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So you have a style moniker...

rachylou

Veteran

That speaks to you about your likes and aspirations, guides your choices, etc. Do you ever, tho, step back and look at the outfits you've been putting together - and find that you'd describe the output in a different way? You know, is the view from the inside different from that of the outside?

Am looking at past outfit pics. My style mantra is very different from how I'd describe my style. I think all sorts of seemingly unrelated things to arrive at Quirky Waif. I mean, I don't ask myself, "Is this quirky and waify?"

Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

There are occasions when the quirky waif is not what you are expected to express. So a different style comes out. Or, since we all buy from a certain pool of clothing, there is something "not us", but more mass-market, that we begin to look like. If I wear Gap khakis it is going to alter the style I'm expressing. If we had unlimited budgets and time to shop, plus no geographic constraints, our style might look different and more truly attuned to who we are.

I have no idea if that is in line with your topic though!

Anonymous

The moniker that is working best for me is Elegant Eclectic and it especially helps when I'm thinking of adding a new piece. On the other hand, I probably stretch the eclectic part, such as the spring fling I'm having with neon citron jeans. I usually try to make them "elegant" by pairing them with grey or navy dressy tops, but am just kidding myself. I know the relationship will be short lived and nothing is going to make them elegant.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I never developed a good moniker. My thing is it cool/edgy/interesting/whackadoodle? I'm very emotional when it comes to shopping. Angie said I'm the most emotional shopper she knows.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think when I realize I'd describe my outfits a different way it might be time to change the moniker. If the shoe doesn't fit, why wear it? A name is only helpful as long as it is helpful.

Carla

Veteran

The moniker helps me focus, but I won't let it constrain me from investing in something fab. Also, I might own a similar ( or the same!) garment as someone with a different style descriptor, but the way I put my outfit together, and the shape of my body, and the colours I choose will make it my own.

rachylou

Veteran

Denise - Hadn't thought of that, the effect of the mass-market pool of clothing and the style that comes along with any given brand. Have to think now if there are certain stores that are more me. I think there was a boutique once that was really me, but it closed.

Joy - Momentary departures. Another good point. I don't suppose Denise also touched on this. Like when manner of dress is specified or there are expectations. I shall have to review the pics. My surgery wardrobe was a departure. I thought it was pretty cute - loose waisted dresses and little blazers to put the waist definition back - but I certainly never thought to keep on doing that.

Anna - I think my approach is more like yours. I basically ask myself if something is too boring or not. How can I make this a little odd? Maybe that's the same as quirky waif, but I don't think of it as being the same. I think of it as being a process that produces quirky waif, and if it weren't for Angie, I'd have no way to describe the output at all. If I tried to describe my style on my own, I'd be all over the place throwing out words like "punky" and "preppy" and "hippie," which aren't accurate.

Suz - Lol. An excellent point. Why would I try to describe my style with words that don't fit? It's funny, tho, I'll bet if I went around asking "does this look Quirky Waif?" I'd probably be totally paralysed. I have a funny brain. No doubt if someone moved the bush outside my front door, I'd have to sit outside all night.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

To go back a step - I think a style moniker that helps you focus on how you want to look is one of the most useful tools for staying on track whether you are shopping or dressing.

I agree with Suz if it isn't working then something needs changing imo.

Gaylene

Veteran

Maybe it's my personas--sport natural, euro chic, urban minimalist-- but, honestly, these descriptors are so wide ranging that it's easier to think of what I'm not, than what I am. So I guess, I'm not a good candidate for a style moniker, fun though it is to play around with the concept.

I know that I like a touch of edge and sophistication even in my casual outfits and that anything girly or ladylike makes me run for the hills. If I look at what I'm wearing right now--straight-legged, dark wash jeans; a neon-green, J Crew linen sweater; a brown/black leather moto jacket; and a pair of Fluevog shoes--I have absolutely no idea of the label that someone would put on this outfit. All I know is that it is comfortable and it feels like me.

rachylou

Veteran

Runcarla - *Nodding head* yes. That's probably why I throw out those inaccurate descriptors. I tend to choose from certain style pools, but I put them together according to different rules, if you will.

rae

(website)

Veteran

UWP helps me focus when I get dresses, but it is not something I keep much in mind while shopping. As you said, I don't hold up any given thing and as if it is UWP. I also don't necessarily think that people out in the world would put me and UWP together if we played a Sesame Street type matching game...I suppose it depends if the moniker is a tool for you to use or an aspiration you want to project to others.

rachylou

Veteran

Gayelene - That is me too. I know what I like, as in a bit of this and a bit of that. But I wouldn't know what I looked like unless someone told me. Wouldn't know what to call it.

caro - I feel you are right. I feel I should know how I want to look by the look. This is incredibly difficult for me, tho. Can't say why. Right now I sort of operate by inference. Lol.

rachylou

Veteran

I think, rae, there's a divide between the moniker that's my tool and the moniker I'd use to name my style for others. I probably just need two, and that's the bottom line.

shedev

Veteran

I think a style moniker is something we are but also something we aspire to. I liked the name Asphalt Angel that you gave one of my outfits so much that I'm keeping the title. At times I have trouble finding items that fit the bill. I think it may take a couple years to really build up a signature style. I finally got the concept of shopping in capsules down so I think that really helps alot. Accessoies and shoes also help full me more towards my descriptor.

rachylou

Veteran

Shedev - The thought of aspiration is inspiration! That really catches my fancy. I think I may have just made some neural connections there between my "two" monikers.

Aida

Veteran

I'm the opposite of Rae; I use the words when purchasing, and when styling I just go off emotion with the idea that the things in my closet already fall into one of my desire style categories so I don't have to worry when styling. My range is more eclectic though, so that probably helps with that approach.

Sarah A

Veteran

I have been trying to figure out a good moniker too. Arty Eclectic can be pretty much anything so I try to come up with additional words to help but really I usually just go by love when shopping. I like Quirky Waif! As long as I can mainly avoid "adorable" and stay nearer to "funky" I am happy.

Anonymous

I've been asking myself, "Would an Off-Duty Princess wear this? With each purchase. Once I get things home, I don't have to think about it again because, if each item is right, mixing is not a problem.

I felt that having a really specific descriptor was more helpful than having words that were more broad, like "tailored chic" or "understated elegance". I draw inspiration from the Princesses Diana and Grace and First Ladies Jackie Kennedy and Michelle Obama and a bit less from the Duchess of Cambridge, since she is so much younger than I am.

So if you had a closet full of individual items that a Quirky Waif would wear, would they work to produce the right kind of outfits that you're looking for? Instead of asking if the item is quirky or waify, is there a particular QF (or QFS) like Twiggy or someone that you can visualize either wearing or not wearing the item in question.?

Sarah A

Veteran

Of course Claire chimes in with something brilliant! Love it!

Anonymous

Haha Sarah. I was almost to embarrassed to admit I do this or aspire to dress like one of these great ladies. Like who do I think I am already?!

Vix

Veteran

Hi Rachylou--

Interesting discussion! You said:

> My style mantra is very different from how I'd describe my style. I think all sorts of seemingly unrelated things to arrive at Quirky Waif. I mean, I don't ask myself, "Is this quirky and waify?"

but you started with:

> Do you ever, tho, step back and look at the outfits you've been putting together - and find that you'd describe the output in a different way?

As others have mentioned, my (multiple!) personas are more of tool for me vs something I'm trying to communicate to others.

I don't expect people to think, "Wow, Vix is really in Persnickety Bohemian mode today after being Contrarian Classicist earlier in the week. What's up with that, and why she hasn't plopped on a Minimalist Magpie look in a while?" I don't even tend to think of them that way too much...more modern classic skewing "soothing/colorful/bold" etc.

Before/when I buy, though, I do use the terms as check-ins to see if I can imagine an item in an outfit that would feeeel one of those ways to me. If I can rationalize something I'm drawn to as working across all 3 it's easy to enable myself.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Just to add maybe the eclectic part has something to do with it but my outfits have to come from inside my head - that is why the words are so important. Not that I don't get inspiration from Pinterest, blogs & all here but if I don't do it my way then I'm not happy.

This is why all the body type, colour coding, personality type information was only helpful up to a point. I think taking the leap to where I started dressing in things that made me feel great is the key.

Diana

Veteran

Hmm, so I think the thing about the style descriptor is that you have to own it, and you can't let it own you. If its bossing you around its time to take a good look at it and maybe revise it a bit.
I mostly just buy things that catch my eye or that make me turn my head. Of course then I have to consider things like if it's comfy or practical, but I don't get to that point unless I like it first. So I guess I am an emotional shopper at heart but I force myself to be practical too. I still trust my gut first.
I guess I don't ask "is this arty or eclectic?" because I figure if I like it to begin with, it probably is. The moniker describes my style, it does not dictate it. Of course it does make it easier that "artistic eclectic" is more about how you put things together than the things themselves.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I use the style moniker when I shop, too. But don't expect others to see me as an Urban Prince. It's more a guideline for me -- what Claire said.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Rachy, a style moniker has a huge sense of humour to it. Not to be taken all that seriously. It's just for fun :), although there is also an element of truth in it of course. You are very quirky! And UWP's take their look pretty seriously!!! Afterall, they are warriors :). But really, it's just a guideline as Suz put it, that keeps it all lighthearted.

Back to your question. I don't look in the mirror and think - is this an Urban Princely look? Rather, I think of the adjectives that I want to convey with my outfit - much like how Anna described her outfit creation evaluation process. I ask myself is this outfit:

- modern
- urban
- minimal (strong, simple and no-nonsense)
- crisp
- clean cut
- elegant
- equal parts Ladylike and Androgynous
- modest and comfortable
- on trend
- where are my classic pieces?
- what is my happiness factor?

In some cases, like in my last outfit post, I have to amp up the "somewhat conservative-professional" part of my look because the setting calls for it. But I do not need to dress like that daily.

I don't have to tick off each box for every outfit, but I strive to tick off 90% for sure. Sometimes I am not dressed Tomboy at all. Sometimes I am a little too Tomboy! As long as my happiness factor is on the high side - it's all good.

anne

Veteran

Despite being on YLF longer than most of you, I feel like I am stuck at YKF 101 sometimes. When I dress I consider colour, body type/proportions, fashion and approriateness for the occasion - I haven't really got to style descriptors yet.

Angie gave me one; "country pretty" - which is perhaps how others see me - to your question. It isn't really what would like in my head though, or what I am drawn to - which is a more sophisticated and tailored style.

unfrumped

Veteran

rachylou, I really liked your question and it prompted me to think more about both a moniker (don't have a short one) and Angie's adjectives.
Right now I feel fluid with adjectives as I noted that I started out with some that seemed like they ought to be right, but they didn't work in my head after all.

I think it's like filing systems--you start out thinking you ought to file something under one name, but you can never find it because that's not how your brain remembers it. So I am open to changing adjectives now that I see certain ones did not actually guide me to the right place. Language is like that.

I do helpful to have a running mental checklist, especially now that I would be adding items and trying on to see if it deserves a place. So I would be looking at an outfit and not just an item and see what is the vibe of the outfit and then go K/R based on that.

rachylou

Veteran

Ok. A little absence-blip there, because of the weekend... I see lots of interesting thoughts all over the board... I have to think think think

Aida - I find it awe-inspiring, if you will, that you use the words to shop, and thereby have clothes that you can rely on to be the right style. You have made me realise I haven't got a handle on shopping in terms of my overall style. I only "sort of" think about it, in the most befuddled of ways.

Sarah A - I hear that. Esp as regards "funky."

claire - "Would an Off-Duty Princess wear this?" So brilliant. Can't tell you how much I love this question. I can see straight off how that would yield results. And drat it, I feel that's one I could answer. It's a great pity I'm Little Match Girl instead. Haha! I am going to devote serious thought to your questions. I'm not sure what the Quirky Waif signature items are, if they'd yield Quirky Waif automatically, and who I'd hold up as my Quirky Waif icons. It occurs to me I might have to consider if Princess Di had a little Quirky Waif in her or not... which would be ironic.

Vix - Lol, I love your monikers, Vix. And your sense of humour. Sort of delivers the message straight into a vein. I should probably do that sort of check-in. Esp. before I buy another dumpy, crewneck, cashmere jumper.

caro - Interesting, caro: "my outfits have to come from inside my head." Very interesting. Bespeaks an artistic creative process. Or of the difference between design and art... I have to think about this because I see myself as a technician to a large to degree, but it's a notion that resonates with me.

Diana - It's true. Some monikers are about the how and some about the what. To me Quirky Waif is my what. My how is still something of a mess.

Suz - I'm not sure at all what I expect others to see! Heh. It occurs to me I want *truth-in-advertising*, but I wonder how good that is for my employment prospects. Haha. David Sedaris said something about being very lucky if your private and public selves were very close. I don't know if I'm that lucky, but on the otherhand, there is Cupcake Goth - the famous Microsoft Technical Writer who did full goth-gear every day in the corporate environment. I suppose if she can, I can. But then again, she's not famous for being a writer.

Anne - The discrepancy can be a little disturbing, can it not? I have what I think I'm doing and then there's what I actually do.

unfrumped - You have nailed it. I even talk about my terrible brain filing system. Other people remember events by date and time. They will say things to me like, "do your remember this event that happened after that event?" And I will be, "Uh, noo." I file portions of events into memory, totally divorced from date and time and other events (not that I've any conscious control over this). Angie is very right when she says I'm quirky.

You guys have given me a lot of food for thought!

rachylou

Veteran

Angie - Haha, I am quirky. Very quirky! I really like having the moniker Quirky Waif, which you gave me. This is because I am so quirky, I sort of do things and then say, "What happened?" Haha! Someone's got to tell me.

Also, I like to go around saying "I'm normal" because that's hilarious. Lolol

But it is very illuminating to hear some of the thought processes that go into the making of Urban Prince behind the scenes. That the "test" isn't "Urban Prince - Yes or No."

Hmm. I've just had a light bulb about why Quirky Waif is so good. I am very quirky, but I also don't want to be that sweet. Which you get a lot with quirky. It's the needlefelt owls. The waif part is a little bit of antidote...

...Style story to be continued ;>

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Oh...the little matchstick girl is more urchin than waif, perhaps that is part of the conundrum.

My style descriptor Urban Pretty helps me to assemble outfits, when I dress Urban Pretty I am thinking 'is it equal parts hard and soft without the result being slush?'

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