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I'm curious, readers: How would you describe your “core personal style” right now? It's not necessarily what you're wearing every day (e.g., your sloppy WFH/school drop-off/pre-workout look), but the one that you feel best in — the most YOU in. Do you have a general vibe that is you (e.g., preppy, boho, tough girl), or a celebrity avatar whose body type or vibe feels like yours? What are the base pieces you're using to define your personal style (e.g., jeans? sweater blazer? jewelry?)?
{related: how to cultivate style}
It should be an interesting discussion right now since old work dress codes may be changing — after all, Queen Letizia's structured style (or all those sheath dresses, matching suits, or 4″ heels) becomes less relevant if you're working from home in gym clothes most days. I know I definitely went through a bit of a style crisis when blazers and sheath dresses became less present in my wardrobe!
{related: the weekend you vs. the weekday you}
It should also be an interesting discussion because fashion is ALL over the place right now, thanks to the pandemic, supply chain issues, lack of in-store shopping — as well as the rise of “TikTok couture.” As one recent article from Vox noted,
What is TikTok couture? It is a (sort of rude) way to describe the coalescence of trends that materialize on TikTok, whether from teenagers experimenting with clothes they’ve thrifted from their local charity shop, from older folks revisiting the subcultural styles of their youth, or from professional and amateur trend watchers combining aesthetic clues into a single theory of what’s coming next. Together, with the help of the supercharged TikTok algorithm that blasts viral content to millions of users within hours or days, these videos shape what mainstream culture considers stylish, which therefore can affect what we choose to wear ourselves.
It kind of reminds me of that old Molly Ringwald classic, Pretty in Pink, where she wants to be a fashion designer and thrifts/cuts/sews an old dress into something “new” and evocative of her style. (Except in every style period I know of the dress has always been completely hideous.)
So I'm curious, readers — what do you think your core personal style is right now? What are you using to define it? If your weekday style is changing permanently (either because your office is changing dress codes or you're working from home), what are you carrying forward from your previous office wardrobe?
{related: what not to wear to work}
(If you don't have a personal style (as far as you know), there are a few ways we can discuss how to refine that, from vision boards to body type quizzes and beyond — perhaps for a later post!)
Stock photo: Death to Stock.
Anon
LOL um…soft pants and no bra?
Anon
lol yes.
PLB
Preppy/Classic with feminine tones. Kerry Washington is my style icon.
Anon
My old weekend wear has now become my daily wear. After a year of stretchy things, I’m back to “smart casual” when I leave the house – jeans and a nice sweater/shirt and real shoes with earrings and makeup. Classic preppy because that’s who I’ve always been. Athleisure and no makeup on days when I stay home. We aren’t back to the office yet, but I imagine that will slide down to smart casual, as well, but back up to business when we have clients in.
Anon
Ditto – I want to be comfortable enough to take a walk on my lunch break but with a nice enough top/makeup/earrings so that I can keep my camera on at work (which, sadly, is our default). We’re on the formal side of business casual (no jeans, lots of blazers) at work and I have yet to dial back up to a full suit but I imagine it will be in my future.
I very much look forward to my athleisure weekends though!
Anonymous
Can you recommend any preppy dress blogs? That’s my preferred style too.
Anon
I would say my style is simple, sleek, chic with a little bit of boho (when I want to be fun), “generic woman in an action movie” is probably my style icon.
Anonymous
Someone here once coined the term “French ninja.” That is my style on the rare occasions when I get to go out and about somewhere besides Target.
At home, it’s Zoom blazer on top, Vuori joggers on the bottom.
Anon
Clean and comfortable. That’s about it.
anon
Basic B?
In all seriousness, I veer toward preppy, classic looks.
Anonymous
Same, with a sprinkle of Wannabe French Girl.
Vicky Austin
I like to describe my style as “trying to invoke Duchess of Cambridge vibes while working from home in a small, too-hot shoebox of an upstairs office with a dog on my feet.”
Anonymous
After two years of pandemic, I most most interested in leather (well, faux leather) and spikes. As a 40 something office worker I’m trying to look like a member of a well-heeled and put-together biker gang.
Christina
Probably something like “First Lady on Vacation”– polished, classic, a little preppy, but also relaxed. I love a blazer with jeans and loafers, and I wear pearl stud earrings almost daily. I’ve also been so much more into sneakers over the past 2-3 years. It’s amazing what 2 years of a pandemic + birthing a second kid can do to your fashion.
Sadie
I could say “polished boho” or I could say “GenX autumnal witch.” Slim trousers with a tailored top. Dresses with a waist, calf-length or knee-length pencil skirt with cropped or flared tops, boots or booties, drama glasses, good coats, interesting necklaces. Colors: all the greens, all the blues, garnet/burgundy, dark-background florals with a pop of russet/coral, a little warm grey and black on the bottom, more cream and coral lately, interesting patterns (ikat, marbled, vintage kimono). It’s really difficult to find COLOR right now.
Anonymous
Mine is still being defined. I am starting from scratch with my wardrobe after being a stay-at-home-mom for nearly 13 years. Going back to school and re-entering the workforce requires more than jeans, tees, and hoodies, lol. I love classics, the well-tailored look, and even masculine styles, but i’m not sure what my exact style is yet…i guess i will just see what evolves as i build my wardrobe.