Your Style DNA is so much more than just wearing your best colors. Last week we talked about what happens when you get your seasonal color analysis done and something feels off. I promised we’d dive deeper into bridging that gap between your colors and your confidence. Today I’m going to show you how to see the aesthetic themes in images you love – themes that can transform how you use any color palette. When you understand what naturally draws you, you can create outfits that feel authentically you.
Components of Your Style DNA
Your Style DNA has three components that work together to create your signature style:
- Design: The visual aspects of your physical self
- Needs: Your lifestyle requirements
- Aesthetic: The beauty that naturally resonates with your essence
Today we’re focusing on that last piece – your Aesthetic – because understanding this can be the key that unlocks everything else.
Just yesterday in my Visual Style Discovery Workshop, something powerful happened. One participant showed us one picture from her collection and the group just shared what they saw in it, the vibe, the artistry, the implications. The person who had brought the image was kinda at a loss for words. “You don’t even know me,” she said, “but you guys just nailed so many things about my personality and the way that I feel about myself” That’s why I love this work: she felt seen!
If you are interested in getting in on this type of a group experience, we are going to be starting a Signature Style Studio group program after the first of the year.
You might be thinking, “But Rebecca, I’m not artistic!” Here’s the thing – you don’t need to be. Every single time I do this exercise with clients or in workshops, something amazing happens. Not only do people surprise themselves with their natural ability to spot patterns in images they love, but when I help them understand what those patterns mean and how to translate them into clothing? That’s when the real breakthroughs happen. When clients get their Style Guides from me, they are always surprised at the connections I am able to make to their wardrobe. And it makes shopping fun again!
Artistic Patterns in Your Style DNA
Let’s talk about some of the artistic patterns that might show up in your aesthetic images and Style DNA:
- Light quality: Is it bright and crisp, soft and diffused, dramatic with high contrast, or mysterious and moody?
- Movement: Do your images have a sense of stillness, flow, dynamic energy, or structured rhythm?
- Texture: Look for patterns of smooth vs rough, natural vs polished, delicate vs substantial
- Space: Notice how elements are arranged – is there minimalist breathing room or rich layering?
- Symbolism: What keeps showing up? Water, architecture, nature, geometric shapes?
- Color relationships: Not just which colors, but how they interact
- Time of day: Dawn, bright daylight, twilight, night scenes tell us something about your aesthetic energy
It was actually really interesting in the workshop. One of the participants had not brought art or nature images, but showed us pinterest images of what she wanted to wear. Even though I recommend separating the aesthetic images from clothing at the beginning, just to keep the discovery clean from things like the hassles of shopping, the artistic elements in the images still told a cohesive story. And that cohesive story is what makes you magnetic!
When you start to see these artistic patterns in your favorite images, you’re discovering something profound about your style essence. This isn’t about copying outfits – it’s about understanding the feeling you want to create with your presence.
Discover Your Essential Aesthetic
Assignment: This week, I want you to collect 6-10 images that really speak to you. Don’t overthink it – just save what you love. Download the Discover your Essential Aesthetic template and start uploading them. Caption them with what you love about them. Notice what surprises you. What patterns do you see? What words would you use to describe the feeling these images create?
Next time, we’re going to explore the ‘D’ in Style DNA – Design. We’ll look at how to translate these aesthetic patterns we discovered today into clothing choices that honor your body’s natural design. Because creating harmony with your authentic self is the key to embodying signature style.