How to Choose Clothing by Style

Most women love to shop for clothing, but some get frustrated trying to determine what looks good on them, and they feel overwhelmed by the choices that are available. Choosing clothing by style is one way to make shopping more fun and less arduous. By getting a feel for what styles feel most comfortable and look most attractive, one can build a cohesive wardrobe full of pieces that are easily mixed and matched. This way, shopping sessions can be targeted; narrowing down potential pieces makes the shopping experience simpler and more satisfying.

With style in mind, avoiding unflattering clothes eventually becomes second-nature. It is also easy to imagine how potential pieces will work with other clothing. Otherwise, buying whatever looks good or seems popular may result in a bulging wardrobe of incongruous garments that cannot be put together with many other items, resulting in the classic "closet full of clothes and nothing to wear" syndrome. This guide will explain how to get organized for the next shopping session.

General Styles of Women’s Clothing
Fashion was not an issue for the majority of people until the 1900s, after the Industrial Revolution had taken hold. While the upper classes may have had some variety in their wardrobes prior to this time, clothes were considered primarily utilitarian, with most people owning one or two work or everyday outfits and a dressy outfit. After industrialization, more garments were mass-produced, different styles became available, and people could afford to own more than two or three outfits. Dressing gradually became a form of self-expression.

Origins of Style
In the academic and artistic design sense, there were originally six basic clothing "personalities" or styles. These were arranged on a spectrum from yin to yang, with yin styles being more feminine and yang styles being more masculine. The following chart describes the six styles and gives examples of famous people who exemplify each.

Styles Today
Modern styles have changed somewhat. The original categories have evolved; for example, Romantic and Ingenue would likely be considered the same style by today’s standards. Some new categories have also emerged. While on one hand there is more flexibility in fashion now, paradoxically, styles have converged somewhat, so that popular clothing is less distinctive than it used to be. A modern interpretation of clothing style categories might look something like this:

Many women are a combination of two or three dominant styles. In fact, blending styles is what creates personal style. Beyond style categories, though, one should consider whether the styles of certain piecesenhance or detract from the body. Not all dramatic-style women have the same figure, for example, so the same clothing will not look equally good on everyone in that category.


Clothing Styles that Flatter Different Figures
Aside from an overall fashion personality, when selecting clothing, women may want to consider specific styles of individual items and how they look on their individual body type. Many women want to enjoy the latest trends, but they do not stop to consider if that particular trend works in their favor. Assessing body type is fairly easy; most women are already aware of which one they are. An examination in the mirror will reveal the widest and narrowest parts of the body. The chart below describes the five basic female body types.