fine showing a lot of cleavage or even see-through fabrics leaving almost nothing to the imagination.

What chaos!

God wants us to stay away from extremes. Philippians 4:5 can be your guide: “Let your moderation be known unto all men.”

It is all about moderation—not going to extremes. Modesty is the name of the game for both sexes: Men, you do not need to wear skin-tight shirts to show off every muscle. Ladies, you should not accentuate every curve. These should also be avoided: too baggy, too revealing, too loud or too odd.

Even though avoiding extremes removes some clothing options from the picture, there is still a lot of room to express yourself through what you wear. But where do you start?

Find Inspiration

God made the first clothes, and you can look to His Creation for inspiration. He is a God of variety. There are an estimated 8.7 million species of plants and animals in the world. And there are roughly 10 million colors in the world.

You may note the vibrant blue of an iris flower in a garden. Or you may notice the plumage of a bird of paradise while watching a nature documentary about the rainforest.

Yet you can look for inspiration from what others do as well. You may see styles you like on Instagram, in movies, TV shows and art. These are all fine places to see what you like and dislike—as well as what suits you.

Pay attention to colors, patterns, textures and silhouettes that appeal to you. Some of us are drawn to bold and vibrant hues and others to subtle and muted tones. There are intricate prints and simple stripes. Your personal style will reflect your unique tastes and experiences.

When you try on different clothes, pay attention to what makes you feel confident and comfortable.

This is where Philippians 4:5 comes into play. Remember moderation. Understand that you will sometimes be attracted to extremes. When this happens, ask yourself what you specifically like about it. There is likely a smaller element of it that is fine, but you need to find another clothing item that does that while still being appropriate for someone living God’s Way.

One more point of inspiration is to find Church members whose style you like. Pay attention to what they do and ask them questions. They can help you on your journey to build your style.

Know Yourself

Each of us is different. Some of us are taller and others shorter. Some may have a darker complexion and others lighter. This is all important in figuring out your style.

Know your body type. These have many different names, depending on who you ask. Some names include hourglass, pear and apple for ladies—and rectangle, triangle and oval for men. These terms are used to help explain how we are all built a little differently. Because of this, the types of clothing that will look best on us will vary widely.

For example, a man with naturally sloping shoulders (common with triangle type) may want to opt for jackets with structured shoulders. Conversely, a lady whose shoulders are wider than her hips (apple type), should generally avoid shoulder pads.

Do a little research to find out your body shape and what works best for how you are built. This will help you find clothes that make you feel confident and comfortable.

Pay attention to what colors work well for you. These are “your colors.” They may highlight your eyes or go really well with your skin tone. One way to help you figure out what works for you is to notice when people compliment you on a clothing item you are wearing—note the patterns for this.

Having a good awareness of your body type and preferences will help you create a style that reflects who you are.

Invest in Basics

While you are figuring out your style, there are certain basics that form the building blocks of a strong wardrobe. They are versatile items that can be mixed and matched easily—and help you stay within God’s standards.

Some basics for men are a dark suit, black Oxford shoes, white button-up dress shirt and a tie. Other items often listed are a few solid-colored polos and T-shirts and a pair of khakis.

For ladies, some essentials include a simple black dress, neutral trousers (black or gray) and some versatile skirts. White button-down shirt, a cardigan, black turtleneck and neutral-colored tank tops are also good to have on hand.

Of course, everyone also needs workout clothes. Consider similar standards here: no holes, not too tight, etc.

Prioritize timeless pieces over everything else in your wardrobe. You may want to splurge on that pair of sneakers—when you should really focus on getting a pair of pants for dressy casual events.

Search the internet for examples of what are considered timeless essentials for any wardrobe. Do your own research and see what gaps you have. It is also good to look into the basic types of shoes every man or woman should own. That will help you in the footwear department.

As a teen, sticking to the basics is best. You are still figuring out what you like and dislike. So instead of spending a bunch of money on something you think you will love, to wear it only a handful of times, you can have clothes that will stand the test of time.

All that said, sticking to the basics does not mean you cannot be you.

Accessorize!

With wardrobe basics covered, it is time to add a little personality with accessories—any additional items that add some pizazz to what you are wearing. These help elevate an outfit and add a personal touch to your style.

Ladies, you have a lot to choose from in the accessories department: jewelry, scarves, bags and more to enhance your look and make it your own. Your shoes can also have more patterns and colors than men—sometimes even sparkles!

Of course, you must avoid going overboard.

Notice I Timothy 2: “Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works” (vs. 9-10, English Standard Version).

Ladies, braided hair and quality clothing is fine. Yet you should avoid hairstyles and jewelry that draw too much attention.

Men, if the ladies are to keep things simple—when they will naturally have more accessories—how much more should you?

It is best to keep things simple. This is a standard rule for men’s fashion. Have you ever heard the adage “less is more”? Askmen.com says that this is never “truer than with guys and their jewelry.” A general rule is that men should limit themselves to three accessories: a nice watch, a good pair of cufflinks and a wedding ring if married. One of these does not apply to you as a teen and another only applies when you are dressed up. That leaves watches.

While ladies may spend money here and there on a necklace or bracelet, you can save up to buy a watch with a nice watchband. There are many different types to choose from. For dress timepieces, do you want a leather strap or metal? Should you pick gold or silver? The watch face will accentuate your taste too. Do you like simpler or more complex? If you have a smartwatch, there are a lot of band options to choose from there as well—some are great for working out and others are perfect for dressy occasions. Find ones that you like and work for the different activities you are doing.

Other areas where guys can add a touch of personality are hats (when appropriate), color choices and belts. You can experiment with tie clips or pocket squares when dressed up. Also, once you have a lot of the basics of shoes covered, you can branch out to ones that may be a little more fun.

Be Frugal

Clothes cost money. Everything discussed so far requires hard-earned cash. Your parents may help you with some of your clothing, but you will soon have to pay for it yourself.

Also, as teenagers, you are likely still growing. Spending a huge sum of money on clothing that will soon not fit you is unwise. It is good to be frugal—to diligently look for the most cost-effective options.

Determine what you can afford by considering your income, expenses and any other financial obligations you have. This will help you decide what is a need versus a want.

We already talked about wardrobe basics. It is best to focus on filling those gaps rather than impulse buys. You may really want something, but do you need it? Your heart may desire that new pair of shoes, but it may be better to get a new dress shirt because your old one is starting to fray along the edges.

Sometimes you will have to wait to get the item you really want. Patiently look for sales. They will almost always come.

In addition, thrift stores are your friend. With a bit of persistence, you can often find quality items for a fraction of the price. It just takes a little time to peruse the aisles.

One more point in line with frugality: Take care of your clothing. Pay attention to the washing and drying instructions and be sure to quickly fix any issues if something goes wrong. If a favorite sweater gets a hole in the armpit, get it sewn up. If you do not know how to mend clothes, ask your parents. If an issue is beyond their expertise, someone in your congregation may be able to help. Tailors are another option if the repair is more complicated.

Experiment and Evolve

As you continue your style journey, remember to seek feedback from friends, family and brethren. They can offer valuable insights to help you refine your style and avoid pitfalls. It can also be helpful to take someone you trust with you when you are shopping.

The Pillar article “Stick to the Classics” is another great resource that can help answer any clothing questions you may have.

As you grow and change, so will your style. Do not be afraid to evolve and adapt your look over time. Keep experimenting, exploring and refining as you define your preferences and who you are as an individual.

Stay true to yourself and your tastes. Do not feel pressured to follow every trend or conform to others’ expectations. Your style should reflect who you are—an Ambassador Youth—and what makes you happy.

Clothing is important. It says a lot about us. Yet always remember that it should an outward expression of who we are on the inside: “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Col. 3:12, New American Study Bible).

Have fun discovering your personal style. Just remember that developing your personal character is what matters most.