How To Mine Style From Fashion

Recently, I was talking with Karen, one of my workshop attendees, and she asked a key question.  It is an excellent question and a great starting point to developing your personal style.  In fact, this question has been popping up in a number of my conversations of late.

The Question:  How do I mix my favorite pieces that are flexible and classic, and still look fresh and forward-thinking?

The Short Answer.  Mine your style from fashion.  Make it personal.  Pair the pieces that you love (style) with trend pieces that are calling to you (fashion).  Look for the pieces you love (style) with updated detailing (fashion).  Keep an eye out for your favorite colors (style) as they appear in store (fashion). 

Teasing Out Your Style Quandary.  Other ways of asking this question that have come up are:

• How do I look polished and artistic?  
• How do I invest in pieces that will last, without looking like a fuddy-duddy?
• How do I stay current without constantly going shopping?

People, this is the pull of style versus the push of fashion.

Style V. Fashion.  Style is iconic.  It is the through-line to your look.  It's an aesthetic that links each piece to each other.  We also think of style as those perennials that are the staples of your wardrobe.

For example, in the photo to the left, Lauren's staples are her white tee and jeans, her naturally curly hair and her playful expression.  These are the pieces we associate with Lauren Hutton.

Fashion is nothing more and nothing less than the clothing and accessories that appear every season.  You can use fashion to define your style.  Or, you can be defined by fashion.

The fashion Lauren is exhibiting here is her necklace, her heels and the cut and styling of her tee and her jeans.

Style is the piece that reflects who you are.  Fashion is the piece that shows you are living in your time.

Do you see it?  

As Lauren says, "Fashion is what you're offered four times a year by designers.  And style is what you choose."

But, how do I do this?  To answer Karen's question, I asked her about her favorite piece.  She referred to a black dress that she wears all throughout the year.  This is a great example, as the little black dress has been called a "must" for any woman's wardrobe.

Now, I absolutely do not believe in "must" items.  Each item in your wardrobe needs to work for you. However, the little black dress (LBD) is a great way to explain how style can be mined out of fashion.

Take a look:

 

L to R:  Audrey Hepburn, Jennifer Lopez, Alexa Chung, Kerry Washington

Make It Personal.  All of these ensembles have a totally different affect -- dependent on how she wears her dress -- which reflects the woman inside.  While the dresses aren't the same, they are all variations on the LBD.  In fact, Alexa's isn't a dress at all -- it's a turtleneck and skirt!

You can see how Audrey's gloves and up-do signify something different than Jennifer's heels and structured clutch.  Alexa's wedges and leather jacket tell a different story than Kerry's belt and earrings.

What story do you want to tell?  What pieces do you love?

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