Personal Style Is Your Visual Identity Before You Speak

People decide how they feel about you before you finish saying hello, and what you wear is doing a lot of talking. We get honest about personal style as a visual identity, why first impressions now form in seconds, and how the right outfit can shift your confidence, posture, and the way you speak in meetings, on dates, or even on a normal Monday commute. 

We also cut through the noise of fast fashion and social media trends with a more grounded approach to personal styling. Instead of copying what looks good on a reel, we walk through how to pull back, audit your own wardrobe, and spot the pieces you naturally gravitate towards. From there, we build a practical “basic wardrobe” that actually fits your lifestyle: well-fitting jeans, a clean tee or tank, a structured blazer, versatile shoes, and simple jewellery that can flex from casual to formal. 

Then we tackle the mistakes that quietly ruin a look: dressing without considering body type, wearing clothes that make you fidget all day, skipping ironing or choosing crease-prone fabrics, and forgetting grooming. The goal is not perfection, it is presence. If you want personal style, wardrobe basics, grooming tips, and personal branding advice that works in real life, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a friend who is stuck in trend chaos, and leave us a review.

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Transcript

Personal Style As Visual Identity

SPEAKER_03 0:05

I would say that personal style is um your visual identity. It's how you kind of tell the world who you are before you can actually start speaking.

SPEAKER_01 0:13

So, how do you discover your personal style? That's how celebrities do. They have this thing. They you will see them in like very basic outfits, but they look so fresh. So, do you have any tips as to how to discover your personal style? Hi guys, what's up? My name is Arlena Angelo. I'm a lifestyle content creator from Mumbai. Fashion, travel, fitness. I have it all, and life is good, I might add. Today I'm here to make your life even better. I have someone with me today, Vasandra. Drumroll, please. She is the head of the West region of Style Buddy, and she's associated with Style Buddy for the past three years. She has studied fashion and luxury business, worked as a consultant, and then moved into films as a stylist. And we have her here today to talk about style buddy and help you guys structure your wardrobe. Hi Adlina, thank you so much for such a great introduction. Thank you. I tried. How are you today? I am great as a butterfly. Vasundra looks very pretty today. I absolutely love what she is wearing. Very edgy, very chic, and still very, very old money. I feel a little here and there. So let's ask her. Vasundra, you tell me something about your personal style.

SPEAKER_03 1:47

So um I would say my personal style, like you very rightly said, is very edgy. It I always like having one hero piece in my outfit. Um, a conversation starter, it could either be a bag, it could be um, you know, the brooches on my jacket, my accessories. So it's very edgy, but um, it's still very thoughtful and intentional. It's never just like, oh, I just put these things together. I'm not that person. I'm very, very cautious about what I'm wearing. I plan my outfits the day before. So um, yeah, I think just chic and edgy is what I would like. I like it.

SPEAKER_01 2:21

I love the brooches, by the way, guys. They are so so good. I may borrow some from you later. So we have some really cool questions for Vasundra here. The first question: what is personal style?

SPEAKER_03 2:34

So um I would say that personal style is um your visual identity. It's how you kind of tell the world who you are before you can actually start speaking. Um, so for example, if I walked in today and you didn't know me, I was a stranger, you would maybe, you know, just by looking at me, say, Okay, this person is a little edgy, she's a little approachable because of you know, um, say the ripped jeans. I come across a little more warm and you know fun. So um it's your visual identity, it's um the visual language you use to tell people who you are, and um it's very different from fashion because fashion is something that is depicted by um the industry, it's more trend focused, whereas personal style is something which is very unique to each person, your personality exactly. So it's it's an amalgamation of your personality and your lifestyle, and um it you can or cannot, you know, follow trends, but even if you are following the trends, it's about how you make it your own. So, um, I think yeah, that's what I would say about personal style. It's more external, uh, sorry, it's more internal versus fashion being more external.

Why First Impressions Matter

SPEAKER_01 3:41

Yeah, yeah, not fast fashion basically. So you put yourself out there, take a little trend, mix and match, and there you have it. Fun fashion. I like that. Okay so tell me this, Vasunza. Why is personal style important to you in everyday life?

SPEAKER_03 3:57

So, um, personal style is extremely important in your everyday life because, like I said earlier, it is your um visual identity, it's how people um kind of look at you, how they perceive you before you can even speak. Um, so studies actually show that earlier it used to take people only about seven seconds to make a judgment about you, and now that the timeline has come down to only three seconds. Oh wow. So um yeah, so people make a judgment about you very quickly um before you can even say hi, hello. Um, the way you look, your appearance is what speaks first. So um yeah, I'd say that it tells the world who you are. Um, it also really has an impact on your confidence. If I'm not dressed well, if my hair is not done, if my outfit is an iron, I'm instantly like in a bad mood. And it shows on the way I speak, it shows on the way I sit. Um so I'd say yeah, it really impacts your um confidence, and thirdly, it really impacts um your visual presence so people really can tell who you are as a person based on the way you're dressed. So um, just for example, if you see businessmen and people um in the CEO, COO levels, they will always wear these really powerful suits in like black, blue, solid colours, exactly, so that um the colour is speaking for them being really powerful. The structure again, you know, instantly says, Okay, this person has money, they are in a serious exactly. So the the outfit you choose, the cut you choose, the colour you choose, and the accessories you kind of pair it with is very important on um how people kind of understand you as a person. And also um you'll notice when somebody wears like fun colours, fun prints, you instantly like have this, it's psychological. You think okay, this person is really you know approachable, really warm. Whereas somebody who wears more dull colours or uh who wears really dull colours or like is just you know really frumpy in the way they dress, you're like, okay, I maybe don't want to really exactly so that's how I'd say that you know styling and dressing, um, you know, for the the personality that you have and for um the space that you're going into is so important.

SPEAKER_01 6:10

It's a big impact. It's a big impact. I highly agree. I think when you enter meetings, especially, and if you are not dressed up um according to the environment, you feel like uh oh, enter the wrong room. Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 6:23

So I and people also in that space will like look at you and be like judgmental, and you can feel those eyes on you. I still feel you.

SPEAKER_01 6:30

I was in corporate and I have got a lot of eyes because I have been very edgy, a little dark, no, I wouldn't say goth, but around the corner, and I have got those looks like are you here to work? I'm like, I'm just a dark soul, but I won't.

SPEAKER_03 6:46

And I'm sure your work is great. I mean, but you know, invariably somebody's already made that judgment. Oh, that you know, this person, yeah, she's not gonna be a great fit for our company because we're so corporate, we're so serious, and then there's this fun, you know, person who's come in. Maybe she's not very good at her work. So invariably they've already made that judgment about you.

Finding Style Beyond Trends

SPEAKER_01 7:05

Yeah, but I'm glad you're here because in style buddy, we can like help people to break it and you know to add their edginess with a maybe formal lookout. Exactly, absolutely. You are in the right hands. So I feel Vasunda people really struggle with this because uh it's fast fashion trends. So, how do you discover your personal style?

SPEAKER_03 7:27

Um, so I'd say number one, I know it's very difficult with social media and the amount of time we spent on, you know, say an Instagram, TikTok, um, you know, Facebook. It's very difficult. But number one would be just pull back from the trends, pull back from everything that you're seeing online because not everything that you're seeing on a screen is going to be practical for your personal life. Absolutely. So um a trend might look great um, you know, for a 30-second reel, but it might not always be practical in everyday life. So um pull back from the trends, but if you want to follow a trend you really like it, I'd say make it your own. Um, if you're seeing a trend, see how you can kind of tweak it to incorporate it in your personal life and to your unique self. Um, and another way to do this is also um go to your wardrobe, see what pieces you're gravitating towards. You know, are you somebody that keeps picking out like um structured shirts? Are you somebody that keeps um gravitating towards solid colours? What is the kind of you know silhouette and pattern print that you're gravitating towards? And instead of impulsively shopping for um things when you go into a mall or when you're shopping online, um, just kind of elevate on pieces that you're already gravitating towards. So build on your current wardrobe. Don't get um, you know, carried away with yeah, with impulsive shopping with trends. Just understand um and also it's very important to kind of sit down and think, okay, this is my personality, this is um the work I do, this is um how I commute to work, this is you know the weather that I live in. That is a comfort place such as a few. Exactly. So it's a it's a it's a huge mix of your personality, your personal preferences, and um the practicality that your lifestyle holds. So if I'm somebody who's you know taking the local train to work, I can't you can't wear a jacket like that. Exactly, exactly. I can't be in heels, I can't wear like three-inch, four-inch heels because it's not practical for me. Um, if I'm living in Bombay, I can't be wearing like trench coats and going to work as amazing as it looks. Kough, cough. You're regarding me, right? It's not the most practical. So it's a mix of just kind of sitting back and thinking that okay, my personality, my um preferences, things that I'm gravitating towards, but also keeping it practical to your lifestyle. Right, right.

Building A Basic Wardrobe

SPEAKER_01 9:52

So, yeah, that's what I guys. I hope you guys are taking notes. Guys, I hope you all are taking notes. So, people, as you said, people should like take a step back, see what they are comfortable with, um, shopping, don't do impulsive shopping as such. So, I have a question for you on that, on those lines, like how to build a basic wardrobe um individually that will work for me in like my day-to-day life.

SPEAKER_03 10:18

Correct. So, again, taking it back to the idea that sit down and see that um what your personality is, what your life looks like, and then get an understanding of um these are the key pieces that I require to build an outfit. So, um, just as a cheat sheet for like a general audience, I would say a pair of great fitting jeans is very important, not like the ones which have a stretch, not like super skinny fit jeans, nothing with rips and you know a lot of pattern. Exactly. Just a good pair of like indigo or blue, um, you know, denim jeans. Um, a good white tank top or a t-shirt, yeah. A staple that you can kind of build on because white is a colour that like like I've done. You can just add a lot of chunky jewelry, you can wear dainty jewelry, it can be like made very edgy but also very elegant. Yeah, so white is a colour like that. Um, a great blazer that fits you well, that is structured, it isn't like floppy in the way it falls on you. Um, a great pair of shoes. This does not have to be heels. I would say it should be like a versatile pair that can go with dresses versus jeans, also. So a nice versatile pair of shoes and um just basic jewelry, you know, even if it's just stud earrings, a watch, and maybe one ring. That's more than enough because we don't realize what we're usually talking with our hands, you know. People tend to look at your hands, people tend to look at your face, so earrings are very important. I loved them. So, um, yeah, so I'd say um kind of you know, pick up basics and pick up things that you feel you can build on. It's very important to have it's like having a clean canvas and then you can throw a lot of colour on it.

SPEAKER_01 12:00

And see what's working, what's not working, what you're feeling comfortable. Exactly, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 12:04

So it's very easy to kind of throw on a layer if you if you're going for something more formal versus you know just take the layer off if you're doing something more casual. So your outfits and your wardrobe should be such that you can um dress it up and dress it down. So um, yeah, again, just to wrap things up, I would say have something that is fit to your personality. Um, basics don't have to be a white t-shirt and blue jeans, like I said. It could also be basics for you, could be maybe a you know a blue t-shirt because you wear a lot of blue, you like the colour, that's your personality. That could be a basic for you. Got it. So find um pieces that are simple to elevate, but also speak your design sensibility.

SPEAKER_01 12:47

I love this. What are the mistakes that people make while dressing?

SPEAKER_03 12:52

Um, so my biggest pet peeve would be people who um don't dress for their body type. I feel you. Yeah. I mean, I know this could be a very controversial answer based on, you know, the whole body positivity and things like that. I'm I'm totally game for it. But at the same time, I feel like there is a fine line as a professional. I feel like there's a fine line that um, you know, should be shouldn't be crossed. You should play around with some rules, I think. Exactly, exactly. You know, when you're not dressing for your body type, it can look um not very flattering. Yeah, not as you want it to, exactly, exactly. It can be a hit or miss, and it's just not very flattering. You know, there's a reason why um, you know, we've studied what we've studied, we have the the knowledge of um styling, it's not like not everybody can do it. It takes a lot of thought, it takes a lot of you know understanding of your body type. So, um, kind of um styling I'd say is like creating an illusion. You want people to believe that you're slimmer, you want people to believe you're taller. Absolutely. So, how do you do that? How do you play around with pieces to fit your body type? You know, now you're a very petite, you're you're very tiny in your frame. If I just throw really baggy clothes on you, it's doing nothing for your body.

SPEAKER_01 14:10

Exactly. It's like the clothes are wearing you and not the other way around. Absolutely right.

SPEAKER_03 14:13

So you don't want to do that. I think dressing for your body shape, even if um, you know, somebody on um, say, a more curvy side wants to wear a crop top, it's totally fine. But how are you balancing it to work for your body type?

SPEAKER_01 14:26

You know, it's I'm not saying people should not wear certain things, but make them just work just be mindful of how you're gonna like exactly pair them, and if you're also comfortable, I think people lose the idea of comfort, absolutely I have seen uh people adjusting their clothes ten times. I'm like, I get it, but that is that is such a great point because I have seen it, like you're wearing a crop top, and maybe that is not suited for your body. But maybe a crop top that's uh structured in a different way suits your body, right? But then I see you're like adjusting. Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 14:59

You're so uncomfortable. Yeah, I you got a great point because um, you know, wear a crop top, but maybe the neck can be different, the sleeves can be different to kind of make you feel more comfortable. And um, I remember growing up, my mom would always tell me, like, I would I was somebody, I was a tomboy growing up. So if I was put in a dress, I would keep like pulling it down, or like, you know. So my mom would be like, just stop wearing clothes that are uncomfortable because you look worse when you're kind of you know like constantly adjusting. It's very fidgety. People know that you know you're uncomfortable, you're coming across uncomfortable, so just stop, you know, wear things that you're comfortable in. And now I've realized that you know, if something's too tight, something's too short, I'm like, I'm just gonna stay away from it because I know that it's gonna reflect-you're not having fun even wearing it. Exactly, and it's gonna reflect in the way I'm talking to you, the way I'm behaving throughout the day. So, yeah, you have a great point that um it should be comfortable, it should be for your body type. Um, another um, you know, mistake that people make is not ironing their clothes. It is so sorry.

SPEAKER_04 15:58

So you're listening, guys.

SPEAKER_03 16:00

I absolutely cannot stand it because um again, it says so much about your personality, you know. The fact that you took out five minutes to iron the shirt says that you're somebody who has a keen eye for detail. Says that, you know, you're somebody who pays attention to small things. So I instantly, if I'm working with you, I feel like okay, I would rather, you know, choose you for a certain job because I know you have an eye for detail because you do something as small as you can.

SPEAKER_01 16:26

You're just like neat and tidy, and I also feel dressing very well is a form of a respect to the opposite person. Of course. Like if I just wore today like very casuals and you'd be like, huh, I'm dressed up. Like, I get it, but yeah, absolutely. That is a butt out there. Absolutely. So I feel that people should iron them. Absolutely ironing. Or buy clothes and materials that don't need ironing. Be smart like me, guys. Great, great point.

SPEAKER_03 16:52

Yeah, just do that. And we actually always suggest that to people who have long working hours, they're constantly sitting at a desk. Yeah. We would choose um fabrics that you know don't crease very easily. We always tell people who are commuting by public transport, like trains and things like that. Carry an extra, you know, a shirt in your bag. Just go to go to the office and then wear it because you you don't know who you're gonna bump into. You just never know who you're gonna bump into. It could be somebody on your way to work, it could be somebody at work.

SPEAKER_01 17:21

You just should always be always be present, always look your best, I feel. And I think dopamine dressing, right? Yeah, it helps a lot. Yeah, I mean absolutely she's looking so nice. Looking at her, I'm feeling happy, right? So it also matters Exactly, and the other way around. Yeah, the other way around.

SPEAKER_03 17:37

So, guys, and the last point, just to kind of you know, um follow through the last point we had, is um not grooming yourself. Yeah, you know, you could be wearing the the best outfit, but your hair is a mess. I was just gonna come to that. You cannot be messy, guys.

SPEAKER_01 17:52

Like be put together.

SPEAKER_03 17:54

Be put together, you know, spend an extra two minutes to just do your hair. Yeah. Um, I know I'm somebody who has like frizzy hair, whose hair looks like a mess. So I'll always kind of you know just pull it back. I know I can't have open off.

SPEAKER_01 18:05

I have done the same thing because I feel India uh the humidity is so extreme that whatever you do, you become like a balloon at the end of it. I had similar problems, but then I took a step. I did Botox on my head. Exactly. I have no problem. Exactly. So wherever I go, find your solution.

SPEAKER_03 18:23

Find a solution that works for you and um that makes you look kind of groomed and makes you get ready quicker without having to put in too much effort.

SPEAKER_01 18:31

And I also think your confidence increases when you also look at yourself, oh my god, I look so put together and so groomed.

SPEAKER_03 18:37

Let's take over the woman. Of course, absolutely. So, yeah, stay groomed, you know, small things like pay attention to your nails, um, file your nails, cut your nails. You don't need nail polish all the time, but just kind of groom exactly. If you're wearing footwear that has open toes, be yeah, be cautious about it. Be little guys, be little or just wear sneakers. So your toes are not seen. But to be very fair, I do that. If I know I haven't had a pedicure or like, you know, I haven't had the time to like you know, cut my toenails, I'll just wear like cover to it. Yeah, just easy. You know, it just it makes the world of a difference. So pay attention to grooming small things like your hair, your nails, um, chapped lips. Yeah. When you're talking, you know, people are just getting the chapped. And they're looking at your lips while talking and imagine you're like exactly what happened then. So um, you know, also carry carry a small perfume. You don't want to be you know very basic, you know, people are talking to you. Just if you've just eaten and come, our food is such that you know it's all the masalas are in everybody's face. Exactly. So just carry like a little mint, be mindful of um, you know, the person you're meeting. Exactly.

SPEAKER_04 19:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:45

So yeah, grooming uh is very important and is one of the most important things when you're it's like that cherry on the cake when you're getting ready.

SPEAKER_01 19:54

Yeah, yeah. I think when you even if you wear like very basic clothes, if you wear a white t-shirt, just basic, but you're groomed, you looks it, you look so put together. It's like how celebrities do. They have this thing. They you will see them in like very basic outfits, but they look so fresh. Absolutely, always so fresh.

SPEAKER_03 20:13

My favorite is because you said celebrities is dipika pad at the airport. She's in like a loose white t-shirt, jeans, loafers, and her hair is so well.

SPEAKER_01 20:22

Actually, always have has a big smile, guys. Don't forget to smile, okay? Smile is your biggest accessory. So even if you feel that I'm very cash, put a because throw a big smile on your face and your your Absolutely. Great point. So I feel nowadays people uh because of the trends and you know it's catching up so fast, people are a little confused as to what is their personal style. So, do you have any tips as to how to discover your personal style?

SPEAKER_03 20:49

Yeah, I'd say that um understand, like I know I'm repeating this, but understand your lifestyle. Understand what your work is, what your day looks like. You know, from Monday to Friday, what is your day look like versus say the weekend when you're going out with friends? What does your day look like? So I'd say understand your lifestyle. It's very important to know um this is what I'm doing from you know Monday to Friday versus this is what I'm doing on the weekend. Um say that you're traveling, you know, to work by um local train. Say you're traveling by cab, how does your dressing change based on these two you know modes of transport? To find your personal style, I would say there are three points that you need to keep in mind. The first one would be understanding your lifestyle. So um when I say lifestyle, it's about um what does your day look like, what does your week look like? Um, what is the work you do, what is the place you live in, is very important. So if I'm uh um working in a corporate space and I'm living in Mumbai, I can't wear um, you know, really heavy jackets and coats, super tight clothes, exactly because it's extremely humid in the place I live in. Um if I'm in a corporate setting, I can't wear very loud colours and prints. Not because um, you know, it's not allowed, but it's very distracting. From the kind of work environment that I'm in. I can't wear very chunky jewelry. I have to be mindful of the jewelry that I have. So when I say lifestyle, it's an amalgamation of these things. Number two would be your personality. So who are you as a person? Are you fun? Are you more serious? Are you minimal? Are you a maximalist? And incorporate your personality into the lifestyle that you have. So, just for example, I said that okay, I'm working in a corporate space, but I'm still a very fun, you know, eccentric person. Yeah. So, okay, I'll put on a blazer corporate, but I'll add a few brooches like that.

SPEAKER_01 22:43

Maybe you can do like a nice, fun, colourful, colourful, but like a nice blue.

SPEAKER_03 22:49

Absolutely, absolutely. When you say colourful, but should be mindful of the colour. It can be a lighter shape, lighter shape of a fun colour.

SPEAKER_01 22:56

Add your warmth to it, but don't do like hot pink because the office will be like, what happened? Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 23:02

So, or like I've done, you know, add a couple of brooches. That's still formal, but it's not just adding your touch of uh your love for fashion. Yeah, and your your personality of it being more fun, more um, you know, playful. Um, so number two is your personality, and number three, which might be the most important, is um dressing for your body type. So when you're finding your personal style, you should know what body type you fall under and what are the right clothes to flatter that body type, yeah, you're not trying to hide your body type, but you're trying to flatter it. So we all have unique shapes, and um, we want to pick outfits that kind of enhance our unique shapes. So, um, yeah, just a mix of your lifestyle, your personality, and your body type is the best way to find your personal style and the easiest way to understand, you know, um what your personal style may be.

Three Pillars Of Personal Style

SPEAKER_01 23:57

That is so well put across, guys. I took a lot of notes. I hope you guys also took some notes. If not, we still have time. If today's conversation made you rethink your wardrobe, imagine what a structured styling strategy can do for you. At stylebuddy. We don't just style outfits, we help you build your personal brand. From wardrobe audits, corporate styling to wedding shopping. We help you show up powerfully in every room.