Gaylene, yes, makes it much more simple to sort through everything out there. And so true about things that look good on but aren’t really *you* - so easy to buy in the moment because of that, and then they fail to satisfy.

LP - Right? Right. There’s something about preppy style. It doesn’t like to let go of a person, lol.

FashIntern - I think the thing about having a fashion persona, for me, is that it enables me to think less. It’s a memory trick for me. I like to think about fashion but not about what I’m wearing. Then I get a glimpse of my thoughtlessness...

This is a really interesting conversation and made me think !

I don’t think I have a “style moniker” I relate back to as I shop. Nor do I check things off in my head before I purchase . I do however check for quality . Although I have a definite style and I can find words to describe my style (is that fashion persona)? Is that different than Moniker ? I think I may be confused !
I think it is more visual for me rather than intellectual when shopping my style . I am intuitively /visually drawn to certain items , colors, and shiloetts, without any thought .
I can quickly scan a couple of racks and even eliminate entire stores or sections of stores just by the vibe it gives as “definitely not me”. But it’s interesting that if I see something that I know “is me” I instantly know it !
Part of the impulse shopper in me I guess .

Taylor, I think different “guides” work for different people. Some find a two-word descriptor invaluable, some want guide words, while others choose celebrities or public figures as inspiration. Visual stimulation, intuition, images, personas, style guides like Kibbe, the list of possibilities is probably as diverse as are people. And, I suspect, many of us use more than a single “guide” as an way of sorting out what works and what doesn’t.

On a side note, comments like “It’s just clothes” and “I just wear what I like” gets a lot more complex once you start thinking about why we choose what we choose... Like it or not, our clothes are one of the most obvious ways we send cues to others about our gender, age, occupation, affiliations, culture, social class, interests, and on and on. And clothes are powerful way to let others know something about who I am before we even speak to each other. Clothing can build bridges between people—or create barriers. It can help people figure out how to approach me, or can make them cross the street to avoid me. Style is fun, but it is serious stuff when you see the misinterpretations and negative interactions based on nothing more than a head scarf or skirt length.

Gaylene - you are so eloquent. I am nodding, yes that's it exactly...followed by I wish I could have written that! That's exactly why fashion and personal presentation are important to me. When there is complete harmony between who you are and how you want to present yourself - it's empowering and transcendent. Clothing falls away, and you are just yourself, in the best possible way.

Before working with a moniker and style descriptors, I had 'personas' for different occaisions based on the way I thought I should look. My closet held mostly complete outfits specific to the events or activities. I felt appropriately dressed for the occaisions, but I sometimes felt like I was in costume and not authentic to my 'brand' (thank you Kkards!)

It took me a while to get with Angie's program. I did struggle with my moniker. Forum members helped. I've used Acedemichic (thanks to Racheylou - loved that one!), and both Elegant Tomboy and Happy Tomboy (from Angie).

Now I shop with my moniker and descriptors in mind, and I'm able to make outfits by visualizing what a Tomboy might wear for such-and-such an occaision. I also keep a journal, tear pictures from magazines, and maintain a couple of Pinterest boards. Really, I don't even have to think about it because most of my items already fit my descriptors. If/when I have a garment I'm struggling with, I ask myself is it outside my fashion persona or am I due for a shift?

For ME the moniker and descriptors are a tool that works because I DO want to feel authentic, and a consistent style facilitates this, and a high happiness factor.

Gaylene - A thoughtful and eloquent response as always ! So much wisdom!
Thank you !

Gaylene - style moniker - Gentlewoman

My style moniker helps me stay focused. For example, I am tempted to try items that look great on others or fall into a trend whether it suits me or not. Several times it has saved me from making purchasing mistakes.

First of all, Rachylou, thank you for bringing Neil Gaiman into the conversation- London Below, it is!

Second: WOW, all these meaty and thoughtful responses! Much more “philosophy of life” and not so much “how many necklaces should I wear at one time?”

At this stage, for me, style descriptors serve to keep me on track when shopping OR just getting dressed because I have a hungry and democratic eye- I love to LOOK at everything! But I don’t look good in everything (baby blue, please stand up)— and I don’t FEEL right in everything (pleated skirts, I’m talking to you...). So the style descriptors can help me discern what feels off about an outfit, and learn and evolve.

Taylor, that sounds a lot like how I’ve always shopped. With the exception of when I put on a bunch of weight for a couple years, I’ve generally been able to tell what things, on the hanger, will work for me.

RL and Carla, interesting that you both see this as a shortcut. To me it sounds like way too much thinking, and too much homework, finding a celeb whose style I like? Tearing pix out of magazines? A Pinterest board? Remembering it all (most people seem to have a longer explanation for their short & snappy moniker) when I’m considering buying something? Ugh, no thank you. Much simpler to shake my head and put things back, even if I can’t enunciate what I don’t like. (I am, however, learning a bit of fashion vocab here, and was glad to I could communicate what I didn’t like about various boots while shopping with Inge recently, even though I didn’t have a mantra.)

I want to add that it's FUN for me - (maybe not you) - to have a Style Moniker and Style Descriptors - (as well as the fact that it personally keeps me focused). It becomes intuitive after a while too.

Some people enjoy counting wears and having elaborate spreadsheets of their wardrobe items precisely because it's fun for them (and keeps them focused/organized). I don't want to count my wears, nor do I want to create spreadsheets when my entire wardrobe is beautifully documented in FINDS. But I totally get that others do, and respect the fun-factor and what works for them.

Horses for courses. Always.

Great question, jessikams.

I think the answer is hidden in the part you skipped over ("once you've figured out your 'style descriptors'..."). What I mean is, if you dig deep and come up with words that describe who you really are, not just how you want to look, well, those are powerful words. When you know who/what you really are, well, you want to *be* that, all the time. It goes a lot deeper than just using the words when you shop or dress, though of course that happens.

There are no neutral clothes. Everything communicates, and if your clothes aren't communicating who you are, then they're communicating who you aren't. Even to yourself. When I dress like me, I feel happy, and when I wear perfectly acceptable clothes that don't look like me, I feel invisible.

I have a default style (old-school ladylike) that looks good, but is at odds with who I really am. Like Rachylou, I find that persona amounts to false advertising--it attracts people looking for something quite other than my unconventional, earthy self. You can find yourself being devalued all the time by others, if your clothing is attracting the wrong others.

I like this, Laura: “if you dig deep and come up with words that describe who you really are, not just how you want to look, well, those are powerful words. When you know who/what you really are, well, you want to *be* that, all the time.”

There is agency in being who you are all the way through, and there are a lot of things that get in the way of that. Although it seems you shouldn’t have to do anything to simply be - you are already who you are after all - it’s the human condition to have to fight your way clear.

Also this: Ohmigosh. Someone once threw down this 2000 page book on my desk, big academic tome, about how categorisation is THE mechanism of thought and knowledge. They did it because, I’m sure, me and my brother are probably the only people in the world who’d read it for fun, lol. Anyways, interesting things come out in the describing of things...

Hmm, another person who tends to wear things who feels they aren’t who she really is. I still don’t “get” how that happens, but am becoming aware that it’s more common than I realize. I mentioned recently that I have at times felt I “should” like something that did t feel really comfortable. For me, that feeling is enough, and I don’t want to wear it.

LOL, I am one of those people that Angie referd to. I am terrified of style monikers and descriptors, but on another hand, enjoy counting and spread sheets. Wandering if this is mutually exclusive?

No Anchie, I like both! Any kind of analysis is good with me, lol.

I find anything that helps me define my style useful. And if an outfit isn’t working they often help me figure out what I need to add or change.

LauraG, really wise words. I hadn’t really connected those dots before, but actually my style wordscould also be used to describe other areas of my life.

And Angie, of course, thank you for the reminder that each of us enjoys this process differently. Some like making “finds,” some like making spreadsheets, some take pics and some write descriptions- this is all supposed to be fun!