Three Words: All It Takes to Find Your Personal Style

The Three Word Method is a simple exercise that helps you understand and define your current style, or the style you aspire to have, using three descriptive words.

This method was created and popularised by the incredible stylist, Allison Bornstein.

Since I describe my own style as “aunty meets a teenager”, my three words are:

Classy Contrasting Feminine

To find the first two words, start with your current wardrobe and the items you wear the most. These are not necessarily your favourite pieces, but the things you constantly reach for. Your go-tos.

Ask yourself:

What words describe these clothes?

Look for patterns across silhouettes, colours, styling, fabrics, prints, fits, and the general vibe.

Are your clothes:

Classic

Casual

Refined

Conservative

Bohemian

Relaxed

Colourful

Minimal

Sporty

These are just thought starters, not an exhaustive list.

For the third word, think about your aspirational style. The direction you want to move towards.

This is where you look for inspiration.

Look at people whose style you admire. I personally love taking inspiration from TV shows because you see the character’s entire wardrobe, and how it lives in their world. My current style crush is Isla Gordon from Running Point.

Understanding your style gives you a clearer way to create killer looks from your existing wardrobe, spot the gaps, and shop for all the new things. Once you know what you identify with, trends and micro-trends get easier to navigate.

Your three words become your north star.

It gives you the words to verbalise your visual identity, and better express yourself with clothes, accessories, and all of the different ways you put things together.

The more contrast there is between your three words, the more distinct and fun your style might be.

There is no right or wrong, and you are not married to the three words for life.

They can change and evolve as you evolve.

The three words do not necessarily eliminate items from your wardrobe. More often, they influence how you style them.

A classic white shirt on someone preppy might be neatly tucked in and fitted.

That exact same shirt on someone more laid back might be only partially buttoned, oversized, and half untucked.

As adults, we have very little play. Clothes are where I find mine.

So next time you want to have a little bit of fun, open your closet, find your three words, and see how you can put your usual items together in fresh ways.

Drop me a line if you want help finding your three words.