Help with moniker

aloha emily

Only my second time posting, I think, and looking forward to your ideas! My inspiration photos have been similar for years, yet I’m having a terrible time summing the style up into a moniker and/or adjectives. Any suggestions?

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6 years ago

Inspiration

16 replies

Latest reply was from karen13

Joy

Veteran

Feminine ( short skirts, heels, long hair), Structured ( jackets, showing leg, skin), Ingenue (young, wholesome)

6 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I see Gamine Urban Utility...

6 years ago

Lynn

Veteran

I saw an earthiness in the images with the olive, denim, leopard. That was just before rachylou posted and I like utility even better good word.
I agree with Joy on the ingenue and feminine elements.
Very cute outfits

6 years ago

aloha emily

Active Member

Thank you!! Your ideas are extremely helpful- you identified some themes that I hadn’t recognized despite looking at these images for years!

What about Gritty Grace Kelly? Gritty for the earthiness/urban/utility you pointed out. Gritty synonyms include intrepid, brave, gutsy, realistic...all characteristics I’d like to embody. Grace Kelly for the floaty skirts and feminine elements.

A uniform I can pull from this now: a simple blouse or t paired with a floaty skirt- often in a feminine print but a surprising darker/coarser/higher contrast colorway, a utility topper and what I call angry shoes and accessories- things with spikes, grommets, etc. A messy updo, black eyeliner and a strong lip- my dream look!!

Here are two attempts from my closet. What do you think? I can foresee four challenges that I’ll need to overcome to rock these- would love your suggestions!

1. What lipstick actually, really, truly stays put?
2. The Grace Kelly vibe means highlighting my waist- something I want to do, but also scares me.
3. The utility topper is key to the look, I think, but I live in south Florida and it’s too hot for toppers ten out of twelve months of the year. What can I substitute for the same effect?
4. It will take some discipline to put real outfits on when I could just pull on the same cut offs and ratty t. But i think It will be worth it.

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6 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I LOVE Gritty Grace Kelly. Darn, wish I’d thought of that!

6 years ago

L'Abeille

Veteran

I don't see Grace Kelly's classic elegance. Maybe a Charlie's Angel?

Or if you want to capture the floaty skirts even better, what about Lauren Bacall in Key Largo? (Bonus: Florida)

Can you wear a utility vest? Over a a tank or other sleeveless top? Some fabbers from seriously hot climes say they can't wear any layers or third pieces so they rely on jewelry.

6 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I see gritty and utility. I like L'Abeille's idea of a utility vest. Maybe you could wear it with a cami or tank. I had one that was very fitted that I wore on its own. I am regretting getting rid of it.
Utility Key Largo.
Gritty Key Largo.

6 years ago

Mainelady

Veteran

Pretty Gritty ingenue?
I think the suggestion of a utility, denim or cargo vests is a great idea, especially if wearing a topper is too hot most of the time.

6 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

Please don’t take offense at what I am going to say, because I am only trying to give you another perspective to consider. It’s important to remember that whatever anyone says here on the forum is meant to be helpful, and not critical of you as a person. With that preface, I think you should consider looking for some new inspiration pictures that more closely match what is practical for your climate. I know it maybe hard to go back and look again if you love these, but, all these looks depend on a structured jacket which you clearly say is not possible for the majority of the year in your climate. See if you can find similar looks where people use jewelry as accessories, or carry interesting handbags. These looks also include a lot of military/utility boots and booties. Do these work for you or will your feet get too hot?

It’s easy to fall in love with a look and indulge in a fantasy, but it can be expensive to ignore the practical realities of your life. Having concrete images to refer to is very helpful.

6 years ago

aloha emily

Active Member

Though I’ve been reading the blog for a couple years, this is my first time really engaging in a forum discussion, and I am amazed by the insightful, constructive input you all have offered!! I’m flattered that you’ve taken time to think about my questions in a meaningful way, and your comments are helping me clarify my goals in practical and significant ways. Thank you!!

Lynn, thank you for pulling out the denim/olive/leopard element, which I hadn’t recognized. I think including one of those- or a hit of zebra print- in every outfit will step up my style consistency and make me happy.

Rachylou, thank you for the word utility- that nails the functional vibe I want to give off, which I also hadn’t recognized until you said it.

Joy- thank you for mentioning wholesome. Is wholesome RATE a thing? Can I make it one? The two seem contradictory but the combination is super appealing to me.

L’Abeille, I Googled Bacall Key Largo and LOVE IT! Grace Kelly is a bit too classic- you’ve nailed it with Bacall.

Mainelady and Style Fan, can i combine your brilliance? Pretty Gritty delights me! And Pretty Gritty Key Largo is so close- except I’m less at home in the Keys than I am speaking Caribbean Spanish and Haitian Kreyol.

Staysfit, I appreciate your comments so much! I definitely make fantasy purchases too often and then stare longingly at the beautiful and useless item hanging in my closet.

In the heat I swap the booties/boots for stompy chunky sandals with grommets/buckles/studs and I’m happy.

Thanks for pushing me to think more about third layers. I said it’s too hot for toppers, but actually I’m more covered in summer than in our very brief “winter” because I hate the feel- and the effects- of the sun beating on my skin. I do need to look away from the heavy structured jackets in the images, but I bet the same silhouette in lightweight fabrics would make me happy and protect my skin.

6 years ago

L'Abeille

Veteran

Chiming in again. I didn't pick up on this from your pictures, but when you mentioned your love of zebra as well as leopard prints, the penny dropped. Have you looked at "safari" as a style or style descriptor? It can incorporate earth tones (sand, olive, khaki), animal prints, and also crisp white; can be rugged or relaxed or floaty/feminine like Out of Africa. And it certainly should be thematically compatible with a hot climate.

6 years ago

aloha emily

Active Member

That’s a really helpful style word for me to keep in mind, but not quite right for a moniker. I’m an English teacher so I obsess over the meanings of words and while safari as a style fits really well, the actual definition is a little too hunting-oriented, which is definitely not my thing.

How about Gritty Pretty Bold?
Gritty (utility, safari, olive/zebra/leopard)
Pretty (soft skirts, florals)
Bold (confident color and pattern combos)

Here’s what I wore today- a weird pose because I was trying to get the shoes into the pic.

Gritty- camo shorts, tennis shoes, spiky gold earrings (not in the pic)
Pretty- soft floral blouse
Bold- red orange shoes with fuschia sweater

I think I’m almost there, but I like how some of the monikers end in a noun, where mine is just adjectives without a noun they refer to. #EnglishTeacherProblems

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6 years ago

Lynn

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I love love love the Pretty Gritty. I has a nice sound to it too. I did not see that much bold in your inspiration pictures but I see boldness in your last picture.

I will probably drive you nuts, since you are an english teacher I had to get thoughts down quickly in my profession so tend to use phrases a lot rather than complete sentences. I apologize in advance

6 years ago

aloha emily

Active Member

I’m grateful for every comment- it is so rewarding to post and have thoughtful feedback! Phrases and/or complete sentences welcome!

6 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I missed this post at the time but have replied to your others. Your musings are helping me think about a new moniker as I'm not happy with last year's Eclectic Matriach. And I love #EnglishTeacherProblems! Mum was a primary school teacher and I'm totally obsessed with grammar and spelling. My greatest wish in life is for my colleagues to be able to spell "inflamed" correctly. Why do they always write "inflammed" ?

6 years ago

karen13

Veteran

I was traveling when you first posted and missed this. Chiming in to say I am so happy you are taking advantage of all the insight and info that YLF has to offer. I love Gritty Pretty Bold.

I want to get DD's English teacher the t-shirt that says "I'm Silently Correcting Your Grammar". Although DD says I should wear it and cross out the "Silently" part.

6 years ago

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