Is good taste the same as style?

rachylou

Philosophical question for the day I'm thinking no: Tasteful is not at all the same.

I'm also thinking refined taste used to be more a thing for me than style. Now it's not. I'm not sure it's possible to have good taste now, either. For some reason.

7 years ago

General

41 replies

Latest reply was from Barbara Diane

Anonymous

Sigh. I just don't know.

7 years ago

Ginger

Veteran

On the royal watching blogs, when someone's ensemble is described as having "good taste" or "nice," it's usually damning with faint praise. In other words, it's boring. Unexceptional, as Jane Austen would say. Unimaginative, I would say.

It's possible for "good taste" of that kind to be a person's style... but that requires defining "style." Is it just the consistent manner of dressing a person chooses on a regular basis, or is it more along the lines of being chic, having that something that says Style? She's got style, she's got flair...

7 years ago

Anonymous

Ginger -- what are these royal watching blogs?

7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Here's one:

http://orderofsplendor.blogspot.com

7 years ago

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

I vote "no," particularly because of the class associations with "taste," and partly because "taste" more readily connotes "covered" (i.e. no bare midriffs, short shorts, etc.) than does "stye."

7 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Not in my opinion. I know people who have good taste but no sense for how to put themselves together with a sense of individuality. I can also think of people who most definitely have an easily identifiable style, even if they don't seem to have taste.

Tasteful and stylish are two different concepts to me.

7 years ago

Anonymous

Yup, I think it means the same thing.
I also think it's *somewhat* objective--people often agree on who has style/great taste.

7 years ago

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

Back to the dictionary for me. I looked at several, all similar to these Cambridge definitions

taste: a person’s ability to judge and appreciate what is good and suitable, esp. in art, beauty, style, and behavior

style: Style is also a special quality that makes a person or thing seem different and attractive

Where taste seems to be about discernment of quality (the word discern was used in several dictionaries) and style is more about uniqueness. I'm not sure that people intuit the difference between these words much any more, but once I read it, it kind of seemed right.

7 years ago

Echo

Veteran

They are most definitely not the same thing in my mind. There are some people with exquisite taste in the sense that the individual items they choose are amazing. However, those same people may or may not be able to put them together in any meaningful way. And I doubt that anyone has read a trendy style site and never once thought that something considered "stylish" was simply hideous, at least in the way someone was wearing it. There is a certain magazine editor known far and wide for her style, but many people might question her taste, for example.

7 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

I'm going to go with smittie -- against the popular opinion -- that yes, they are kind of the same. They overlap, at least. On the other hand, Rachy, I don't think "tasteful" and "good taste" mean quite the same thing. Here's an example: if you were to say "She is wearing tasteful jewellery", I imagine small delicate earrings or a pendant on a fine chain, as one might wear to a funeral or a business meeting. Now, one can have good taste -- and great style! -- and wear enormous flashy chandelier earrings or statement necklaces. I wouldn't describe such jewellery as being "tasteful", exactly, since "tasteful" implies a more subdued elegance, but the wearing of enormous jewellery can certainly be done by someone who has excellent taste. Plus, having good taste (as opposed to poor taste) refers to other things besides clothing. It can also mean behaviour, for example. We have all heard a comment made in poor taste.

This is all very nitpicky, of course, but I enjoy the delicate subtleties of usage, and the English language is particularly rich in synonyms that mean almost -- but not exactly -- the same thing.

7 years ago

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

Nope, not the same. I agree with Janet and Echo.

7 years ago

Anonymous

I define taste as Rambling Ann quotes above - the ability to discern quality and design ..which is totally objective though. Can you have both? Hmmm - I say you can, but's that not a given. Mutually exclusive but a great pairing if you have both?

7 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I am going with Janet and Echo. Not the same.

7 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Hmmm. LisaP, I'm sitting here trying to think of all the people I know who have great style, and they all have good taste, too. Not sure if it works both ways, though. People who have good taste -- i.e. who have an eye for quality and good design -- are more likely to have style, too, I would think. But maybe it's not a guarantee.

7 years ago

Veteran

In the very specific context of "She's got great taste." -- I believe that the word "taste" and "style" may be "the same". I think people mean that their (her) selection of pieces (within fashion, interior design, landscaping, entertaining, etc.) and their arrangement of those pieces show exceptional talent. Not necessarily about quality but about composition. And yes, subjected. "Tasteful" is another animal.

7 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

Came here to say similar to Janet and Echo. A person can have great taste--pick all the best garments and accessories; without style, it could very easily become just a bunch of really nice things piled on a body with no rhyme or reason, no method to the madness.

And I actually have looked at style blogs/street style/etc and thought "now that's some serious ugly right there". It isn't because it doesn't mesh with my personal taste. I can sit here and look at all y'all's outfits and appreciate how good they look; I can appreciate the harmonious nature of the ensemble. I can see that y'all have taste and y'all have style. But some of these outfits I see on "it girls" and "style icons" make me scratch my head and go "hmmmmmm"

7 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Well- does " style" always mean GOOD style? She's got style- does that mean automatically you love her style if just that you can recognize an individual style?
And " in bad taste" seems more than just the opposite of good taste. It's worse somehow, more offensive.

7 years ago

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Nope. Style is like flair--the result can be really well done but not necessarily tasteful.

7 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I think taste, tasteful, stylish, and style are all different. But maybe my view reflects my age and class and background.

I always imagined that there is a certain persona that is described as "having good taste." With an implied level of money and status and a level of conservatism in dress.

I think of tasteful as appropriate. Wearing the appropriate item at the appropriate time. It implies being appropriately covered-up, wearing non-flimsy non see through material, of the appropriate length, sleeves if necessary for the situation, etc. But what is considered appropriate can also vary by culture and age.

Stylish can be seen as being in current style or current. Or it can mean a bit more, maybe being at the front of the curve on a style.

But having style means that you appear authentic in your dress and presentation. With a certain verve. And self assuredness.

7 years ago

Veteran

Barbara Diane brings interesting points regarding background and age. For my generation, I've seen a definition that does include class (one that does reflect past definitions/wealth/accessibility to design) but now includes a definition that reflects DIYers, Ikea, Target, thrifting, recycling, home depot/lowes garden projects -- design in small spaces, design on a budget.

7 years ago

deb

Veteran

Ok, I read this earlier but had to go think about it. I think they are different. If someone picks out and item, be it for the home or their wardrobe, and shows it to me, I may think, "Oh, she has good taste". That is, if I like it. Style on the other hand, is how a variety of items are put together. It can be bad or good even if all singular items are in good taste.

7 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think style requires a defined taste. To have great style the person has to have a certain independent clarity for what is good or bad to her eye - that is what makes style individual and outstanding. Whether that taste is good requires further definition - good by traditional societal standards (and which society) or good in the mind of the observer?

There is a saying in Hebrew which I will paraphrase: about taste there can be no argument. I sort of disagree; I think taste can be cultivated and trained. That is another topic though.

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I have to think deep and hard now. 'In bad taste' does seem so not the opposite of 'in good taste.' Something done in bad taste implies some kind of tragedy to my mind...a failing bordering on moral failure.

Also, I have to think about 'there can be no argument.' I mean barring my brother and uncle, who can and will argue anything, I might secretly feel this is true.

On my mind now is this man I saw once selling CDs out of the back of his car. Only his car was a presidential blue convertible with sparkling white seats. And while he wore loud blue plaid, it was PERFECTLY cut and tailored and his fedora was pristine snow white. He was flash and had style in spades, but he came to a perfect stop a hair before gaudy. If he'd been gaudy, I think he would have still had style, but the execution was so exquisite - I think he may have also had taste.

But then I'm not sure. Can you tastefully cell CDs out of your car boot?

7 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I like how Janet put it. One can have good taste simply by knowing what kinds of things work well for their venue and their body type. But they might not have any style in the sense that may not dress themselves in a way that is particular to who they are as a person inside.

7 years ago

Archer

Veteran

Hmm - I see the two as almost synonymous really. In my paradigm if you exhibit good style there's a pretty high chance that you have this as a strength. It indicates good taste - i.e. that which is alignment with the viewer's aspirational taste. Taste suggests an ongoing characteristic and Style suggests more margin for experimentation and success through risk.

7 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

I'm with Lisap,

7 years ago

harmonica

Veteran

Very interesting! I'm with Janet, Rambling Ann and Echo. And, culture, class and personal preferances all play a part.

7 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Archer, I agree that there is often a correlation, but I don't think of the two as synonymous at all.

Maybe because I'm looking at a lot of home decor at the moment, I can't help but think of some interiors I've seen that incorporate tasteful items but are completely forgettable. I just can't see much "style" in those designs, tasteful as they may be.

7 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Both terms are extremely subjective - taste and style lies in the eye of the beholder.

Taste - like fashion - are components of style. Personally, I think a stylish outfit is always a tasteful and current one.

7 years ago

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