In my non-Napkin Dad life I also consult, design and develop websites and blogs at times. I have recently been contracted to redesign and expand a style, fashion, and shopping blog and it has been great fun. It included a number of long conversations with the client about how to get just the right mix of elements into the website. That in turn got me thinking about what style really consists of and I came up with the Five I’s. I think I will spend some time digressing about the I’s eventually but before I do I would love to hear your understanding of the I’s as they apply in your own and other’s styles in fashion and other areas. Or add in new I’s or whatever other alphabet letter fits!
In addition, Let me know what you think style is, where it comes from, how you know it when you see it, and how it differs from fashion, trends, fads, etc.
Drawing, quote and commentary by Marty Coleman, who got 3 new hats this winter.
“You do not create a style. You work, and develop yourself; your style is an emanation from your own being.”
-Katherine Anne Porter
I feel my best when what I’m wearing reflects the mood I’m in. To me, style is much more then what I decide to put on in the morning. True style comes from within- Knowing what you REALLY like takes confidents and understanding in and of yourself, without the influence of others.
Hey Eyebrows, I like that quote, might have to use it! It is true.
I think this is a good description of style. I’ve never been the “best dressed” in my class – or at work – but I’m not the worst either. I think style is a reflection on the person you are – whether that’s artistic, casual, sophisticated or athletic. My style changes on the type of mood I’m in — at home, I’m all about casual: pajama pants, gym shorts, a t-shirt. At work, I like to dress-up, yet be comfortable. When I’m out with friends, I like to accessorize. My husband likes me best with gym clothes, hair pulled back and no make-up. That’s less pressure for me!
Being liked when you are at your most ‘dressed down’ is definitely a good thing. I can’t imagine being a woman who is married to a guy constantly on her case about looking a certain way, ‘the perfect look’, so he can have the reputation or image he wants. I think that must be wear the moniker ‘trophy wife’ comes in. I feel for those women who have to deal with that.
Totally LOVE the drawing today! You know me – a total shopaholic using my bad habit for the greater good! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Style is YOU – your personality, your “vibe”, and your passion! You don’t have to follow the hot and happening trends to have style. Being true to self and having confidence in that is all you need. Style can be played down and/or amplified depending on your mood, environment and/or event. Everyone can be stylish in their own way – which goes along with using your own ideas, items, inspiration, intelligence, and intuition!
LOVE IT! Thank you for sharing it today!
So, is style an element of one’s brand identity I wonder? Is it the same? Do we even have a brand identity?
I think that is something it took me a long time to learn. I used to always see interesting clothes and want to wear them even if they weren’t particularly ‘me’. Now I have more of a sense of style-identity and can separate ‘that looks awesome on her’ from ‘I should wear that’
Appreciating something and letting that be enough instead of appreciating it and thinking that appreciation means you actually want it for your own?
Well said sara!
To me? Style is feeling comfortable and showing your personality through your clothing. Style only comes if you are truly comfortable in what you have on, and that shines through more than anything!
Style to me is how I see and feel the world. My personal style is comfortable, chic and sharp. My home style is cool, warm and lived in. What’s yours?
Mine is hit or miss. Definitely comfortable, not up to the minute fashionable, but I can put to gether a shirt, tie and nice pair of pants that look decent. The home is moving towards modern but warm, with wood instead of metal surfaces.
My style has always been more on the conservative side. Comfort goes a long way.
I like jeans. I like comfortable bras, shirts, and shoes. I’ve never been accused of dressing trendy. It just looks too uncomfortable and too expensive. LOL!
The thing I have found is that real true luxury items usually are extremely comfortable. I don’t buy a lot, but the few shirts and pairs of shoes that were rather expensive all ended up being very comfy. But trendy items aren’t necessarily true luxury so they can be just too much fashion and not enough comfort for sure.
I love this, it is exactly how I feel about personal ‘style’. It is just a matter of spending time with your clothes and yourself, putting things on, adding things, taking pieces off and altering lengths to suit. You have nailed it beautifully, personal style is just that, it is you!
Basically style is a collage of fashion in other words? A assemblage of pieces that when put together reflect a part of the inside of you?
I think your style grows and changes and develops your entire life and agree it comes from all of those places:)
Thanks Meredith, I appreciate the response. It was interesting watching ‘Fashion Police’ the day before Whitney Houston died. They were commenting about how dated her look was and one of them said something along the lines of ‘people hold on to the style they had when they felt they were at their peak because it gives them a feeling of still being part of it’. I found that to be true when I look at many friends.