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Evolving Style

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

While sorting through some papers this weekend, I came across a style collage I made a year or so ago that helped me a lot in defining my direction (photo 1).

I wanted to see how things have changed and my thinking has evolved since then, so I spent a leisurely morning browsing Pinterest and collecting new images to more accurately represent where I'm at now. I put together a new college (photo 2) and thought I'd share.

The new collection is still bohemian and definitely looks like it came from the same person as the previous collection, but I think now my style rests somewhere in between Paris and California, if that makes sense. I'm drawn to both simple, feminine pieces with classic lines AND busier, boho prints and textures. Both of these styles share a similar "je ne sais quoi" in the form of a cultivated breeziness.

In particular, since my last mood board:

- I'm now drawn more to florals than geometrics

- I want a teeeeeeeny bit more polish, especially in the form of lipstick and structured bags

- Because I'm an essentials-heavy dresser, I tried to include outfits that show pieces similar to my essentials. Acknowledging reality.

Anything else you notice? Both collages side-by-side in photo 3.

I'm not in the midst of any sort of fashion about-face, but it's interesting to see some slow, wide turns starting to happen. I'd love to hear how you feel like you've evolved over the past few years. Do you make big changes or undergo slow evolution?

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21 replies

Latest reply was from Lynn

krishnidoux

Veteran

Wow, this is fun post! I want to take up the challenge. Listening to Joni Mitchell's California, I'm looking at your collages (BTW that song sounds eerily current).
I notice that in the new collage, there are a lot of longer toppers comparend to the earlier one.
It also look like the first one was done with summer in mind, whereas the most recent one includes items such as cowboy boots and trench.
It looks to me - and it's very subtle - that your second collage expresses a desire to bring forth your overall silhouette rather than showcase a given detail or feature. There seems to be more cohesion in the second one.

Style Fan

Veteran

Great idea. As an aside I love Jeanne Demas' style. In the second collage I can see black essentials such as long-sleeved T-shirts and jeans setting the stage for gorgeous floral statement long duster toppers. The second collage seems flowier than the first.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What a fantastic idea! I think I'll take this up if I get a chance.

It's really interesting to see the subtle shifts, yes. It could be that the moody florals feel more feminine and bold than geometrics -- for now. But there's definitely a common foundation in the use of black, cognac, khaki, and patterns on a black background, as well as in the relaxed silhouettes.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Interesting about the lipstick and structured bags - those are exactly the things I am drawn too when I want to feel more polished also. The second board strikes me as bit more pretty if I had to put a word on it.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

To answer your last question first, since retiring I've slowly come back to all the things I've always loved. I grew up in the late 60s & still love boho lite.

Take out the black & substitute navy or denim blues & soft olive & add some drop-crotch pants & wide leg crops/culottes & your latest collage is very similar to my wardrobe.

Some of the changes may be seasonal but I agree they look like they come from the same person

Greyscale

Veteran

Yes, I've had a slow and steady shift over the past few years. Fewer avant garde layers and asymmetric pieces, more androgynous classics. But definitely still me.

It seems like there's less cognac/brown leather in the new collage. Coincidence or a shift? The girl in the brown leather jacket in the first collage is so emblematic of a sort of hipster boho minimalism, and it occurs to me that I don't see that look as often around me these days (then again I've been a hermit, so who knows). Nothing in the older collage is dated at all, just sometimes a look is right at the front of trends and sometimes it's more part of the millieu.

rachylou

Veteran

The collages are really a lovely idea for tracking evolution. A very nice snapshot. Seems you’re going a bit more romantic...

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I agree that the vibe in both is very similar but I seealiitle more floaty ness,fluidity if you like in the second collage compared to the first.

Anonymous

What a fascinating evaluation. I am blown away by how you did this. I personally am in a style evaluation. For me, the entire process has been perplexing, frustrating, and stressful. Perhaps putting together a collage would would be move me toward a strong foundation.

Mainelady

Veteran

What a great idea you had to compare style collages! It makes me think I need to do a review of my Pinterest style board.
The changes I see are, as you said subtle. Classic black with more feminine florals. It looks like the longer lengths are appealing to you now.
It looks like your new style picks have more accessories. I see quite a few jewelry, scarves, and bags.

jussie

Veteran

Beautiful pics I like your style. Mostly I can see how consistent your aesthetic is! I personally think that’s good in a lot of ways, and has helped you develop a strong signature look that I’ve seen in your outfit pics so far.
Personally, I’m influenced heavily by trends, and also I changed location to a much more conservative area. So I have reduced the girlish ness/ super twee looks I wore 5 years ago and also toned down a little on the colours and prints. Very interesting thread

LaPed

Veteran

Well, your collages both strike me as incredibly cohesive, and they certainly articulate your style well. The first seems slightly harder-edged, while the second is softer and flowier with the duster-length toppers and dark florals. Definitely a slightly more romantic vibe. It seems that your Johnny Was kimono is going to be a great piece to set your style course for the year.

I don't think my style has ever done a complete 180. There's a solid core of items that I've always had and loved. I have a picture of myself as a five year old playing outside in a white button-down shirt and boys Levi's... basically the same hair cut too...

Staysfit

Veteran

I definitely see the changes. The geometric patterns in the first are primarily black and white, and the florals add some subtle color to your wardrobe. It is more feminine and a warmer look.

Vix

Veteran

Hi Jenn --

For me it seems like you had a divide -- either boho *or* classic/sporty. [Even the earlier interior design photos reflected that split.]

Now, you're drawn to looks that merge the styles. Definitely a fun way to feel grounded yet open at the same time!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Jenn, your mood boards are GREAT. How fun.

Personally, I find the mood on both boards the same. That means you are consistent and have a signature style. Lucky you!

Helena

Veteran

Jenn, what a great idea - I love the idea of keeping old ones so that you can see the evolution, rather than using the snapshot approach.

The biggest thing I see if the difference in prints ... perhaps the second is a touch more feminine (in the traditional sense of the word) ... but there is great consistency between the two.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Thank you all so much! It's really fun to see these through other people's eyes, as it's really easy, when you're making them, to get caught up in minor details. Angie, I think think you're right in that the mood is largely the same. The first collage was largely aspirational, as I was just starting to build out my wardrobe. The second is much more indicative of the types of things I own. I now have a floaty kimono topper, an embroidered sweater jacket, a tan trench, and a black maxi. I had none of those things two years ago! And the bottom middle image in the second collage is basically my work-at-home uniform that I wear 2-3 days a week.

krishnidoux, I don't quite see the seasonal differences that you do. The first collage has two deep summer dresses, a couple of sweaters that might be appropriate for a Colorado winter, and mostly spring/fall transitional outfits. The second collage has two deep summer dresses and pretty much all the rest would be transitional outfits in my climate. We have a lot of transitional-type days (or parts of days in the summertime) scattered amongst the extremes throughout the year, so I'd call that our dominant season. You and Vix pointed out the same thing with regards to cohesion, though. Maybe that means I've learned a bit about how to "style" in the past couple of years. Thank you, YLF!

Style Fan, man, Jeanne Damas is the epitome of the French bohemian. She's probably half of why I got bangs cut last year, and why I'm still considering going back to them.

Suz, it's definitely an activity for a lazy day, when you have some free time. For me, it was fun and relaxing, but I can see the whole project being frustrating for others.

shevia, you're really good at balancing RATE with polished. You're so right about the lipstick, though! I still can't get over what a difference it makes!

Caro in Oz, it's interesting how we cycle, isn't it? I was actually pretty preppy when younger, though. And then kind of punk. Then again, I remember drooling over Gunne Sax dresses in the 80s, and my mom liked to dress me like I was out of Little House on the Prairie as a child, so I guess those are sort of boho roots. If you squint.

Greyscale, I love the idea of a slow shift, because you can still wear your older pieces, even as you may be purchasing slightly differently. I know it doesn't always work out that way, though! Sometimes, you just change. I think the cognac thing is more coincidence than anything. I would wear cognac or brown in a some of the places where the models are wearing black (belts, shoes, bags), but I do tend to wear it more as accessories than in large chunks. I could absolutely still build the black dress/brown jacket outfit out of my wardrobe, but I don't know if I'd wear it quite like that anymore. I couldn't even tell you why, either!

rachylou, lace and flowers will do that, I guess! No ruffles, though!

Cardiff Girl, you might be right. Very subtle, though!

Sterling, see what I wrote to Suz above! If you do it, go into it when you have some time and can relax into it. I have a lot more images on my board than ended up on the final mood board. I tried to distill things down to representative samples. I plan to keep the collage in my datebook to refer to when making shopping decisions. Not looking for exact dupes, but "would this item fit in?"

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Okay, I clearly have a lot to say here!

MaineLady, interesting takeaway about the accessories! My mom died about two years ago and I think my mourning took, in part, the form of really paring down and simplifying what I wore. I went through a phase of wearing very simple lines and only the most basic of accessories. It felt right at the time, but I always knew it was a moment in my life that wouldn't last forever.

jussie, I don't remember how old you are, but do you think reducing the twee looks just had to do with your change in location, or was it also just a natural part of getting a bit older? I do think we adapt to where we live. I feel a little outside the norm for the small town where my house is. Go an hour's drive to Boulder or Denver, and I fit in much better. That's close enough. I might dress a lot differently if I lived on the east coast.

La Pedestrienne, that's funny! I feel like I've changed a lot, style-wise, over time! Your comment about hard-edge speaks to me because, despite all the black, a rocker vibe doesn't resonate with me at all. I love black, love the way it looks on me, love the practicality, but I want to carry it in a softer, more natural way.

Staysfit, my lighting is bad, but the ikat patterns in the first collage are mostly on indigo rather than black. The florals are still softer and more colorful, though, you're right. My house is very colorful, so I'm not opposed to it aesthetically. I'm just finally learning that, on myself, I prefer it as part of patterns instead of in both swaths.

Vix, thanks for mentioning the interior design photos! It might seem strange that I included those but, for some reason, they help cement the aesthetic for me.

Angie, mood boards aren't for everyone, but I LOVE having the visuals. Plus, it was a nice way to spend a quiet morning while K worked and kiddo slept in.

torontogirl, yes! The difference in prints was the first thing I noticed too. The florals and ikats would work fine together, and I'd still happily wear either, so I wonder if part of that is just a shift in what's trending right now.

The Cat

Veteran

Interesting. I see the differences, and your style evolves gracefully.

My own style undergo slow evolution. I have been kind of fine-tuning it, and so far, I am very pleased with the results. However, I expect my style to continue to evolve, just like I hope that my personality will keep growing.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

The Cat, "gracefully" is a nice word. Thank you.

Lynn

Veteran

Jenn- Sorry to be late commenting. I love both your mood boards. I kind of did this with my Pinterest boards but they contain a lot more pictures. I think it would help me to distill them down even more as you have done.

My take- I see a cohesion in the silhouettes of the garments that you are drawn to in both boards. However the fabrications in the second board are more boho.

Totally agree that our dominant season here in Colorado is transitional weather which occurs in every season!