Oh Baby Blue (musings on personal style)

Do you think you have a distinct personal style reflecting your personality and uniqueness? Most of us like fashion but there is an essential tension between fashion and style. Fashion and trends make us part of the collective current, it is our way of saying to the world, I am modern and I know what is going on, while style is a way to connect to ones own self. You can be stylish without being fashionable, although this is often being labeled as eccentric, quirky or peculiar. You can also (easily) be fashionable without being stylish.

You don;t have to be a celebrity or have a big budget to have a distinctive style. I think that to some people style comes naturally. The first fashion blag that I started reading few years ago was by our wonderful DaniBP. Dani's style is very distinctive, everything she wears, she turns ladylike, even if it is just a pair of jeans. She also adds a little bit of old fashioned femininity to every outfit. Or, take a look at Tabitha, of Bourbon and Pearls. Although she does not like to share too much with us (which is also part of her style), I know she always manages to add Hollywood style glamour to any old outfit, that's what I call having a style.

There are many others of course, in blogoshere and irl, I cannot even start to list all my inspirations. As much as I admire other's style, I could never not make it my own. I know because I tried. Don't ask me about all those Brora dresses I bought because I was smitten with Dani's style. In the same way, I was sometimes dissuaded from buying something I loved because some of my favorite bloggers dismissed it. Also, I sometimes catch myself wanting to change something somebody else is wearing. Why wouldn't she add a accessory? Cut her hair? Wear something different than a pencil skirt?  This also happens irl. Did you ever try to go shopping with somebody that dresses very differently than you but asked your for advice? I have to say, I often I have trouble letting them 'stay in the character' and I have to curb my tendency to dress them as I would dress myself.

That's why I think all the 'Style Guides' are useless. You can help somebody pick the trends that work with their body. Finding a style is a solitary activity than needs some silence to listen to oneself.


Personally, I have always struggled trying to develop personal style that is 'just so', not too trendy, not too quirky, not too old fashioned, not too young, not too sweet, not too masculine, the list goes on... Well, I am afraid this can easily lead into a trap of 'no style whatsoever'.    

Just perfectly bland. However, I actually felt great wearing it. Oh well, I guess this just might have been a reflection of my personality. That's a little scary thought...

But maybe it is the opposite, black and white canvas lets the personality be the focus? Maybe it is more about how the clothes move with you, how they make you look comfortable in your own skin? Maybe the accessories stand out and do the talking?  Emphasis is on the person, or specifically, the face?

Still, I think if my bag or shoes were bolder, I would feel like I wore it better.

"Oh, baby blue, Oh baby blue
C'mere I'm gonna smear another colour over you
Get outta bed you little sleepy head
Your black and white needs a little bit of red"

 (Serena Ryder, lyrics to Little Bit Of Red, listen HERE)

Another example of black/white/gray, that I am gravitating to recently. This is probably a bit more trendy, with the swingy top (Anthro, review HERE), necklace and boots. I loved wearing it. Again, very simple but it was all about ease and comfort.

Next outfit following the same principle. Btw, I have to say those midrise toothpick cords in salt (review HERE) become my favorite pants this winter, I probably wear them once a week.

The merino v-neck is from Ann Taylor. I got it when they were running 50% off sweaters (after Gigi blogged about here) and it is a perfect shape to wear over skinny pants. I got size M and it has a nice slouch without being too big. It says it is hand washable. I machine wash (on delicate) all of my sweaters anyway, but I feel even better about it when it actually says you can wash it on the label. 

  

I believe an outfit can be just as simple and comfortable when wearing a dress.  The dress above is J.Crew from few seasons ago, I think it was called Olive. It is one of my favorite LBDs that never failed me. I wore it formally, with black shiny belt and pumps and it is my designated 'funeral dress'. But I love to wear it in a more casual way, with boots and wide, floppy belt.  It is very comfortable but put together at the same time, my favorite type of clothing.
 

OK, not sure if you want to see this, but this is how I look when I am lounging on weekends or working from home. Still wearing black or gray, just in super comfortable version. However, I usually do my hair, put on makeup and add my favorite necklace. This justifies the fuzzy slippers in my mind :)

So, to summarize, my conclusion for today (as this is always changing) is that that my style is not really about what I wear. I like neutrals and I like colors. I wear skinny pants and wide legs. Full skirts, pencil skirts and dresses. Some sharp and modern and some old fashioned and feminine. But whatever I wear I try to make it look easy and comfortable. And when it looks too comfortable I tend to add something more polished.

Not sure if it is making any sense to you, because this is about what I am trying to achieve. Life is a journey ;)

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That's all folks!

Would you rather be stylish or fashionable?

What do you gravitate to recently?

Please share, it would be no fun without you!!!