Jonathan Santana-Alvarez has spent more than 25 years in the fashion industry and over 15 years working as an image consultant.

And after working with clients on their wardrobes, shopping, and personal style, he keeps coming back to the same problem.

A lot of people are buying clothes without first understanding their body shape.

Jonathan is the founder of Estilo Image Consulting, where he helps women build wardrobes around their body, personal style, and the way they want to feel in their clothes.

In this episode, Jonathan breaks down why something can look great on a hanger, on TikTok, or on another person and still be completely wrong for you.

We get into how understanding your body shape changes the way you shop, why fit should come before trends, and why buying more clothes isn't necessarily the answer to dressing better.

We also discuss how Jonathan approaches clients who don't know their personal style yet, why he describes personal style as a "style personality," and how trial and error helps you figure out what works for you.

He doesn't believe your wardrobe needs to be controlled by the season. He explains why he sometimes wears pieces outside their traditional season and sums up the idea with: "Style has no season."

For people who struggle with putting outfits together, Jonathan recommends making things simpler first. Instead of immediately trying to combine different patterns, textures, and colors, he suggests beginning with monochromatic outfits and expanding from there as you become more confident.

Jonathan also explains how he plans outfits for clients before they need them. He creates digital references showing which clothes work together and sometimes builds complete looks on a physical clothing rack with the clothes, sunglasses, hats, and jewelry already selected.

We get into:

Personal style vs. style personality
Body shape and clothing fit
Pear, square, and hourglass body shapes
Men's rectangle, square, and circle body shapes
Why people buy clothes they never wear
Trends vs. dressing for your own body
Monochromatic outfits
Using the color wheel
Quiet luxury
Investment pieces
Quality vs. quantity
Tailoring and refashioning clothes
The one-year wardrobe rule
Building complete outfits in advance
Digital outfit planning
Understanding your measurements
Using measurements to shop more intentionally
Why Jonathan believes body shape is one of the first things you should understand before building your wardrobe

Jonathan's main takeaway is simple: once you understand your body shape and how clothes fit you, shopping starts to make more sense. You can choose pieces that work with your body, build outfits more easily, and buy clothes that are more likely to stay in your wardrobe.

⭐️ Jonathan Santana-Alvarez's website - https://estiloimageconsulting.com/

⭐️ Jonathan Santana-Alvarez on Instagram -   / estilo_image_consulting  

💎 Ask My Wardrobe - Your free digital wardrobe - Plan outfits, create new looks, build outfit collages, and try on clothes virtually before you buy them: https://askmywardrobe.com/

[00:00] Jonathan Santana-Alvarez & Estilo Image Consulting
[01:00] Finding Your Style Personality
[03:00] Why People Buy Clothes They Never Wear
[04:00] Shopping for Your Body Shape
[05:00] Quiet Luxury & Investment Pieces
[06:00] The Biggest Mistake People Make When Getting Dressed
[07:00] Starting With Monochromatic Outfits
[08:00] Using the Color Wheel
[09:00] Why Style Has No Season
[10:00] Finding Style Through Body Shape
[11:00] The One-Year Wardrobe Rule
[12:00] Quality vs. Quantity
[13:00] The Basics People Forget About Fit
[14:00] Planning Outfits Ahead of Time
[15:00] The Problem Jonathan Sees Across His Clients
[16:00] Understanding Different Body Shapes
[17:00] Measuring Your Body Before Shopping
[18:00] Jonathan's Biggest Takeaway

The Ask My Wardrobe Podcast. Conversations about personal style, clothes, shopping, and building a wardrobe that works for you: https://askmywardrobe.com/

#personalstyle #fashion #bodyshape