Our Book of the Month: Style Statement
Hey there! So, as a Fashion Designer, you'd expect me to have a solid sense of my personal style, right? But hey, that's not always the case! Back in the day, I used to get swayed by trends, feeling like I had to follow what was in fashion, even if it wasn't really "me." I guess I was a bit lost when it came to defining my true style... I knew what I liked and what I felt good wearing, but couldn't quite pinpoint my signature look and I often spent too much money on things I didn't necessary love.
If you're up for finding out something cool about yourself and nailing down your personal style, you gotta grab a copy of this month's top pick: "Style Statement" by Carrie McCarthy and Danielle LaPorte. I stumbled upon this awesome book a few years back and was totally hooked! I brought it along on vacation, started reading it on the plane, and couldn't put it down. It became my go-to read by the pool, doing the exercises with my morning coffee. By the end of the trip, I had some deep insights about myself, crafted my own style statement, and felt super pumped about having a renewed sense of direction. Not only will you unearth a fresh perspective on yourself, but having your own style statement will also help you be more mindful when making any purchase decisions.
By reading this book, I uncovered my 80/20 words, identified my personal style statement rooted in my values, so I could incorporate them into not only my wardrobe but also my daily life. This newfound perspective now guides my decision-making process with confidence.
The book does this by asking thought-provoking questions about your passions, inspirations, likes, and dislikes. By working through the exercises and questions, you'll uncover two words that perfectly capture who you are. The first word represents your core identity, making up 80% of you, while the second word showcases your unique creative side - the 20% that makes you stand out and drives you forward. Eager to know my words? Keep reading to find out!
Discovering your own personal style can be super helpful when it comes to shopping and being more mindful about what you buy. This book is all about helping you figure out your unique style through fun questions and quizzes. Once you know what you really like, you can choose clothes that you'll love and wear for a long time, instead of buying things on a whim. This way, you'll have a wardrobe that really reflects who you are and you'll also be doing your part to help the environment by reducing waste and shopping more consciously.
So how does this book guide you to discover your own style statement?
Engaging Exercises: This book encourages interaction by presenting you with a series of questions and exercises designed to reveal your fundamental values and genuine preferences. If you enjoy writing, self-reflection, and engaging in enjoyable introspection, then this book is perfect for you!
Holistic Understanding of Style: McCarthy and LaPorte redefine style beyond clothing and aesthetics. They explore how personal style is intertwined with lifestyle, environment, and inner values. This broad perspective helps you understand that true style is an expression of your entire being.
Find Your Personality Style: Get ready to express yourself by creating your own two-word style tagline. Take on this adventure of discovery to understand your unique likes and dislikes. Your style statement will be your lifestyle roadmap, helping you make bold and genuine style decisions that truly represent who you are.
Empowering Decision-Making Framework:
Transform your style statement into a powerful tool for curating your wardrobe.
Make confident choices that align with your values and personal style.
Wave goodbye to impulse buys and welcome a more cohesive wardrobe.
Embrace Your Uniqueness and Boost Your Confidence: By discovering your personal style and you will have a fresh wave of confidence in your choices. This inspiring book will empower you to celebrate your individuality and make decisions that truly reflect who you are. Get ready to radiate self-assurance and empowerment, transforming not just your fashion sense but every aspect of your life!
Sustainable and Ethical Considerations:
Embracing your unique "Style Statement" goes beyond just fashion; it's a journey towards mindful consumption. By focusing on your personal values and choosing quality pieces, you're not only creating a wardrobe that truly expresses who you are, but also making sustainable and ethical choices. This holistic approach to decision making is a great way to show love for the environment and support positive change in the fashion industry!
What I also really love about this book is its foundation words. The ideal foundation words are applied to the spirit, look, and feel of something. They work for both the material and the immaterial. The authors list the most common foundation words within people's style statements; they represent essential fundamental truths for many people.
Although you may find more than one or two words that appeal to you, the authors help you narrow it down to find the most meaningful.
If you're wondering about my style statement, let me tell you that I've gone through this process twice - once when I first read the book years ago, and a second time 10 years later. The reason for updating my style statement the second time around? Well, it's simple. We evolve, our experiences, lifestyle, career, and bodies change! Therefore, it's perfectly fine to make changes - as we journey through life, our preferences develop and we must adapt accordingly. So, my current style statement is...drumroll please......
"Cultivated Elegance"
And what exactly doesnt that mean? According to the authors description, this is totally me! Initially, I was drawn to 3 to 4 foundation words that resonated with me. However, through exercises, careful re-reading, and dedicated reflection, I eventually discovered the word that truly spoke to my essence.
My foundation word (80%) is cultivated/cultivating. The spirit of cultivating means "taking tremendous pleasure in seeing things grow. People who describe themselves as cultivating love to nurture their inner life, other people, animals, nature, and ultimately, good ideas. Happy to foster and promote the growth of others. Cultivated works toward what is best for the individual and the group. They are attractive to others precisely because they are actively and sincerely interested in the world around them. They respect, honor, and celebrate the customs of various communities and traditions in constant connections with people; they are natural leaders. Positively passionate about growing learning and teaching cultivated is often well trained or educated, either formally or self-taught, and thus can sometimes be quite self-critical, overextending for accomplishments. They always have some pursuit of exploration underway. Cultivated considered all of life’s experiences, positive and negative nutrients for the inner garden from which they reap their harvest. The look and feel cultivated? Always quality with a high degree of taste. Can run the gambit from sophisticated and refined to culturally, diverse, eccentric, or bohemian. Rich artistic intellectually advanced full range of textures, taste, and aromas" From Style Statement: Live By Your Own Design.
They always have some pursuit of exploration underway. Cultivated cons considered all of life’s experiences, positive and negative nutrients for the kindergarten from which they reap their harvest. The look and feel cultivated? Always quality with a high degree of taste. Can run the gambit from sophisticated and refined to culturally, diverse, eccentric, or bohemian. Rich artistic intellectually advanced full range of textures, taste, and aromas
No surprise then that my Word of The Year 2023 was GROW!
My second word (20%) is elegant/elegant/elegantly.
"The spirit of this is poised, gracious, respectful presentation matters to them. Elegant cares how it all comes together, outfits, business plans, and celebrations. The truly elegant are matters of restraint and humble, respectful, elegant prize solutions, and are driven to find the optimal way of achieving a goal, usually through a simple and precise method. Look and feel elegant moves with Grace's uncomplicated, sleek, refined, mature attention to detail, great posture, gentle, poised, composed, and graceful, put together, refreshed. Tasteful opulence can be or Nate but harmonious." From Style Statement: Live By Your Own Design
Conclusion:
"Style Statement" by Carrie McCarthy and Danielle LaPorte is a vibrant and uplifting exploration of personal style! This book goes beyond mere fashion advice; it's a transformative experience that empowers you to discover your unique style identity. Through engaging questions and exercises, it leads you on a journey of self-expression and confidence. This book is a must-have for anyone seeking to embrace their authenticity and shine brightly in their own skin!
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