Written by Tristan Lueck.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Fashion and style are two different words that people often associate with the same thing. Interestingly enough, they do share a definition. Both words share the phrase “a manner of doing something” in their definitions. But when I read further, I found a true distinction between the two words. In the definition for fashion there is one word that stands out. Fashion is “a popular trend, esp. in styles of dress and ornament or manners of behavior.”
Trends ride in on a breeze and ride out just as easily. Sometimes, on those special occasions, something ridiculous sticks or comes back twenty years later. But they are still trends and will leave us all in some overalls or denim jackets. At some point or another, we’ve all descended into some ‘90s-inspired hell filled with midriff-baring shirts and jelly sandals and those weird scrunchy shirts that were ridiculously itchy. But we have climbed out of that circle and reached the middle ground of some perfectly coordinated purgatory.
We have taken part in some trend or other. I, myself, own a large amount of clothing that will link me to some past era or season. Those trends do not define us. They are not our style. The trick to style is knowing who you are. I know who I am via my style and I how to use those trends years after they have been destroyed. I incorporate them into my style, until they gone as far as I can make them go.
My style is my own, something that shifts with how I do my make-up and how my hair is floating around my head that morning. It changes when I’m feeling girly or punky or full-blown rock and roll. But each day, those different outfits are all me. I don’t define myself as classic or trendy or universal or anything. My style is not defined by words and I don’t think yours should be either.
Style is defined as “a distinctive appearance, typically determined by the principles according to which something is designed.” The definition seems simple, an appearance, your appearance. Your style is you. To be fair, your style could be trends. Maybe you are working harem pants one day and then the boho chic look the next. If that works for you then do it! And don’t let anyone stop you!
Pencil skirts will always be classic but add a rocker t-shirt and some strappy sandals and classic is defined as something completely different. Nothing can be defined through a single word or idea. And style is a word that could mean so many things to so many different people. To me, style is you, style is being confident in yourself. You are everything that style is defined as, whether you are wearing a pair of ripped up jeans or some beautiful evening gown. Style should look effortless, even though you have spent upwards of 25 minutes making sure your shoes and accessories work with the pants you just had to wear.
Coco Chanel, the queen of both fashion and style, clarified the difference between the two words when she said, “Fashion changes, but style endures.”
