Style Rubric: What's in a Word?

I've been playing around with style descriptors lately. The idea of a more coherent style appeals to me, but I'm not into wearing a uniform. Recent posts in the forum, among others from Rachylou, Angie and Unfrumped got me started on finding a proper style rubric of my own. I think a few cues to look for when I put together outfits is very useful, and I think I've found a short list that covers what I aim for at the moment:

Playful:
Angie pointed out that I have a playful or arty streak to my style. I love being creative, and I love to play with ideas, to explore. Q to ask myself: Is there an playful element in my outfit?
Chic:
To me, chic means stylish, fresh, put together. I also associate this with femininity. It has nothing to do with looking expensive. Q: Is my outfit chic in any way?
Simple:
I prefer my style to come across as easy, effortless, approachable, not overdone. Q: Is my outfit simple?
Modern:
I'm not into every trend, but I want to be current. Q: What trends, colors or silhouettes are modern in my outfit?

Classic:
I strongly believe in a base of classics in my wardrobe. Q: Where is my classic base in today's outfit?

Here are a few of my WIWs lately:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-0427-0503
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....py-to-wear

Do you think this is a fitting style rubric for me? Did I forget anything, or should I substitute one or more of the words? How do you interpret these five descriptors? Any and all input is highly appreciated. Thanks for reading!

11 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I like this rubric for you. It seems complete, and I like your take on each descriptor. I had to pause on "chic." It seems to encompass quite a range for you. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I didn't get at first how chic could capture femininity. But then I thought of your styling of tomboy elements like chinos and oxfords, and how the chic elements of your outfit also feminize those tomboy elements. So that's how it makes sense to me!

Does the style rubric also incorporate color? One word that your style also brings to my mind is "crisp." Your colors usually tend toward crisp rather than muted, and your style is more polished than RATE; although I wouldn't say you are at an extreme in either of these areas, by any means. So maybe crisp isn't a key element, but perhaps one of your descriptors alludes to the colors you're happiest wearing?

Anonymous

I think you have got some great words there and it sums up your style very well. I agree with Firecracker re-colour, thats a good point.
I'm not sure I can think of any other words, it seems you did your homework

abc

I really like your approach to the style descriptor thing. I have been absent on the forum lately and don't know everyone so well so I will let others chime on on the accuracy of your words, but I think you have stepped back and put some effort and thought into the exercise. Now if I could just find time to do the same. I will come back to your post for inspiration!

CocoLion

(website)

I would replace playful with relaxed. Playful implies much more whimsy than I see. Your classic-modern outfits have a strong "undone" aspect a la J Crew/Jenna Lyons. So maybe "undone" or "relaxed" in that spot.

Of course you can take that with a grain of salt. I do think the curious fun aspect of your personality comes through in your expression and communication. And the undone/relaxed aspect to your style says "I don't take myself too seriously."

Joy

The only thing I might suggest is fewer words to remember. I like to use my rubric when shopping. At first I came up with an acronym CLASS for Classic Ladylike Accessorized Structure Surprise. Angie dubbed me an Elegant Eclectic, which incorporates much of the acronym I was using and is easier to deal with. You could be Playful Modern Classic. I'm thinking modern could incorporate simple and chic.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

(High five wonderful, Joy!)

Ingunn, your rubric is spot on and makes perfect sense to me. I like the word "playful", because it's not as strong as arty and whimsical. You are not a die-hard arty or avant-garde dresser, but you don't dress as strictly as I do for example. Your mop of curls adds to the playfulness of your look by default

Ingunn

Thanks for giving me feedback on this, everyone! I agree that colorful, or a particular use of color, is an aspect of my style. I also appreciate Denise's suggestion of "undone" or "relaxed". (I take the comparison with J Crew/Jenna Lyons as a great compliment, Denise, thank you.) To me, my use of color and wether I'm "undone/relaxed" is covered by "playful". Sometimes it is the colors I play around with, sometimes other elements. Thus, playful covers everything within this category. Angie points to this, too, I believe, when stating that playful is not as strong as arty or whimsical. This is exactly how I want to bee perceived. To me, playful is quite different from whimsical, which I find more "childish", and from "arty", which I find is a far more eclectic style than I aspire to. So, after giving this quite a lot of thought, I feel that Angie gave me my most accurate adjective (of course, Angie, after all you do know what you are talking about )

Denise is also spot on when suggesting that I want to come across as someone who doesn't take herself too seriously. I'm serious, but also approachable, I think. I hope "simple" covers that. I'm somewhat outgoing, and I get along well with most people. This represents "simple" for me.

Joy suggests fewer words, and I agree, it is convenient with a proper moniker. Some time ago Angie suggested Queen Playful Modern Classic. I loved it instantly, but it's not until now I feel that I've gotten more in depth with it's meaning and influence on my choices. I feel it is a good description of my style & style aspirations. The only thing I haven't figured out yet, is the difference between a princess and a queen!

RoseandJoan

I think your choice of words is perfect.

I also think there is an organic almost tactile quality to the clothing you wear. Cotton, linen, wool which moulds and drapes and can be either soft or crisp. I finding the quality hard to articulate, sorry.

Jaime

Great comments. My first reaction was to move chic to the top of the list and was not sure about playful being exactly the right word (along the lines of what Denise said), but it looks like it has been all sorted out.

Thank you, RoseandJoan. I appreciate that you see the tactility in my outfits, and I agree that this is an important aspect for me. I am very conscious of the drape and tactile qualities of a fabric, and always prefer cotton, wool, linen and silk to synthetics if there's a choice. Maybe it could fit under "simple"?

Shevia, thank you. I see no problems with moving "chic" to the top of the list:

Chic Simple Playful Modern Classic sounds equally good to me.

rachylou

This is definitely you, I think, Ingunn.

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