Working towards Style Goals and Style Descriptors - YouLookFab Forum

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Working towards Style Goals and Style Descriptors

Style Fan

Veteran

I have been working on Style Goals and Style Descriptors for a few weeks. As part of my preparation I did the exercise Janet linked to from the Unfancy blog. It is to help with creating a wardrobe capsule. I didn't use it for that though. I did the workbook, altered some of the questions and here are my answers:

1/ Pick 8 (9) Pieces I own and Love to Wear
Paige Jeans
Dark Brown Marks T Shirt
Cognac Ann Taylor Cashmere Cardigan
El Naturalista Boots
Sarah Pacini Topaz T Shirt
Levi Jeans
Dark Brown Cashmere Cardigan
Sarah Pacini Olive Pullover
Finds are shown when possible

2/ What is Working for Me with these Pieces
Earth tones Easy to Access
Denim Plain not patterned Simple Designs
Cardigan Not tight but not oversized
Waist Length Long lasting
Comfortable Not statements
Good Quality
Warm

3/ Life Style
Walk Dog, Fitness Activities, Yoga Class, House Tasks, Read for fun, Creative Pursuits - Daily
Go out for lunch, See friends - a few times a week
Work activities, Go out for dinner or concert, Go to Urban place for weekend - a few times a month or less

4/ Travel Plans
We have been going to Montreal for one month in November and to Florida for 6 weeks in February to March. This will change next year. We may go to Montreal for 3 months.
We go on "mini trips" to visit family for 3 to 4 days.
All of our travel is by car and includes Sophie.

5/ Weather
4 Seasons

6/ Word Association
Relaxed, Influence of Nature, Effortless Chic (thanks Suz), A touch of 60s and 70s (free spirit), Not girly, A bit of classic

7/ Brands
Sarah Pacini
Sandwich
Paige Jeans
Fidelity Jeans
Three Dots T

8/ Colour Palette
Autumn Colours

9/ Go to Uniforms
FFBO - Pic # 1
I will comment on this more when I do my next post on Style Goals.

Thanks for reading. All comments are welcome.

Next is Style Goals for 2017 and Style Descriptors.

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LEVI'S 711 Skinny Jeans

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El Naturalista Yggdrasil N158

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Ribbed Cashmere Cardigan

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General

23 replies

Latest reply was from Style Fan

Anonymous

This is interesting. I'm off to read the Unfancy link - I am curious about the word association part of it, and assessing WHY things work or are reached for so often.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

This is some good analysis. I'll be watching to see what you come up with. My lifestyle needs seem really similar to yours, although i don't have a dog, and my travel usually involves planes.

Kate

Veteran

That was incredibly helpful to me, Style Fan. I didn't follow the link (will check out later) but just used what you did and jotted down my own answers. Well. Just writing down 8 items that I love to wear and then figuring out why gave me most of the answers I needed. It also confirmed my loathing for S/S clothing. All of my items are F/W. At least now I have some solid info that will help me when I have to find something that looks halfway decent to clothe myself in for our endless heat and humidity drenched summers. Yetch!

Runcarla

Veteran

This is rather brilliant. Instead of fussing about what isn't working for me, I ought to evaluate what is. Off to do what Jane has just done.

Thanks Stylefan!

Style Fan

Veteran

Lisa I wish I could have linked the work book but I couldn't figure out how. Janet did it on her post. I did find it useful to work through the exercise. I am becoming more focused with my wardrobe.
Jenn she suggests putting % of time beside the activity but my days are not that predictable. Just writing it down was helpful to me. No airplane travel for us at this time. Well only for short trips when a friend looks after Queen Sophie.
Kate I wish I could live somewhere that was just Fall. Maybe I need to buy a mobile home and drive around. We have considered it.

Liz

Veteran

This sounds very interesting! Can you give us a link to Janet's post, or to the Unfancy post?

Well done -- and you've jump-started thinking for me!

Style Fan

Veteran

Carla the workbook is an interesting tool. I haven't explored her blog yet but just glancing at it has given me lots of ideas. Liz I wish I could do the links. I haven't figured out how to do that yet.

Anonymous

This is a very nice assessment! I will look forward to the follow on post.

Staysfit

Veteran

Yessiree! This is fantabulous! Your results are excellent. I think the best way to come up with a style formula is to analyze what works for you now, and also to think about what direction you want to head in the near future. The key is to be honest with yourself. That can be hard if not impossible for many people. We often do not "see" ourselves. We distort ourselves and can get distracted and sidetracked by many fantasies of what we think we outdated like to be, not all of which can become our reality. I think Unfancy hit on a great way to help people see themselves more honestly. Picking 8-9 pieces you own and love to wear and then analyzing them is the key!

I'm not sure I found mine quite this way, but I really love this method. I started by asking someone I trust to have a good aesthetic eye, and a good vocabulary, to give me the words they think of when they think of my style. I used my DD and a good friend, then I narrowed down the words. I was left with some excellent adjectives, but you have an entire wardrobe formula! Bravo!

kkards

Veteran

love this...what a great way to get to the heart of what you like and what works for you.....i've never come up with my own style descriptor, and i' always interested in how everyone else comes up with their own. i'll be following your journey.

Style Fan

Veteran

Sterling I am encouraged by all the positive feedback from the YLF community. This has been quite the journey but certainly worth it.
Staysfit I agree that it is very difficult to be honest with oneself. I think of myself as one way but when I see pictures of myself in fantasy outfits I realize my mind's eye is not accurate. DH has a very good eye so I have enlisted his help several times.
Kkards it has taken me a few years to sit down and start working on style statements and style descriptors. It is an interesting journey.

Lucy

Veteran

Thanks Style Fan, for posting! So interesting. It's a really great idea to begin with pieces you already own and love. I really like what you have so far - and look forward to more to come

Anonymous

...but you always seemed like you had such a good sense of your style! Are you looking to hone things further?

Anyway, I wish you luck with your statement and goals. I think style statements and words are good, because they give you a lot of freedom to find great things that you like, WITHOUT having to work from a list. In other words you can keep the emotion alive when you shop, and use your style statement and words to double-check that you're making a good decision.

I find working from a list doesn't allow you to have the same emotional reaction.

Style Fan

Veteran

Thanks Lucy. I have the style statement and descriptors started. Stay tuned.
Well thank you for the vote of confidence Smittie. You have nailed it with your comment. I want to have my statement and goals written down so that I can shop more easily. I realized in doing this that the 60s flower child look is really in the past for me. I love it but I need to say good bye to that look. I am drawn to it though. Also I keep notes on everything so why not this?

Anonymous

I really relate to Staysfit's comments about being honest and realistic when viewing ourselves - either literally or figuratively. I think that's where I struggle. After reading this post yesterday, I have been immersed in the Unfancy blog (as well as her friend Style Bee's blog). I'm totally committed to this. These words - from Unfancy- were like being hit over the head with the proverbial 2 x 4:

"No wonder my closet didn’t make any sense. It reflected my emotional stress, not my style.
I wanted a change. I wanted to stop spending money on emotional purchases. I wanted to stop filling my closet with cheap clothes. I wanted to stop believing more stuff would bring me happiness."

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have some issues with the Unfancy blog (which I won't get into here) but there are some good tools there. Here is the link: http://www.un-fancy.com/capsul.....e-planner/

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I used the planner, too, and found it interesting. Thanks for the link, Janet. I also have some issues with the blog but did find this tool useful. (Curious if we feel the same? I think probably there's overlap in our critique.) It's a similar idea to picking your favourite outfit of all time and trying to figure out what made it work for you -- but this is more focused on what is working now and specific pieces that work, so it's helpful in a more practical way.

Style Fan, you have always had a good handle on your style but possibly lacked the language to talk about it. Now you have a clearer articulation of what works and why.

Style Fan

Veteran

Lisa I have read some of Style Bee's blog too. I am not totally into the capsule idea or only having a certain number of clothes to work from but I do like some of the exercises. I can relate to the quote you have on your post. Not so much now but certainly there have been times in my life.
Thank you Janet for posting the link. I haven't gone through all of the blog. I think I looked at it a few years ago and passed on it for some reason.
Suz you are right. I probably had an intuitive sense of my style but didn't have the words. I also just drifted along without goals. It never occurred to me to have a goal to add a more RATE look to my style. I might like that look but if it happened it happened.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yes! This is useful because it reminds us that our style is always evolving and what we love right now is maybe aspirational...maybe we find ourselves always reaching for the bright sweater (and realize we want more colour) or find ourselves going for a beat up pair of boots (either because they feel "cool" or because of comfort). It can steer us towards things we might enjoy...

Style Fan

Veteran

Exactly Suz. I can contemplate my fashion choices and journal about them now. I didn't have time when I was working. And by time I mean physical time and emotional time.

Bonnie

Veteran

I've added this post to my favorites and when I have more time, I will try this. I really like the boots, too.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Where do you stay with Sophie on your way to Florida? Is she a good girl on the trip? (I might possibly have a bad doggie that I want to take traveling.)

Style Fan

Veteran

Bonnie the El Naturalista boots are my favourite and my second pair. They are very comfy for my very difficult to please feet. I find them roomy which I like. I don't like my footwear to be touching my feet but I like a lot of support. No wonder I am hard to please.
UmmLila when we are driving down to Florida we try to stay at the La Quinta motels. They are dog friendly. Sophie likes going in the car and behaves very well as long as we don't do more than 5 or 6 hours of driving a day. This means that it takes us longer to get to Florida but if we do marathon driving days then Sophie gets upset and stressed. And that ends up with her getting sick. And her going to a vet in a strange city. And having to stay in a strange city for a few days until she is better. I won't go into all the details but if you have a dog you can imagine the problems. In Florida we go to St. Augustine because it is dog friendly. Dogs can go on the beach and some of the restaurants have decks that allow dogs.