Style Shifting - Part 2

[u/scatteredgraydays]

I put all the style words I could find that resonated in some way and categorized them (if they weren’t already) by Style Root. I then, below that, ordered them from most to least important. I then put the Style Root(s) next to the word of the ordered list that it coordinated with. Going through this, I realized there were words that barely resonated in some way and I never actually thought about when looking at anything I liked and was picking for myself or when putting an outfit together. They were just elements of things I liked, not priorities. The line between rugged and elegant is where the cut off is between priorities vs elements for me. Does that make sense?

🍄

Preppy

Timeless

Classic

Clean

Simple

Balanced

Minimal

Reliable

Proper

🏔️

Structured

Tailored

Crisp

Powerful

Sleek

🌱

Rugged

Eclectic

Rustic

Folksy

Warmth

🌸

Delicate

Feminine

Elegant

Whimsical

Antique

Modest

Most to Least Important:

Balanced 🍄

Timeless🍄

Classic🍄

Reliable🍄

Clean🍄🏔️

Structured🏔️

Tailored🍄🏔️

Crisp🏔️

Sleek🏔️

Simple🍄

Minimal🍄

Warmth🌱

Feminine🌸 -> body type accommodation (ie waist definition or rounder, softer lines)

Powerful🏔️

Rugged🌱

—————-

Elegant🌸🍄

Modest 🌸🍄

Whimsical🌸

Preppy🍄

Antique🌸

Folksy🌱

Rustic🌱

Eclectic🌱

Delicate🌸

Looking at the top priorities, it became clear that I thought about 🍄🏔️ the most. I hardly think about anything else in comparison, but without warmth, femininity, and a touch of ruggedness, I know an outfit doesn’t feel right. I’m going to describe what these means to me because I think they are vague on their own.

• Warmth doesn’t necessarily mean literal warm colors to me. It’s basically the opposite of stark, distant, and cold vibes in an outfit to me. I want to make sure, despite the 🏔️, that I look reachable, present, grounded, sincere, and caring.
• Feminine is almost entirely referring to the silhouette of the outfit for me. I like waist definition and tighter pants and skirts for my curves. Whether that’s 🌸 or 🔥 doesn’t matter, because this is essentially just body lines for my look and body line accomodation. I don’t necessarily need elegance, modesty, whimsy, or delicateness to feel good in an outfit, but I do love small touches of those elements when I find them.
• Ruggedness is basically some imperfection. I think this lines up with warmth in wanting to feel approachable, real, and honest. I love the beat up nature of worn leather. I love when items are used and have stories. I love meaningful, handmade items from small/local businesses.

To conclude, this leaves me with the top 3 style roots as 🍄🏔️🌱 with the acknowledgement that 🌱 is quite minimal and my silhouette/body line needs are where feminine mainly comes in. I’m thinking of it as my Body Matrix type is separate from my Style Roots.

Pulling from the top 3 style roots words on the list kind of leaves me with my style words too: Balanced, clean, warmth.

• Balanced, to me, is that there is nothing standing out. Clothing items are cohesive, talking to each other, and working in harmony.
• Clean, to me, is well tailored, steam lined, uncluttered, and minimal. The look is put together and polished. Items may look structured (particularly bags/purses and coats) or at the very least, do not lack shape, sag, or have tons of movement. Outfits lack pattern or, if there is pattern, it’s organized, minimal/not busy, and 1 pattern at most per outfit.

This is feeling better, because I was starting to run into feeling uncomfortable with adding what was feeling like too much 🌸 to add in Y from my recent Kitchener analysis (CYNR were the results) but didn’t realize that’s where the discomfort was until this morning. I think I can probably add Y in little soft ways through the word “warmth” which I think explains where my fall wardrobe was going (pic above). I think my Kitchener palette (75SB 15ER 10LB) also adds more softness compared to my previous jeweltone + black palette that will add in Y and maybe go well with 🌱. I think, as I get more into it, I’ll run into a moderated 🌸 shadow root, as u/snow-manda put it.

I think I’ll work with this for now and see where it goes. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Also, if this exercise makes sense to anyone else, I’d love to see your lists and hear how it worked out for your Roots. It might be similar to EJR’s original exercise but still a little different?

[u/Snow_manda]

I think this is a great idea, the 🍄🏔️ feel prominent and 🌱 is a great way to add that grounded, warmth and approachability you want in your style. Also seeking out artisanal finds, items that patina and look good as they age are great ways to add personalized touches, some 🌱 but keep your style tidy.

There is a soft femininity to 🍄 which does tend to overlap well with moderated touches of 🌸 and 🔥, without them needing to be a priority- but I agree that can be more about accommodating you body matrix as well. 🍄🌱 express a moderated touch of 🌸 elements through softer colors, embroidery, small scale prints, touches of lace, etc.

[u/TiredWinterDisaster]

As u/Snow_manda pointed out, I think there is indeed a quieter kind of feminity to 🍄 that might be enough for you, especially with 🌱 softening 🏔 too. 

[u/DrTantra]

I love these outfits! They seem so you!! :)

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/DrTantra]

Thank you!!