What One Word Describes Your Personal Style?

Finding your own personal style is KEY to building a great wardrobe, feeling confident, and getting better at shopping. Today I’m sharing a fun method to pin down your personal style. 

My sister and I were recently talking about style and she shared a story The Lazy Genius shared about working with a stylist to help her closet. The stylist told her:

“Your style is more about how you feel, not about how you look.”

It was a total “a-ha” moment for Kendra, and it was for me as well!

How do you want to feel when you put on clothes in your closet? And can you come up with one word that describes that feeling?

I’ve been asking my friends and family members this question and have loved hearing the different answers.

• “Pretty.”
• “Polished.”
• “Cool.”
• “Feminine.”
• “Colorful.”
• “Effortless.”
• “Edgy.”
• “Classy.”
• “Boho”
• “Sexy.”
• “Sporty.”
• “Trendy.”

So now I’m going to ask you, what’s your word that describes how you want to “feel” when you get dressed?? Do any of these words above strike a chord with you?

What kinds of pieces do you look for with each style word?

Let’s break down some personal style words, and I’ll share some pieces you could add to your closet depending on which word you chose.

• “Pretty.”
  • Try more feminine pieces. Look for florals, ruffle details, necklines like v-neck, sweetheart, square, and scoop to show some of your décolletage. Sleeve details like puff sleeves, half sleeves, and ruffle sleeves are things that add a “pretty” note to an outfit. Avoid crew neck or overly masculine tops.k
• “Polished.”
  • This kind of style is all in the details. You want pieces with structure like blouses or fitted jackets. Stay away from distressing or oversized pieces. Earrings and belts and other finishing touches will give that polished feel to your outfits!
• “Cool.”
  • Look for those unique and unexpected kinds of pieces that will make your outfit feel cool. A colored leather jacket, a studded pair of boots, a fun graphic tee, or a cool pair of statement earrings.
• “Feminine.”
  • This is a similar category to “pretty” in my mind, although I think it goes even further. Lace, floral, ruffles, fabric trims, and other delicate details will make your outfit feel feminine. Also defining your waist and showing some neckline are great ways to give that feminine feel. Avoid oversized pieces or overly trendy pieces.
• “Colorful.”
  • This one is self explanatory, I think! But you can feel colorful without wearing head to toe color. Choose blouses or dresses in bold prints or solid colors. Try a colorful pair of shoes with a basic outfit. Add a colored belt around a solid white or neutral dress. Or add a colorful bag or bold lip color!
• “Effortless.”
  • I think this is my word. I never want to feel overcomplicated or stuffy. I like simple outfits that feel fun and interesting without trying too hard. Look for one and one pieces like a jumpsuit or a dress, or try an unexpected combo like a dressier skirt with a t-shirt and sneakers. You’ll want a mix of cool/trendy pieces and classic pieces, and then have fun combining them into different outfits. But remember, not too much jewelry or too many accessories, or you’ll loose that effortless feel.
• “Edgy.”
  • This one is a fun one! Again, you don’t need a bunch of edgy pieces all in one outfit. One edgy element with your classics can give that edgy feel. Try a bold lip color with a basic outfit, or bring in some edginess with a moto jacket with lots of zippers. Try a super pointy toe shoe, or something with studs. Maybe an over the knee boot with your jeans, or a leather legging with a sweater. 
• “Classy.”
  • If you want that classy look, you have to stick to the classics. Look for tailored tops and dresses, classic handbags with structure, classic pieces like a blazer or a trench coat. Choose classic pumps in neutral colors, and avoid anything too trendy.
• “Sexy.”
  • If sexy is your word, look for pieces that are a little more revealing. Lower cut necklines, cut outs, body hugging dresses, shorter hemlines, or slits in your dress or skirt. And remember, you can have that sexy feel without showing off skin! A body hugging turtleneck midi dress with some stilettos can be just as sexy as a mini dress. 
• “Boho”
  • Look for more oversized, flowy pieces. Wide leg pants, flowy tops, and then throw in some accessories that give that boho vibe — long necklaces, scarves around the head or neck. You want to add that kind of earthy, hippie kind of feel, but don’t forget to keep the staples in your closet! You can absolutely pair a flowy top with classic jeans, or some flowy pants with a classic crisp button up. Or wear a boho scarf with a classic and basic t-shirt.
• “Sporty.”
  • Sporty and preppy can be similar, but there are differences. If you want more of a sporty preppy style, look for polo shirts, pleats, slim cut sweaters, plaids, embroidery, and other collegiate types of pieces. If you’re looking for more of an athletic preppy, try leggings and and sneakers, baseball hats, and hoodies.
• “Trendy.”
  • If your word is trendy, be aware that this is a bit of a moving target! Styles are constantly changing, so this one can be a little tough to keep up with. But I’d recommend shopping at trendy stores, like H&M or Zara, where you’ll find lots of trendy pieces. But remember, you can still pair these trendy pieces with classic pieces to have an age appropriate closet!

Here’s the key to building these “feelings” into your closet

The key to all of these “feel” words is that they’re not your overall style, but little elements that can be added to your closet staples to make the outfit feel YOU.

Closet basics are always going to be important, and then as you shop for the extras, like bags, shoes, jackets, and Better than Basic tops, you can look for the pieces that have that “feeling” you’re looking for. All of those fun and personalized pieces will go with a great pair of basic jeans, classic pumps, a great white t-shirt, etc.

So start with the basics in your closet, then figure out your “feel” word, and then begin to add pieces to your closet that fall under your “feel” word.

It’ll make a huge difference in how your closet works together!

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