Sydney Sweeney's Stylist Is Here To Deliver Some Personal Style Tips

You can't go on social media these days without hearing about "personal style." Thanks in large part to Gen Z style stans on TikTok, fashion's focus has started to turn towards a standpoint of self identity and discovery—the kind of pizazz only personality can give—rather than sticking to the latest trends and fads. Differentiation is important, and those who want to express themselves through fashion, want to do so in a distinct way that is their own. They don't want to look like anyone else, and they've inspired the masses to reconsider their sheep mentality when it comes to shopping for themselves.

Celebrity stylist Molly Dickson has dressed some of the best names in the business (think Mindy Kaling and Scarlett Johansson) and has a roster of young, budding clients, such as Sydney Sweeney, Sadie Sink, Camila Mendes, Kathryn Newton and Kelsea Ballerini. Working with these up-and-coming talents regularly, Dickson knows a thing or two about the process of personal style development and has seen a major change in perspective firsthand from her clients. “I think because I was trained as a stylist to just pull from the major designers, you think that putting your clients in the top tier European designers, is what made you a successful stylist,” Dickson tells BAZAAR. “But I do think with these younger girls, there is a major shift where they’re wanting to be different and they are not trying to conform to what is the stereotypical beautiful look.”

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This new way of thinking (and dressing) has definitely started to change fashion's tone, thanks to the new generation of non-conformists. “I used to style Addison Rae, and she was the first girl that said I don’t want to look like anyone else,” Dickson says. “She would send me these brands that I hadn’t even heard of that she found on Instagram, that had 2,000 followers. And I would think how did she even find this brand? Some were just college students with an Etsy shop.”

Finding your own voice amidst the clutter can be difficult though. “At the end of the day, you want to leave your house in something that you are happy and feel confident in," Dickson says. "I want my clients to leave for the red carpet feeling their best. And when you dress in the morning you want to walk out excited about what you're wearing.” Personal style can be a lifelong journey, so where do you even begin?

Below, find Dickson's top 5 tips to achieve personal style on your own.

Make A Mood Board

“When I meet with a potential client, the first thing I ask them to do is make a mood board,” Dickson explains. “I ask them to go on Pinterest or Instagram or look through a magazine and pull images of anything they think is cool and we will come up with a mood board. Then I will add to it, to elevate it a little more.” Making a collage or mood board can be a helpful first step in the process. “Put together inspiration photos of what you like,” Dickson says. By organizing all your ideas in one place, and seeing some of your favorite things simultaneously, your personal style goals can start to come to life. 

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Do The Research

One of the best parts of finding your personal style is the discovery element. “What I sometimes do, is if I am scrolling through Instagram and see a girl with a really cool outfit, it’s a challenge for me to find out where she got it,” Dickson tells us. “Either she tagged it or I Google searched it and if you are finding something you really like, do your best to figure out where they got it. It’s a fun game that my team and I play, who can find it first.” Sometimes the research might take you on a journey, but it is a part of the process that can be very fun, too. 

“Next, start sourcing the market. Go online on different websites to find similar pieces that are on the mood board,” Dickson says. “Sydney [Sweeney] and I are texting or DM’ing photos everyday that we think are cool,” Dickson says, “and it is my job to track it down. A lot of her references are vintage pieces.” Vintage and secondhand sites like The Real Real, Depop and Etsy, as well as the Instagram retail space, are great places to discover unique pieces that no one else has and is a sustainable alternative to shopping fast fashion or traditional retail methods.

Quality Over Quantity

“In my 20’s, I used to be the girl who would buy cheaper things that were trendy,” Dickson tells us. “As I have gotten older and the more I have worked in fashion, I have realized it's all about quality over quantity. I would rather save money and buy a nicer cashmere sweater than go to a fast fashion place and get a cheap one that will probably only last one season.” 

There is a practicality that comes with aging, too. “I think when you’re in your late teens and early 20’s, you try to follow all the trends but the older you get the more you realize that trend doesn't work for me,” Dickson explains. “Maybe you think ‘I am not going to get those super high platforms because I know I won’t be able to walk’. You get more practical with your clothing.”

Trial And Error

“I always used to think that my clients should each have their own distinct style,” Dickson explains. “I remember I was in a fitting with Sydney [Sweeney] one time. We were fitting her for a press tour and we needed multiple looks and she put on this one dress and it was very girly and pretty and she put on this other look and it was really edgy,” she continues. “I said, ‘Syd, you gotta pick a lane. These are totally different looks,’ but she replied ‘This is why I am an actress. I can play different characters and I can wear different things. I can be different people.’ And then it dawned on me that you don’t need to have one distinct style.” 

Playing with different style ideas, whether it be feminine, preppy, sporty or something edgy, can help bring together that perfect mix, only you can find for yourself. Don’t be afraid to think outside your own personal boundaries, rather than "staying in one lane."

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Tailoring And Good Undergarments

“Tailoring is the most important thing,” Dickson says. “I never ever do a fitting without a tailor.” Although tailoring can add an extra step and an extra cost, it is certainly well worth the time and effort. “Tailoring one inch on a hem of a dress can completely change the dress. Tailoring can take something that is cheap and ill fitting and make it look way more expensive if it’s fitting your body perfectly,” Dickson remarks. 

“Tailoring and undergarments like Spanx,” Dickson adds. “No one talks about how important undergarments are, such as the right thong, the right Spanx, the right bra, all those things matter.” When it comes to undergarments, the devil is in the details. “It’s all about trial and error,” Dickson says. “I would recommend [starting with] Spanx, Commando or Skims and just seeing because everyone has a different preference on the fit of undergarments, but those are the top three brands I would recommend.”

This article originally appeared in Harper’s BAZAAR US.