I have spoken about Allison Bornstein's three-word method as a great way to streamline your wardrobe and make sense of your inspiration. It allowed me to contextualise what I was drawn to, and today I’m allowing you to peek into my figurative underwear drawer as I break down the psyche behind me getting dressed.
The overall goal when I get dressed is to feel cool. Cool to me is determined by my outfits showing off my creative flair whilst still feeling very put together. I enjoy my clothes speaking to each other in fun and dynamic ways without sacrificing effortlessness or appropriateness. I like to mix different style themes, for example, a slouchy pair of trousers with a strappy heel to keep my outfits feeling fresh and avoid them falling flat. After piecing this together, I concluded that my three style words are classic, edgy, and sexy.
Classic to me is defined by traditional pieces, tailoring, and denim. If you religiously read my newsletter, you know I worship a pair of jeans. They are extremely versatile with their ability to be dressed up or down, and they are a good foundation for most of my outfits. I am drawn to the ease of a tailored piece that allows me to sit back and let its structure do the talking. Similarly, my love for traditional pieces, such as loafers, is again an effortless way to add a smart touch to any outfit. In terms of edgy, I gravitate towards pieces with an unexpected twist. For example, the Vivienne Westwood t-shirt top with its abstract silhouette. It allows me to align with my love for classics with the choice of a t-shirt, but the exaggerated silhouette affords me that creativity I crave when getting dressed. Lastly, I find sexy in the details of a piece. In the way a dress drapes the body or the open back detail of a top. I personally don’t love a short skirt or a low-cut item but am drawn to a more nuanced version of the word. The subtle seduction of an off-shoulder top or a corset midi skirt is how I like to inject sexy details into my outfits.
With this in mind, I have styled three quintessential pookie outfits below, which are a visual manifestation of my style words above.
The foundation of this look is the typical t-shirt and jeans, but my style words allow for a more dynamic interpretation of this look. The abstract silhouette of the Gimaguas t-shirt as well as the barrel-leg silhouette of the jeans hit the classic but edgy intersection perfectly. Paired with the textured Giaborghini heels, this adds that sexy touch to the outfit, making a very me outfit.
This outfit satisfies my need to mix high-low pieces in an outfit. The Fear of God essentials sweat set is extremely casual and would normally lead to a sneaker shoe choice, but cutting through this with the Cos Mary Jane ballet flats is how I like to add edge to an outfit. This is continued with the bag choice that adds a smart and classic element to the casual nature of the sweat set, hitting my three-word brief perfectly.
This summer daytime look hits every one of my style words. The flowy silhouette of the dress as well as the red lip tick off the sexy touch in the outfit. This is then opposed with the baseball cap, which adds the edge to the outfit, and loafers continue this opposing effect with their unexpected smart touch. When I mix a few style themes, my outfit feels less prescriptive and allows me to achieve that feeling of ‘cool’ that I strive for.
I have found even more freedom in how I get dressed by having this secure base to jump off of. Getting dressed has become a lot more fun, and this fundamental understanding of my style has led to a stronger understanding of myself. I have found a lot more security in my voice and the story I want to tell through the clothes I wear. Sounds semi-dramatic, but clothing matters, and what we wear affects how we show up. I encourage the exploration of your own three words!
Just an FYI that there will be no post next week Monday as I am off on holiday this week, so I will be back the following week with a fun holiday outfit post. Speak to you then!
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