Beyond Fashion: Five Creative Ways to Express Your Personal Style

Personal style is more than just the clothes we wear; it expresses who we are, transcending fashion into the spaces we inhabit and the things we use daily. Whether it’s the car you drive, your home’s design, or your office’s layout, there are so many opportunities to put your personal touch on everyday accessories and spaces. We’ve asked Samantha McClellan, style guru and business manager at Elite Customs, five tips on dialing up your style beyond your wardrobe, creating a cohesive, chic life that truly represents you.

Photo Credit: Elite Customs

1. Customizing Your Car: Drive in Style

The car you drive is another extension of your personality, and customizing it is an excellent way to infuse your style into something as practical as transportation. Like selecting clothes that reflect your taste, you can customize your car to suit your aesthetic preferences.

At Elite Customs, a luxury car modification shop founded by her husband, Rich McClellan, Sam takes the same eclectic, bold approach to customizing cars as she does with fashion.

“If I’m choosing a car and how I want to customize it, I use the same method I do with my clothes—I blend and balance styles. If I do the standard matte black wrap on an exterior, then we’re setting the chrome delete off with a pattern or some gloss or satin chrome,” Sam explains. “If we do a bright or wild color, we’re adding pops of something high-end like forged carbon or black satin wood grain.”

Sam continues, “We did matte black on my jeep and embossed leopard print under it, making it look like it weaved in and out of the doors, using the tan as a peekaboo color on the inside. Then we used some custom-made Gwagon wheels to elevate the look while still keeping the rugged Jeep feel with the tires, lift, and steel bumpers.”

For those who love standing out, adding custom paint jobs, wraps, or unique rims can completely transform the look of a vehicle. From sleek black designs with a pop of color to textured accents that add dimension, car customization is the new fashion trend. If you’re into a rugged look, you can elevate your car with details like custom wheels or stylish finishes that speak to your personality. For those who prefer a more elegant or luxurious vibe, consider custom leather interiors, specialty lighting, or even subtle color accents that add sophistication.

Your car doesn’t just get you from point A to point B—it can also make a statement about who you are. Whether you go for bold and wild or sleek and understated, customizing your vehicle is a fun and impactful way to showcase your style.

Photo Credit: Mark McCammon | Pexels

2. Home Décor: Bringing Style into Your Space

Your home reflects your identity, much like the clothes you wear. The way you choose to decorate it can speak volumes about your style. Are you drawn to minimalist design, or do you prefer an eclectic mix of textures and colors? Your home décor should be an extension of who you are, and there are limitless ways to ensure your living space aligns with your personal brand.

Start by assessing what you love most about your fashion style. Do you gravitate toward neutral tones and sleek lines or enjoy vibrant patterns and statement pieces? For instance, if you love bold accessories in your wardrobe, you might enjoy experimenting with standout elements like statement lighting or uniquely patterned rugs.

Personal style can extend beyond fashion and into interior design.

“At home, I change things a lot. My roots are in interior design and remodeling, so I use tons of colors and textures from the furniture to the wall finishes,” Sam explains.

With an approach that mixes the unexpected, Sam’s home truly reflects their love for blending styles, showing how décor can be just as bold and dynamic as clothing choices.

3. Office Space: Create an Inspiring Work Environment

Your office is where you spend a significant portion of your day, so why not make it a space that inspires creativity and productivity? The aesthetics of your workspace can have a huge impact on your mood and efficiency, and it’s a great opportunity to extend your personal style beyond fashion.

Consider incorporating elements from your home décor into your office. If you love a modern, minimalist look at home, opt for clean lines and neutral tones in your office, with a few well-chosen accessories to add personality. On the other hand, if your fashion style is more bohemian or eclectic, don’t be afraid to bring those elements into your workspace with bold colors, unique furniture, or even some greenery.

When styling your office, think about both fashion and function. Sam adds, “When you think of everything as fashion AND function, you begin to see things in a totally different way.” The blend of practicality and aesthetics can help create an office environment that is as efficient as it is stylish.

4. Boost Your Personal Brand: Style Your Social Media Presence

In today’s digital world, how you curate your social media profiles is a powerful form of self-expression. From the color schemes and filters you use to the themes that shape your Instagram grid, each element contributes to your digital persona. Whether it’s the fonts on your website, the tone of your captions, or the content you share, every detail offers a glimpse into your style. As Sam says, “Your online presence becomes an extension of who you are, showcasing your unique personality in the virtual space.”

5. Tech It Out: Tech gadgets and everyday organization tools

The items we use every day, from our tech gadgets to stationery, offer plenty of opportunities to showcase personal style. Sam loves “customizing my phone case, laptop cover, or headphones with unique designs, colors, or personalized engravings,” which can reflect your aesthetic and add a personal touch to the devices you rely on. Or, if you want to go old school, experiment with personalizing the stationery and writing tools you choose. Whether elegant leather-bound notebooks or colorful, whimsical planners—these everyday items can be an extension of your personality.

Your Style is Your Signature

Extending your personal style beyond fashion allows you to create a cohesive, authentic life that genuinely reflects who you are. From your home to the car you drive to the spaces where you work and play, there are many ways to infuse your style into your space. Whether you favor bold statements or subtle elegance, don’t be afraid to let your style shine in all areas of your life—it’s an expression of your unique identity.