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Help me with a new third style word? ETA: Sorted! :)

Helena

Veteran

Hi all, chatty Cathy back again!

TL;DR: I would like to swap out the "polished" in my CPC (classic polished casual) style words to something denoting forward movement, sartorially speaking. Any suggestions? ETA: Sorted! Current Classic, with a side of Comfortable on standby

The Whole Story
A confluence of factors has invigorated my style journey. Factors include: a recent sea-change in what is mainstream in my neck of the woods, discussions on here about trends, a long, warm fall (aka the best fashion season!), and my movement towards 50 ...

I'd like to update my style words to reflect my new mood. I'm not looking to blindly follow trends (my foundation is still "classic"), but I *do* want to keep evolving regularly. This does not mean shopping but an attitude of engaging with 'what's new' (on my terms). I think of my 79-year-old Dad who relishes mastering new software ... sometimes because it serves his lifestyle, and sometimes for the simple joy of staying sharp. This is the attitude I want to nurture as I move towards the second half of my life, and style is my sandbox!

Today's outfit is an example. No new pieces, but the styling (soft and light neutrals + black accents) is not something I would have done last year - it's new-to-me and a nod to what I think is current. I feel it is classic and casual but something else ... modern? current? evolving? flowing? fresh? impelling? moving? dynamic?

I'm thinking 80/20 rule - like 80% my classic casual foundation, but 20% something that will push me just a touch outside my comfort zone and give me a direction of growth.

Does that make sense? Any ideas? Thank you!!

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29 replies

Latest reply was from Bonnie

ChristelJ

Veteran

What a wonderful concept of forward motion, done your way. In looking at this totally fab outfit, what comes to mind is: modern and dynamic, yes, and also energetic, relaxed, (both at once somehow!) lively, easygoing or easy, playful...

Nothing wrong with the word modern, and you might even consider replacing two words if it feels right to you and gets closer to the goal.

Marlene1

What about "current, classic, casual"? I think current denotes change, and the change can be in the way items are styled. Doesn't have to be buying new items, although that also applies.

unfrumped

Veteran

Classic Casual Evolution ? Casual Classic Evolution?
Or start a rock band with that name!

Now you’ve got me thinking along those same lines.
For myself I don’t think “ current “ is good because maybe at any given time of year I’m not that, but I’m try, or will find time for a re- boot.
Although, “ Currently Classic “ has a slightly different vibe , a dual meaning perhaps, & hmm, I might want to think about that, but like you I have shifted a much higher % of my wardrobe to casual & sporty.

Helena

Veteran

Thanks so much for your input!

Christie, I've been playing with Classic Ease too, so I like the idea of Ease/Easy/Easygoing instead of casual ... I'm not so much casual as appropriate to the circumstance, which right now is casual. So if my life all of sudden called for dressy I'd be dressy in an instant. But the ease piece is something I want to carry through any level of dress.

Marlene, unfrumped, I like both current and evolution.

Classic Easygoing Evolution? Current Classic Ease? Hmmm ...

rachylou

Veteran

Ease was the first thing that came to mind, but I like easygoing and current better. But I’m not sure they capture the visual enough for my liking. Must think more.

kkards

Veteran

classic current casual

classic 1st because IMO its the core of who you are

Current 2nd because it reflects your thinking, and your continuing to move forward

Casual 3rd because its just seems more evident and needs less emphasis

gryffin

Veteran

I like "current" also, in the same way "still" resonates with me. Current as if flow not just timely, like electricity as in energy and direction, the sense of motion but organic motion, a natural progression. I personally have used still for the enduring classic (which is one of my monikers) as in still/continuing and quiet, centered, motionless but continuing, the yin/yang of these words holding the dichotomy really does it for me, because they have tension and progression.

Irina

Veteran

Contemporary Classic Casual?

Helena

Veteran

Oh oh oh, thank you all so much ... you've really got me thinking and I so appreciate everyone's input!

How about:

Classic - because this is clearly my foundation and my 'natural home base' so to speak

Current - because this is my 'growth' word and I really love what Gryffin says about it's multiple meanings ... i.e. meaning contemporary, etc., but also it has that organic quality, like a river current, which sometimes speeds up and sometimes slows down, in a natural way.

Comfortable - because regardless of whether I need to be dressed casually or more dressy, this is the emotion I want to feel ... psychologically as well as physically. Most of the time this will mean casual clothing; even if dressy though I still want to consider the ability to move easily, feel comfortable in my skin, etc. It encapsulates Ease but starts with a C

Classic-Current-Comfortable? Triple C?

BlueJay

Veteran

I love your top and how you styled it with everything!

As far as another word, I can't help you as I don't have any style words for myself, nor do I have a moniker! I like your definition of "current" with a river. That makes lots of sense!

LJP

Veteran

Dynamic came to mind before I finished reading your post :).

Lesley

Veteran

Interesting to me, I would never choose these monikers for myself (I like to throw an element of what I call Pee-Wee Herman factor into my outfits, for example) and yet your thoughts about the evolution of the wardrobe ring true for me 110 percent! Very well thought out on your part, and interesting to think about how this philosophy can universally apply despite taste differences.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Helena, do you need three words? You are quite the minimalist! Maybe two might suit you better?

Some ideas:

Current Classic

Contemporary Classic

Progressive Classic

Sal

Veteran

I like current and dynamic. I think they capture that energy and motion and sense of pushing yourself a bit.

I am using my three words (bold breezy elegant) as a way to move forward too. Most of my outfits fit two of the words, and if I can encapsulate all three I know they are a winner. If they are only one eg elegant but not breezy or bold, maybe elegantly classic, I need to add something else to make it more me eg a bold necklace or a breezy sneaker...

The Cat

Veteran

Helena, I like your own suggestion best. Classic, Current, Comfortable. This is the style I see when looking at you.

Runcarla

Veteran

No help with words, but I sure do like this outfit and think it is one of the top 10 you’ve shared with the forum this year! So, whatever is fuelling your fashion mojo at the moment, keep it flowing!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Your outfit is fab and a great illustration of your evolution. I love current, especially as described by gryffin, as a word for you. Classic, current, comfortable (as you described also psychologically, so dressed appropriately for your situation) sounds right to me.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Your outfit is terrific and illustrates your new direction and style aspirations perfectly. I love your suggestion -- classic, current, comfortable. Comfortable works because it is responsive to your need to fit your environmental norms as well as your need for physical comfort, practicality to climate, etc. Current for all the reasons Gryffin said. And Classic because -- it's you!

Sally

Veteran

I like the word current too. You are a classic dresser but definitely look current. What about relaxed as an alternative to comfortable?

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

What are the changes that you’re noticing around you? Just curious.

Aurore

Veteran

As a non-native english speaker I may not grasp the correct nuances, but like previous posters I quite like current and dynamic for you. They do seem to echo the state of mind you're describing!

Helena

Veteran

Thank you so much everyone!! Ok, I think I've got it, and it's a combo of recommendations. I think I will keep it simple for now with current classic partly because as Angie wisely pointed out, I do better with simplicity and partly because *right now* I'm trying to push just a smidge out of the comfort zone. Also, from a purely practical standpoint, when I search style words to get inspiration, comfortable returns a lot of loungewear

So comfortable will always come into play but for now I'll keep it bracketed - not eliminated though, as this really is important to me - let's call it "in the holding zone". Or as Sal says, when something feels off, it might be this element that is missing, so I can use for trouble-shooting rather than as a goal per se.

Thank you so much; this thread was extremely encouraging and insightful and I really appreciate every one of you!

Sally, I love relaxed and this is sort of a styling word I'm using right now - to get what to me reads as a current look!

Jessikams, my area is a couple years behind but the 'baggy pants' change has taken effect here, so I see far less skinny jeans and more baggy pants, even among my age group (the kids are ahead of course), which then means shorter tops, different styling, etc. So really it's just my area catching up to fashion, but because I am a mainstream dresser, it means it was time for me to update - not unlike what I did in 2010 or so when I traded in my bootcuts for skinnies, with all the downstream changes that triggered.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yay! Sorted and onward

I think Comfortable is a given these days. We all want to feel comfortable physically and emotionally!

Current implies a slice - big or small - of Casual in my book. It's the way the world is going.

RobinF

Veteran

I love this outfit on you! Still simple like you like but I definitely see the current there too.

LaPed

Veteran

Current classic sounds perfect. The first word that came to my mind was "streamlined" because your looks always have wonderfully clean lines. But "current" in the sense of a flowing stream actually does a good job encompassing that concept too!

And I agree with Angie that comfort should be a given. I suspect physical and psychological comfort is in the subtext of every truly successful outfit.

Sal

Veteran

I like it Helena!

nemosmom

Veteran

Majorly late to this, but just had to chime in to say that Current Classic is PERFECT! (And agree with LaPed and Angie that comfort should be a given!)

Anonymous

Big yay to classic current comfortable! I like current like a flowing stream too!

Bonnie

Veteran

I like Current Classic and your latest outfit. You look great!