In looking around at my wardrobe and the wardrobes of fellow bloggers, I have realized that nearly all closets fall into one of four categories:
Architectural, Printy, Tactile, or Utilitarian.
There is no category that is better or worse; it just seems that all of us lean toward one when it comes to our outfits. To explain, I've found some fellow bloggers whose outfit posts seem to point toward a certain style of wardrobe. They encapsulate the trends of a certain category and rock them with their own flair!
(P.S. At least, from my observations! You guys know your wardrobes better, so if you feel you fit better in a different category, please share why! I'd love to hear your thoughts!)
Architectural
An architectural wardrobe centers around the lines of garments, and people with these wardrobes tend to have tailored, crisp garments with intricate details. Print is often considered secondary to these lines and details, and their wardrobes may have more solid colors. They find themselves drawn to dramatic silhouettes, and oftentimes the clothing they choose is seen as timeless or avant-garde.
Blogger example: Joanna of Dividing Vintage Moments
Those of you who follow Joanna know that she has a definite love for tailored suits, especially Lilli Ann suits. Her outfits are very tailored, include impeccable details, and often incorporate large, dramatic hats. While she definitely wears prints, she picks garments that still have interesting lines to them along with the print, like the striped jacket above, or that use the prints to create more architectural interest, like the striped inspiration dress she has shared. Definitely a classy dame!
Printy
A "printy" wardrobe is one that is built on prints. Oftentimes a person with a printy wardrobe will find herself having to buy the obligatory solid colored pieces just so she has something to coordinate with all the print pieces she has. Print also takes precedence over much else for printy people, and oftentimes they may use the same pattern over and over with different prints. The printy wardrobe is oftentimes seen as kitschy and full of personality.
Blogger Example: Tasha of By Gum, By Golly
Tasha is a great example of a printy wardrobe wearer. She oftentimes finds a pattern she loves and that fits her well and will slightly tweak it while recreating it in new and bold patterns, such as the Emery dress versions above. She often says she can't resist a fantastic pattern!
Tactile
A tactile wardrobe is focused on textures and fabrics. Tactile closets are full of differing materials and diverse "feels" of clothing. People who wear them often combine lots of seemingly unrelated pieces into a texture-rich ensemble that somehow just "goes." This also goes for accessories where they may mix metals, colors, and media. They are the kind of people that walk through a store feeling all the clothing. They may also use "feel" in a lot of the descriptions of their outfits, such as loving how a dress feels when it blows in the wind.
Blogger Example: Janey of Atomic Redhead
This fabulous lady has some of the most diverse, texture-rich outfits I've ever seen! She's constantly pairing things that seem so random into fabulously interesting outfits. Her looks often include a mix of leather, flowy fabric, and metal jewelry that all contrast with each other and make impeccably interesting ensembles!
Utilitarian
I'd like to start this one with the disclaimer that I in no way want "utilitarian" to be connected to the idea that practical people sacrifice style for pragmatism. No way! It just happens to be that people with utilitarian wardrobes dress for comfort in their daily activities while maintaining a stylish look. These people often gravitate toward looser, soft garments that are cared for easily or less work to sew up. They may wear similar garment shapes because it's what they're comfortable in, either for a personal preference or because of a daily activity that requires a certain wardrobe.
Blogger Example: Rochelle of Lucky Lucille
"I'm not the kind of girl who can sacrifice my comfort to try and look like a disheveled version of Miss Fisher or Katherin Hepburn..." Rochelle said in one of her recent posts. It pretty much sums up the idea of a utilitarian wardrobe, and I think we can all agree that she rocks her comfy, personalized button-downs and bandanas with great pizazz, all while remaining true to what she actually wants to wear.
Personally, I feel like mine is a mix of architectural and printy. While I would definitely love to have more architectural pieces (suits!), I don't actually have many in my wardrobe right now at all, so it's currently more "printy" than anything else.
So what about you? Do you feel that your wardrobe leans toward architectural, printy, tactile, or utilitarian? Or is it even a mix?
