TO: ME 🎁 FROM: ME. Give yourself the gift you really want. SHOP THE VALENTINE'S SALE
Aside from the practical aspect of keeping your warm, dry, and decent, fashion’s most fun feature is as a means of self-expression. Getting dressed has so much to do with how you feel, who you are, what you like—but sometimes, distilling that down into a single outfit presents a bit of a challenge. And for that, we’ve found a solution.
The three-word method of defining your personal style was developed by stylist Allison Bornstein as a practical way to sum up your fashion ethos. The idea is simple: You choose three words—one practical, one aspirational, and one emotional—that feel most aligned with your personal style. This provides a framework for your wardrobe.
For your practical word, look at the pieces you wear the most (even if they aren’t your most loved). What do they have in common? Your practical baseline is how you describe the items you put on most frequently. As for your aspirational word, consider the outfits you save on social media or whose celebrity closet you’d most like to raid. Finally, your emotional word should reflect how you want to feel when you’re dressed. Examples include feeling powerful, sophisticated, or cozy but don’t be afraid to think more in the abstract (for me, if Harry Styles were an adjective, that’s how I’d like to feel).
Once you’ve figured out your three personal style words, you can apply them to getting dressed every day, cleaning out your closet, and deciding on what new pieces to bring into your life. Rather than seeing something and buying it just because you like it, you can have an internal dialogue about whether or not it fits within your chosen words. Not only is this a streamlined approach to fashion, but it’s also a sustainable one. By being more intentional about your clothing and only buying things that fit into your world, you avoid waste and excess.
The Garmentory team is all too familiar with feeling overwhelmed by our wardrobes, so we tried the three-word method for ourselves. Find out how we define our style and some pieces that fit the bill, below.
Practical: Minimalist
Aspirational: Effortless
Emotional: Phoebe Philo (former Creative Director for Celine)
I frequently find myself inspired by the chic simplicity epitomized by brands like The Row and St. Agni, as well as the understated elegance embodied by style icons such as Phoebe Philo. Deliberately selecting high-quality pieces in enduring tones, blending tailored and relaxed silhouettes to cultivate a refined yet relaxed aesthetic.
Practical: Unexpected
Aspirational: Polished
Emotional: Dutch Cafe Owner
When I incorporated style words into my life, I found a sense of clarity in the ways I wanted to express myself. Previously, getting dressed and shopping was so open ended that it caused me anxiety. Now, I’m able to bounce ideas off of a construct that feels good.
Practical: Refined
Aspirational: Sculptural
Emotional: Undone
Allison Bornstein’s three style words exercise has been a fantastic tool not only for tidying up my wardrobe but also for getting in touch with what makes me feel ready to take on the day. I’m constantly searching for the balance between sophisticated and undone (and, of course, for the perfect pair of vintage Levi’s) and I’m stoked to continue that search with this framework in my back pocket.
Practical: Easy
Aspirational: Subtle
Emotional: Authentic
I try to be as true to myself as much as possible. I always want to wear what I feel most comfortable in (physically and mentally) and never want to be too flashy. Though I do try to spice things up a bit depending on my mood, I stick to adding pieces to my outfits that most people might not even notice—something somewhat niche and not overwhelming. It’s always a good conversation starter when someone spots one of the more subtle items I add to my style.
Practical: Exaggerated
Aspirational: Baroque
Emotional: Harry Styles
As someone who loves fashion and beautiful things, most of my life, shopping has tended to be more about seeing something I thought was amazing and buying it, regardless of whether or not it fit my personal style. Oftentimes, I’d end up trying to force a look. Now that I’ve defined my style words, however, I’ve felt free to be able to appreciate things I find beautiful while knowing they aren’t for me (see: trench coats, ballet flats, most hats, the color black…my style word is definitely not “effortless French girl”). It sounds like such a small thing, but this exercise has redefined and simplified my sartorial life.
Practical: Uncomplicated
Aspirational: French
Emotional: Playful
My closet cleanout revealed a strong dislike for fuss, favoring timeless staples over anything too complicated. I'm drawn to the effortless chic of French fashion but I prefer to add a layer of playfulness to my looks, often mixing patterns, bright colors, or bold jewelry.
Practical: Purpose
Aspirational: Sourced
Emotional: Comfortable
I like the things around to me to have a purpose. I am very intrigued by where an item comes from, if there is a story behind it, and how much love was put into it.
Practical: Ultra-Romantic
Aspirational: Girlycore
Emotional: Delicate
Since I was very little I was raised to always walk out ready to take on the day (perferably in style) as you never know who you are going to come across or meet unexpectedly. It’s always put me in a healthy mental state of preparedness for the world that honestly, helps ease my anxiety. Basically, if you look good… you feel good! Flourishing my classic, romantic style has been a staple in my closet for many years. I love expressing myself in this way as it’s truly timeless and so feminine.
