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My Style Journey...continues:)

Deborah

Veteran

I really enjoyed Caro's post today. Check it out if you haven't already.

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....inter-2013

Her post encouraged me to put my recent thoughts on paper.

Interestingly I had been thinking along similar lines the past few days, that I need to narrow the field a little. And I have been feeling like I have strayed a little from my true self and am thus starting to really consider my style (again?) For the record I don't see this is a negative, as I suspect trying and testing different looks etc generally leads you to 'you'.

Elegant Eclectic is accurate interpretation and I appreciate the scope it allows. However I think in some ways I may be a little more Avant Garde/Chic. While I am certainly not an extreme Avant Garde, this particular profile resonated with me.

"The Avant Garde/Chic is someone who moves back and forth between these two style types as needed, so that she is more approachable. Incorporating one avant garde piece - say a pair of modern jodphurs, or a blazer with an asymmetrical zipper closure instead of the traditional two button or three button blazer - will give you just the right Avant Garde edge without looking loony? It will add interest but still look sophisticated"

Reading this quote from "Nothing to Wear" made me realise this is my dilemma. I love black, drape, and drama BUT (like most of you I am sure) my life incorporates a number of different environs and I have a natural inclination towards appropriateness. So how do I manage appropriateness but still maintain the essence of “my style”

So! I recognise that I really like the juxtaposition of different styled garments.

I like;

slim pants worn with an oversized topper and then topped with a shorter draped jacket
an unstructured dress with drape, or some form of asymmetry, with a structured and tailored jacket.
a slim fitting, structured dress, with an unstructured jacket or knit drapey cardigan

Im sure you get the picture?

As an example, I love my pencil skirts (a lot) but I don't want to wear them with the conventional fitted blazer. There is little in my wardrobe that I have purchased over the past 18 months that I don't want, I just want to wear it 'my way'.

I think I do some of this naturally, but I want to be more intentional in this direction.

I hope this isn't too much “naval gazing” for you all, I do try not to over think it all too much, and if you have read this far you are a legend!

Thanks for taking the time and I would really value your thoughts. Anyone else working through something similar?

xxx Deborah

General

27 replies

Latest reply was from Firecracker (Sharan)

RoseandJoan

Veteran

This is a really interesting post Deborah (must read Caro's next).

Primarily when I think of your style the adjectives elegant, chic and polished spring to mind but you are right and this is too simplistic, there is also a little tension or frisson there as well.

For example there are many square inches of print dedicated to the new easy elegance but this IMO does not capture your style, rather your outfits have a drama which is underpinned by the elegance or dare I say classic.

Your examples also highlight the building blocks of your style; classic elegant pieces + a dramatic piece = elegant eclectic.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Thanks Deborah:)

"The Avant Garde/Chic is someone who moves back and forth between these two style types as needed, so that she is more approachable. Incorporating one avant garde piece...

You need to frame this - it's the perfect quote for you. It describes the tension/edge you need to be able to feel like "you" all underpinned with the modern classic & lady-like part of your persona. It also allows for movement between the two which is important for the eclectic imo.

Hil

(website)

Veteran

Deborah - I enjoy the drama and elegance in your outfits - they really inspire me, more than I initially thought.

I love how you are able to pinpoint the finer elements so that you can really fine tune your look, and I am sure, your shopping, as a result!

I am still at the very early stages of just being able to say I like "that". I need to start analysing why I like "that".

Deborah

Veteran

Jules you may say 'classic", I always appreciate your perspective, you have a gift of being particularly succinct in your assessment.

So Caro, do you feel that quote in any way embodies how your view your own style?

Hil YLF has helped me pinpoint the finer elements. I find that the conversations we all share on the forum can really help to define things better and also stimulate our thinking and assessment of our style in a way that we couldn't achieve on our own. And I am beyond flattered that my style inspires you:)

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Yes I do Deborah - but it is interesting that I see it as perfect for you & somewhat descriptive of me. I'm moving away from those dramatic pieces & black a little. The driver for my style at the moment seems to be the androgynous aspect.

I would like my descriptor to read womanly androgyny (as opposed to tom-boy or bombshell). So it could fit within the avant garde chic or it may be more modern classic. I would like to achieve this style without having to resort to skirts or dresses:)

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

This is very interesting (and I will read Caro's thread next). Your descriptions of some ideal outfits say to me that you don't want to be completely avant garde to the point that your outfit is more the focus than you are, but you do want to make some sort of statement with your style beyond a quieter modern classic elegance (which you know how to do superbly also). Not sure that makes sense, but I enjoyed reading your thoughts and they are giving me food for thought.

lyn67

Veteran

Very interesting, your's and Caro's thread, too.

I feel your outfits are generaly fitting your style descriptors (elegant eclectic) very well. It was said by Angie, too! Do you mean avantgarde when featuring slounch, drape or some kind of assimetry? I can also recognize your personality there in, too-as it not goes overwoard, and still elegant. So, I guess-not to worry much about.

I for myself, have consciously stood far away from proclaiming my own style descriptors, exactly for the same reason, as after YLF it felt I am experimenting with so many things (ha, of course many for me, only:-)).

BTW, I don't know if it relates here, but for ex. I I would have said exactly the same about not wanting to wear a pencil with a conventional fitted blazer. But I am thinking you would have choosen to wear it with a drape top, or high/low slonchy jacket rather than my choices of a graphic tee and a structured denim jacket.
Does this make any difference?
I guess, it does! Just cannot put my finger on....Thus, it's possibly due to my overall fittness/body posture/condition, as I feel I am a slonchy person myself, so need some support from my clothes, meanwhile you probably don't need that, so will choose the arty, drapey silouttes, much more frequently.

LOL, didn't want to hijack your thread for myself, just TOL(thinking out loud):-).

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Oh wow Deb - do I relate to some of these thoughts!

FWIW I think you have an incredibly good handle on what your style is and I do think most of us adapt our style/outfits here and there to make them appropriate for the occasion or venue we are attending. "Elegant eclectic" is definitely the backbone of your style and I have often mentioned that you wear draped items better than anybody I know. I honestly don't recall seeing you in an outfit that didn't look like "you".

I think you already incorporate some avant garde pieces in terms of asymmetrical hemlines and fits. As you know, the whole idea of an avant garde piece is something I've been thinking about as well.

May I ask in what ways you feel you have strayed from your true self? And have you strayed for experimental purposes or are you afraid that your style will become too predictable? I know that's something I worry about a fair bit - although I have tried and true silhouettes I adore, I'm afraid of that becoming like a uniform for me and folks saying "oh there's Shannon in another dress and booties combo...boring".

lyn67

Veteran

Ha, Shannon!:-) Are we twins?
I am aware about others might say "oh there's lyn67 in another dress... or skirt combo...boring", but aim rather make them say ""oh there's lyn67 who sports dresses and skirts so well/different"...LOL.

sarah

Veteran

It's great to hear your musings, Deborah - it sounds like you have quite a lot figured out in terms of what resonates with you, stylewise - your descriptions and examples sound very you.

Vix

Veteran

Hi Deborah --

I think style statements/descriptors have to absolutely resonate with the one "wearing" them, because ideally they help one shop for and then assemble items in ways that feel right no matter what the occasion.

So I'd listen to your gut re the Avant Garde/Chic description...it's telling you there's a continuum you like to travel, and the AG/C describes it. I agree you're rather a stealth dramatic type and the AG portion really makes allowance for that.

To me, Lyn's comment about how she prefers to wear a pencil skirt vs what you're drawn to pairing with one says it all. Members look good in a lot of different "inspired by"/copycat looks, but it's the ones that FEEL right that have to be our guideposts if we're the types who need to feel centered with our style.

Your "I like this worn like that" exercise is really great and I've done similar; it will keep you focused going forward -- and you're already a really focused dresser/expresser (from my perspective, anyway!). And as you know you can always adapt later on....

I know a lot of YLFers also read stylist Imogen Lamport's blog. She recently did a post about her 2-word style statement, and I was a little "Oh THAT boring ole word?" at first but her explanation makes sense. It's a great example of how the way(s) others see us can be useful but not useful enough.

Here's her post:

http://www.insideoutstyleblog......style.html

...and here's the post where she asked others what words they thought of re her style:

http://www.insideoutstyleblog......-statement.

Sara L.

Veteran

I always find posts about how people think about style and their own descriptors to be fascinating. It sounds like you have a good handle on where you want to go with your style and how to get there.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You're an Avant Garde Chic Elegant Eclectic

Thistle

Veteran

I have really enjoyed you WiWs. Elegant but with a hint of the unexpected in terms of drape and texture. Sophisticated but not boring.

I look forward to seeing the next leg of your journey.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Love this, Deborah. You often claim that you are not articulate about your own style - but this post definitely puts the lie to that! I love the Avant Garde/ chic descriptor and think it fits you to a T! (In fact, I'd like to borrow some of that for myself, too...though I am still very much working on incorporating the avant garde, and perhaps, like Caro, want to go in a slightly more androgynous direction with it.)

Anyway -- it is funny, but I read Caro's post first and suggested exactly this technique -- incorporating the avant garde piece into the more classic outfit!!

Onto you -- I am curious about how you feel you have strayed from "you." I haven't noticed that in the outfits you have posted. But perhaps it is a function of summer dressing being so extremely difficult and the way that none of us seems to feel as fab in our summer wear? It is difficult to add that dramatic flair in a way that doesn't also add to the heat!

Quiet drama -- that is how I think of your style. Strong, simple, modern, clean, but also a touch edgy.

rachylou

Veteran

That's a great quote, Deborah. Interesting but appropriate is something that we almost all want... in different ways.

You know, I definitely think of you as chic, but avant garde are not words that would've come to mind. Now that I think about it, tho, if you showed up in golf pants and a collared tank, I might take it as a sign you'd been ill. You do have quite a lot of avant garde pieces. I wonder if maybe chic always involves the avant garde...

Avant garde to me - btw - is a smidgen too far, but not so far they'll put up signs telling you to use the back door, hehe.

Deborah

Veteran

Ladies, thanks so much for participating in this conversation. This is one of the many aspects of YLF, a group of women who talk til the sun goes down about style:)

Caro, "womanly androgeny" is very apt. I need to think on this a bit and it definitely helps me understand better where you feel you are heading.

Shevia, I think you totally get me "you do want to make some sort of statement with your style beyond a quieter modern classic elegance" - your quote absolutely hits the nail on part of what I want to achieve.

Lyn, I do understand what you are getting at, and I guess we are all on similar journey.

Shannon, I think summer has been a bit discouraging style wise and I also found myself playing with some more corporate or conservative outfits last year. These three come to mind. I know they look nice.... but! To give you a visual #1 and #2 below look ok but this are not how I want to look. #1 I wore to speak at a church womens meeting and #2 was an office outfit - on me both of these make me yawn. #3 I think I would do again because I feel the jacket and the shoes give the outfit that little unexpected something. I think I have been experimenting purely for the sake of trying something different and also as a creative outlet. Im not really afraid to be become predictable in my style, I really like the idea of having a very strong signature style. Angie mentioned in her current blog post that she wears her white jeans at least twice a week (I think that's what she said:)) and just how much she loves her white jeans. I love love love asymetrical black tops and in truth I could wear one with different bottoms 7 days a week. I have realised that my love of variety is not a love of lots of different styles, its a desire to have variations on a particular style that I like... does that make sense? And just for the record, I don't think anyone would call you 'boring', I think you also have a strong personal style and if anything that continuity of style is actually a very pleasing thing to the viewer, it demonstrates you have a strong sense of who you are

Sarah, thank you! I think I'm getting there

Vix, I always enjoy your extremely well thought out thoughts:) I also appreciate the encouragement to trust my instincts. I will read Imogen's posts, thanks for linking them.

Sarah L, thank you for the encouragement.

Angie, so succinct:) Thanks for chiming in and I take it that you don't think Im too far of track:)

Thistle, thank you! Boring is probably my greatest style fear.

Suz, if I am articulating well, it because of all the practice and excellent wordsmiths we have here on the forum In relation to your question about how I have strayed - see comment in response to Shannon and photos :)IAnd I think I m going to pop your words on paper and put them up in my wardrobe "Quiet drama -- that is how I think of your style. Strong, simple, modern, clean, but also a touch edgy" - I like this a lot. Thank you.

Rachylou, you are too funny for words. If I turned up anywhere in golf pants and a collared tank my husband would have me committed! Good question about the combination of chic and avant garde. I think chic can be combined with other styles too.

Again, thanks for taking the time to read, your input is invaluable.

xxx Deborah

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Mia

Veteran

I have that book that your quote is from and I love it. I think you have a clarity here that will be invaluable going forward. Your pics above are right on. The first two outfits are fab but I would agree both fall in the "chic" category while the #3 is more of the chic/avant garde and therefore more "you". A stunning visual.

Have you seen the Lucky style book? They have more categories and one part of the book shows style combos just like this for people who take a more eclectic approach. Your outfits should be in the book!

catgirl

Veteran

Your thoughts inspired my thoughts on Rae's Camerons post today. How's that for resonance? This was an epiphany for me, and thank you for sharing.

Deborah

Veteran

Una I love your comment on Rae's post ...I just feel like I've come around to the same old me, only MUCH better and more practiced - have gone through and discarded many personas... and there's so much room within those categories to winnow further. Same with colors - smaller color palette is where I see myself headed.
I totally relate. You are in my head

amiable

Veteran

Wow - I love this whole conversation, and the "Avant Garde Chic" persona for you. Sometimes I wish I had the personality to pull of a higher drama style, and probably will try it out, just for fun. I'm pretty sure that "home" that I'll keep coming back to though, is very much wall-flower and girl-next-door. But that's okay too. The change of seasons is such a perfect time to introspect about style - I love reading all of yours and others' reflections.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Deborah, I do think you look more "yourself" in the more avant garde styles, tempered by basic pieces. I am heading in that direction, myself, and I can really relate with the corporate wear - I have been wearing outfits that I find very NOT me. I've been blaming this on my weight gain, and not wanting to buy new clothes, but somehow in there I've also just realized that I want to move further away from traditional clothes anyway, which have in the past been a staple. So this might be another reason why I've been wearing very boring outfits - I no longer feel completely myself in what used to be things that were my style.

On the other hand, I can think back to a few favorites and the avant garde elements are still there.

Oh, also, do you know the shoe brand United Nude? I was at the store in London and thought it was something you might like.

Deborah

Veteran

Jenava you comments are interesting. When I was working years back in a corporate environment my wardrobe was very suit and jacket based. I think I liked it at the time because it made me 'feel' very 'grown up'. Now I am grown up and feel I don't have anything to prove so I can just be me:)

I don't know the brand but will look it up now.. thank you.

Are you back or still in London? Hope you are having/had a wonderful time.

bj1111

Veteran

Deobrah, what you call boring in your #1 is what i aspire to...the use of color sophisticated, the detail on the jacket collar really stressing the chic element. I wish i could dress as cohesively as you have regularly, nevermind effortlessly.

I can see why you are bored with #2. The whole thing is predictable, with the use of the striped jacket as an updating element...a bit (no offense) church lady.

Swapping the black jacket in #3 increases the drama and the visual impact of the outfit, including the impression you give.

Ok...i parsed this out for me, because i assume you have much more insight into your outfits!

I think i am your kindred fashion spirit.

Ps...i think i am making this journey in reverse, where i need to dress more like a "grown up" for work. And i think i resent it just a bit.

deb

Veteran

Deborah, I love your style! There is an ease that comes through in your WIW's. I do not see this ease in the photos you posted on this thread. Are you finding there is correlation between your wardrobe and your life as you re-evaluate your style?

Anonymous

Deborah, this thread and Caro's are full of valuable insights. As I get older, I feel compelled to assemble a wardrobe that can serve me well in the retirement years ahead when updates need to be inexpensive due to a limited income. Making peace with this need and my enjoyment of trying new things cause tension.
Your outfits almost always seem very true to your style and exciting. I want to have that clarity. Your photos make sense. The 3rd photo seems much more "you" than the other two. Your list of the type of outfits you like most to wear was also helpful as an example.
It's fascinating that we are both Elegant Eclectics but I would not be comfortable in what looks fabulous on you. I lack a womanly body and look strange in draping garments, although I still own a few. Instead I need structured clothing to give my body some shape.
The changing seasons and different wardrobe needs make this an excellent time to contemplate our style.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Fascinating post and discussion. Thanks for sharing your journey and your thoughts on it here, Deborah. I am inspired by your style, and it's interesting to read that you are wanting to refine your approach, "to narrow the field," at bit.

Like others, I see your style as beautifully coherent from your posts. But in the photos you've included above, I see what you mean. I think of 3 as "you," and the other two less in keeping with your recent looks. When I look at outfits I posted a year ago, I think, Gee, I'm not sure I'd wear that now. It's fun to see our styles evolve, and I love how YLF provides a unique mirror.

As another Elegant Eclectic, I feel the way Joy does--that I would not be comfortable in some of the outfits that look gorgeous on you, though I am often inspired by them to try something that is in some way similar. The EE descriptor does encompass a lot of interpretations. I came up with "understated invention" as a style descriptor when I worked through a book whose title escapes me now. That, too, is a broad term and very much like EE though I like the way "invention" captures both the fact that I like to wear things I've made and that I like to invent ways of wearing more common pieces.

I like Suz's coinage "quiet drama" for you, too. I wonder if "architectural" has any resonance with you? I think your style is somewhat "avant garde," yes, but never to the extent that it becomes bizarre. You are always, always elegant looking. I would put elegant first in your descriptor.