Closing Another Gap Between Your Dream Style and Your Wardrobe

🧪 Entry #36: Adding texture to your personal Style Vocabulary.

We’ve looked at texture from three angles:

• Texture adds depth. It changes how color and shape are perceived.

• Certain textures harmonize more easily with your body’s structure, while others create contrast.

• Texture acts as a mood-setter. It shapes the emotional direction of an outfit.

Now we need to make this personal.

Because texture is not just a styling tool. It’s part of your Style Vocabulary.

• color type

• body type

• core style

• the wardrobe framework

• wardrobe editing

• fit + measurements

• silhouette + proportion

• color story

• texture

• multidimensional style

• conflict + balance

• full outfits

Revisiting Harmony & Contrast

Before we get into it, it’s worth restating that texture harmony (with your body type, or even with a traditional interpretation of your style words) is not a requirement.

You will never hear me say that someone can’t wear a certain texture.

Contrast is expressive, creative, and it’s often what makes an outfit interesting.

The key is awareness.

So this is your permission slip to explore whatever textures take your fancy.

If you’re curious about how texture harmonizes or contrasts with your body type, revisit Entry #34. Understanding harmony gives you even more control when you choose to introduce contrast.

Texture and Your 3 Style Words

In the 12 Competencies framework, your Core Style is defined by three Style Words. Not one. Not a vague aesthetic label. Three adjectives that only make sense when taken together.

Your Style Vocabulary expands those three words into something tangible. (If you need a refresher on building your Style Vocabulary, revisit Entry #12.)

Your Style Vocabulary might include:

• specific silhouettes or shapes

• fabric densities

• textures

• styling techniques

• color families

• recurring textures

• any other descriptors or qualities that clarify what your style words mean to you

If one of your style words is sharp, you may consistently gravitate toward sleek or hard textures. If one is romantic, airy or plush textures may show up again and again. If one is relaxed, earthy or softly structured fabrics may dominate your closet.

So today, let’s focus on clarifying the textures that belong within your Style Vocabulary.

Exercise 9-4: Adding Texture to Your Style Vocabulary

Step 1: Your Most-Worn Pieces

Pull 10–15 pieces you reach for constantly. Not the ones you think you should love. The ones you actually wear.

For each piece, note:

• Fabric density: light, mid-weight, or heavy

• Surface quality: smooth, plush, airy, raw, structured, glossy, matte

• Which texture family it belongs to (airy, soft, earthy, sleek, hard, playful, etc.)

• Which of your 3 Style Words it supports

Then step back and look at the list.

Ask yourself:

• Do certain texture families repeat?

• Is your wardrobe dominated by softness? Sleekness? Earthiness?

• Are you avoiding high-shine or high-impact textures?

• Do your favorite pieces feel harmonizing with your body, or intentionally contrasting?

You might realize that you want to feel edgy, but your closet is almost entirely soft and earthy. Or you might love romantic style, but rarely wear lush or airy fabrics.

So next, let’s explore the gap.

Step 2: The Aspirational Gap

Now let’s shift from what you wear to what you want.

Open Pinterest, scroll your inspirational screenshots, or search up a few style muses and collect 5-10 photos that represent your ideal style.

• Which texture families dominate your inspiration?

• Are there textures you rarely wear but frequently admire?

• Do your inspiration images lean airy, sleek, earthy, hard, soft?

• Is your dream style more texturally bold or more restrained than your current wardrobe?

Perhaps some of the textures that are showing up in your inspiration deserve a place in your Style Vocab (or your wardrobe), too.

Step 3: Expand Your Style Vocabulary

For each of your 3 Style Words, choose 3 textures that support that word. Be specific.

For example, my style words are relaxed, clean, unexpected. My Style Vocab includes:

Relaxed:

• washed denim

• cotton sweatshirting

• ribbed knits

• canvas/twill

• suede accessories

Clean:

• wool suiting

• smooth cotton or cotton gabardine

• matte leather

• cool-toned metals or metallic accents

Unexpected:

• beaded elements or accessories

• patent leather

• sheer layers or lace

• sporty/tech-y fabrics

Once you can identify the fabrics that define your style, your decisions get simpler.

Shopping becomes more focused. Getting dressed becomes more deliberate. Experimentation becomes more intentional.

That’s the benefit of building your Style Vocabulary.

← Return to Entry #35

Continue to Entry #37 →

Until next time,

Alyssa