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Your three style words.....

Sal

Veteran

Angie has always encouraged the use of style aspirations and style personas. I have found it such a useful tool to help define how I dress and how I want to dress..... I like the tension between the words because that's where the style comes in.

Recently Allison Bornstein on Tiktok has had a series about her approach - three words to describe your style. I don't have a tik tok account but have looked up a few things (I have a teenager - it's good to know what they are seeing). Allison has also had a play with celebrity style. Words range from bold to classic to sporty to undone to 1970s to edgy - really anything goes.

I chose elegant energetic and relaxed as my three words early in 2022 - relaxed and elegant are constants but energetic may not be quite right. In the past I had bold and sporty but they don't quite encapsulate it either.

Does anyone else want to share or have a play around with words if you don't have yours?

67 replies

Latest reply was from Zaeobi

Synne

Veteran

You are onto something for sure, but I'd switch out relaxed for ... beach? To me there's always some modern 70s, Farra Fawchet, bordering bohemian, surfer girl about your looks. Maybe because I (am envious, and) know you're in Australia!

The Cat

Veteran

It certainly can be helpful to define your style by 2-5 words. I have done so for many years. The following is a copy from a part of my profile here:

"I want my outfits and even each item to include at least 3 of these elements: Casual, Elegant, Gamine, Urban, Polished.
Style moniker suggested by Angie (in a comment to her blog post "Your Style Moniker for 2019," January 15, 2019): Playful Casual Elegance."

Joy

Veteran

I can't find my words but I think there were two..."elegant eclectic". I have a large closet of mostly oldies. Dress has been determined by the doctor and meds that I need. Enjoy wearing what you like while you can. Now with an abdominal glucose meter, I need pull on bottoms and longish tops. My feet need flats and no sandals, no uncovered feet. or heels. No sandals was hard, but finding full length pull on pants that were not leggings was harder as was getting rid of all my jeans which were worn almost daily... like part of a uniform Two piece dresses dominate as it they make insulin injections in the abdomen easier than a full dress does. In my future is wearing diabetic shoes and socks all the time.

Sally

Veteran

Thanks Sal. I found an article on this
https://www.smh.com.au/lifesty.....5anoz.html
I think it was Stagiaire Fash who used the phrase ‘skirts with swagger’ . I like that but I do think my style has an element of grownupness. So maybe ‘mature comfortable swagger’

I think your grown up Charlie’s angels suits you. Definitely sophisticated or elegant but also relaxed. sometimes I see resort or boho. You have a freshness about your style. What about playful or fresh?

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

At first I thought it was impossible to capture a style in 3 words, at least one that was interesting, then I had a sudden flash of brilliance not too long ago in which a phrase came to me. Now I’ve forgotten what that phrase was. It was “pretty tough [substantive I’ve forgotten]” which I like because of the internal tension/inherent play on words—does “pretty” modify that final word, or is it a modifier for “tough”, saying that I’m not entirely rough?

I like “energetic” as part of your descriptor, am wondering though if there’s a near-synonym that would encapsulate some of the playfulness more clearly.

Anonymous

I had chosen streamlined, feminine, exotic years ago, but right now the most important of those by far is streamlined. Angie gave me "earthy sophisticate" which definitely works though! Well all that is what I aspire to...I don't think I'm quite there either way.

RobinF

Veteran

I've never been able to come up with these for me and every once in a while ponder this. I don't post enough WIW's for you all to help me with this but maybe I'll give it a try again this fall.

Olive Green

Veteran

Utilitarian minimalist nomad.
After I spent a few unexpected days and nights with a sick husband in hospital a decade ago, made a vow to only buy stuff I could comfortably sleep in, and walk in. For days, if needed. And it should look neat. So doctors and bureaucrats listen to you.
That echoed my rough travel experiences around the world. Adventure is often filthy and uncomfortable, aha. Also, looking ‘locally’ put together keeps the worst sorts away from you.
I always want to be comfortable. And able to move and be useful.

gryffin

Veteran

I have a number of really useful touch stones. Professional Princess of Darkness (P-POD) is very useful. I'm a working girl, minimalist wearing black, gray, navy but with a lady-like formal quality. Enduring Classic is another good one - because I keep things for a long time and I like things that endure, that have a patina, an authenticity. My 5 words: elegant, classic, timeless, understated and unique have been with my for a couple of decades and they still accurately sum up my style. There must always be a subtle twist, edge, unique quality. Also the 5 B's - blazers, black, bob, booties and belts - has been a long time mantra and still works today. I find it all really helpful. But would a P-POD wear this is the best in the moment power pause and then thinking about my mantras helps.

Runcarla

Veteran

I’m working on mine now, and have the first two words: practical, and classic. I want the third word to reflect an element of fun or playfulness without being immature, and haven’t found the word. I don’t think Tomboy or Happy Tomboy works at this moment in my style evolution.

Elegant and relaxed (relaxed elegance?) suit you, and I get the struggle with the word energetic. Synne is on to something with her natural and beach references. There is something ‘modern wild-child’ about your looks and style. You have a free and breezy vibe that never quite gets dampened by the structured garments you favour, but rather sits in juxtaposition.

LJP

Veteran

I have always enjoyed this exercise, and while mine have changed over the years, having them in my head does help when the dressing and shopping goes off track. Just recently, something Amy Smilovic wrote hit me like the proverbial ton of bricks: she uses the word "chill" a lot, and then paired it with describing the fit of jeans/pants. She commented that (for example) all these fitted high waisted jeans with tops tucked into them can give off a prim and uptight vibe......whereas a more relaxed fit gives that chill, louche look that she - and I -love. THIS is exactly my issue with all of the "new" pants and finally someone articulated it well. Anyways, I'm thinking about including the word "chill" into my word set as something I aspire to and will try to achieve in my casual outfits. I'm not sure I have the body type to do "chill" well - as clothes don't exactly hang off me anymore - hahahahaha- but I like the word as an IDEA. Modern, elegant, chill, polished. 4 words for me !

SarahD8

Veteran

For me, the idea of a persona or motto/mantra has always been more helpful than a collection of adjectives. Feels more expansive and capacious, maybe? Or maybe my weird brain just appreciates the concreteness of the image? Horses for courses, of course...

Anonymous

I like the breezy word for you that Runcarla came up with and it covers the beach vibe that Synne suggests.

I use complementary patchwork and casual chic. You gave me the latter

cat2

Veteran

Hmm, I am generally preppy or elegant but I love dress maker details and am not sure how to describe that. Things like ruffles, lace trim, beading. Girly seems too childish and romantic too over the top.

Helena

Veteran

I started with CPC - classic polished and casual - years ago inspired by Angie's methods. I'm since pared it down further to 'classic ease' - which I think actually encapsulates more ... both my preferred clothing style of mostly classic pieces, styled simply and mostly for casual wear, with room for movement and comfort ... and my personality and aspirations, which is a combination of a certain amount of tradition, structure and conventionality, but with a strong willingness to learn, grow, be flexible and open, and generally try to move through life with calmness and gentleness.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

These are GREAT for you, Sal! You are always full of energy, and elegant in a relaxed way. I love that you don't let your boys boss your style around - with three of them at home! Highly impressed.

I hear what Synne is saying, and can see adding Seventies or Studio 54, or Sporty Seventies to your list. There's almost always something that reminds me of that in your outfits

To answer your question:

I strive to wear outfits that are Modern, Crisp, Retro, Playful and Dressy. No need to achieve all five adjectives for every outfit. Three or four are close enough.

Modern, because I enjoy injecting a few carefully chosen hot-off-the-press trends into my seasonal look. That’s part of why fashion is fun, keeps things fresh, and it works well with my line of work.

Crisp, because I love wearing shades of white and clear brights, and have a strong need to create a fresh, professional and tidy appearance.

Retro, because of my fondness for fashion from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, but remixing retro sensibilities with a good dose of current.

Playful, because it’s become important to me to wear outfits that are or have soft, amusing, sentimental, nostalgic and fun elements. This also reminds me to not take the fashion and style world too seriously, and to do my own thing.

Dressy, because super casual does not make me happy.

Style Moniker: Urban Pretty.

I like pretty outfits!

kkards

Veteran

Cat2 : soft polished tailored ?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sal, I love the word "breezy" added or substituted for energetic if that feels better. What Carla and Synne said is so true -- there's always a bit of -- "she just got back from the beach" in your looks! Even in professional dress.

I need to revisit this for myself in a thorough way. My style feels a bit ossified, if that makes sense, or maybe it has regressed since the pandemic and my move to the suburb. I think I need to start all over again! I don't mean with entirely different clothes, but I need to get honest about what I'm actually doing, most days, and how my aspirational style might need to adapt in the face of my actual life.

In the past, I had adjectives like "modern," "playful," "practical," -- all of which do fit -- but perhaps I'm one of those who does better with the persona and I'm lacking that at the moment. Hmmm.

Runcarla

Veteran

@ Suz - Here! Here! You articulated exactly how I feel about my style at the moment! I’ve actually pulled out the worksheets from un-fancy that Stylefan linked to 5 years ago, and will repeat the exercise I did just before I retired.

LaPed

Veteran

Sal, the first thing that comes to my mind for you is “bold and breezy”. There’s always a free-spirited aspect to your style, even in more formal outfits. I can totally sense the dash of “beach-babe” vibe that Synne picked up on as well.

I’m terrible at adjectives for myself! Like SarahD8, my mind craves a bit more narrative, or character/archetype, or something. I keep leaning towards “woodsy garçonne” though I’m not sure that’s really where I land most days. And that’s only two, not sure what the third would be. “Simple” or “minimalist”? “Pragmatic” or “utilitarian”? I think Olive Green and I have similar priorities!

My priorities have definitely shifted over the past couple of years. More interested in lived-in looks, feeling pretty allergic to anything polished. Not on others, but feels inauthentic on me in my daily context (I’ve gotten plenty dressed up for the scant wedding/birthday dinner/gallery opening type events I’ve had the chance to go to in the past couple of years). Mostly I just want outfits I can do chores in, or sit on the ground, climb over a fence or through raspberry bushes without having to worry… clothes that fit but aren’t fitted—things I can move in. I want to feel at home outdoors, no matter the weather. The “looks” I end up with aren’t so curated, but I kind of enjoy that, the thrown-together/pragmatic elements. Typical weekend wear below, weekdays are maybe a step up, jeans/boots/sweater instead of tech pants/trail runners/hoodie. What to call it? “Dirtbag Adventure Mom”?

Anne LaBastille—an Adirondack guide, writer, and ecologist—is the first icon who comes to mind. She always managed to look so great, elegant and at ease in the woods or on the water.

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Irina

Veteran

Hmmm, I’m not good at it. And while we might use the same words, our meaning might differ.
Anyway, then I think what words would describe my style, I come up with Urban Middle-Aged Minimalist. Yes, the age definition is important to me, an 25 years old Urban minimalist’s style is more bold and edgy than a 57 years old’s. Or maybe my style can be described as Whatever I like ATM? For a few years I used stolen from Eileen Fisher’s ‘interestingly plain”. But I doubt I mastered the interesting part.

Let me be known as She who hides in oversized clothes! LOL

Chiara

My current is « Airy modern ease ».
Airy- needs to be a quality of lightness, or delicacy, eg light cotton, sheer panels, silk, cashmere, airy colours. heavy fabrics, dark colours and rugged textures don’t work well for me
Modern- there needs to be something overtly modern about the silhouette of the outfit, cut of the item or detailing; so origami style folds, odd cuts, modern patterns eg slight drop crotch to trousers
Ease- the outfit needs to have a sense of comfort to it, nothing too restrictive or limiting movement.
I say have fun with it- I used to use another style moniker « intergalactic dentist »!.This was a minimal, crisp and very modern look- but it felt too structured and precise for my lifestyle and personality, I concluded!

rachylou

Veteran

I think I find persona’s easier than separate adjectives. Angie said Quirky Waif and that really defines it still. I do riffs on that and give the subgenres names. I’m currently doing Country Punk, with a bit of Little Bo Peep if I’m feeling fancy or Alice in Wonderland in Black and White if I’m feeling urban. Hehe,

Altho right this very moment I’m looking kinda tomboy because of some new hunter green sneakers…

Ginger

Veteran

Like Suz, I'm feeling the need to update my words. The ones I picked some years ago were descriptive enough but they don't give me any kind of real vibe: Colorful, Comfortable, Structured, Elegant

I still love my moniker, though: The Duchess Next Door.

I think what I'm getting at is a kind of contradiction: Nice/pretty clothes but not being precious about them. Always putting on makeup, but it only takes five minutes. Clothes that are striking but not being self-conscious about them. Precision with color choice and silhouette, but that's mostly done when shopping. It's more than being put together and neat. Making an effort but in very specific ways. Low tolerance for daily fuss. Put on the fabulous outfit and then just wear it. Fabulous outfit being both comfortable and pleasing to my eye throughout the day.

I'm not sure how to boil that down into three words!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Lisa, I also noticed Amy Smilovic’s (over?)use of “chill” and it’s something I aspire to as well! If I feel too buttoned up or classic, I feel very un-chill, LOL. I have to strike a balance though, perhaps because I also don’t have that willowy body type that clothes just hang off of. If I try to achieve that slight oversized fit in more than one garment at a time, I just look sloppy and silly.

I guess my old “sophisticated rock’n’roll” still kind of fits? I’m now closer to 60 than to 50, and I want to make sure I keep my style gently evolving to reflect a little bit of badass, but definitely an element of refinement as well. I like a touch of sporty, tough, or masculine touch in outfits to offset my very feminine shape, features, and hair.

I haven’t thought to try to distill this into just a handful of words, but I can see how it would be helpful when 1) shopping (would a sophisticated badass wear this?), and 2) putting together outfits (is the reason this ensemble isn’t working because there isn’t enough refinement or not enough edge?).

unfrumped

Veteran

I never settled on either 3 words or a moniker when I was working, though I had elements of classic, preppy , juxtaposing masculine & feminine detai, a tiny bit of Audrey H. but I was not as gamine and refined.
Now in retirement and currently still rather restricted social life, I am still working out what works for what occasions. I spend a lot of time in the yard and just go full- on yard clothes for that. But I like dress differently if I leave the house- but find too much “ put together “ and I’m outside my environmental norm with friends. Which was ok for work but I want a more unstudied look now. What tends to differentiate me is I’m more willing to define my waist even though it’s “more than it used to be”! I had almost thought those days are behind me because I was not meeting my pretty harsh internal critic idea of how that should look- especially the back view. Then, I started thinking, if not now , when? Not likely to be a whole lot better in 10 years.
However I still need lots of untucked options because on any given occasion I might lose my comfort, nerve, whatever. Plus for travel, good untucked, good waist- coverage tops are how I like to go.

I like Lisa’s post as perhaps identifying wish to look put together but relaxed. I consistently gravitate to looser fits but then sometimes overdo & get lost in baggy stuff. Because, I too am not like the models - the model wears pants in size whatever, and they swoosh and flow on her or look comfy and just relaxed. . But I need the size up, and then something may be lost in translation. So I’m always trying to find that sweet spot of roomy but reined in.
Unstudied refinement. Fabrics make a big difference. I would say casual elegance but think I’m more sporty than that- not physique- wise but wanting to look casual, active but not like the casual I see on a lot of over -50-60 bloggers. So still drawn to sporty luxe or mixing pieces like sweatshirt with skirt or cashmere with joggers.

Nadya

Veteran

I’ve been thinking about this the last few days, too! My YouTube feed must be channeling TiKTok since I’m not (yet?) on TikTok. I got to Happy and Modern pretty quickly. It’s interesting how many of us have Modern as a word. I guess that’s one thing that brings people to a forum like this—our interest in the evolution of fashion.

Happy to me is similar to how Angie uses Playful - some element that makes me happy, like my crazy pants, or a piece of sentimental or powerful jewelry. My last word I’m still circling in on. The closest is functional - because I want my clothes to be fit for purpose, let me walk miles, and I eschew fussy details. But functional doesn’t capture the full feeling which includes as bit of Badass as well. Maybe I need four words!

nemosmom

Veteran

Echoing Suz and others who mention needing to revisit these words!

I like Amy Smilovic’s use of “chill”, and the way she talks about modifier words. I also have used personas to help create a vibe I am after. But these days, something feels off about the words I had chosen previously: refined, California, adventure. Being stuck in the Midwest makes it challenging to incorporate anything even remotely California, and I could not feel further from refined.

I should do a life and lifestyle assessment - it’s a great time of year for this kind of thing. Thank you, Sal!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

For you Sal I do like LaPed's bold and breezy. There definitely is an element to your look that really was encapsulated by modern Charlie's Angel. A tiny bit glam but also ready to get hands on with a project.
I see a few people have mentioned Amy S.'s idea of "chill". I have understood it to be some combination of effortless and cool, but I am a bit allergic to both of these descriptors when it comes to myself.
For me the best I have come up with so far is unexpected (or original, in that I like to combine genres, decades, now with then, etc.), undone (because there is always a falling sleeve, wrinkles, my hair, etc), and elegant (aspirational, but also my favorite compliment).

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