The world is your tool, finding personal style.

Inspired by Andre Leon Talley and Quincy Jones.

Written by Coco | The Cocophiles

In the year of 2025, we are only a couple years removed from a life-altering pandemic that halted the exploration of life for a lot of young teens and adults. Individuality became almost-obsolete, as trends are coming and going like flights--people aren't looking for inspiration and style outside of a phone anymore! This is a reminder that the world is your tool: the people who've inspired you, the art that moved you, and the memories you've held on to from childhood are all pieces that shape you and your personal style. Today, I will be discussing how conducive moving intentionally through the world and finding your own creative vessel is to curating style.

The monumental visionary, Andre Leon Talley's life was filled with glamorous moments and memorable phrases, however his demeanor and appearance was not based on aesthetics. Instead, his likeness was due to his desire to express himself. Talley had to learn how to take control of his own image and incorporate the values he held onto since childhood. For him, his reclamation of his image was achieved through his adoption of custom capes, which was an act of survival and self-definition. Taking control when you're not used to it can feel risky, self-expression can feel too loud, too vulnerable. Andre Leon Talley taught us that being unapologetic will make your spirit feel free, confidence comes easy after that. Making the right choices FOR YOU will help shape your presentation in a such a huge way, you will start to feel like you're wearing a personal uniform instead of a costume.

In the book 12 Notes, written by the late legend Quincy Jones, he discussed how his passion--music provided a maternal comfort. His passion was a place of vulnerability, he turned his passion into ambition, which led him to connect with millions of people. Personal style can be considered a vessel that you can use in the same way, your personal style holds emotions, history, and embarrassing or precious moments you want to hold on to. Your own personal style can be your refuge in dark times, your hype-man when you need a boost, or your soap box when you want to be seen and heard.

I feel like you're constantly adding and taking away from your personal style, which happens to be my favorite part of it all. I'm 23 years old and I started finding my personal style around Intermediate school, I was in love with royal blue, glitter with a horrible transfer, and Justice. However, I didn't have every name brand or even a pair of Jordan's, which forced me to experiment, because at the same time, I never wanted to look directly like any of my peers. I would rummage through my Father's closet (Daughters of Dapper coming soon!), looking for jerseys and cool T-shirts because in my mind, he was the most stylish man I knew personally. I would take his clothes, some of my mother's too, and merge them with what I had, I wasn't going on weekly shopping sprees back then. Those formative years taught me that style is not about access or names, it's about creativity and imagination.

Let's get into some tips that can help you navigate and find your personal style. First off, the WORLD is your oyster, yes, but also your closet! I manage to find inspiration in my past, the people I see waiting for the train, and in the museums. You may see a textile or color that catches your eye in a certain exhibit, act on that interest and experiment with it!

Up the street from my apartment, there is a vintage shop called Ten Car Pile up, the owner offered me much knowledge, which brings me to my second tip. Clothes are historical artifacts, learn to read them!

At the end of the day, finding person style involves seeing beauty and YOURSELF in everything around you. Every car or train ride, every photograph, every walk is an invitation to expand and refine the way you present yourself. Navigate through the world with curiosity and see what you find, you'll find textures, colors, and silhouettes that inspire you. The more you evolve, so will your closet and your style...don't rely on name brands for style. The world is your tool, be the artist.

The Cocophiles