Find your style personality and update your look

What's your style personality? According to TV style coach Pippa Rees, author of 'From Slummy Mummy to Yummy Mummy', there are four 'types'. And knowing yours can boost your fashion confidence, streamline your wardrobe and reduce time spent shopping.

The four style personalities are:

Classic

You're a classic if you favour structured tailored looks in muted colour palettes. Your look is timeless and understated and never goes out of fashion. You always look well groomed and polished; personality wise you are very organised, though maybe a little conservative.

Ups: You won't be caught looking like mutton dressed as lamb - no embarrassing fashion faux pas for you!

Downs: You might be a little bored by your look and wondering how you can let your hair down a bit.

Style icon: Courtney Cox

Romantic

You love feminine style, are great with accessories, go for clothes with a little bit of glitz, a touch of sequins, a ribbon trim - for you it's all in the detail. Your style is eye-catching and girly, with lots of soft floaty fabrics and pretty prints. You're fun to be around, confident in your look and quite outgoing.

Ups: You're the queen of accessories and great on detail.

Downs: You may be in danger of floating away in a cloud of frilly frippery but don't know how to get that fashion edge to make you stand out from the crowd.

Style icon: Sarah Jessica Parker

Natural

Laid-back and chilled out, you have a very relaxed approach to fashion. You're quite practical when it comes to clothes and never favour style over comfort. You like unfussy clothes, scorn accessories and stick to flat shoes or low heels - in fact you're the very opposite of 'romantic' which you find a bit OTT. You go for a low maintenance look, steer away from anything too bold and favour natural easy-care fabrics. Your overall style is straightforward, you're a 'wash and go' type of girl, and you're likely to be very friendly, open and approachable.

Ups: Your look is easy on the eye with lots of clean lines and simplicity of style.

Downs: You may sometimes long to lighten your look but you've no idea how to go about it. You can often feel like you're stuck in a fashion rut while the style world passes you by.

Style icon: Elle Macpherson

Dramatic

You love high fashion and use clothes to make a statement. You're confident with bold colours and patterns and use accessories to great effect. You may be trend driven or alternatively focused on your own individual style. The look carries through in your hair and makeup - you like to make heads turn. You're a strong person, very determined and probably quite feisty.

Ups: You always make an impact!

Downs: You always make an impact (is it always the right one ...?)

Style icon: Lady Gaga

What to do next

Start by identifying your core personality, then shake up your look by borrowing elements of a complementary style. If you feel you are stuck in a fashion rut try this:

Classic

Experiment by mixing up some classic patterns such as stripes and checks

Upscale your jewellery to add a modern twist to your look

Romantic                   

Try mixing some hard pieces in with your feminine look to add contrast, like a denim jacket over floral dress

Break up the soft, floaty feel with some sharper lines, try a formal jacket with t- shirt and cropped flared trousers

Natural

Bring texture and subtle patterns into play to mix up the minimalist look

Add some interest to your clothes by looking for extra trim and detail around the neckline

Dramatic

Look out for key trends each season and work them into your wardrobe with just one piece. Don't necessarily do the whole look, for example head-to-toe military!

If you think you look a bit OTT - take off the last accessory that you put on!

Shopping for style: how to make it easy

 1. Once you have identified your style personality it's easy to work out where to shop. Don't waste time trawling the high street, once we pass our 20s few of us are likely to relish the prospect of spending an entire Saturday surrounded by teenagers. Identify the shops that stock the brands that suit your style; narrow your shopping choices down to three shops and only visit those. And never spend more than three hours shopping in one go.

2. Make a shopping list (think about it - when was the last time you made a list to go clothes shopping?). Go through your wardrobe before you leave the house. Identify what you need. What will suit your lifestyle? What pieces are you missing? Ask yourself why do you never wear that dress, those skirts? Is it because you have nothing to match them - no shoes to go with the dress, no top to go with the skirts? Add those items to the list.

3. When you get to the shops only buy clothes that match at least three other items in your wardrobe. Alternatively, buy a complete outfit.

4. Make the experience pleasurable. Treat yourself to a glamorous lunch afterwards - or start the day with a posh breakfast.

Free style consultations nationwide

Come and have a free introductory consultation at Your Style Your Way workshops, running throughout summer 2010 around the UK, sponsored by Tena. Aimed at boosting women's confidence in their looks and their lifestyle, see the full list of dates and get more information at www.yourstyleyourway.co.uk. There's also a chance to win a £1000 personal shopping experience.

About Pippa

Author and style coach Pippa Rees of the Style Company is available for style and colour analysis, personal shopping, wardrobe management and style parties/ group presentations. She has appeared on GMTV and regularly contributes to national, regional and broadcast media. For more information visit her website at www.stylecompany.co.uk or email pipparees@stylecompany.co.uk

More like this ...

Need a change? 21 great ways to refresh your look

Summer fashion guide - expert advice and top buys

Hot holiday buys - from swimwear to beach cover-ups