My Three Style Words

I'm exploring the "Three Word Method" to describe my personal style. I've been on a style journey since I retired. And now I'm trying to identify the three words which describe my evolving style, as a white-haired, sixty-six-year-old, retired woman, who isn't ready to abandon her love affair with clothes.
Here are some of the sources I used to help me find my three style words:
A helpful article in Coveteur.com : coveteur.com/2...
A great video from Alyssa Beltempo on the three word method: • The 3 Word Rule to Fin...
The introductory video from Allison Bornstein's TikTok series on finding three words to define your personal style: www.tiktok.com...

[@danishpastry6137]

Like others I'm going through this process too in an attempt to stop buying things I like but arent going to wear. I love hearing about your process. I think I'm almost there with my three words, and I had a couple of thoughts about some of what you said. The first was about you maybe not be minimal enough - I think this process is about what you think about your words, not what others think, so if you feel minimal, it's your interpretation that counts. The second was to do with anti-ruffle, I'm personally steering clear of words with a negative vibe, just to make dressing a positive experience, but I am noting down things to avoid, in my case cotton poplin button downs. I have some which I've bought because i love the colour and pattern but I don't wear them. Instead I seem to gravitate to grandad or mandarin style collars in softer fabrics. My three words? Relaxed. Intentional (or deliberate). Timeless (or classic).

[@user-kn1rc7eq8n]

I too am retired (since 2015) and now working from home part time. Such transitions are a good time to rethink our closets. If you have access to stores, it might be helpful to try on some clothes that are quite different from your usual, heading towards your more "aspirational" word, like edgy. A leather Moto-jacket? To give you a feel for that direction. Do you know your Kibbe body type? And your essence (I think that's Kitchener?) Those can give direction for all 3 words but especially aspirational if you want out of the preppy look. Do you wear a lot of stripes because you love them? Or because they are familiar? Your hair is very interesting, it could be classic, modern, or edgy! A great asset. Hair is always a thing for me; right now mine is almost waist-length and I wear it back or in some variation of a braid because I don't want to look like every other 70-year-old. But I am tempted to bob it off at collarbone length. Allison says the words should have a purpose. The first one is your regular look, what you wear most of the time (as long as you like that). The second one should be aspirational, a direction you'd like to move in or a thread you'd like to bring in more. And the third one should be emotional, how you want to feel in your clothes. I love Allison's work and have her new book. Although she doesn't seem to work with our age group much. She looks so much like I did in the 70s! Blue jeans, long hair, loose clothes. For Kibbe body type I think I am a small version of the soft classic (I'm 5' tall), and those lines do seem to flatter my body the most - I really don't look good in the big oversized look, although I love it. My essence seems to be natural/outdoorsy/woodsy/beachy/equestrian. Right now the three words I'm looking at are Natural (Northern California, Berkeley, beachy, woodsy, Northwoods), Handsome (in the British way, a country manor look, wools, tweeds, equestrian, a menswear/tomboy aspect), and Graceful (fluid, gentle movement, nothing too tight or fussy, good lines but not rigid). I look forward to your further explorations.

[@woofgangpug]

New subscriber here. I’m on a similar path as you. Older but still working and, at the same time, trying to cull the closet. One comment: as a person with hearing loss, the music makes it very difficult for me to hear you. I’m grateful for your written messages on the screen, but I would so much rather hear your voice than music that distracts.

[@highheelsinthewildernessby7402]

Yep. I have been playing around with having the music bleed into the part where I'm talking. Still learning. But thanks for the feedback.

[@user-kn1rc7eq8n]

Yes, I like how the music only comes in for part of the time, but it's way too loud and drowns out your voice. @@highheelsinthewildernessby7402

[@robynwells8249]

First I do like your outfit. But.. Im finding I’m not wearing white jeans this summer except with black. Somehow white jeans seem too fixed, cliche, or country club this year. The only pair I wear are some demiboot cuts from Madewell that I sized up in. Finding three words is hard because what I want to convey may depend on the situation. I could narrow it to four: minimal, classic, modern and effortless if I had a fifth it would be a little edgy. Also a style uniform I’m learning is helpful.

[@highheelsinthewildernessby7402]

I like a uniform for summer. But I'm in a place where I don't want to wear the uniform I used to wear, and haven't yet figured out what the new one is. I agree about the white pants. I had said in my video... but it was in a part that was edited out... that my outfit felt too Cape Cod... especially in eastern Ontario. Ha.

[@user-kn1rc7eq8n]

Love your description of the white jeans!

[@razberrie]

really interested in your video and style but please consider not using music as it's hard to hear what you're saying above it

[@highheelsinthewildernessby7402]

Thanks. And thanks for the suggestion. :)

[@joy2world858]

I’ve been going through same process. I cheated a little by using hyphens. Earth toned, relaxed-classic, accessorized

[@highheelsinthewildernessby7402]

Hyphens are good, especially when you're not one thing nor the other but a combination of the two.

[@rcjllc192]

You always have great videos and I am a fan of your casual but fashionable style. But I have to agree with another commenter about the music!! First, I find it too loud. But if I turn down the volume, I struggle to hear you and it’s hard enough hearing you over the music before lowering the volume. And secondly, It’s distracting from you and what you’re presenting.

[@highheelsinthewildernessby7402]

Thanks for the feedback. I didn't intend to have my voice be audible when I was checking my closet since I had clipped the footage so much. Just wanted to give the impression of surveying my closet. In retrospect I should have muted the volume and just left the music. I'll downscale the volume of music next time. I'm such a newbie at this video stuff. Hoping to learn to do voiceover at some point which will be good. I keep telling myself.. learning is good. :)

[@catharinacamenisch752]

Hi - I was struggling for the 3rd word as well (I have flamboyant and straghtlined) and your last words in the video gave something to think about: how would I like to be? What is an aspect I would like to have and I do not have?👍

[@highheelsinthewildernessby7402]

Glad that you found my flailing about helpful. I wanted to show that it's not so easy to find THE three words. Although I thoroughly enjoy the search. Meanwhile I'm still working on how to be more chill. :)

[@catharinacamenisch752]

@@highheelsinthewildernessby7402 great - when I was watching your video there was something that felt like there could be a touch of something more specific about your appearance. You have a great body and you are hiding it under a cozy cool weather jumper. What if you would wear a soft material blouse (like silk) but with a normal cut (no frills or other fancy additions)? Not there is something wrong with your outfit, I just thought, with a great body you could give it a special touch😊

[@highheelsinthewildernessby7402]

@@catharinacamenisch752 yep. I did talk about how I wasn't that taken with my outfit. Mostly because it's too preppy. Silk blouse? Hmm. I haven't worn many silk blouses in years. Thanks for the suggestion.