Chirping in again to say how helpful this exercise is - this morning I compared my outfit (which I was happy with) to my key words and realized there was an element I hadn't represented - something on the lines of "crisp" or "fresh", sort of a softened- or lightened up- version of the ideas of contrast or strictness, if that makes any sense - I think this is another element that I sometimes miss and it leads to a bit of the blahs for me.

So I guess the words can refine the clothes and then again the clothes can refine the words somewhat, so in the developing stage, it's a bit of a growth exercise as well as a guideline (for me at least).

Great thread, thank you!!

Carter--I read your comments about the style descriptor "relaxed" for you, and the word " approachable" popped into my head, followed by the word
"friendly."

But I'm supposed to be writing about my own, which I'm still very much in the process of working out...I'm going to try Classic, Feminine, Easy, Elegant. It will be interesting to come back to this in six months and then again in a year and see if these descriptors still feel accurate.

Been thinking on this for awhile, but haven't written it down. So here is mine for right now:

Simple - clean lines, sleek, not fussy

Classy - refined, classic pieces

Modern- touch of keeping with trends with accessories, shoes

Understated- low-contrast, no frills

Flattering- works with the body I have now; if I doesn't flatter and I don't feel good, it won't get worn

I need to print this out as I go through my closet during the next few days.

Thanks! Paula

Hmmm... I saw this thread yesterday and I've been trying to figure out what i would use to define my style. The words that come to mind are Classic and Gamine.

Classic - I tend to go for more classic styles

Gamine - When in doubt, I ask myself "Would Audrey wear it?". I know it sounds completely silly, but it helps. I like more feminine clothes, like my skirts and dresses, but I'll wear capris and slacks. I'm not into dressing as child-like as I read about when some people describe the gamine style. Maybe I'll change over to Lady-like instead of gamine. We'll see.

I use to dress much more casually, but since I started working, I've realized I like to dress up. To me, that one's gone. I'm not sure what to put in its place.

Windchime, I like approachable/friendly. Thanks!

This is a cool thread!

I did a search and found my own post looking for suggestions re: style descriptors for me and the words some forum members used for me were arty, eclectic, boho.

A year down the line I find I identify strongly with the following words:

Unstructured & Easy These words sort of overlap for me... I like a loose fit and an avant garde look
Urban & Edgy Again some words that overlap in my head that I can't choose between. I referred in one post that I liked a stompy feel to my shoes.
Artsy This remains a constant for me I think.
A touch of Current - This isn't my main priority, but it is something I like to be aware of.
Quality - Like Sarah - this is an aspirational thing for me. I would like to add more quality to my wardrobe.
Ladylike - I love the contrast of ladylike and edgy

I certainly think that my understanding of style descriptors has evolved in a year!

I'm beginning to think that my style direction is coming around to the question: Would Kate Hepburn have worn this?

Gaylene, I think that is what Beth Ann asks herself, too.

Love this thread. Angie, thank you for your revisions. Taken on board.

OOH I like that Gaylene!
Beth Ann recently posted her acronym SING and I thought for days after, trying to come-up with my own word. So much easier to remember than a list for me. Best I have come up with is NUSS (nice)- Navy/Unique/Sporty/Simple.

This has been a great read, thanks for starting this conversation.

I don't have a style persona or set of descriptors and suspect I'd have to post more pictures to receive help in this area; but it's good to think about. For now: I think Ingunn used the phrase somewhere, "playful polish" and that is what I'm aspiring towards.

I looked at the descriptors I developed last year(?), what was still in my closet from pre-YLF, what I've bought since January 2013 (way too much, lol!), and what I put in my Nordstrom Wish List. I think my descriptors of Playful Arty Urban Prince still apply.

Playful: For me, this is the opposite of serious, especially seriously classic work clothes. As an attorney, but not one in Big Law, I feel an obligation to dress somewhat for the role and not scare/freak out potential clients. But this really goes against my sartorial nature. For me, playful includes color like my deep coral pencil skirt and polka dot patterns like my black with white polka dot pencil skirt, peplums, silver oxfords, and full pleather midi-skirt.

Arty: I haven't bought anything in this area (other than footwear) in years, but I also don't want to let go of the items I have. By "arty", I mean a couple of rustic Asian jackets, a tunic, and lots of jewelry that I don't wear too much because my hair now covers my ears and until it turns more uniformly gray, jewelry is a bit ALGO as it competes with my glasses. I also have a bit of a sugar eye for Fluevogs (none owned) and Fly Londons (two pairs of sandals owned). Oh, and if I ever saw some, I would probably buy my version of harem pants which would be Japanese field pants in a rough cotton fabric.

Urban Prince: Especially in winter, I wear a lot of gray or black and gray. As a short person, I like a bit of a masculine look and want to look powerful especially if I am out at night alone. But 5'1" can't do full on masculine, but boyish androgyny works. Feminine pieces like a full skirt need to be paired with a masculine shirt and my studded leather fingerless gloves.

Can anyone find the thread from eons ago when Angie asked us to choose [some number -- 3? 5?] of adjectives to describe our style aspirations?

I don't remember the exact wording and have not been able to hit upon the correct search term. Style descriptors? Style adjectives?

April - I found a blog post from a few years ago - is this it maybe?

http://youlookfab.com/2011/06/.....our-style/

easy - I want outfits that look effortless and clothes that don't require fussing, aren't really body con, and most importantly make me feel calm and relaxed

minimal - I like clean lines and simplicity

organic - I like rough textures and outfits with textural contrast, natural fibres (except for silk), neutral colors, wooden clogs

It occurs to me that all these tastes apply to my house as well as my wardrobe.

Okay, I've been thinking about it all day, along with trying to find and recapture the indoor black kitten who slipped his harness when we went out to enjoy the sun and took off under the neighbor's fence. 5 hours later we found him, whew.

He's such a graceful, charming, rogue. That's it!

I think I have some overlap with Hil and DonnaF's ideas. When I've worn clothes that make me feel most 'me' and strong and centered they are:

Graceful - often a sleek silhouette, movement of skirts or scarfs, love draping, shoes that are easy to walk with a stride in. Can be sexy in an understated way. Tends toward simplicity, minimalism, and celebrates the lines or movement of the body. Color is harmonious if used.

Charming - there is a playful, confident, open aspect to the clothes. Graphic tees, some color, clothes are flattering and make it easy for me to strike up conversations with people. I can have in-jokes with my clothes that only I'm aware of. There can be a feminine charm quality, or an androgynous/handsome charisma.

Rogue - Can be UWP, can be a modern space cowboy, but can also be a Regency highwayman or Corinthian Earl who loves racing his matched pair. Style icons include Han Solo, Mal and Zoe from Firefly, Jim Morrison, a young Jamie Lee Curtis, Starbuck from the new BSG. So in practical terms embraces both historical and modern influences. Also Rogue in terms of stylistic freedom and mixing and matching. Can include an unexpected item, or contradictory impulses or break rules as long as the effect is charming and graceful. Encourages clothes to contain a little bit of excitement or the unexpected/unusual.

ETA: after some drinks and a really good pasta involving steelhead and shallots, I'm adding Grounded:

which is code for balanced, stable/strong/enduring, roots in the earth, practical, well-crafted, carefully and judiciously considered, often made of natural materials, considers sustainability/environmental impact .

I'm not the kind of charming graceful rogue that is a cardshark and will swindle you of your money, I'm the kind that is secretly reliable, down to earth, a good steward of the land and her investments.

ETA2: hmm... I also want Edgy/Contemporary there as an aspirational style.

Love reading everyone's thoughts! As I am redefining some aspects - want to drop trendy and use Current. Also - want Elegant again, it seems to bring out the European in me, which I appreciate more than before.
In my journal I have written than I want the clothes that make me feel Confident, Comfortable and Classy.
This is obviously work in progress.

Finally had time to read this thread and it's so much fun to revisit. Love all he thought and process that has gone into everyone's statements. I need to think on my own words, as I am remarkably at a loss for just the right few ones. Here are my Pinterest inspiration and style boards...

http://www.pinterest.com/masalagirl/style/

http://www.pinterest.com/masalagirl/inspiration/

Suz. With some common threads in our style, I think of you as disciplined and refined - not in the sense of dressy or mannered, but exact and pared down to essential. Maybe those don't describe your style so much as they do you!

Spare?

I found my original five.

Edgy
Trendy
Wackadoodle
Provocative
Urban

I think they still fit.

@TG -- YES, that is the one! No wonder I couldn't find it; I was searching the forum. Thank you, thank you.

Since lots of us who are still here chimed in on that one, it's interesting to do a now-and-then comparison. I need to think about how my original five have shifted since then.

Kkards, I am afraid I am feeling very much like you right now. Boring, not creative. A bit in a rut.

There are elemements of my style that I feel are hard-wired:
Casual
Tomboy / masculine
Unfussy

But I am not completely satisfied, and I know there is another word (or maybe two) floating out there that I occasionally reach for with some purchases but have not yet fully integrated into my style. Does that make sense?

My sort-of list includes casual, tomboy, simple (unfussy), with an intent toward modern and streamlined.

My arms and wrists can't handle replying to each of you individually here - plus I have a hectic week before we leave for Boston. But many have asked questions, so feel free to post a separate thread in order to receive feedback. Things do get lost in the shuffle of a looooooong thread on a very fast moving forum.

What a great thread! And thanks for linking to the original post. I just looked up my previous adjectives and it's interesting to see which one's I think still fit and which one's may no longer work for me.

I really like Aubergine's definitions for soft and urban upthread (though I would also add an element of edginess and androgyny to her definition of urban). After thinking on it a bit, my other three would be:

Casual -- with both the "informal" and "relaxed" definitions. Any sense of structure in my outfits tends to come less from rigidity in the clothes themselves and more from how colors, textures and layers are put together.

Modern? Approachable? -- edge is there, but in small doses and subtle ways. Hardware on my shoes, edgy jewelry, graphic prints (and I looooove me some colorblock).

Playful -- happy colors mixed in with the black, but not in a hard, high-contrast way: a wool coat in a classic cut, but teal. A necklace with a pearl on it, but it's smushed and grey. A little dose of sweetness, but not too much.

Not sure I've quite nailed it, but this feels closer than I was before I started reading this thread...

My pinterest board: http://www.pinterest.com/eastb.....yle-board/

Style descriptors...I have been trying to come up with my style descriptors for the longest time. And thinking about it just makes me nervous and confused. So I asked myself - what does an outfit need to include to make me feel like "me". And I came up with a bunch of "Bees"...something Black, something Bold, something Bright, something Boho, something Blingy. Not all five at once ...but probably three of the above. Black and Bold as my foundation pieces,... and then I would add a Bright, a Boho or a Blingy...and voila! Where is this leading me? I have no idea.

This is always tough for me because I tend to do better with my style if I don't think about it too much - which should probably be translated into one of my style descriptors, but I'm not sure what word adequately describes that quality - maybe intuitional? But, that's not really a "style" is it?

OK - that's all the time I'm going to spend thinking (hahaha!) about that right now. Off the top of my head, my style descriptors are:

Casual - a product of my lifestyle!

Adventurous - I'm pretty much always open to trying new things - is this the same as Fashion Forward? I like to keep abreast of what is coming up on the scene and be one of the first ones, rather than the last ones trying a new trend.

Sporty - can't help it - I love sports - both participating and spectator-ing!

gotta' have a touch of Rock 'n Roll

Slouchy/RATE - not crisp and not bold colors - muted colors - a little bit distressed

What the heck? This is sooooo not bringing me any closer to "knowing" my style!!!! Any input from anyone????

ETA: forgot Feminine or Soft or what. is. the. adjective?

I have really struggled with this, which is why I'm so late to the party. Here is my still too long, rough draft list, all of which is shamelessly copied from others, and not all of which makes sense together:

*feminine
*tomboyish
*flattering - I want to appreciate own my body and present it in the most flattering way possible
*understated - I prefer subtle details
*effortless (but put together)
*boho - in a subtle way
*soft - texturally and
*relaxed/casual
*current - as others have said, I'd like to look like I am aware of trends, and have been shopping somewhat recently

I'm so glad this thread was revived, because it was such a fun read!

I've had some challenges nailing down 5 adjectives or a persona (although I've got my style statement), but I must've been feeling inspired, because several popped into my head.

• Quaint: "attractively unusual or old-fashioned" is the dictionary definition. I think this covers both my whimsical and old-fashioned tendencies, as well as my attraction to folk styles. And acknowledges that 'cute' is high up there an the list of adjectives people use to describe me.
• Sensible: I love sensible shoes, despite their clunkiness, and durable fabrics/constructions. Dressing for the weather & my activities is very important to me, and I don't care for clothes that constrict my movements. I also like Astrid's use of grounded, which I think hits on a similar idea. I also considered sturdy, but as I often gravitate towards voile blouses, that didn't feel quite right.
  
• Detailed: I learned in the 'what is fussy' thread that I love clothes with little details: piping, pintucks, peter pan collars, embroidery, etc. I prefer delicate jewelry too, so often my details can only be seen closer up. Detailed would also describe my general approach to wardrobe building/style/etc.: I'm nothing if not one for over-analysing a situation. At a stretch, it will cover my penchant for muted colours too: rather than the primaries, I'm drawn to the shades that seem a detailed mix of several different colours.
  
• Pastoral: my favourite outfits tend to have at least a whiff of the country/forests/etc. about them and I'm frequently inspired by 'nature'. I tend towards RATE rather than polished but in a 'petticoat six inches deep in mud' type of way. Also, I'm very interested in hand crafted goods and prioritise them when possible. But of course I live in a 21st century city, and my life is firmly enmeshed in the global economy, so that rural/natural/handcrafted feel is as much an intellectual construction as anything else! Hence pastoral. Other words I considered for this are arcadian, rustic, and homespun.
  
• Tactile: textures and fabrics are important to me: I'm always happiest in outfits that contain a mix. I'm also fascinated by clothes as physical objects, the properties of different fibers, etc.

Any thoughts? I feel I'm getting closer, and I can see these words helping in my shopping/closet sorting/outfit constructing moments. But are there any major aspects of my dressing that you think I've missed? I've found the forum feedback so helpful and unexpected at times.