Behind The Aesthetic: Personal Style

I love questions: asking them, pondering them, answering them.  Almost every post I write, both here and at The Demoiselles,  shows my passion for reexamining the obvious.  When I first heard of FormSpring, I realized I could use it to collect a few more questions and, if they fit, post the answers here.  If you’d like to ask a question – nothing is too obtuse! – click here.

What is your personal style motto?

Asked by NuclearCandy

The short answer to that question - my “style mantra,” if you will - sounds a lot like what you’d hear if we were ordering drinks at some swanky bar: I like it classic, with a twist.

To me, personal style transcends what’s on the runway or in the stores.  It’s easy to pick up something trendy, wear it for six months, then go shopping again, but it’s also superficial.  Like fast food, fast fashion has no nutrition, no depth.  It’s just another thing to fill you up (or cover your body) for a few hours.

Instead of keeping on top of the trends, I tend to watch them from the periphery.  If something feels right – if it catches my eye or makes me think - I find a way to work it in with the classic pieces I already wear.  I’d rather pair my cage booties with a classic pencil skirt and cashmere sweater than wear them with boyfriend jeans and an animal-print top, because that pencil skirt and cashmere sweater will still be sexy in three years, and the other stuff will be sitting in a Goodwill somewhere.

That’s not to say that I don’t love trends.  I do!  I just don’t take much stock in their longevity.  My trendy stuff is usually bought on the cheap side, at places like Target or using online sample sale websites like Gilt, while the classics are high quality and a little more expensive.  I won’t pay more than $25 for a trendy floral-print dress (by the way, Target has a ton made of 100% cotton – don’t go polyester, ladies!) but I will pay upwards of $100 for a perfectly fitted classic trench coat, or for a local designer’s take on the A-line dress.

I see myself as a bit of an unconventional housewife: I’m a regular girl with housework, a boyfriend and a dog, but I’m also an eco-conscious socialite that loves to do happy hour in four-inch heels.  My personal style needs to work whether I’m at the office, out with friends or on a trip to the dog park.  ”Classic with a twist” means my clothes will last longer, both in style and substance, and still look current when I run into that ex boyfriend at the bar and want to make an impression.

Tags: formspring, personal style, questions

Comments (5)