Style Buzz: Your Style in Three Words
Ideas to Inspire Your Style This Week!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"I just want my clothes to be casual, comfortable, and cute!"
A friend said this to me recently and I was in full agreement! But then she stunned me with, "So why is it so hard to find those clothes?" I asked her if what she was wearing was comfortable (yes), casual (also yes) and cute (definitely). And did she have other clothes in her wardrobe that were similar? Yes. But this was her cute and casual outfit. So perhaps it wasn't a question of a lack of options out there, but just how she was seeing her clothes: these are for work, those are for fun. Was she filtering them through a lens of labels or taking them at face value: clothes she could wear anywhere?
xxx rachel
STYLE IN THREE WORDS
Finding the styles that work for you is based on a lot of factors. Would it surprise you if I said that budget isn't one of them? It really isn't. Some of my favorite pieces - the ones that are so very me - were less than $20. What made it possible for me to find them, well that's the key. I not only had to be in the same room as them, I had to be able to scan a rack of clothes with an eye to what I like, what will suit me, and what works for my life, aesthetic, and shape.
My friend's Three C's (cute, comfortable, and casual) are a good starting point for this, but diving deeper into style words can really help you pinpoint what you want. One way to do this quickly is having a frame of adjectives that describe how you want to look and feel. "Elegant" is a lot different than "Whimsical" but both are very interesting. Choosing to look elegant would drive you toward pieces with defined lines, minimal embellishments, and rich colors. Whimsical implies brighter colors, lots of layers and textures, and a sense of play with silhouettes and accessories.
How: Take a look through the list of words below. (Don’t overthink it!) Choose the words that describe how you want to feel in your clothes as well as how you want to look. Then narrow it down to three that feel distinct from one another. Your words don’t have to describe every outfit you own; they’re simply a compass to guide you.
What you're looking for: Your three words should feel authentic to you, not like a description of someone whose wardrobe you admire. They should also work together. If one word feels completely out of place, it may not be one of your three.
Why this matters: Having three style words gives you a useful filter when getting dressed or shopping. Does this feel like me? Does it fit my style? If not, you may have found something lovely that simply doesn’t belong in your wardrobe. And that saves money, closet space and the guilt of a “What was I thinking?” purchase.
When you've got a pretty good idea of your three words, write them on a piece of paper and then look through your wardrobe. Do the words reveal some patterns of why you love some pieces and why you don't feel your best in others? Pay attention to those hints.
A simple test: Look at three outfits you already love wearing. Do your three words describe something about all of them? Then think about a recent outfit you didn’t feel quite right in. Can you spot which word was missing? If your words help explain both, you’re onto something. The ultimate goal is to make you feel like yourself, not like you're in a costume.
EXTRA CREDIT: You might need to try a number of words before you settle on the three that can guide the majority of your outfits. It's also fun to leave room for play and experimentation with other words. Choose a new one that's really outside of your norm and try it! Build an outfit that keeps in line with two of your words, but add a third that you'd never considered before. If you usually go for understated, try something sparkly. If you typically stick with classic pieces, add a new trend (and it doesn't have to be a piece of clothing - it could be an accessory or an on-trend color.) See what you come up with and how you feel!
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.
My three words: Structured, Approachable, Edgy
I've spoken about my three words before, and it's fun to see how they manifest in different outfits. Sometimes they show up in the whole look, sometimes each piece plays a different role, and sometimes two or three of the words describe a single piece. For this outfit, each piece embodies one word: the brown flared pants and matching suede boots provide structure, the soft blue paisley blouse is gentle and approachable, and the faux-suede moto jacket and long chain earrings add a bit of edginess (I'm going for interesting not scary!). But not so much that they're incongruous with the other parts. They tie in the colors of the blouse, complement the brown jeans, and pair the material of the boots really nicely. Also, it's very comfortable!
Blouse: Sweewë
Blazer: Tahari
Jeans: St Johns Bay
Shoes: Eric Michael
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