There Are Only 2 Style Types: Which One Are You?

I think we overthink things sometimes. No? Just me? Alrighty then. But let me give you an example of my overthinking ways. For years, as a personal stylist, I developed elaborate methods to unearth the secrets of personal style from my clients so that I could help them reach their style goals, and it wasn’t always easy.

For one thing, many women don’t have style goals. Or, they have them, but they don’t know what they are. Or they’ve never really given much thought to the concept of personal style. They just wore what they liked (or, in some cases, what was clean) without thinking of why they liked that item and how it came to be in their closet. Personal style never came up, except as a concept for other people, people with way more time and money on their hands.

And when you’re a big helping of this with a sprinkle of that, personal style can be something that only applies to other people, people who know what they like and how to stick with it. Not people who are all over the place.

That’s why I’m excited to share this new approach to personal style that I recently developed after more than 20 years of working with personal styling clients and nearly 30 in the fashion industry. (I hope you can’t count!).

This will forever change the way that you see personal style, and put it within the reach of every woman. And it starts with a very simple quiz. These 5 questions will change the way you see your style, forever.

Are You Classic or Creative

I’m not talking about personal style categories here. I’m talking about the big picture. Whatever your style, do you put clothes together in a classic way or a creative way? In this context, classic means that you like to create timeless and harmonious combinations that “go” together. Creative means that you like to create interesting and unexpected combinations.

Are You A Rule Follower or a Rule Breaker?

Do you like to know what the rules are and how an outfit is supposed to be so that you can get it just right? Or do you prefer to make up your own rules as you go along and don’t worry too much if you’re doing it “wrong.”

Do You Like to Mix or Match

Do you prefer to keep colors harmonious and stick to one metal in your jewelry, or do you like to mix patterns, colors, and metals to create your own look? Or are you somewhere in the middle?

Is Your Style Focused Or Eclectic

Does most of your wardrobe look like it was chosen by the same person, or is it kind of all over the place? When you create an outfit, do you look for items that “go” together or do you like to come up with unexpected pairings?

Are You a Minimalist or a Maximalist?

Do you like to layer on the color, detail, pattern, and accessories, or do you keep your outfits simple and streamlined? Do you feel like more is more when it comes to putting together looks, or do you like to keep it a little more restrained?

How’d you do? Did you choose Focused, Minimal, Match, and Rule Follower? Or is everything on the creative side? Or is it a mix of the two, and do you fall somewhere in the middle? Here’s the breakdown:

• Classic = Focused, Minimal, Rule Follower and Matching
• Creative = Exclectic, Maximal, Rule Breaker, and Mixing
• Your Own Unique Mix: You might be 2 parts Creative and 3 parts Classic. That’s what makes you, you.

Now let’s look at 4 popular style words through the context of Classic vs Creative.

The Preppy Style Range

You can be a quirky, colorful, or eclectic preppy or you can be a classic, restrained, old-money preppy. Or somewhere in the middle.

The Glam Style Range

Does your glam style veer into movie star glamour, or is it more limited to sleek black with chic accessories? How you express your glam style is everything.

The Boho Style Range

Is your boho style artsy and eclectic, with a wide range of textures, patterns, and interest, or does it veer more on relaxed, natural silhouettes in soft neutral shades?

The Edgy Style Range

Is your style full-on rocker chic or sleek and simple with touches of black leather? Or something else entirely?

What do you think of this approach to personal style? And how can you start viewing your personal style and your choices through the Classic vs Creative lens? Let me know in the comments!