Personal Style Practice: What Does This Outfit Say?
Happy Thursday! It’s been a fun week discussing personal style, so let’s do another Personal Style Practice: What Does This Outfit Say?
Your comments revealed on Tuesday that you were really thinking about the personal style adjectives concept for your own wardrobes as well.
Several wanted the discussion to continue, so here we go with another Personal Style Practice.
I dug back into some of my older pictures to find a couple I thought might lead to interesting discussions.
I also want to dig just a little deeper today to illustrate that style adjectives are for every garment in your wardrobe…no matter how elevated or casual the looks are.
So, think about the woman’s entire wardrobe when pondering the one outfit. What does her personal style speak for everything she owns.
There are really no right or wrong answers, EXCEPT…keep it positive.
This is learning to help us all select style adjectives for different styles and hone in on what best suites us for our overall personal style.
I know some of you are having learning and thinking…hope the others will join in with a fun-outlook.
PERSONAL STYLE PRACTICE: WHAT DOES THIS OUTFIT SAY? #1
This is a past look from Soft Surroundings.
I believe this woman is telling the world that she is:
FASHIONABLE – she loves fashion as depicted in her shoes…selected to elevate a simple casual style.
MODERN – her clothing fits well and looks fresh and modern
TRENDY – the addition of the shoes make this a more trendy outfit, so she must love the fashion trends.
LIVELY – the selection of the fun striped pant is a lively look rather than going with pant in a solid color or neutral.
POLISHED – though she has on striped pants and fun shoes, she is stating that she like a polished look with simple earrings atop a solid, simple, knit tee.
By wearing the polished simple tee, she is not completely going overboard with trends in her personal style. The word polished keeps her personal style under control since she loves fashion.
The following garments might be in the same woman’s wardrobe and speak those same adjectives:
TUCKERNUCK CITRON AND SLATE BLUE EMBROIDERED LEIGHTON DRESS
TALBOTS PLEATED PATIO SKIRT – BEAUTIFUL SCROLL
WHBM OFF-THE- SHOULDER KIMONO SLEEVES BLOUSE
Remember to tell us what the outfit speaks about her. We are not looking at age, color palettes, or expense of garments…we are looking at personal style adjectives.
PERSONAL STYLE PRACTICE: WHAT DOES THIS OUTFIT SAY? #2
This dress just makes me smile, and it is another mannequin I found at Dillard’s.
I believe the personal style adjectives for this woman could be:
COSMOPOLITAN – She wants the world to know that her personal style is multi-cultural.
EXPRESSIVE – Her personal style is bold and she does not mind being visible at all
INTERESTING – Her personal style reflects her love of interesting prints and color mixes. She is an intelligent and interesting woman.
COURAGEOUS – With those previous words in mind, her clothing choices are courageous and unexpected. She wants to be different.
BOLD – Her personal style is creative and colorful and out front…not shrinking back.
She might have these pieces in her closet to speak the same adjectives about her personal style:
ANTHROPOLOGIE ONE-SHOULDER BLOUSE
FARM RIO OFF WHITE SPRING AWAKENING EUROFLAX PREMIUM LINEN DRESS
JOHNNY WAS THE JANIE FAVORITE BAMBOO KNIT NAPPERON PRINT V NECK TEE
SUGARLIPS PALMER ABSTRACT PRINTED MULTI COLOR V NECK TIERED SMOCKED DRESS
KURT GEIGER LONDON OTAVIA FLEXI GEMSTONE GLADIATOR LEATHER FLAT SANDALS
PERSONAL STYLE PRACTICE: WHAT DOES THIS OUTFIT SAY?
It is now your turn to let us know what personal style adjectives these outfits speak to you about a woman’s total wardrobe.
Really think about what the messages are…when you put these outfits on, what do you want others to know about you and how can that emanate through your entire wardrobe??
We had a great conversation during the first Personal Style Practice and I hope it will continue today…learning from each other.
If you are new here, please read the MONDAY POST as well to help you understand what is going on.
Selecting your own personal style adjectives and remaining consistent with them for everything you wear, will save you money and time and, BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE.
Can’t wait to read your opinions today….
KEEP SMILING!
By Pamela Lutrell
Whether shopping new arrivals or clearance sales, please shop with the links on my SHOPPING PAGE…thank you, thank you to all who shop this way in order to support the blog.
Good morning Pam,
I like your adjectives for #1. Modern, trendy, and polished. I’m going to add reserved to describe the outfit. However, I’m moving the word Lively to picture #2. To me the dress is lively and definitely bold. My first thought was if I were at a party with people in these 2 outfits, the person in the dress is approachable and easy to talk to. I see her definitely as a fun person with a bold personality.
It’s funny, I just realized that if I were still living in NYC and saw a person on the street in the dress, I would say Cosmopolitan but now living in East TN, I see her in the dress, with fun sneakers at a house party running around making sure her kids are accounted for, have eaten, etc. I guess location matters. Have a great day.
Pam, I think your adjectives are perfect. I think picture #1 says: I might be going on vacation, but even if I’m not. I look like I am.
Outfit 1 – This outfit says “I like neutrals and please don’t push me into the pool.”
Outfit 2 – This outfit says “I’m fun, approachable and I love bold colors.”
I think when we are deciding our personal style adjectives that location does matter. Good point, Betty. I know when I was in San Antonio that bold and colorful rules the day. I have seen some here, but it is a more “soft” styling place.
Thanks for approaching the subject and for your thorough comment.
I see that, Marcia. Thanks so much.
Hi Kate…I had to laugh at your first description and somehow I do not think the second woman would mind being pushed into the pool. LOL…I encourage everyone to remember that we are focusing on style adjectives to help everyone build your own style recipe with adjectives. Thanks for joining in!
Hi Pam! I find Outfit number 1 to be modern, clean, casual, confident ( not weighted down with lots of accessories). Outfit 2=fun, creative, bold and exciting.
Thanks Paulette…all great adjectives for style
Outfit 1: current, chic-Boho, sophisticated tourist
Outfit 2: fun, outgoing, fearless
For outfit 2 I would take out lively and replace it with understated or casual elegance. Your description of her top as being polished has helped me to add that adjective to my own style words. I’ve been thinking that it would be interesting to see if most of us find that our style adjectives also fit our home decor style. Mine do.
Thanks Kim…
I was told a few years ago by a professional stylist that our personal style is the same from wardrobe to home decor. Looking away at my home…I think I would agree for me. Thanks Mary Jo…glad this has helped you.
Number one, which I love: natural, effortless, interesting, modern, polished (I see we shared a couple … I tried not to see yours before I did mine, so as not to be confused by the expert :))
Number two: creative, exuberant, fearless, open, relaxed
Thanks Linda…I like the use of fearless instead of courageous for some reason. Maybe it sounds a touch stronger to me…though I do not know why. Good choices.
Pam, outfit number one has me hooked top to bottom until I see the shoes, I feel a pair of ECCO sneakers in white would tie in better, add a simple gold chain necklace. Love the conversation! 🥰
We are discussing personal style adjectives today, Sandra…can you tell us what you think? You might want to read the posts leading up to these exercises for some help. Would love to hear your adjectives for both outfits!
I am realizing how much your shoes can make a difference both from today’s look and yesterday’s video. If number 1 had on flat open sandals I would have added casual and approachable to the list. I also see some romantic vibes in outfit 2 with the sleeves, waist line and tiered skirt. I also think you did a good job staying in the adjectives with your added picks. I was out yesterday with a group of retired friends and tried to add adjectives to how each was dressed. It was an interesting exercise as I’ve been searching for my own ones for the last few years I’ve followed you.
Good morning! The only thing I would add to the second picture is “feminine” which is immediately what came to mind because of the ruffles. I do agree with others that said approachable and fun.
Oh, that’s fun, Linda! To look at friends and other women can tell us much and also generate a fun conversation. Yes….these shoes especially tell us so much about this woman’s overall personal style and why I see her as fashion-forward.
Thanks Alice…I did not notice the ruffles…so that does add a little different perspective to what this woman likes.
#1 effortless, polished, confidently casual, and stylish . Love this look, and in describing it, i realize this is what I want to be when I grow up!!
#2 bold, casual, fun, and a little boho. Really fun colors
I am excited, Teri, that this exercise helped you decide your own style adjectives. Woo Hoo!
#1 casual, comfortable, fun, current except those very uncomfortable shoes. They don’t fit the running around doing errands then lunch with friends. A flat sandal or a slip on sneaker makes more sense with her outfit.
#2 boho, fun, confident, feminine and approachable.
Good afternoon. I want to comment on Betty’s post. It was such a lightbulb moment. Location! That matters quite a bit! I was always aware of that in a subconscious way, but it really pointed out to me what a different viewpoint that we all have from where we are sitting. I thought I would use the beautiful print dress. In NYC, if I saw that woman elegantly seated at a posh restaurant, I would say she was bold, confident , and dramatic. Other women might be wearing beautiful black dresses and she would be comfortable standing out. If she was at my girlfriend’s daughter’s wedding at a wonderful venue barn in rural Maine, where the invite said dressy, fun, and bright, I would say that this woman would be intriguing, structured, and strong because the other women might look more flowy and romantic. Love Kate’s pool comment. And shoes! As Linda D pointed out, what a difference with they make. (When I travel, I always start with shoes and build up.)
Sydney, the adjectives we are doing here are for the woman you see before you…a woman who loves trendy shoes.
You & I might wear different shoes to speak our adjectives, but I used this picture so we can see how the shoes change the style adjectives. Some women sacrifice comfort for fashion.
Love this, Deborah! Lots of considerations for these outfits. I wish I could take all of us to behind the scenes total wardrobes when we do this.
Hi Pamela,
For #1 I would say polished, sleek, confident, stylish and assured.
For #2 the adjectives that come to mind are playful, flirty, feminine, vibrant and audacious.
Thanks for another fun exercise today!
Thank you for joining in!
For the first woman I see her as Confident, Polished, Stylish, Simple (as in minimalist),and Casual. And I’m zeroing in on these adjectives for myself as I love the outfit and would wear it. (OK with the exception of the high heels now but I would have worn them when I was younger).
The second woman is Funloving, Outgoing, Girlish (ruffles), Casual and Confident.
I enjoyed this and find it very useful.
For #1 my adjectives are current, tasteful, stylish, trendy. The shoes definitely fashionable
#2 bold, boho, courageous and expressive. I imagine her shoes would also be bold
such fun, thanks
#1-casual, comfortable, confident, appropriate, not fussy (I can’t think of a better word for that)
#2- trendy, bold, easy going, fun, fearless
This is helping me a lot too. Please return to this from time to time. Thank you!
I’m also enjoying your new color transformation. And there were a couple tops from right after your fall colors that I thought looked so cute and vibrant on you but I remember you saying they were too boho or something. I think they would have slipped right into the new spring palette. I liked the yellow embroidered eyelet shirt and tank you wore with jeans.
I like the word funloving. Thanks Kathie!
Glad you enjoy it, Audrey! Thanks for joining in.
So glad it is helping, April. The boho tops were not me. I do better with my five style adjectives…which can include a touch of boho.
I’m very late to the style words party after a day of back to back appointments, but it has been so much fun reading all the comments. I think Pam‘s adjectives for the styles of these two outfits are spot on, but I was intrigued that so many of my fellow readers came up with “fun“ for the second outfit. It was literally the first word that popped into my head when I scrolled down to that picture. I also really like the idea that the way a particular outfit is perceived may well depend on the location and occasion where it is being worn. We can choose to adhere to our style words, but have no control over how others perceive those messages. I think this was illustrated in some of the comments on the white sweatsuit earlier in the week. Some saw simple elegance, but others who didn’t care for it had a very different take. Realizing that how others perceive our fashion statements is out of our control sometimes has me second-guessing my choices, but I agree with Pam that we should be true to ourselves. We cannot control how others feel about what they perceive to be the statements we are making with our outfits, only how we respond to their comments.
Style one is reserved and transitions from casual to feminine at the same time. Style number two is bold and cheerful! I love bot as anyone could wear these colors . Sandra🥰
Yes! It is our interpretations of our adjectives that matter most!
I’m catching up on your posts today, and this series is such a fun way to learn about and understand style adjectives. Thank you and your readers for your thoughtful comments!