1) Modern and Trendy
Here's the thing with these two: Trendy is always modern, but modern isn't always trendy. Why? Modern style reflects the glory of industrialization. It sounds weird, but what I mean is that modern apparel is the result of sewing machines, laser cutters, and other technology. Trendy style is extremely of-the-moment. It's basically straight off the runway, except you don't have to wear a high-end version of the trend to be considered trendy. Instead, you can shop at fast-fashion brands like Forever 21, H&M, and Zara, which cater to trendsetters on a budget. Now that we've established the relationship between the two styles, let's look at each one separately.
Modern
- Cuts
- No significantly frayed or fringed hems
- cuts are always made to fit; no off-the shoulder or baggy fits
- Material
- usually synthetic; if not, generally smooth and sturdy
- polyester
- silk
- tighly-knit wool and/or wool blends
- high-count linen and cotton fabric
- Graphics
- always simple but bold
- geometric patterns
- zig-zags
- abstract shapes
- tessellations
- classic prints
- floral
- stripes
- polka dots
- Colors
- bright colors used as an accent in an outfit (pop of color)
- colorblocking
- neutrals are considered basics; examples:
- khakis
- white blazer
- black pencil skirt
- Whatever is trending! Usually, each outfit focuses on a single trend. However, the details can also be reflections of trends.
If I had to describe boho style in one word, it would be natural... or hippie. I think of my style as modern boho because I personally don't like the messy cuts of some boho clothes, like extra long fringe or too-short crops (I wonder why that's considered so boho?). Generally, this style is associated with simple cuts, natural materials, and earthen colors. It shows the down-to-earth side of fashion (when done right).
- Cuts
- always simple
- include boho details, when they're part of the hem
- fringe
- frayed hems
- if the cut doesn't look exclusively boho, it's still simple
- babydoll tops and dresses (popular at Free People)
- fit-and-flare
- shift
- Material
- natural and sometimes polyester, if the material isn't the focus of the piece (e.g. an embroidered piece)
- cotton
- linen
- burlap
- hemp
- thick-knit material
- wool
- silk
- Graphics
- organic patterns
- Aztec print
- florals
- a photo print
- other patterns; usually not too bold (these are never out-stated and/or the focus of the piece)
- plaid
- small polka dots
- stripes
- Colors
- earthen colors
- neutrals
- muted colors (maroon, emerald, gray-blue, etc)
- pale colors, the best in my opinion being pale pink
- you can do bright color, but do it with a pop of color. Surround the accent color with all or some of the following: taupes, grays, blacks, and other neutrals. Some good accent colors include:
- bright green-yellow
- fuschia
- turquoise
- no crazy neons (besides the first one on this list!)
Edgy and punk are basically the same, but edgy style isn't as deeply rooted in the punk movement as punk style itself. Since punk style was started in the 1970s by young people questioning society's status quo, it commonly has elements that were considered "improper" to wear at the time. Think of edgy style as a shoot-off of punk. Not that people who dress edgy aren't as into punk culture. (Movement? Culture? What? Yes, there's a punk version of those. Check out this link from the Met's website for more information on the punk movement and culture.)
Edgy
- Cuts
- normal cuts; nothing special
- sometimes details are part of the cut
- frayed hems/cutoffs
- Material
- polyester
- cotton
- basically anyhting else, but mostly the above two because when the punk movement started, those materials were popular
- Graphics
- things considered "rebellious" (in edgy style they're not that bad)
- skulls
- chains
- studs
- metallic details
- moto details
- leather
- zips
- Colors
- muted colors
- neutrals; mostly blacks and grays
Punk style is basically edgy, but the details are not only more thorough in the clothes but also in the wearer's appearance and sometimes even lifestyle. Edgy style isn't as deep; it's more focused on fashion than the punk culture. Unfortunately, I'm not an expert on punk style, so here's a collection of links to enlighten you. (I know the second link is for men, but don't worry; versions of each featured item exist for women too.)
4) Classic and Vintage
- Wikipedia "Punk Fashion" article
- GQ "The 11 Essentials of Punk Style" Slideshow
- punkstyle on tumblr
- Punk fashion search results for the Huffington Post
4) Classic and Vintage
Finally we come to the last pair of styles. Classic and vintage styles are by nature the most feminine out of all the styles we've gone over so far. Once again, let's differentiate between the two. In this case, classic style is the off-shoot of vintage style. Vintage style reflects the trends of the 40's to 60's. During this time period, especially towards the end, women's natural beauty was the focus. Voluptuous women, like actress Marilyn Monroe, were big influences on vintage style. Two-piece ensembles were glamorized as feminism rose to prominence. These, along with dresses, were cut to show off the natural shape of the female body. Makeup like red lipstick and cat-eye liner also amplified natural beauty. Classic style can be much like vintage style since vintage clothes look good on everybody. Generally, classic style involves "safe" elements of design. Classic outfits are 9/10 times visually pleasing.
Classic
- Cuts
- always universally flattering
- fit-and-flare
- shift
- babydoll
- Material
- either smooth or statement-making fabrics (more commonly the former)
- polyester
- silk
- textured fabrics
- Graphics
- classic prints
- polka dots
- stripes
- non-busy prints
- Colors
- anything- the key is to make it look good with the whole outfit
- Cuts
- always made to accentuate the figure
- high waisted
- fit-and-flare
- babydoll
- Material
- cotton
- generally, materials that were popular from the '40s to '60s
- Graphics
- classic prints
- polka dots
- stripes
- Colors
- solids
- neutrals
- no neons; neon dye wasn't around back then!
Knowing and understanding different styles is important to be able to do for several reasons. Here are the two big ones.
- You'll end up finding your own style. Knowing your own personal style is very important when it comes to understanding yourself fashion-wise. It definitely takes a while to really get it, but it the end it's more than worth it. My personal style is modern boho. I like clean cuts and some modern details and boho materials, colors, and details. The amount of elements from both styles varies from outfit to outfit. I love leather, zippers, and denim. If I choose to stray from my usual style, my rules still apply. One of my biggest rules is to never go overboard on details. I like wearing just enough to make each one stand out. When I see a great outfit, there's no better feeling than my awe at a single piece, detail, or overall harmony of the ensemble. I know my preferred style is what I described above because when I wear a different style, the outfits are nowhere near as creative or pleasing to me as those that reflect my true style.
- If you don't identify with a style right off the bat, you'll get an understanding of the elements of design you like. Elements of design, huh? Fancy. What I mean by that is cut, material, and print. If you look at these individually, you'll find that your style probably doesn't fall into a single category. As I touched upon in my turban post, each style associates with certain materials. Let's take boho and modern style, two polar opposites, for example. Boho people like natural materials like cotton, hemp, silk, and suede. Modern style reflects modern materials, which usually means synthetic materials like rayon, micro modal, other types of polyester, and also silk since it's sleek. Smooth leather (e.g. Italian leather) is used in many accessories, mainly handbags. Just as these two styles are associated with certain materials, they are also associated with certain cuts and prints. Boho is to fringe and natural stone details as modern is to polished metal and other smooth and/or shiny details. An Aztec print is boho and a geometric print is modern. Aside from these, there are other elements that don't necessarily have to do with a certain style. The simplest example is color. Do you like brights or neutrals? I must say, I'm head-over-heels for neutrals and earth tones. As you identify your preferences one by one, your style will emerge.
So, did this article help you further understand style? Did you find any cool new facts from the links? Comment below and shoot me an email at leatherandrouge@gmail.com.
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