What Costume taught me about Personal Style.
From the Screen to the Wardrobe
As someone who has spent years studying film and theatre, I often find myself looking at personal style through the lens of costume design. While fashion and costume are often treated as separate disciplines, I believe they have far more in common than people realise. As a teenager I experimented with my own personal style by trying out different outfits based on characters in my favourite TV shows. Aria Montgomery, Rachel Berry and Serena Van Der Woodsen were a few of my favourites.
A great costume designer's job is not simply to dress a character. Their job is to communicate who that character is. Every colour, silhouette, fabric, and accessory contributes to the audience's understanding of that person. The same principle applies to our wardrobes. Many of us approach shopping by asking whether we like a garment. Costume designers ask a different question, what story does this tell?
When clients come for a colour or style analysis, they often arrive feeling disconnected from their wardrobe. Their clothes may be beautiful individually, but together they don't tell a cohesive story. There is no clear visual identity connecting them.
Costume designers understand the importance of consistency. A character's wardrobe should feel like it belongs to them, even when it evolves throughout the plot. The most stylish people often operate in a similar way. Their wardrobes have a sense of cohesion because they understand what colours, shapes, and styles support the image they want to project. Their outfit tells a story.
This doesn't mean dressing like a cartoon character and wearing the same thing every day. Rather, it means developing a visual language that feels authentic and recognisable.
Colour analysis can be a powerful tool in this process. By understanding which colours naturally harmonise with your features, you create a strong foundation upon which personal style can develop. Decisions become far easier, shopping becomes more intentional, and your wardrobe begins to fit to your personal character.
Perhaps that's why I've always loved the relationship between colour analysis and costume design. Both disciplines ask the same fundamental question, who is this person, and how can we communicate that visually?