If I asked you to describe your style, could you do it?

[BIWI]

Full disclosure: I'm a market researcher, and currently doing some research for one of the Big 4 supermarkets on their clothing. One of our clients has asserted that it's difficult/impossible for people to describe their own style, and that only other people could do this about you.

I wondered about this. Personally I'm really not into fashion, so it's hard for me to describe my 'style' other than scruffy, but then I was wondering if this confirmed her statement!

I'm not looking for answers to my research (because I actually haven't told you what it's really about ), but wanted to see what you fashionistas thought to this claim.

Farely DS1 (also gay) is hoping for a job at the Dr Martens shop because he'll get free pairs

mumsy
arty
middle aged

Quite critical description but I'm overweight and not massively into being fashionable, but am quite specific about what I like/what suits my shape. I love natural fabrics - cotton, silk, cashmere, slightly floaty clothes, block colours or subtle patterns.

biwi I interpret 'clean lines' to mean well tailored, unfussy clothes that hang well.
So no ruffles, frills, etc.

My style icon is Claire Underwood from House of Cards, if you google her I think she sums up what I aspire my style to be!

My style is a weird inconsistent mix... but at the moment mostly:

Androgynous minimal geek at work (think buttoned up shirts and blouses tucked into peg trousers, thick rimmed specs, no accessories, brogues)

"Street" influenced casual at home (skinnies or boyfriend cut dungarees, boyfriend t shirts, trainers, sweatshirts, bomber jacket)

Definitely not girly, feminine, elegant, dressy, glamorous, sexy, tight, formal, polished...

BIWI between my DP and I we must have about 25 pairs of doc martens. Boots, shoes, sandals... you name it we own them.

Pity is her feet are way smaller than mine!

Classic
Androgynous
Fuss free

I don't care about sharing a pic or being 'outed' as I NC frequently.

I'd describe myself/my style choices as

Unkempt
The opposite of classy
Dark, I guess. Only really wear black.

Hope this helps!

Unkempt?! Your hair doesn't look like that at all. Is that really you?!

That was a good day and my boyfriend managed to take a flattering photo.
It's usually a lot messier, exhibit B!

I don't have any off guard photos on my phone, as you can imagine!

If I take a photo of myself it's usually because I've made effort but trust me it's not like this often at all

Quirky cool glamourous
Sometimes just one element ie cool sometimes all e
I like quirky things so this week i wore floral dungarees with t bar shoes and tasselled kaften jacket.

And im not small but i eork it. I also like differenthair styles but im ztuck in a bun rut at the moment but planning a mini no shave mohican.

Sorry should read work it and stuck.

Hi BIWI colour and style is done in separate sessions. I loved both.

Having grown up as a bit of a tomboy, surrounded by very girlie girls all endlessly talking about fashions, i felt that i was just not very good as this stuff. Finding someone who could explain style in terms of basic geometry was transformational for me.

Now I can see the basic shapes that describe different people, starting say with a neckline and working out from there what would work. Im endlessly fascinated to see what different kinds of colour do to different people. For example, all the newscasters, men and women across all channels, tend to wear a similar quite formal look but they each wear a slight variation that works for them. For example, some men wear bright white shirts and high contrast tie, others a softer white shirt and a tie in colours which blends rather than contrast with e shirt.

I'm not suggesting that every consultant can explain it so well, but some of those i have found definitely can. I only know one lady who is still practicing as a hoc consultant. The others have all moved on to other, related areas.

Ah, this is my favourite geek subject. If i didn't have to earn a living, i would be researching any correlation between Myers/Brigs type indicator of personalities (based in Jung's theories of personality) and physical characteristics of colour/style. Sigh.

p.s. Sorry to cross thread, but couldn't 'talk' here without a hat tip to your brilliant bootcamps. Just brilliant, thank you very kindly.

Simple fitted feminine

Esfj dress well!

Thank you, Finally

I'm really interested in the correlation between style, Myers-Briggs and Jungian theory! This is right up my street! I'll have a think about all of that.

ESFJ! I forget now, but I think I'm ENFP. (Will check when I'm back at work)

Do you think there's a correlation between M-B and your style?

Eclectic
Layered
Eccentric

I worked in a boutique when I was aged 13 and have always loved clothes and "dressing up".
In my 20s and 30s I was very clothes conscious but it was the norm amongst my friends to have some sense of individuality.
As I got older I found that I didn't want to dress in clothes made for younger girls so my style evolved. (And my body changed
I dress in clothes I love and that make me feel fab.
It's a very relaxed style and I get many compliments from other women.
I also get this look from people, which amuses me.

I have been out for a meal in a very mainstream venue tonight. I am trying to process my thoughts about how the women were dressed and presented themselves. They were very well-groomed, had obviously made an effort, perfect make up and hair for example but I felt that there was no desire for each individual to stand out from the crowd. I would have been horrified to see other people who looked just like me when I was a young 'un; is this a change or do I not spot the individuality as I am out of the loop of fashion?

That's really interesting, iamEarthymama. One of the things I've never 'got' with fashion is how much it's about people following other people like sheep - yet thinking that they're rocking their own style!

Too fat to be a mod

Initial hypothesis would be that there would be some correlation but...

Even if it were quite strong, however, I'm not sure it would ever be helpful to say 'your style is dramatic' so you would be XXXX, more than it would be if you are a natural, it would be less stressful for you to run a corporation along these rather than those lines....

I would love to look closely enough to see which traits matched best. There may be clusters of characteristics which trend. Imagine if i could get sufficient data points from MN to get a proposal together. xx

14 year old boy/ 40 year old mum

Ha! What does the 14 yo boy wear, and what does his mum wear?!

Simple
Elegant
Monochrome

I thought about this a while ago . I'd go for classic, sophisticated and comfortable which all sounds wrong! I'm basically short, curvy and have to look smart for work. At home it's jeans or hush harems and a top or jumper. I'm generally well groomed and still pretty (40+) but not very interesting!

90's grunge kid.

I mostly dress in skinny worn out ripped jeans, vans/converse and an old band T shirt. My style hasn't actually changed in 18 years. In fact some of my clothes are that old!