The Best Way to Find Your Style Roots: Style Streams Exercise

If you want to find your unique style, finding your Style Roots is the perfect way to start. I have identified 8 sources of inspiration, rooted in the natural world, which influence our style.

The 8 Roots

• mushroom - minimal, neutral, simple

• mountain - formal, professional, powerful

• flower - delicate, intricate, soft

• fire - sensual, glamorous, luxurious

• sun - playful, sun, experimental

• moon - dark, moody, celestial

• stone - casual, sporty, urban

• earth - natural, rugged, grounded

Finding your style roots

There are a few methods to find your style roots, and it works best when you use a combination! Like many things in life, there isn’t necessarily a quick fix to finding your core style, but there are methods you can use to help you narrow down.

1. The Style Roots Quiz - this is a quick, simple way to establish which style roots you might have, although it is the least accurate option (a new and improved version is in the works!)

2. Choosing your Style Roots - there is absolutely no reason you can’t simply choose your style roots. With a browse on Pinterest, the differences between the roots should become apparent, and you may simply know which ones feel like you.

3. Style Streams Exercise - this is the method I shall teach you today, which involves listing words you associate with your perfect style

The Exercise

The style streams exercise is very simple; you only need a piece of paper and pen, or even your notes app to help you. If you are already familiar with style roots, try to forget what you think you know, just for a minute.

Step 1

Take your pen, and write a list of words. I would suggest between 20-30 words, but don’t overthink it, treat the exercise a little like blurting or morning pages. Write words to describe the following things:

• your dream self or your best self - who she is and how she dresses

• your favourite pieces in your current wardrobe

• the outfits on your existing pinterest or mood board (if you don’t have one, you can skip this step)

Don’t limit yourself on the kinds of words you use, make sure to include:

• colour

• vibe

• shape

• silhouette

• personality

• emotion

Make sure to focus on who you feel you truly are at your core, rather than the aesthetic you like right now. To help with this, think about the similarities throughout your life, or the last year, the last month - think about the range that your style has.

Step 2:

The next stage is to group the words together. The aim is to find the connections and similarities between the words on the page. Don’t worry too much about getting it into three groups at first, or making them even groups, this can come later! There also isn’t a right answer as such - if the words have a thread to you, that’s what matters.

Step 3:

Before we move on to my “answers”, try to define for yourself which of the 8 style roots each of your threads align with.

Results

If your list includes some of the following words or their synonyms, you might be…

Mushroom

• neutral

• minimal

• balanced

• classic

• timeless

• elegant

• modest

• put together

• simple

• effortless

• sophisticated

• understated

• elevated

• high-quality

• curated

• clean

Mountain

• formal

• refined

• professional

• competent

• strong

• powerful

• smart

• expensive

• structured

• tailored

• mature

• polished

• sleek

Earth

• relaxed

• rough

• natural

• academic

• bohemian

• flowing

• country

• outdoors

• grounded

• eclectic

• effortless

• rugged

Stone

• relaxed

• urban

• metropolitan

• sporty

• active

• athletic

• casual

• informal

• comfortable

• slouched

• athletic

• industrial

Sun

• bold

• playful

• quirky

• experimental

• bright

• loud

• fun

• unexpected

• avant garde

• unique

• daring

• unconventional

• energetic

• boundary-pushing

• cutting-edge

• nonconformist

Moon

• dark

• ethereal

• mystical

• of the night

• strong

• sharp

• grunge

• deep

• daring

• rebellious

• celestial

• mysterious

• intense

• gothic

• edgy

• moody

• haunting

Flower

• delicate

• youthful

• feminine

• intricate

• vintage

• rounded

• flowing

• parisian

• dreamy

• whimsical

• soft

• pastel

• dainty

• charming

• graceful

• elegant

Fire

• luxurious

• opulent

• lavish

• glamorous

• sensual

• alluring

• sexy

• enticing

• sultry

• provocative

• powerful

• commanding

• lush

• smoky

• romantic

• passionate

Watch the video to learn more:

Visit the Style Roots ‘Hub’

Everything ‘style’ roots in one place. Learn about each of the 8 style roots, how to style them and how to find YOURS

Read more

Get a Style Analysis

This is the ultimate breakdown of your personal style. I analyse your favourite outfits, your pinterest board and your favourite items and come back to you with a guide to your dream style

Read more

💌 Subscribe

Sign up for Curate Yourself - my weekly newsletter where I share how to optimise your style to express your true authentic self.

Join over 8000 readers and get closer each week to your dream style