The Everyday Icon Style Podcast

Episode 185: Beyond Vague Style Words

• Tiffany Howard

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We explore how to define your style in a way that drives real results, moving beyond vague style words and cluttered Pinterest boards to create a framework for powerful, consistent style decisions.

• Style is not just about personality expression—it's strategic communication
• Traditional style words like "chic" or "classic" are too vague for practical decision-making
• Choose 2-3 strategic style words that act as decision filters, not just descriptors
• Your wardrobe should communicate your intended message, not just your mood

Links mentioned in today's episode

YouTube Video: What Being Stuck In Your Personal Style Looks Like https://youtu.be/-vhMgkTMhYA?si=YHWLrqAWLMvhcrEV
 

Link to schedule your discovery call https://stan.store/StyledbyTiffanyO

Speaker 1:

This is the Everyday Icon Style Podcast the space for style-conscious, career-driven women who are ready to look like the next-level version of themselves. Each episode helps you build a wardrobe that reflects not only your executive presence but your real life. With a little bit of guidance, intentional edits and no full-blown transformation required, let's elevate your style and your authenticity one outfit at a time. I'm Tiffany, your style coach. Let's elevate your style and your authenticity one outfit at a time. I'm Tiffany, your style coach. Let's get started. Welcome to the Everyday Icon Style Podcast.

Speaker 1:

I'm your host, as always, tiffany, and in today's episode we are going to continue on from last week's episode, which was episode 184. And I discussed why you can't define your style, and in that episode I talked about the real reasons your style feels undefined, blah or just boring and guess what? It has nothing to do with taste. It's more so about the strategy. So be sure to go back and check out and listen to episode 184. But today I'm actually going to show you exactly how to define your style in a way that drives results, and we're moving beyond the vague, boring words and our cluttered Pinterest boards and we're going to put it into a framework that helps you make powerful, consistent style decisions every single day.

Speaker 1:

So first up is you've probably heard the following phrase style is a reflection of your personality. But can we be really truthful and honest for a second? That sounds great in theory, but in practice it tends to fall flat and fall apart. And the reason being is because your personality is complex. You're not just one thing You're creative, you're analytical, you're ambitious, you're grounded, you're bold and you're strategic, and the list can go on and on and on. So when we try to dress to express ourselves, it gets confusing, because one day I want to be corporate, the next day I want to look ambitious, the next day I want to look casual, cool, and so on and so on and so on. And because of that, nothing feels consistent ever. Even when you go shopping and you look in your closet, it's not consistent. And that is going to be the driving force of creating a wardrobe that is always consistent to how it is you want to look. And so the biggest result that comes from this actually is people can't get a clear read on who you are. In worst case, you can't even get a clear read on who you are. In worst case, you can't even get a clear read on who you are, and I can honestly say that right now, in this style transition evolution that I'm going through, I literally feel that myself is I really don't see or get a clear read on me either, and what I'm learning is styling isn't about expressing everything. It's actually more about emphasizing the right things for the right context, and your wardrobe needs to communicate your intended message, not just your mood. Always remember, people judge you. In less than three seconds.

Speaker 1:

Now there were style words come into play. Well, this is actually where style words come into play, but not the kind that you've been seeing or used to seeing on style quizzes or even on pinterest, and you know the words chic, classic, modern, edgy. They're sort of like the same five or six, seven words that we always hear about and nobody goes beyond and everybody just stays in line with these particular words. And these are nice words. There's nothing wrong with them, but it's just that they're not useful when you're standing in a store or getting dressed and they don't tell you what to choose. So here's how we want to do this differently.

Speaker 1:

So, before you begin to even choose your words, I want you to start with a question what am I trying to achieve, whether it's professionally or personally. So here are a few examples Are you positioning yourself for leadership, are you getting back out on the dating scene, or do you need to stand out as a thought leader? Because your style isn't just about how you feel, it's about how you want to be perceived. It's about how you want to be perceived, because if we dress on how we feel, we are literally going to show up how we feel, but we want to be perceived based on how you feel. So once you define that, then you choose your style words that act as strategic filters, not just descriptors, and I am going to use me as an example. So my style words are classic, distinctive and powerful. So this is going to provide me with direction, whether I'm shopping or standing in my closet, so I can look at a piece of clothing, jewelry, shoes, whatever it may be, and I can ask myself does this make me look classic? Does it make me look distinctive or does this make me look classic? Does it make me look distinctive or does this make me look powerful? This will help make every decision I make become easier and, slowly but surely, behind it, my confidence will also follow. Now I actually have a video on YouTube that I go into a little bit deeper on this my three words. So be sure to click the link in the notes below and go and watch that video.

Speaker 1:

But now let's address another issue that confuses people. You think you need one style to fit every single occasion. You don't. You need a flexible framework or wardrobe that adapts, not reinvents, your style based on the situation. So let's go back to my three words classic, distinctive and powerful. So say I have a meeting to attend tomorrow. That might mean a sleek blouse, a simple earrings and structured pants. By doing this, all of my words have been used Sleek blouse can be classic and powerful. The earrings can be simple. Which are simple can be classic and also powerful and, depending on what they look like, distinctive. And the structured pants could be perceived as distinctive and powerful. Now let's say I have a keynote speech. So for me this might mean a statement blazer, bold lipstick and sharp heels Both outfits for the meeting and the speech. It's still me, same strategy, but I just adjust it for the context that I want it to be for.

Speaker 1:

Now, this is the part most of us miss. Your style should shift emphasis based on where you're showing up without losing your core identity. Now, that's how you create consistency and flexibility in and at the same time. So, once you've chosen your strategic style words, how do you use them? They become your decision filters. So, when shopping or getting dressed, I want you to ask the following questions Does this style look classic or whatever word that you are going to choose for yourself? Does it help me stand out in the right way, and does it project credibility or distract from it? Because sometimes what we may put on may distract from what it is that we're trying to convey.

Speaker 1:

Now, once this happens and we begin to put all this into motion and play, shopping will become easier. Packing will become easier, standing in your closet will become easier. As you're getting dressed each and every day, you will literally, in time, stop chasing trends and start building a cohesive wardrobe that actually works for you. This way, you're not reinventing yourself for every single meeting or event that you have to go to, because you will already have it at your fingertips, and this has nothing to do with buying a whole new closet. Now. You will have to add some pieces, yes, but what it is? It's about using what you have, especially when starting out with purpose and knowing what to add next intentionally, and that's where you'll begin to shop, as you need to shop, and add more pieces to your wardrobe.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so here's what I want you to take away from all of this. Style isn't decoration, it's communication, and when you define it strategically, you gain confidence, you show up consistently and you become memorable in the right rooms. And this isn't about looking nice. This is about walking into rooms knowing that you're already aligned with the message that you want to send and convey. So here's your challenge.

Speaker 1:

I want you to pick two to three style words that support your professional and personal goals. Then start using them as filters in your closet what aligns, what doesn't. This will also help you with cleaning out your closet as well. You know that's my favorite thing. And if you're ready to go deeper, to build a full strategy that supports your next level of you that you're evolving into, I would love the opportunity to work with you In Inside my Style Refresh one-on-one program. We're going to define your personal style strategy and turn it into a practical confidence building system you use every single day. The link to schedule your discovery call is in the show notes of this episode, and what I want you to remember at the end of the day, style isn't about who you've been. It's about who you're becoming. So I hope you have an amazing rest of your day, stay healthy, stay safe, and I will talk to you in next week's episode.