Digging Deeper into Style…
Since tomorrow you get to know Nate better, I thought I’d steal today to let share a bit more deeply about myself…
If you follow me on twitter or facebook, you’ve probably heard the phrase “Style Statement” about a hundred times over the last two days. It’s because I’ve become completely enraptured by a book called “Style Statement: Live by your own Design”. And it’s purpose is to take you on a journey to discover your own personal style statement. A style statement is two words that define your authentic self. And having them defined helps you to stay true to yourself and make empowered decisions while navigating life, business, and the hundreds of choices you make every day from “Should I take that job” to “Should I buy these shoes”. I’ve done countless personality tests (I’m an INFP on the Myers Briggs, if you’re curious) and while I feel like I have a greater understanding of myself from them, I have never been able to use them to translate into my day to day life. Until now.
Style Statement asks you many questions about what attracts and repels you in various areas of your life such as your home, fashion, learning, spirit, service, wealth, relationships, celebration, wellness, creativity, nature, relaxation and more (yes more, it was exhaustive). You are asked to review your answers and search for patterns and words that intrigue you. I’m not going to lie, I felt a bit redundant in my answers seeing patterns emerge almost instantly and seeing my insecurities trending across my responses. I picked out bits that appeared over and over like purple, soft, desire, grounded, gourmet, exciting, intuition, drive, desire to be understood, raw, classic, impatient, expression and others that I was worried would never translate into an eloquent representation of myself as spot on as the other style statements profiled in the previous pages of the book. I mean, purple, really?
The fun part of the book is when you look through your collected words and pick out 5 that really draw you in. 2 of the 5 have to be applicable to material things. You then collect synonyms for the 5 that move you. Can I please tell you how absolutely excited I was when I found “purple” as an actual listed synonym for one of my 5 words? I also found understood, raw, classic, fast, intuitive, understood, willed, and exciting. Who would have thought that the random words I chose from my many answers would be synonymous with the few words I selected as possible definitions of my self.
You may think that picking two little words to define your style wouldn’t make a difference but you’d be surprised how liberating it is. It brings so much into instant focus. I would have never picked these two words to define my style before. But now, I can see how everything that I enjoy in my life is reflected in them. I can see how every favorite piece of jewelry, every favorite outfit, my favorite home furnishings, my favorite pass times, all fit into it perfectly. I can see how my goals for photography reflect it even before I had it defined. And I can see how everything I felt “stuck” in is in opposition to it. I’ve already started making some little changes to help bring myself more in tune with my Style Statement. I’ve started going through my closet and boxing up clothes that don’t fit it. I’ve made a playlist on my computer of songs filled with grounded melodies and beautiful lyrics. I’ve made an appointment to get my hair styled back to a cut I had when I felt at my best. I’ve started an inspiration folder of images and magazine clippings that represent my style statement in fashion and decor. And I’ve been able to understand my strong desires for family traditions and my love of cooking dinner at home…
Becka Knight
Tradition Sensual
I can see it all so clearly now. I feel grounded in tradition. I love security and a linear path. I need constants. I find beauty in classic lines, colors, and images. Tradition is my foundation and my rhythm. Old hymns, poems, and stories stir my soul. And I would have never defined myself as “traditional” but I can see how much I use tradition as a foundation in my life. And then there is my creative edge… things that are sensual. My favorite perfumes are rich and luxurious. My favorite things to eat are full of flavor. I love my milkshakes extra thick and my coffee extra hot. My favorite things to wear are soft. I thrive when we have plans to travel to see and experience new places. I try to surround myself with beauty. I feel very in tune to my intuition. I love dancing and romance and the color purple. Even my favorite images that I take show some sort of sensuality grounded by something constant. I see my Style Statement running like a thread through everything good in my life. I cannot wait to incorporate it fully into all the various areas of my life.
If you’ve gone through this journey to discover your Style Statement, what did you find? And how are you utilizing it in your life?
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That’s awsome! I couldn’t get Nate to get excited about it but I bet I could get him to answer at least a few questions. :)
I swear this is the last comment I’ll make on your blog today!! I got the style statement book in the mail the other day, and it is wonderful! I haven’t finished going through it yet, but I brought it in the car with me this weekend as my husband and I went on a road trip to Tallahassee. I wrote down my answers for the either or section, and then starting flipping through the rest of the questions, and the ones that were really interesting, I asked to my husband while he drove. I don’t know if Nate would want to do the entire book, but try asking him some of the questions. It’s pretty cool :)
you are just ridiculously gorgeous girl!
Sounds like an interesting read. I’ve been looking for my next read… guess I’ll have to check it out! Thanks.
I just read this now, and I am currently DYING to get my hands on a copy of Style Statement!!!
Great suggestion! You have definitely inspired me to check out the book and work on my own style statement!
Thank you, thank you, thank you SO much for passing this book along via the blog. My interest is certainly piqued to find out my Style Statement. Thanks for the inspiration!
Yes, I would agree with all of these statements about you… It is what I LOVE about you and makes you special!!!! Oh to see you start to see yourself as I see you is inspiring…. Keep growing, keep learning, keep opening up and keep loving….. Mom
hmm that is interesting that you’re an INFP. I am an ENTJ .. lol.. nearly completely opposite of you, though I feel like we have a lot of similarities based on what you write. I will have to check that book out – sounds interesting.
Oh my. This is SO up my alley. I am a sucker for personality tests (I’m digging out my Meyers Briggs results as soon as I get home…I can’t remember my letter combo!) and a designer by trade so this could easily become an obsession for me. Thanks for sharing your results with us, its fun to get a little peek into the inner workings of your creative mind! :)
Wow! This is so insightful and beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I think I’m going to go buy that book now….
Farming has never smelled sweeter, and we dig deep into the ground to uncover the details behind this masterpiece. Fashion Designer
I love this post and you look stunning!