Do you know your style type? It is amazing how many of us don’t. And by us, I’m including myself! My old boss used to say that if you took the Visual Therapy Style Type quiz, and were all over the map with your style type, you either were a fashion stylist or you needed one.
Dressing for different occasions and clients is an opportunity for expression and experimentation. For instance, on Monday I wore a dress in a very Bohemian print to see a very Bohemian client. However, the dress was silk, not cotton, making it appropriate. Tomorrow I will wear Classic colors to see a Classic client, but the jacket is a relaxed silhouette, so I won’t look like I’m dressing up for a corporate job I don’t have.
My methodology is too much work for anyone who is not a personal stylist, but it does bring up the point that our style type should be appropriate to the situation for which we are dressing. You can dress a little more Bohemian than usual for a beach wedding. If we feel a younger client is looking too matronly in her Classic wardrobe, we will urge her to dress a little more on the Chic side. We help our clients discover and define their own style types so that they understand why certain pieces have sat unworn in their closet and can teach them to shop within their particular range for a flexible, wearable wardrobe.
Does that mean you have to be one style type all the time? Of course not! Say you are naturally Whimsical but work in a law office. You can be Whimsical in the evenings and on the weekends, but perhaps Avant-Garde at the office. You are still creating interest with your wardrobe, but you won’t distract the other lawyers.
Scroll through the Style Types below and see what resonates with you. Which images make you just say YES? Share on our Facebook page!
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CLASSIC
Simple, Clean, Traditional
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Style Icons:
Kate Winslet, Kate Middleton
Colors:
Navy, black, grey, beige, ivory, red
Where to Shop:
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CHIC
Powerful, Sharp, Effortless
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Style Icons:
Amal Clooney, Melissa McCarthy
Colors:
Black and white
Where to Shop:
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WHIMSICAL
Playful, Colorful, Romantic
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The Frisky | Fashion Bomb Daily
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Style Icons:
Michelle Williams, Kerry Washington
Colors:
Anything and everything
Where to Shop:
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AVANT-GARDE
Modern, Dramatic, Creative
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Style Icons:
Tilda Swinton, Solange
Colors:
Black, white, bold colors
Where to Shop:
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BOHEMIAN
Relaxed, Earthy, Funky
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Style Icons
Rachel Zoe, Kate Moss
Colors:
Earth tones
Where to Shop
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Lani Inlander is a personal stylist who has been working with clients who want to feel their best and look put-together every day for over 15 years. You can find her in the Washington, D.C. and New York metropolitan areas. Are you looking for professional training to be a personal stylist? Click here to learn how you can train with Lani at The Stylist Studio.
You can find Lani Inlander and Real Life Style on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
