One of the things I enjoy most with my Evolve Your Style and 7 Steps to Style programs is watching women discover what they love and style recipes as they work through the information. To me this is the most important elements is finding what really suits you, beyond the body shape stuff. Now the other day over on the 7 Steps forum one lovely member mention that her style was a work of art in progress, and it made me realize that we are all, always only a work of art in progress, we are never finished (well not until we’re dead), and we continue to evolve over time (which is why my Evolve Your Style program is more than 31 days – that’s just the start of your style journey).
I always think that style is a journey not a destination. We change as people, fashions change, and so our style will change and morph over time. Some people will stick more closely to a particular style over their lifetime, others will change way more radically.
So when you apply this thinking of being on a journey rather than finding a never changing style recipe, I think it’s important to realize that the words you choose to represent your style will change over time, and some of us may even have multiple recipes, depending on how we feel on a certain day or which role or activity we are undertaking at that time. You will over your life create a book of style recipes, a bit like you will cook more than one recipe in your lifetime too (wouldn’t it be so dull eating the same thing every day your whole life!).
My style recipe has evolved from Dynamic, Unexpected, Vibrant, Unique to Functional Individualist because to me function relates to so many elements – being comfortable (I hate being uncomfortable), the clothes fulfilling the needs of the occasion
This dress is a true reflection of my style
and being appropriate (they function how they are supposed to), and even to how the clothes make me feel – they need to function in a way that makes me feel good and feel stylish in a way that screams Imogen. Then Individualist is about being a little unexpected, vibrant or different. It’s about the piece of clothing being truly me. For me my wedding dress is a great example of my style recipe in action. It functioned as a wedding dress, but I wore it on a super hot day, so it was comfortable still (and also not at all constricting or binding as well as being not too hot). It suited my figure – so also functional in that way, but it had that individualist element of the asymmetry and 3d butterflies that made it so uniquely me.
Now that’s my style recipe today, but I bet in 5 or 10 years it will probably have changed again as I change and grow through my life.
So don’t get too worked up about finding the perfect style recipe, find some words that speak to you now (get out a Thesaurus if necessary to find other words if the ones you have aren’t exciting you). Remember that you are a work of art – in progress!
Now tell me, how do you define your current style recipe? I’d love to know. Please share in the comments.
