Wardrobe Architect Week 3: Exploring Shapes
This week, Colette's Wardrobe Architect Project focuses on shapes -- specifically, the silhouettes you feel most comfortable wearing. Again, this comes down to what you feel good in, not necessarily what you admire on other people. So while I think maxi dresses look amazing on some women, I can't leave the house in one without feeling ridiculous.
Sarai provides an awesome worksheet that helps you break your preferences down by ease (tight or loose), length, neckline, waistline position, sleeve length and fullness. I also created two illustrations (necklines and skirt styles) to help me visualize the process.
While my preference in many of these categories isn't very strong on an aesthetic level, I do find myself often gravitating toward the same shapes and combinations (skinny jeans and loose top, cinched waists and flared skirts). And so I share...
Ease
Generally, I like a loose top and tight pants, a full skirt and fitted top, or a fitted top and structured skirt. I like to accentuate my waist when possible, although in the right outfit a loose, flowing top makes me feel like an easy breezy bohemian princess. What I can never do is loose pants and a tight top (I refuse to relive that part of the 90's).
Neckline
Waistline position
I used to love a high, cinched waist (see: my prolonged Amy Winehouse phase), but these days I'm feeling a little more relaxed. For professional wear and fancy dresses I still opt for a higher waistline, but for everything else I like it to fall at my natural waist.
Sleeve length
I'm a fan of long or three-quarter length sleeves or sleeveless tops. Being broad-shouldered, cap and short sleeves don't generally do me any favors.
Skirt fullness/ length
I love a skirt I can spin in, but anything too full makes me feel like I'm wearing a costume. So the only thing I rule out is a skirt full enough to accommodate copious amounts crinoline. The longest I'll go is an inch or so below the knee (I think the only time I've worn a floor-length skirt was on my wedding -- and yes, I tripped several times). In terms of shortness, I've been known to rock a mini-skirt now and then. Generally with tights.
Street style photos via The Sartorialist; Garment illustrations by yours truly.
Wardrobe Architect Week 2: Core Style
Over at the Coletterie, Sarai has been facilitating the Wardrobe Architect project, a series that encourages us makers (and wearers) to take a thoughtful approach to wardrobe design and construction.
Last week's exercise focused the various elements that form our personal style (history, philosophy, culture, community, etc.). I'll have to play catch-up on that one, but today I will focus on week two's theme: defining a core style. This week's questions are especially timely for me; as the curator of a fashion blog, I obsess about my own style (and veer away from it) way too much. It helps to put those neurotic thoughts down on paper and use them to make better buying and making decisions. So here goes...
When you are wearing your favorite clothing, how do you feel (e.g. confident, sexy, poised, powerful, etc)?
Comfortable and playful, in that I could dance or run or jump at any moment; approachable, in that I could fit in to whatever social context I might find myself in; confident, in that I look like an adult with her sh*t together.
When you’re wearing something that is not quite right, how do you feel? What are the feelings you want to avoid about the clothes you wear?
Silly, as though I'm wearing a costume; panicked, as though my clothing might keep me from escaping an imminent disaster.
What are some words that describe styles that you like in theory, but are not quite you?
The "quirky girl" thing; extreme femininity; uber-coordinated outfits. The styles I gravitate toward but always feel supremely uncomfortable wearing usually involve knee socks, bows, and lots of makeup. And while writing a blog encourages me to play around with styles that I wouldn't normally wear, that's not necessarily a good thing. To be honest, there are several outfits on my ModCloth style gallery page (and on this blog) that I have never or rarely worn in public. This drives me nuts, because I'd like to actually reflect my personal style on my personal style blog. But every time I decide to do a photo shoot, I'm like "IT HAS TO BE AN OUTFIT!" So I try outfit-ify whatever piece I want to show off and end up looking like someone else. Maybe someone cute, but still someone else. I guess my first step to recovery is giving up the knee socks.
Finally, the exercise helps you narrow down your core style to 3-5 words. Here are mine:
Classic, beachy, witty, lush, romantic.
I also created a Pinterest board to help visualize these descriptors. I may not have ombre locks or or know how to surf, but this board still feels perfectly me.
Personal Style: It's All in the Details
I'm a sucker for a good story, and my most cherished objects (clothing, jewelry, trinkets, and otherwise) all contain a little bit of history. The evolution of my personal style is very much a product of the objects I've collected. Many of them have been given or passed down to me by friends and family, buried in the racks of thrift stores, or found on the streets of San Francisco. I suppose my style reflects those who helped shape me, and the city and state I call home.
(1) Spring flowers from my coworkers (2) Two pendants; one from my mother-in-law, the other from my grandmother (3) Porcelain skull earrings, made in SF, from a friend (4) Ted Baker dress, thrifted (5) One of my favorite purses; I love the art deco/ steampunky details (6) Two cuff bracelets; one thrifted, the other brought back by a friend from Vietnam (I believe it's made from a reclaimed bomb casing) (7) Two necklaces; one given to me by my father on my 18th birthday (made by a San Diego jeweler that I was obsessed with at the time), the other bought in the Turkish Riviera (9) Two rings; the opal given to me by my aunt and fellow Scorpio, the other... well I guess that's obvious.
Inspired by IFB's