Personal style is a tricky thing, especially when you draw from non-fashion sources. Nearly every post I’ve read about determining one’s personal style recommends deferring to your favorite fashion icon. But what if your fashion icons are all fictional or fantasy characters?

Dear friends, that is my problem. Here’s a little inspo block:

See? Nary a real person. So how am I to translate the characters’ fantasy style into everyday garments?

I should note that you can apply your inspirations to fashion from just about anywhere – architecture, art, science, etc. (check out blueprints for sewing’s architecture-inspired patterns, for example).

Things like color and silhouette can easily be adopted into a wardrobe. For me it’s about subtlety. To the average person, I want my fictional references to go unnoticed.

The main point is how the garment makes me feel. And wearing certain clothes can make you feel differently. They embolden and empower, or make you feel lovely and calm. I like to use my wardrobe as a versatile set of status buffs (for non-gamers, “buffs” are akin to spells or potions that affect the user positively).

The theory is: If I feel confident, I will act confidently. If I feel powerful, I will act powerfully.

Take the fall winter inspo page- my choices were based on what “buffs” I anticipate needing in the near future. This year has been one of standing up for myself, so my inspo page was based on female strength and power.

One of my two chosen characters is Khaleesi. I love her outfits and her attitude. But I cant walk around in a loincloth dress like her, now can I? So instead, I’m making a long blue cardigan and kid gloves. Earlier this year, I made a test version (totally wearable, yay!) of the Safran pants in a very Khaleesi-esque fabric, reminiscent of her leggings. I can’t wait to wear the whole outfit.

{ Side note: My other character choice is Lao Ma, from the show Xena. I chose her for her famous philosophy (which the show borrowed from a real life philosopher, Tao Te Ching), “to conquer others is to have power, to conquer yourself is to know the way”. She’s got this ultra-serene presence but she’s a deadly fighter.}

You can also use color and color combinations to pay homage to a certain character. I have a green dress with a pink bow (DD Bleuet) ala Sailor Jupiter.

My second pair of Safran pants are brown with blue top stitching – a color scheme I stole from Ash of the Evil Dead movies. (Side note: I wore those pants with a button up shirt to Thanksgiving and my husband said I looked like Westworld’s Delores – bonus!!)

Essentially, the key is to find the usable elements from your inspo, whatever they may be, and incorporate them as best you can, even if you’re the only person who recognizes your references. I feel like it adds a little secret touch to my clothes that make me feel true to myself and gives an extra boost.