Style Buzz: Systems to Help You Find Your Style
- Eugene Stylist
- May 15
- 4 min read
Ideas to Inspire Your Style This Week!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"I can totally see you in this - it's so YOU!"
While helping out at the recent Sip & Seams pop up consignment shop, I was delighted every time I heard someone say this to their friend. It meant their friend had a style that they recognized, and even if the piece was different to their norm, it would work well with their wardrobe and their personality. I did hear a couple of people say "I have NO idea what you'd like," which kind of broke my heart. Not having a personal style, even in a small way, means the people around you aren't seeing you as the individual you are.
xxx rachel
SO, WHAT IS YOUR STYLE?
Apparently, the late queen of England was the most stylish woman in the world. This wasn't based on her following trends or putting outfits together in really interesting ways. It was because if you separated her from the clothes, you could still recognize the image as her. A simple silhouette of a coat, dress, low heels, a hat and a handbag? Oh look, the Queen!
There are a number of guides to find your style, all of them useful in their own way, and it's fine if one completely resonates with you, or you draw highlights from several. Finding your personal style is a little like learning your own handwriting. You can admire other people’s versions, borrow inspiration, and experiment with different approaches, but eventually the goal is to arrive at something that feels natural to you rather than forced. True personal style is not about dressing like somebody else. It's about understanding yourself well enough to dress with authenticity.
There are countless systems designed to help people define their style, and many can be genuinely useful when approached with curiosity instead of rigid rule-following. Body shape analysis, for example, focuses on visual proportion and balance. Whether someone identifies as triangle, rectangle, hourglass, inverted triangle, or diamond, these frameworks can explain why certain cuts, lengths, or silhouettes feel more flattering and comfortable than others. This is where I usually start with clients as it's the most straightforward.
Kibbe’s archetype system - dramatic, natural, classic, gamine, romantic - takes a slightly different approach by looking at the overall balance of softness (Yin) and sharpness (Yang) in the body. Rather than simply measuring proportions, it considers bone structure, facial features, and overall essence to suggest shapes, fabrics, and details that feel harmonious. For many people, it offers guidance for instincts they already had but couldn’t quite explain.
This client was delighted to learn she was a Romantic archetype and should show off her curves rather than seek to balance them as a "triangle" body shape. It finally made sense why button-front blouses never "suited" her - they looked fine but she wasn't comfortable in them - too structured and formal. Once we tied it in the front to show off her waist and hips, she was so much more herself and she got to wear existing pieces of her wardrobe in a new way rather than tossing them out.
Other methods focus less on structure and more on emotion. Dopamine dressing has become increasingly popular because it encourages people to wear colors, textures, and pieces that genuinely make them feel happy. Dressing for your mood, or even dressing for the mood you want to create, acknowledges the emotional power of clothing. A crisp blazer can make you feel capable and focused while flowing fabrics or soft knitwear feel calming and restorative, especially when you need some physical or emotional comfort.
There are also personality-based style systems that explore aesthetic preferences using contextual, developed, and core style types. These can help identify recurring themes in the outfits you naturally gravitate towards.
Perhaps the most important factor, though, is lifestyle. The perfect wardrobe on paper is useless if it does not suit your real life, climate, comfort needs, budget, or daily routines. Personal style should support your life, not complicate it.
Ultimately, finding your style is an ongoing process of observation and refinement. The aim is not perfection or trendiness but rather the confidence and empowerment that comes from looking in the mirror and recognizing yourself.
If you're itching to dive into this completely, download my Finding Your Style Course for step by step guidance throughout your style journey! And in celebration of today being the anniversary of my business launch date, I'm offering a $50 discount off the normal price! |
ANATOMY OF AN OUTFIT
This is a peek into my favorite outfit of the week where I break it down for you: why I've put it together and why it works, what elements could be swapped out, things to consider, etc.
In thinking about the various styling methods, I realized that I use a combination of all of them. I prioritize body shape, because if I don't acknowledge that I'm a rectangle, my proportions are off, which makes me feel off - hence the A-line skirt and belt to create a waist. But I also love incorporating my Classic archetype aesthetic with a collared button front blouse. I get a dopamine boost I get from wearing a gorgeous piece of clothing while supporting my inner strength with a bold color, plus a nod to a Feminine dressing style, as any type of skirt will do (especially this linen/cotton blend that drapes so beautifully).
Both the blouse and skirt were from resale events, which means I was lucky to find them, but because my brain knows what suits me, my eye knows what to look for: pieces that make all sides of me happy!
Blouse: Banana Republic
Skirt: Caron Callahan
Boots: Matisse from Miss Meers
Belt: Michael Kors
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