Please help me with a Monkier and adjectives - YouLookFab Forum

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Please help me with a Monkier and adjectives

Elizabeth P

Veteran

OK, enough of this being yet another thing that I'd like to do. Time to ask you wonderful imaginative people for input.

I've just found a bunch of my favourite outfits from the past year, ones that had a high Happiness Factor, for one reason or another. I'd LOVE it if you could cruise through them quickly and see if there are any things that jump out as consistent, that could help me with defining both a Monkier and some adjectives.

Adjectives that I've toyed with are:
Unencumbered: I need my clothes to be comfortable, and allow me to do my thing without fussing with them.
Edgy: I need a bit of edge to my outfits... not a lot, but a bit.
Bold: I think this covers both my need for high contrast, as well as my love for saturated colours.
Modern: I do like to incorporate a bit of current trends where I can. And the ones that are appropriate.
Elegant: I don't feel like an elegant person, yet people say my style is elegant over and over again. So I'm not sure about this one.

In terms of Monkiers, the closest I've ever come is "Polished edge". I naturally bat for team polish, and struggle not to look TOO polished. When I try to look polished I can go over the top - thus the edge needed to reign it back. But this seems boring, I'd love something more "fun"

Over to you. Any thoughts??

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Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from Staysfit

Toban

Veteran

What about Polished Edgy Natural? Or Polished Active Edge? Or Polished Sporty Edge? When you say unencumbered, I think movement, softness, or active. We both have many similarities in what we like. You take it to an edgier place than I do and use more geometric prints.

Toban

Veteran

Just to add, I hear you on the 'elegant'. I don't feel elegant at all, and yet several YLFers have been using that adjective for my style. I think maybe the elegant is a reflection of the polished and fairly streamlined (non-maximal) looks? I also think our broad shoulders project a strong line and confidence. Just some thoughts.

lyn67

Veteran

Oh, yes, Polished edge is great! Love your pops of colors and big contrast outfits, always look forward to see your wiw1s-now waiting to see what others will come up with funnier for you.
I feel very similar to you. I also "struggle not to look TOO polished. When I try to look polished I can go over the top - thus the edge needed to reign it back". Now edge is quite the good word for you but in my case perhaps edge would feel too much so I would rather say some"interest" there intsead (which then sometimes can be the edge, too).

kkards

Veteran

I was thinking edgy...something. I like polished, but there's something else...

maybe Refined Edge. or Refined with a Twist

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I can’t help you as I can’t help myself yet but if it’s of any use to you the words that popped into my head whilst looking at your lovely outfits were MODERN andTRENDY.Good luck with this.

Anonymous

Drama drama drama!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Bold Edgy Modern Colorful

The colors remind me of 1980's fashions, lots of black, red and white with some bright yellow, angles....Maybe Modern Eighties

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I see:

Hard Edged, Bold, Dramatic, Modern, Skimming, Comfortable, Current, Easy, Layered.

Style moniker: Colour-Rich Edge.

Anonymous

Angie nailed it. One thing I always notice about you and your photos is your body language. Very consistent, confident, and goes well with the 'edge' part.

Windchime

Veteran

I like Angie's moniker for you. Besides the drama and edge in your outfits, I always notice the wonderful rich colors you choose. So it makes sense that 'colour-rich' is part of your style moniker.

SarahD8

Veteran

In addition to what's been said so far, I also notice Unfussy and No-nonsense -- both of these related to your discussion of "Unencumbered."

(I fear that No-nonsense might come across as more of that "boring" to you but I mean it in a positive way.)

jussie

Veteran

Thanks for sharing these, you have some fantastic outfits here! Well done on all of them. I see you like to experiment with different silhouettes and trends which is awesome. I think the tiny hard edge vibe comes from your shoe choices a lot of the time... which contrast quite sharply with your hair. Very good!
Some words that come to mind:
Clear brights**
Asymetry
Fresh**
Crisp
Modern
Contrast
Trend
Dynamic**
Confident
Sharp
Intentional
Quality
Best of luck with it !

karen13

Veteran

How about Clean or Crisp, to encompass the unfussy and modern aspects? I love the strong cohesive style that comes through in these photos.

Helena

Veteran

So many great ideas here - I'm in line with the group; when I look, the key themes I see are also color (even with neutrals, there is always that contrast), boldness and edginess, so I'm being repetitive really!

I like Angie's suggestion; I also think you could throw bold in there: Color-rich Bold Edge. Or, Bold-colored Edge (because I think the boldness is driven by the palette, whereas the edginess is driven more by the accent pieces you add).

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Oh wow ladies, thank you! Some really really great suggestions. And Angie, I really like “colour rich edge” or “colour rich bold edge” as TD suggested. I also like “refined edge” as suggested by lards. FINALLY!

I’m going to make a list of all the adjectives suggested here, and the number of times suggested, and see what that looks like.

Sarah, no offence taken by “no nonsense”, trust me. I am SO no nonsense. I wear rain boots and goretex when it rains.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I think of drama, color, and interesting angles when I think of your outfits. I read Suz’s comment about angular on the blog today. Wonder if angles might be one of your words. It’s also covered by Edge, though.

Joanna

(website)

Wow! The asymmetrical tunic over trousers with boots is really YOUR LOOK and seems to suit you so well!

I see: Bold Contrast, Asymmetry, Bright Colors, Grounded, Woman on the Go (really enjoy how powerful you look, as though you could just stride off at a moment's notice to do what needs doing, but in a stylish way).

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Do you want a "persona" phrase or a style statement? To me the ones that don't end in nouns don't feel like style monikers (though they can still be brilliant style descriptors and can encapsulate a style really well.)

Bold Urban Chief (because they can be female as well as male)

And wow, what a set of fantastic outfits! I can't pick a fave -- love them all on you. You've nailed what works and wear it well!

LaPed

Veteran

I'm drawn to descriptors like no-nonsense too (for myself, though I can see it in your style as well), but I wish I could come up with a more exciting/flattering term. Pragmatic, practical, unfussy. I dunno, it's a tough thing to capture, because it's as much a mentality as an aesthetic.

And omg, Bold Urban Chief -- how awesome is that!!

Carla

Veteran

I've been struggling with how to say STRONG and WOMAN, as it applies to a fashion statement. Although our styles are different, maybe we share this? There is a lack of fear showing that we are women along with a certain athletic physicality. I think BODY CON. Angie says SKIMMING. What do you think?

I think BOLD applies to you. You are brave with colour and contrast. EDGE works, because you do adopt trending styles and incorporate them with panache.

I'm throwing this out befor I've sorted my own discriptors and hoping I'll,get some insight from ready what other folks are saying!

Anonymous

(removed most of my post. Sorry. I was in a weird mood.). Your outfits are inspiring and look wonderful on you. YLF

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Columbine, angles are definitely one of my shapes. Not sure if it’s covered in “edge” or if it needs it’s own mention.

Wow Joanna, What an interesting observation. I am a “git ‘er done” kind of gal!

Suz, good point. While I am thrilled to narrow down descriptors, I want a title! So yeah, find me a noun. Am I a chief? And thanks for the kind words about my outfits. Much appreciated b

LaP, pragmatic certainly works.

Carla, I don’t know. I find it very interesting that you are picking up body con or skimming, I feel like I hide myself these days, and I’m not sure why. While I may have a few extra pounds on me, I look pretty good for my age! (But would of course like to look better. Must get on that). But athletic, or strong, definitely. You should get a conversation started about your descriptors, this is a bright group to help you!

Lol joy, bed me? Maybe we can rearrange those letters
I do like the adjectives though.

rachylou

Veteran

I really rather like Bold Urban Chief. I see bold, hard edge, no nonsense Womanly strength. Love all the looks here.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

You picked fantastic outfits to illustrate your style. What I see is graphic. Graphic on the go? I also see power, asymmetry, bold colors and a sense of authority.

Staysfit

Veteran

Deciding on a moniker and adjectives is a dynamic process. They evolve over time and I think there are some great ideas here. I would pick something and work with it and see how it feels over time. I have altered my Moniker a few times. I think the overall meaning of my moniker is the same, but the words have become more useful with each iteration. I love Bold Urban Chief, but, you’re the one who needs to love it.

The same is true of style adjectives. It often seems they are describing similar qualities, so the key is to pick the ones that are the most helpful to you and that carry you in the style direction you want to go. For example looking at some of the suggestions, fresh and modern are very similar. I chose Fresh as one of my personal style adjectives. There are a lot of reasons I like that word, which I don’t need to explain here. My point is, I think you have some great words to work with here, and hopefully something will ring true.