It's going to get a little tricky now - your personal style

There are so many different schemes for personal style today I can hardly stand it. Modern, Chic, Natural, Downtown, Bohemian - it gets really confusing for the average dresser. Go to any well meaning site today, and you will find some sort of style prescription that may or may not fit your personal style. How do you sort it all out? Pick one style profile system and stick with it. It will be easier to map other styling systems to your profile, than trying to sort it out for each new system you find. I subscribe to the Color Me Beautiful style templates:

• Dramatic: Formal, aggressive, energetic, stimulating, impulsive, mature. Bold contrasts of color. Angular, unbroken lines. Plain necklines. Widely spaced designs. Extreme exaggerations. Emphasis on the waist.
• Natural: Athletic, relaxed, informal, warm, casual. Lots of texture. Clothing never tight or full. Simple detail.  
• Classic: Well-proportioned, tailored, conservative, slightly formal, reserved. Soft pleats or folds. Simple skirts. Small details. Simple lines. Softly tailored neck. Clean, straight lines.
• Gamin: Perky, youthful, cooperative, energetic, friendly. Bright colors. Short jackets. Small details. Casual and youthful proportions and prints.
• Ingenue: Social, creative, sensitive, carefree, idealistic. Curvy details and lines. Gathers. Princess and empire silhouettes. Feminine and soft. 
• Romantic: Sophisticated, suave, mature, theatrical, sociable. Very feminine. Restrained curves. Emphasis above the waist. Fitted waistline. Softly tailored. Neck and upper chest are open. 

So my style is primarily Romantic (examples below), with a subtext of Ingenue. How does this map to other styling systems? On ShopBop, I'm "girly." On Banana Republic, I'm "flirty and feminine." At Saks, I'm "contemporary." At Nordstrom, I'm "current." See what I mean by confusing?! So find a styling system that makes sense to you, educate yourself on the primary attributes of your style, and stick with it by applying other systems to yours. Of course, by knowing your style, you will start to notice specific stores and brands that cater to your style. Anthropologie and Valentino are great for Romantics. Banana Republic is Classic central. Marni, depending on how worn, can be Dramatic or Natural. If your not sure how to interpret yourself in the style templates above, just ask your best friend, mom, or sister and they will peg you in 2 minutes or less.

Style Illiterate