When I first started out at YLF, my style moniker was "demure bombshell" with a shadow persona of "urban warrior princess" (see the Kate Spade trench two ways):
http://goldenpig.lookfab.com/p.....e-personas
And here's a fun look back at my first two years at YLF with my style evolution including maternity style!
https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....revolution
So now that I'm back, maybe it's time to re-evaluate the style moniker! I still feel like I have multiple personas, so it's hard for me to decide on a single moniker. There's the ladylike luxe princess who loves polished classics like Burberry trenches and Chanel bags (15-18, think Princess Kate). There's the kawaii fairytale princess with tulle skirts and antlers who loves anything whimsical and cutesy, and likes to carry Tokidoki backpacks and polar bear and ice cream truck bags (19, 23, 24, think Kate Spade). And then there's the edgy urban warrior princess who loves black, leather skirts, moto jackets and studded bags (20, think rocker Kate Moss or Cate Blanchett). And there's retro beach princess who loves to wear tropical and mod 60's prints and carry orange slice bags (25-27, think B-52's Kate Pierson). And there's sporty princess mom on the go in casual striped shirts, jeans and sneakers (21-22. think sporty Princess Kate).
Of course, no matter which persona, matchy matchy is a must, matching details and themed outfits make me super happy. Can these all fit into one cohesive style? What should I select as my style moniker and adjectives? I still like Urban Warrior Princess, but I don't think that tells the whole story. I like the terms Ladylike/luxe, Playful/Whimsical, Edgy/Steampunk and Matchy Matchy/Hypermatchy.
I'll demonstrate my multiple personas with one of my favorite pieces, the red corset trench, to create some signature looks to help you figure out my style. After joining YLF, one of my first purchases and favorite pieces was a red corset trench from Anthropologie (Elevenses brand). https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....pard-heels
Seems like it went with everything from mom on the go outfits to date night to work sophisticate: https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....workschool
The first outfit (1-5) is "What's Black and White and Red All Over?--A Newspaper Reporter!" with my new La Ligne striped sweater representing lined notebook paper, Kate Spade glasses necklace, and my beloved Kate Spade typewriter bag. Leather skirt and Ugg moto boots and Hermes red studded bracelet to make it a bit more UWP/RATE. And the cat because she matches me in black and white and because she's so cute!
The second outfit (6-9) is from my shadow persona and is titled "Silence of the Lambs: Forensic Entomology" From Google: "The study of death and insects is called Forensic Entomology, a specialized field that applies insect biology to legal investigations, primarily to estimate the time since death (post-mortem interval or PMI) by analyzing insect life stages on decomposing bodies, but also to determine if a body was moved or if wounds occurred before death. Forensic entomologists focus on insects like flies and beetles, whose predictable colonization and development on remains provide crucial evidence for criminal and civil cases." I love insects on my clothing (bees, beetles, butterflies). Here I have a Vince textured shell and pleated black skirt representing asphalt, the red trench representing spilled blood, Alexander McQueen studded skull "brass knuckle" clutch and Hermes studded cuff representing murder weapons, and the Alexander McQueen scarf with beetles and moths crawling over the dead body/skull. And lace up Victorian steampunk heeled booties with the laces echoing the laces on the corset trench, representing the rope tying up the victim. Even the goth horror princess loves a (morbid) theme! Which outfit do you prefer?
Bonus WIW from today, Staud cinnamon sweater, rust orange is one of my favorite autumn colors to wear, and I really like diagonal lines and asymmetric hems. The rust and navy honeycomb Tory Burch skirt is an oldie but goodie fave skirt, paired with my cherry red Docs and matching rust 70's boho Tory Burch satchel. No jewelry this time because I wasn't sure if wearing a long pendant necklace with a long sweater is passé? Pretty skirts with stompy boots is a favorite outfit formula of mine.
The red corset trench is a size 4 which I bought pre #3 and doesn't button up anymore, but I recently found it for sale on eBay and bought a couple sizes up. I also found a DVF lace pencil skirt in navy that I had worn a lot with my burgundy pieces (like 18) and bought the size up on eBay. And a Banana Republic Trina Turk 2012 orange and yellow 60's floral blouse that I used to have and either outgrew or fell apart and I ended up donating, but still miss, because I still have the exact matching BR Trina Turk bracelet. I know it seems silly to seek out 14-15 year old pieces that may be way out of date now (my current fashion-o-meter is quite rusty!) but they were my favorites and it's nice to be able to get them for my current size, so I hope they work out!
I think my fave designer is Alexander McQueen but I only have the clutch and scarf, as the clothing is quite expensive. I also like AllSaints, but I also like Kate Spade and Tokidoki. And Burberry, Chanel and Hermes. And Tory Burch and Tommy Bahama and Johnny Was. And La Ligne, Rag and Bone, and Marine Layer. And Target, especially the designer collabs! Is that way too eclectic for one style?
I asked ChatGPT to help me narrow down my style adjectives and moniker and OMG, it was a SUCH a hoot to see what it came up with. Cabana Punk, Feminine Fury, Refined Mischief, The Gilded Punk, Polished Provocateur, Urban Enchantress, Armored Ingenue, Steel Magnolia 2.0, Genteel Anarchy, Midnight Whimsy, Battle-Ready Ballerina, Feralfemme, WhimWar, Roseblade, Gritique, Fairytale Streetfighter, Urban Valkyrie, Dystopian Debutante. I am laughing so hard I am crying! Even if I don't use these as my style monikers, I now have a perfect list to create my punk rock band!
It did come up with "The Romantic Rebel: Pretty silhouettes, tough accents, playful wit--like you could attend a tea party but might also commandeer the motorcycle on the way home" (PSA: don't drive motorcycles though...they're called donorcycles for a reason!). Or "Rogue Romantic: I dress like the heroine who slipped out the palace window--not to rebel, but to have her own adventure." I thought those were both pretty apt summaries!
PS One last funny bit--I was reading everyone's replies to Angie's blog post about their style monikers, and Angie bestowing style monikers is giving Queen Clarice from Princess Diaries when she knights the cable car operator and police officer into the Genovian Order of the Rose. You can't help but be awed by the grace and wisdom of (fashion) royalty! I can't wait to see what she has to say about mine!
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