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Defining a Style Persona

Amy

(website)

Veteran

My husband took the kids out for a special day out with him, so I've had a lot of time on my hands, which I've completely wasted looking at fashion sites. Other than just looking at pretty pictures, I had a goal in mind: I want to get a handle on my style "persona."

I find myself attracted to a wide variety of things, but realize not all of it will work for me. For instance, I LOVE Una, Rae's and Ana's styles, but don't think I have the chutzpah to join their ranks. I adore Angie's impeccable outfits, but what looks great on her petite figure would look silly on my not-so-petite frame...etc., etc.

I've made two collages. The first shows some of the outfits I have felt good in during the last year or so. The second shows a tiny fraction of styles that I like...some YLF ladies are there too...I hope it's ok that I used your pictures!

Do these collages show any sort of common thread? How would you characterize this style, if it's not too eclectic?

Words that come to mind include: classic, vintage, artsy, gamine, androgynous...

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Dressing

35 replies

Latest reply was from Fruitful

soobee

Veteran

Oh I think you have spent your time *most excellently* lol! I don't have any suggestions as I am in the same boat as you, but I will wait with great anticipation as the to the responses you receive

ETA I actually do see alot of vintage and artsy

san

Veteran

I love this collage of pictures of you through the year. I'm no expert on style personas but just off hand these words come to mind; interesting, fun, bombshell,office, pretty, classy, vintage, comfortable, happy, creative.
I love looking at your pictures. Your personality comes through as very warm and fun.

Anonymous

Amy, I will definitely be thinking on this. Like san, I see a bit of vintage/retro bombshell which would be amazing with your curves. I've just been trolling your website and it's incredible! You are quite the seamstress, or should I upgrade you to tailor? Those lined trousers with welt pockets are a terrific feat. Whatever your fashion persona winds up being, you will be a head of the game with your sewing skills! Do you need a business persona as well as a MOTG one?

edited to change 2 of the 3 "amazings" to "incredible" and "terrific", respectively.

AJ

Veteran

I'm focusing on the inspiration collage because I'm assuming that's your style goal. So I would describe that as classic, tailored minimalist with a pop of interest.

I think your more recent outfits show that you have a great sense of how to dress your shape. So you can definitely strive for impeccable outfits that flatter your body even though it may not be an exact match to Angie's outfits. Definitely use Angie's outfits as a starting off point, but maybe instead of Angie's boyfriend blazer, a cropped one would better suit you, etc.

I also find myself attracted to a wide variety of things, but I have been able to narrow my style adjectives to casual, feminine, and playful/fun. Those three words don't tie me down to any particular look. I've found it most useful when I'm stuck staring at my closet.

Sylvia was so kind to include some of my pics on her blog post about describing one's style:
http://40plusstyle.com/describ.....statement/

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I'm not an expert at this but having figured out my own style recently, and having read the Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style after checking it out at the library (thanks to MaryK's recommendation), I feel like the outfits you've worn seem to fall into the Posh Eclectic category, described in the book as “a certain madcap glamour; made up of equal parts country-estate frump and the black-sheep aristocrat’s disregard for what’s acceptable.” Especially with your two hat outfits, the plaid skirt and blazer, Fair Isle sweater, gray cape, fur jacket, white bolero with red flower...it gives me this British countryside artsy vibe. Kinda like Helena Bonham Carter. Or Steph (mrseccentric) is another great example from YLF.

Here's a web page with some snippets from the book and pics of Posh Eclectic:
http://www.labelledamesansdice.....ectic.html
Does that ring a bell at all? If not, tell me what appeals and doesn't appeal to you and we can try to go from there.

It's harder to come up with a overriding style name for the pics in 2 because I already know all the YLF'ers in them...they all have such distinctive personas that it's hard for me to lump them all into one category, KWIM? The looks there seem to be a little more simple, bright, graphic and preppy than the ones you posted in yours...yours were more subdued, richer fall colors (like that wine-colored dress) and more opulent/patterned looks. I don't know if I am making any sense at all but that's just my quick first impression.

ETA: I'm still super impressed by your sewing skills! I'm amazed at all the wonderful pieces you've made for yourself!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Without looking at the other comments, the words that come immediately to mind are retro, vintage, cheerful, and feminine. Retro/vintage for some of the silhouettes like the fit/flare dresses, those awesome hats, and ladylike pencil skirts and slim dresses. Cheerful for the bright, saturated, mostly warm colors. Feminine because you seem to favor skirts, and even the pants-based outfits have some pretty colors involved. There is also a refreshingly youthful exuberance that comes through in your color combinations... not sure what style descriptor that translates to, but it is striking.

PS - I'm super excited to be on your inspiration board!

Shyla

This was awesome! One word that came to my mind was "classy" =)
Very inspiring for the style file I am trying to put together!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Amy, you have *plenty* chutzpah to join the ranks of the styles you covet! In fact, your theatrical and arty look gives you a complete head start! I like the classic and romantic integrity that you throw into the mix too.

lucylove

ooh, lovely, you have great style. I think doing a board will help with me what I just posted about, finding some style inspiration. What did you use to make you collages, please?

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I see your style persona(s) as modern-classic and ladylike.

I feel the second photo collage reflects these personas as well.

Is there an artistic eclectic self wanting to be expressed? If so, do you feel better expressing that with modern-classic and ladylike silhouettes? Or do you want to try more eclectic silhouettes (Boho blouses, wide-leg pants, big coats...)

You can express that artistic side through color and accessories, yet maintain a more modern-classic and ladylike silhouette.

Is that where you want to be?

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I love your collages! In the first, you have a vintage and ladylike vibe going on, and in the second "inspiration" board, what I see first is preppy with an edge. In the second board, there is still the vintage and ladylike, but more of the pictures are preppy-ish with an edge.

Speaking of which, I was just reading the latest issue of Real Simple magazine (January 2012 issue), and on pages 100 through 105 there's a feature titled, "Reset Your Style" and it was these photos/stylings which helped me come up with better descriptive words for your two collages. I can't find the story/feature online yet, since it's the latest issue of the magazine, but if you happen to be near a book/newsstand, you might want to glance through that feature. It's a short little feature, but it was about adding twists to your current style. In, "If Your Style is Preppy", the advice is to add edgy accessories, and this is what I see in your second collage.

Sooo....Vintage Ladylike veering toward Preppy with an Edge.

How does that sound?

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Classic, vintage, and flirty come to mind after looking at your outfits. The inspiration collage seems a bit more on the classic, simple side.

Great collages and what a good idea!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Amy, I'm going to come back to this thread later on when I have a bit more time (off to ferry my aged mother about today!) But first, I wanted to say it is an honour to be included in your collage.

And second (and please forgive me if someone already said this as I haven't been able to read the comment thread yet) I notice that in your aspiration collage, almost every look includes a jacket and all include some sort of "topper." This makes me think that Steph's suggestions to me might be pertinent to you, as well. You can find them here: http://dashingeccentric.blogsp.....-case.html

Back for more of this fascinating discussion later!

By the way, I LOVE your collages. I never did get around to making any of those myself and really want to do it. The visuals help clarify enormously!! How did you make them? (i.e. what program did you use?)

JennyAnne

(website)

Veteran

Love your collages. I think that would be a good exercise for me, feeling a bit style-lost lately. I agree with your assessments of classic, artsy, vintage, etc. I say go out on a limb, though. Try to copy some of the cool outfits that you love.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Amy - these collages are fabulous! What a great way to see yourself. From my perspective, I think both the collage of your outfits and the inspiration collage show elements of both retro and classic styles.

nancylee

Veteran

Amy, I love these collages--and, like Suz, I'm wondering "how did she do that?" How fun to see so many YLFers in your admired styles collection!

I'm not an expert at defining styles, but some words that come to mind are: classic, retro, ladylike, polished, with a touch of glam/drama. I think GP's description of "posh eclectic" is a great one for you. It's interesting that one of the words you chose to describe your looks was "androgynous." To my eye, most of these are very feminine/ladylike looks. Just wondering.....do you want to introduce more androgyny into your look?

Mochi

Veteran

Agree wholeheartedly that you have a strong handle on retro and it's very cohesive and works so well for you already. Keep exploring it and see how you expand the definition! So jealous of you that you are already so far in the right direction--AND that you love a persona that loves you back (signed, Mochi who adores a lot the gamine look of the 60s but is the wrong age, build, has wrong hair, etc.)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Chiming in again just to say that it made my day seeing Rosie in your collage

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Soobee - thank you!

San - those are great words to add into the mix. I'm a bit of a clown, which I guess is coming through in some of these pictures

Claire - Thanks! I'm more of a seamstress than a tailor. I have done some jackets with shaped lapels, padding, etc., but that's not something I have a lot of experience with. I do need to create Business and MOTG capsules. Most of the outfits pictured above are dressy, aren't they? I need to work on casual outfits too.

AJ - thanks for sharing your insight! I love your style and would happily add many of your pictures to my inspiration file. Thanks for the link too.

GoldenPig - You know what's funny? I have that book and could not pick just one style I liked above all the others. My tastes are so eclectic...posh even. Gee, why couldn't I see that? It shouldn't surprise me that I'm attracted to the styles I associate with the English countryside. I was an English lit major, after all I don't have much tweed, lace and velvet in my wardrobe--those would be fun gaps to fill! I'm not keen on Wellies, though.

Rae - I love your style! I love the bright colors you wear, and your edginess (is that the right word?) Of course, your beautiful smile makes everything you wear pale in comparison. You're right: I do love colors.

Shyla, thanks!

Angie - Theatrical, huh? Are you calling me a drama queen? You may be right Classical and romantic probably fit into the Posh Eclectic style GP mentioned. I think a theme is developing.

lucylove - thank you! I used Photoshop; however, you can do something similar with Powerpoint. I'll try to come up with a how-to below...

Suz, thanks! You're right. I am attracted to jackets, but don't have very many. That will be something to address in the years to come.

JennyAnne, that's a great suggestion, thanks!

Shannon, thanks! I love your style too and would have included a picture of you in one of your classy work outfits if I hadn't run out of energy last night.

NancyLee - Interesting question! The JCrew dress pictured in the inspiration collage is made from menswear fabrics and is layered over a collared top with a necktie. I have always loved the way women look in tuxedos, tuxedo dresses, dresspants with vest and a tie, etc. Two style icons that have intrigued me a Katherine Hepburn and Ellen Degeneres.

Mochi, I bet you can fit a bit of mod into your style! Don't give up.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Angie, I'm sure Rosie is a canine style icon

I want a puppy too

Saretta

(website)

The first adjective that pops into my mind is feminine, you have a very feminine style. More specifically I would agree with artsy and vintage, but your feminity really shines through in every look.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

How to Make Collages:

* You can use an image-editing program like Photoshop or Paint.

* You can upload photos to flickr.com and use the mosaic maker here:

http://bighugelabs.com/mosaic.php

* Try Photovisi - a free online collage maker and let me know how it goes

http://www.photovisi.com/

* You can put images into a Powerpoint slide and save it as a .jpg

* Polyvore.com may be an option too!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I think you are ever so classically romantic with retro fun, pretty, and drama thrown into the mix. That style seems to bring out who you are as a person too - now that I have had the pleasure of meeting you, Amy

Rosie, who will soon be 12, is a very stylish little old lass. I hope you also get a puppy.

MsMary

Veteran

Squee!! How did I miss this before now!! SO HONORED to be in your collage!!

Actually, I think you and I have very similar styles! My style is Business Bombshell. For you, how about Colorful Retro Bombshell?

Sally

Veteran

What a brilliant idea. I really like your collages. there is a definite style there...the word bombshell comes to mind.....maybe retro or vintage bombshell. You pull off vintage really well.....those 40s and 50s styles. I think there is a definite element withe the fitted sillouhettes and the blouses under the vest belted look.
going to go and do one myself now.

Jewell

Veteran

I love your collages! IMHO your common threads are feminine and artsy. I see flirty silhouettes, fun colors, and flowers more so than androgyny.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Wow I really honored and humbled to be in your collage. I think you have a lovely style.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's very interesting that so many are commenting on the femininity in your style, Amy. And yet you are attracted to androgyny. The jackets in collage 2 might be a symbol of that, a traditional menswear item done in a more feminine way adds some structure that (arguably) some of the outfits in collage #1 might lack. The structure could ANCHOR the retro, feminine, vintagey, whimsical elements, making them work-appropriate (if that was the goal) or simply age-appropriate.

Perhaps one reason many of us like your shorter haircut is that it also adds an element of androgyny to your look, playing against the more feminine elements in a way that creates a positive friction?

I think Steph's idea of taking one element of the outfit and making that the "drama" or "statement" piece (whether that element be a jacket, an accessory, a scarf, a skirt or a top) and keeping the rest of the outfit relatively calm and classic is a great way to ensure that I, with my small frame and softer colouring, won't be overwhelmed. It's also consistent with my practical side, the part of me that always wants to be dressed in a way that lets me move easily, walk quickly, get down on the floor with my kid or my cat, etc. It seems to me that this advice might be valuable to you, too, whatever words you eventually decide are most descriptive of your style persona!

Thank you for the info on your collages. I don't have photoshop, so I will have to experiment with one of the other programs. It would be great to make one of these.

Jonesy

Veteran

Interesting exercise! I see some similarities across the collages (colorful, layered) but also some differences (seems like your collage is a bit more whimsical and vintagey, and the second collage is a bit more edgy, androgynous, trendy, e.g., lots of collars buttoned up like the J. Crew model on the left with the gray dress, white button down, bold specs, and animal print pumps). Maybe you are moving in that direction, especially with your new 'do? A mash-up of both would be fab!

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