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Style is ultimately about knowing yourself and expressing who you are. It’s about being comfortable in your own skin. Despite the occasion or the event, the stylish woman seems to have that special charisma that commands attention. Confidence is the hallmark of having true style.

Women often ask me how they can begin to tap into their style persona. I advise them to ask themselves some honest questions: What do you like? What makes you feel good? Whose style do you admire and why? What image would you like to project? In addition to looking at these answers for inspiration, there are seven universal style personalities that you can use as a guide. If you begin to discover yourself in one or more of these personas, your next step is to start ‘owning’ it.

The Romantic:

The “Romantic” is the type of woman who is truly feminine at heart. She wants her clothing to be understated yet fun and girlie so that her beauty can really be the focal point. Her closet may be filled with ruffled tops, soft jackets with bows as accents, lace blouses, and flowy skirts and dresses rather than pants. Her color preferences will be on the softer end of the spectrum, warm pinks, sky blue, aqua, coral, or salmon. She will likely prefer to wear shoes with heels than flats.

The Diva:

The “Diva” is the woman who wants to be in the spotlight. She may not be the most beautiful in the room but people gravitate towards her because she rocks her style and exudes confidence and charm. The Diva’s closet may be filled with bright colors, funky prints, exuberant designs with lots of flash and accessories that dazzle. She wants to be noticed and she wants to be the center of attention so she will go to the extremes of fashion if she needs to.

The Outdoorsy:

The “Outdoorsy” style woman projects a casual, laid back image, characterized by a friendly, approachable look. She’s wholesome, carefree and natural without being sloppy or lazy. Sporty typifies the ‘all American style’ of blue jeans and a button down. This woman’s closet is filled with relaxed separates, classic styles, and jeans and flats. She has minimal accessories because she does not like to spend too much time getting dressed up. Effortless and comfortable are her style watchwords.

The Traditionalist:

The “Traditionalist” is a woman who favors classic styles and projects a very traditional, conservative and business like image. She is practical and functional when it comes to her clothing. Her closet is filled with suits, classic silhouettes, very conservative styles and not much variation in color. She probably has a ‘uniform’ for her casual wardrobe. Being fashionable is not particularly important to her.

The Sophisticate:

The “Sophisticate” is a woman who values fashion as a status symbol. She projects a refined, stately and high maintenance image that is characterized by a cultivated and polished look. This woman will always look impeccably put together from head to toe. She invests in clothing and grooming because they are an important part of her lifestyle. Her closet is filled with timeless pieces from brand name designers, and clothing in the most luxurious fabrics. The Sophisticate values quality as much as she does style.

The Seductress:

This woman is very comfortable in her skin-so much so that she projects a sexy and provocative look. She exudes sensuality and is uninhibited in her fashion choices. She delights in figure contouring designs, and her closet will be filled with pieces that are exciting and designed to reveal and emphasize her sex appeal. She will own the highest heels, the shortest dresses, the most daring undergarments and she will use animal prints and cutouts as accents in her clothing. If she wears slacks they will be figure hugging.

The Eclectic

This woman thrives on the element of surprise and whimsy. The eclectic woman is free spirited and independent in her fashion choices. She wants to be the non-conformist and uses clothing to express her individuality. Her style may be hard to define because it’s so all about her. Her closet will be filled with period pieces, classics, trendy items -everything is fair game. It’s how she puts her ensembles together that makes her stand apart from the pack. This woman is likely to set her own fashion trends.

Whether you identified with one or more of these styles, the point is to use this guide to really establish a style persona that is distinctively yours. My tagline ‘Presence with a Purpose’ conveys that ability to project a sense of ease, poise or self-assurance; it is energy and an attitude. It can be magnetic. Go for it!

Natalie Jobity is the President of lan Image Management, a premier image consulting firm, a bestselling author and sought-after speaker. She provides coaching and image consulting services to women internationally who are ready to own their spotlight. Natalie is the author of ‘Frumpy to Fabulous: Flaunting It’. For more information visit www.NatalieJobity.com. Click here for image to tips you can use everyday.