What’s your personal style?
One of the main reasons a lot of my clients feel lost when it comes to getting dressed is that they don't have a clear idea of their own personal style.
They end up:
• Just wearing their old clothes until they're literally falling apart at the seams!
• Buying the same things over and over again, (having the same "style" since college—or high school!)
• Falling back on yoga pants instead of cultivating any kind of style
• Buying whatever their friends (or pushy salespeople) tell them to buy so that their closets are a hodgepodge of *other* people's taste
Once they finally get tired of the above options, they hire me. The first thing I do with new clients is Style Discovery to help them hone in on their style. The thing is: it can be hard to go from having no clue to being able to describe your unique blend of styles. That's why I put together Style Types. This is the first of a series I'll be releasing over the coming weeks. (If you can't wait, I also created Pinterest boards for each style type to help you find inspiration and start your own personal style board.)
Romantic
A Romantic style is categorized by delicate and feminine colors, fabrics, and shapes. Colors tend to be subtle and classic (think red, pink, white, tan, navy, etc). Fabrics include silks, cashmere, seersucker, linen, lace, denim, and cotton. Accessories are delicate and traditional. Clothes aren't too tight or too loose, but well-cut and demure. Some style icons include: Lauren Conrad, Taylor Swift (early 2010s), Jenny Cipoletti (of Margo and Me blog), and Eva Mendez.
Here’s a few examples of how to incorporate Romantic style into your own life:
Sleek Chic
A Sleek Chic style is categorized by classic lines and silhouettes. Colors tend to be classic and mostly neutral (think white, ivory, black, navy, etc). Fabrics include silks, cashmere, wool, leather, and cotton. Accessories are minimal; however, when they're used, they tend to be statement simple but statement making (a large silver cuff, a menswear inspired watch, etc). Clothes aren't too tight or too loose, but well-cut figure flattering. Some style icons include: Victoria Beckham, Angelina Jolie, Meghan Markle, Queen Letizia of Spain, and Miranda Kerr.
Here’s a few examples of how to incorporate Sleek Chic style into your own life:
Casual
A Casual style is categorized by looser fits and comfortable fabrics. Outfits are simple, with an emphasis on comfort, and have an easy-going attitude. Colors tend to be classic and neutrals, but are not limited to those. Fabrics include denim, linen, lycra, wool, soft leather, and cotton. Accessories are minimal and simple. Clothes are comfortable but shouldn't be too loose. Some style icons include: Jennifer Aniston, Selena Gomez, Kendall Jenner, Mila Kunis, and Anine Bing.
Here’s a few examples of how to incorporate Casual style into your own life:
Glam
A Glam style is categorized by body-hugging silhouettes, luxe fabrics, and grand details. Colors can range from classic colors to trend-driven colors and patterns. Fabrics include silk, satin, cashmere, lycra, lace, chenille, suede, leather, and more--the shinier the better! Accessories are grand: large, glittery jewelry, logo bags and belts, shiny metallics, and big sunglasses. Clothes can be form-fitting or play with extreme proportions (like a tight top with billowing pants). Some style icons include: Chrissy Tiegan, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Priyanka Chopra, Lana Del Rey, and blogger Micah Gianneli.
Here’s a few examples of how to incorporate Glam style into your own life:
Minimalist
A minimalist style is categorized by unique and architectural lines and silhouettes. Counter-intuitively, a Minimalist Style does not necessarily mean a minimalist wardrobe, which means fewer pieces in your closet, whereas a Minimalist style is usually made of outfits that use fewer pieces. Instead of adding colors, patterns, and accessories, outfits are made more interesting by using unique shapes or unexpected combinations. Colors tend to be classic and mostly neutral (think white, ivory, black, navy, etc). Fabrics run the gamut, but often include silks, cashmere, wool, denim, and cotton. Accessories are minimal. Clothes tend to fit loose, using size and scale as a point of interest. Some style icons include: Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Gwyneth Paltrow, Olivia Palermo, Leandra Medina (Man Repeller), Emmanuelle Alt, and Kate Moss.
Here’s a few examples of how to incorporate Minimalist style into your own life:
Vintage Femme
A Vintage Femme style is categorized by 40's, 50's, and 60's silhouettes, patterns, and colors. The clothing does not have to be vintage, but is either vintage inspired or the pieces are put together in a way that reads as retro. For example, a pencil skirt is not necessarily "retro", nor is a button-up cardigan; however, when worn together, they create a 40's style silhouette. Colors can run the gamut but are often bold and include color combinations that are not currently trendy. Fabrics also run the gamut depending on what era is being channeled. Accessories are classic or quirky. Again, clothing fit can depend on the era but tends to emphasize the waist and celebrate a curvier body type. Some style icons include: Zoe Deschanel, Lana Del Rey, Taylor Swift, Christina Hendricks, Mindy Kaling, Eva Mendez, Dita Von Teese (and other pin-up models), the ladies of Mad Men, and, of course, classic fashion icons of the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s.
Here’s a few examples of how to incorporate Vintage Femme style into your own life:
Boho
A Boho style is categorized by flowy silhouettes, earthy and bright colors and textures, and is inspired by 60’s and 70’s fashion, Western, Southwestern and prairie styles. Someone with Boho style wouldn’t look out of place at Coachella, walking through a flea market, or sipping a green juice. Colors can run the gamut but are often bold versions of natural colors, like mustard, red, and green as well as a lot of neutrals, like white, cream, and brown. Fabrics are often textural and include crochet, fur (real or fake), suede, lace, and felt. Key pieces are extremely detailed and can have things like embroidery, laces, or fringe. Accessories are piled on: layered necklaces, rings, hats, chunky or layered bracelets, etc. Clothing tends to be looser and flows away from the body. Some style icons include: Rachel Zoe, Vanessa Hudgens, the Olson twins, Jessica Alba, Cher, Stevie Nicks, and Jane Birkin.
Here’s a few examples of how to incorporate Boho style into your own life:
Editorial
An Editorial style is categorized by bold colors, patterns, silhouettes, or fabrics (or a combination of all 4!) Looks and pieces are lifted straight from the runway and put together with an eye for drama and whimsey. Colors can literally be anything, but tend to be whatever colors are trendy at the moment. Fabrics, too, run the gamut: from leather to sequins to chiffon to brightly colored fur. Accessories can be piled high or minimal. Editorial style is not for the faint of heart: the key to Editorial style is not being afraid to experiment, leaning into current trends, putting unlikely items together, and above all having the confidence to rock an unconventional outfit. Some style icons include: Jenna Lyons, Leandra Medina (Man Repeller), Tracee Ellis Ross, Sarah Jessica Parker, Olivia Palermo, Anna Wintour, Solange Knowles, Giovanna Battaglia, and pretty much everyone photographed on the streets of Fashion Week.
Here’s a few examples of how to incorporate Editorial style into your own life:
Androgynous
An Androgynous style is categorized by use of menswear-inspired pieces, fabrics, and silhouettes and often has an air of sophistication. Staples include blazers, suits, loafers, button-up shirts, and trousers. Colors tend to be classic, like black, white, gray, navy, and camel. Fabrics are also classic, like wool, cotton, tweed, linen, and denim and include patterns like pinstripes, subtle plaid, and houndstooth. Accessories are minimal and often menswear-inspired, like a gold watch. Clothing is not usually body-hugging but has a looser fit. This style can be head-to-toe or incorporated with single pieces, like an oversized blazer or men’s white shirt, paired with more traditionally feminine items, like stilettos or skinny jeans. Some style icons include: Cate Blanchett, Diane Keaton, Ellen Degeneres, Clémence Poésy, Alexa Chung, Ellen Page, Victoria Beckham, Evan Rachel Wood, and Emmanuelle Alt.
Here’s a few examples of how to incorporate Androgynous style into your own life:
Edgy
An Edgy style is categorized by punk, metal, and rocker styles. Staples include leather jackets and pants, ripped jeans, and band tees. Colors are dominated by black but can also include cool neutrals (white and grays), navy blue, red, and army greens. Fabrics and materials include leather, plastic, denim, satin, cotton (t-shirts), fur, grommets, zippers, and studs. While solid colors are most common, other patterns can be incorporated like camo or animal print. Accessories can be minimal or maximal and are usually metallic. Clothing can be body hugging or have a looser fit. Some style icons include: Kate Moss, Gwen Stefani, Debbie Harry young Drew Barrymore, young Winona Ryder, Courtney Love, Joan Jett, and Amy Winehouse.
Here’s a few examples of how to incorporate Edgy style into your own life:
Preppy
A Preppy style is categorized by classic Americana, inspired by the East coast and the South, and often include stripes, plaid, vests, and equestrian and nautical themes. Colors are classic and bright, including red, blue, yellow, green, camel, white, cream, and navy. Fabrics and materials include linen, cotton, down, chambray, cable knit, fleece, wool, and leather (usually brown). Preppy style incorporates classic patterns like stripes, plaid, gingham, chevron, polka dots, chain link, and bold florals. Key pieces include button-up shirts, classic blazers, rain coats, vests, fisherman jackets, shift dresses, espadrilles, boat shoes, and riding boots. It’s common to see embroidered sigils, crests, and logo marks on jackets, polos, and “dad” hats. Accessories are usually classic, like pearls, but can also include large jeweled statement pieces. Clothing usually has a looser fit. Some style icons include: Kate Middleton, Gwyneth Paltrow, early Taylor Swift, Olivia Palermo, Julie Engel (Gal Meets Glam), Lilly Pulitzer, Jackie Kennedy, Blair Waldorf (Gossip Girl), Grace Kelly, and Reese Witherspoon.
Here’s a few examples of how to incorporate Preppy style into your own life:
That’s it. That’s all of the Style Types. Can you identify your Style Type? Every person's is different and most people have a mix. I would consider myself a mix of Sleek Chic and Vintage Femme, with just a touch of Editorial and Boho. What’s yours?
How-To, Personal Style
Missy Titus
style type, style secret
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