Don’t Tell Me What to Wear.
Ripped jeans, plaid shirt, and beanie. Grunge style. Cinched waistcoat, floral dress, and pearls. Feminine style. Bell bottoms, effortless blouse, and bold prints. Bohemian style. Our own personal styles differ to represent who we are in life, but what is the true purpose of having one? Regardless of our professions, we each have a personal brand: ourselves. Our apparel, accessories, and combinations of outfits help build that personal brand [1]. Fashion helps us tell our story. Our specific style represents who we are, how we are feeling on any given day, and it builds confidence within us. Within our personal brand, we are sending a message to the world about our own personal “mission and vision statements” for our lives. Our clothing is not simply clothing, but apparel that relays to those around us who we aim to be in life. For example, wearing sustainable clothing will tell people you are socially responsible and conscious of the environment [1]. The true purpose of style is being proud of your identity and telling the world you know who you are! Style is about staying connected to your specific aesthetic [2]. Your personal style can be acquired by looking at your current wardrobe, spending time examining fashion inspiration, making a mood board, mixing a capsule wardrobe of basics, and experimenting with different styles [2]. These five steps can enable you to better understand what you like and don’t like. As for style types, they can range and differ depending on the stylist. In my opinion, these are the various types of style: business casual/classic, urban streetwear, bohemian, athletic/sporty/athleisure, preppy, punk, grunge, artsy, vintage chic, trendy/chic, feminine, androgyny, and casual. There may be more or less than what I have provided here, with some listing over 30 types [3]!
Business Casual or Classic style refers to a polished every day look that incorporates workwear (blazers, khakis, skirts, pants) and is office approved. This includes subtle, muted colors, quiet prints, and simple fabric, allowing for a clean look.
Urban Streetwear style mixes trendy apparel with comfort pieces. This would consist of crop tops, baggy pants, sneakers, hoodies, and t-shirts. Skater meets hip hop with limited edition wear in neon colors, bold prints, and contrasting tones here.
Bohemian “Boho” style is for the free-spirited, hippie/alternative. Neutral colors, earthy vibes, flowing material, cotton/silk/hemp fibers, fabric like denim, natural dyes/tie dyes, crochet fabric, and pieces from around the world are used widely. Bold prints and layered jewelry create a truly effortless look. Pieces include maxi dresses, bell bottoms, fringe, suede, slouchy hobo bags/satchels, large-brimmed hats, light-washed jeans, and long skirts.
Athletic/Sporty/Athleisure style gathers gym clothing and takes it to the streets for a comfortable yet functional look. Leggings, oversized sweatshirts, bike shorts, sports bras, tank tops, yoga pants, joggers, and jerseys are heavily worn here. Breathability and stretchy fabric are the focus for true comfort.
Preppy style is the wealthy look popularized from prep schools, country clubs, golfers, etc. Polo shirts, oxford shirts, argyle socks and sweaters, cable knit sweaters, khakis, cardigans, structured blazers, bright pants, A-line skirts, feminine blouses, collars, headbands, boat shoes, pearls, and glasses are a need for this look. Inspiration comes from upper-class sports like tennis, sailing, horseback riding, and polo. Colors range from vibrant hues to muted tones with white as a favored option.
Punk style is a retro look from the 70’s and 80’s subcultures. Leather jackets, deconstructed blazers, ripped clothing, ripped fishnet stockings, skinny jeans, chunky black boots, band logo shirts, skater skirts, studded vests, safety pins and patches, black eyeliner, mohawks, dyed hair color, spikes, and more crazy provocative attire create this rebellious look. Black, grey, and bold neon hues are emphasized here.
Grunge style is 80’s and 90’s edgy, torn, and worn-looking clothing. Oversized, baggy silhouettes, messy pieces, and relaxed vibes enhance this look. Clothing includes leather jackets, beanies, flannels, ripped jeans, combat boots, band shirts, thrift store finds, oversized knits, disheveled feminine pieces, unkept hairstyles, and ripped tights. Colors are muted and subdued like browns, black, white, greens, blues, etc.
Artsy style is unconventional and embodies making a statement with apparel. Bold, colorful, non-traditional style is the focus here. Freely expressing yourself is the goal. Creativity has no bounds. Similar to boho style, this look also emphasizes modern twists, bold prints, and clashing style. Colors are bright and happy like red, orange, yellow, green, purple, and blue. Blouses, skirts, funky palazzo pants, and a lot of accessories are used here.
Vintage Chic style happens when popularized looks from previous decades come to life again. Typical outfits come from the 1920s to the 1980s. Since fashion is cyclical, vintage chic is always evolving. Pinup clothing, flapper dresses, circle skirts, wide-leg trousers, petticoats, sweater vests, distressed denim, distressed jackets, jeweled buttons, bucket hats, brooches, oxford shoes, high-waisted bottoms, and silk blouses make up this fun look. Colors range depending on the decade you are inspired by, from bright colors to pastels. Florals, checkered gingham, leather, velvet, and sueded are widely used here.
Trendy/Chic style is also constantly evolving and developing based on trend outlets, fashion shows, and new seasons. This is a fun-filled style choice. Reinventing the wardrobe on a constant basis is the norm here. Daring trends include oversized shirt dresses, crazy color combinations, color blocking, torn tees, basic sayings on tees, high-waisted jeans, crop tops, tunics, extra-long shirts, and more. It can encompass any of these other styles as long as they are trending! Colors and fabric vary accordingly. The fashion life cycle is what sets trends. First, a piece must be introduced by a fashion leader, then it is accepted by consumers and elevated by being purchased, and then it peaks. Following this, the piece declines in fashion and is then out-of-fashion [4].
Feminine style is made up of pastel colors, lace, flounce details, ruffles, bows, florals, polka dots, and appliques. Flattering feminine silhouettes that accentuate the hourglass figure are used here. A-line dresses, cinched waistcoats, dresses, skirts, nice blouses, fitted jeans, and always dressing up rather than down are emphasized. Pinks, purples, reds, whites, and pastels are the colors to wear. Chiffon, satin, embroidered lace, organza, organdy, beading, charmeuse, and other light, airy fabrics are utilized in this look.
Androgyny style is when opposites attract. Mixing unisex wear is the new norm. Men wearing womenswear, women wearing menswear, tomboy looks, loose-fitting trousers or jeans, oversized blazers, collared shirts, suits, baggy shirts, slouchy cardigans, and overall gender-neutral styles are the focus. Colors range from pinks to blacks to whites. Anything can work. Light and heavy fabrics are used to contrast and create a sense of duality.
Casual style is comfort wear for the weekend. No dressing up is needed here. Basic t-shirts, jeans, sneakers, flat boots, and simple pieces are key. Streetwear and athletic styles resemble this casual appeal as well. Casual style can be twisted to encompass another style while maintaining a minimalist approach. Basic colors are used like red, blue, green, brown, white, and black. Fabric is not too fancy and can range from jersey knit to denim to broadcloth.
After understanding style and the different types that exist, I am sure you are asking yourself: Is style necessary? Is it really that important to have a certain style? Why does fashion even matter? The fashion industry is the second largest worldwide activity for the economy and is valued at $3 trillion [5]. Our industry provides employment for over 55 million workers in developing nations with 80% of those being women [5]. The textile industry has enabled chemists like Tony Ryan to create projects like the Catalytic Clothing. This project allowed fabric to be used in a study to purify air by using light to eliminate air pollution[5]. Fashion is not just cute clothing; it is an industry run by women that empowers everyone. It speaks volumes. It is important because it provides livelihood and support for developing countries.
Style quizzes want you to think style is important, but for the wrong reasons. There are thousands of different quizzes you can take, with one site listing over 70 options [6]! Subscription services today want you to first take their “style quiz” to better understand how to shop for you. They want to know what style you are, which pattern you prefer, what colors you like, and more. If you say you like the feminine style, they will overload your new wardrobe with floral prints, dresses, and jewels. You didn’t like the fit of the last floral dress you got in the mail? Too bad. You can try telling them, but you will most likely get another one in the mail next month. I understand it is easier to categorize clients and customers into certain style sections to better understand the way they wish to dress, but that may not be the best approach.
Instead, they should be asking what size you currently are, how your current clothing fits you, how you want your clothing to fit, if you are willing to try new things, what three pieces of an outfit make you feel the most confident and why. Combining the psychology of fashion with styling outfits can curate long-lasting confidence in the consumer. As a brilliant person once said, “Fashion fades, style is eternal.” Why do we need to be pigeonholed into ONE category of style? Maybe I want to wear trendy/chic, feminine, and urban streetwear clothing. What hidden rule prevents this? Maybe my personal brand wants to tell the world I want to wear trendy pieces on Monday, an urban outfit on Tuesday, and go all out crazy on Wednesday as I wear some athleisure clothing. Style is necessary, but categories may just be old news. Do you want someone telling you what to wear?
REFERENCES
[1] https://medium.com/@heidruno/why-is-personal-style-important-67beee34af3d
[3] https://sewguide.com/fashion-styles/
[4] https://www.moodfabrics.com/blog/why-is-fashion-important/
[5] https://artsandculture.google.com/story/why-fashion-matters/_QKS0J-OeT7HIA
[6] https://www.buzzfeed.com/jamedjackson/style-beauty-quizzes-2019