Instantly find your style with the three word method

I don’t think I’m alone in feeling like my style tastes have changed dramatically over the past few years. The pandemic, having two children, and just generally spending a lot more time at home has shifted the way I look at what I wear. In some ways it felt like I was beginning part of my personal style journey from scratch. Finding your feet is the tricky part, and it’s here that tools that instantly help you refine and define can make a world of difference. Exactly why I appreciate NY-based stylist Allison Bornstein’s approach to personal style so much. Her three word method makes finding your style so simple, and it doesn’t involve any shopping.

Wearing Jenni Kayne sweater (15% off with JamieLee15); Witchery jeans; VIVAIA flats (15% off with MJ15); Parisa Wang bag (12% off with JamieLee12); Linjer hoops

What is the Three Word Method?

Essentially this method gives you the tools to distill your style down into three words. What you’ll find is that there are commonalities in your outfits; it’s a little like your personal style essence. Each outfit will contain – in some amount – an element of these three descriptive words. 

How to use the Three Word Method to find your Personal Style

Pull out your wardrobe heroes; those foundational pieces which make up the bulk of your outfits. These are items you often find yourself gravitating towards to complete an outfit, or when you just don’t know what to wear. Because they make you feel good. 

Look for common threads. Are they a similar colour palette? Do these items have a certain aesthetic? Is there are particular way you wear them that feels obvious on first look? Basically, what ties these items together will form the first two words.

The third word should be slightly aspirational – an element of style that I think naturally is imbued into our outfits. How we want to be perceived, in a sense.

What I like about this approach? It’s fluid, and all down to personal interpretation. We could have the same three words, but consider them differently in our outfits. I love how this encourage playfulness in our outfits, and a desire to experiment.

You might also find that certain words have more dominance in one outfit, but less in another. It’s a bit of an equation, and how the pieces fall are all tied into your mood of the day. The fluidity may also extend to how you see the third word, which might feel much more interchangeable. 

As I’ve said many times before, our personal style continues to evolve. What we like and love in fashion is transient. Influenced by trends, our lifestyle, or just a desire for newness. 

My Three Words

Minimal. Classic. Comfortable. 

The first two words felt almost like a cop out. But, they capture the essence of what I wear daily so well that I couldn’t get them out of my line of sight.

So, the first word. Minimal. I consider this in a few ways. Without flourish or flounces and not too much detailing. Simple, in a way. Refined and elegant. Also reflected in the colour palette which is pared back and quiet. And the way the pieces sit and fall on the body. Often with quite clean lines, and architectural elements.

The second word. Classic. This is both in the styles and the silhouettes I wear frequently. Many of those items fall on “wardrobe essentials” lists. And while I like them to have modern updates, they’re quintessentially classic at their core. Sometimes, these items will lean more feminine, whereas other times they might feel a little more masculine. 

My final word; Comfortable. Originally I’d come up with deliberate. But after ruminating on it for a few days, it didn’t quite feel right. It was then that I realised a key factor in what I’m wearing is comfort. In the fabrics, the way it fits on the body, and the way I feel in my skin. This doesn’t mean slouchy or overtly casual, as I tend to have more of a refined take. Heels are low and blocky so they’re easy to walk in. Some silhouettes are relaxed and oversized. Textures fuzzy and warm. The important thing is that the items themselves aren’t restrictive; they need to allow movement and flow. 

So, would love to know… what are your three words?