Purim is the one day of the year when you can shove fashion rules to one side.
The triumphant Jewish festival is a chance to experiment and parody and exaggerate wildly, and as a personal stylist, I love it. Because underneath all the colourful costumes and flamboyant wigs, something quietly transformative can take place when women give themselves permission to make radical fashion choices: they can discover something new about their own style.
As a stylist, personal style is something I spend a lot of time helping women to define, and it’s never fixed in tablets of stone. You don’t have to define your style and then stick to it religiously. I meet many women who feel boxed in by fashion labels they’ve given themselves, whether that’s minimalist, classic, modest or edgy, and they come to me thinking, “This is who I am.” But what that often means is actually, “This is what I’ve become comfortable wearing.”
Instead of a category you’re stuck in forever, I prefer to think of personal style as an ongoing conversation, something fluid and dynamic that often requires new risks to move forward.
Purim mirrors this message well: the story of Esther is built on hidden identity and gradual revelation. She doesn’t step into her role in one dramatic moment, she grows into it – and developing a sartorial style is much the same. You learn what works by experimenting.
Lola dress by Olivia Rubin[Missing Credit]
Ring by Moran Fine Jewelry[Missing Credit]
In fact, some of the biggest breakthroughs I’ve seen with clients have come from what felt, at first, like small risks. A woman who only wore neutrals once agreed to try a single bold accessory – a patterned Prettysac bag that injected some colour into her otherwise monochromatic wardrobe – and, although she was initially sceptical, she became pleasantly surprised when she saw how that one piece energised her outfit. She understood that by adding this little pop of colour, she was embellishing rather than transforming her wardrobe.
Finding what you really love to wear starts with taking small steps outside your comfort zone. Perhaps this means trying an accessory that has a bit of personality, such as a colourful Moran Fine Jewellery ring that catches the light, or choosing a shoe in an unexpected shade of green. If you normally wear scarves in one colour, wear one that has a print.
Check Horse coat by Artwear Gallery from Curated Crowd[Missing Credit]
Bag by Prettysac[Missing Credit]
Similarly, if you think of your style as classic and polished, why not try to push that look further by adding some unexpected detail to a tailored silhouette? An embroidered coat from Curated Crowd is a good example of this; the garment still has structure and sophistication, but the embroidery introduces texture and individuality. That subtle contrast – a traditional shape with some expressive detailing – adds depth without sacrificing polish. It’s a reminder that evolving your style doesn’t have to mean discarding who you are, it can just mean adding some dimension.
With the clients I deem ready for a bigger leap, we take it even further. Instead of just adding colour through accessories, I sometimes encourage them to build an entire outfit around one confident, expressive piece. For instance, a multicoloured top like an Olivia Rubin turtleneck can become the anchor of a look when styled thoughtfully – the key is always balance. Keep the silhouette clean and the rest of the outfit streamlined (think: tailored trousers, simple denim, or a sleek midi skirt) so the colour feels intentional rather than overwhelming. When done right, bold colour doesn’t wear you; you wear it.
All of which chimes with where fashion is right now: delightful contradiction. Quiet luxury sits beside maximalism. Classic tailoring coexists with playful layering. Masculine lines with a dose of feminine texture and colour.
In short, there is no single right way to dress, and when Purim ends and the costumes are packed away, I hope one lesson remains: you don’t discover who you are by staying rigid, you discover it by experimenting.
After all, the festival invites joy, boldness, and a little theatrical flair. Be inspired by it.
How to step outside your box:
1. Experiment with proportion before pattern. If bold prints feel overwhelming, start with silhouette: a wider-leg trouser, a longer coat, or a slightly boxier blazer can transform your look in a quiet but powerful way.
2. Mix textures before colours. Pair wool with silk, denim with suede, or tailoring with leather. Texture creates depth without demanding attention and can build your fashion confidence.
3. Explore new designers. Stepping into a different boutique or trying an unfamiliar brand instantly stretches your style vocabulary.
4. When it comes to colour, think tactics. Instead of diving headfirst into new hues, layer one new shade into the palette you already love.
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