How the ‘three-word method’ helped me define my personal style

A framework to build your style and wardrobe around.

With inspiration so readily accessible everywhere from Pinterest to TikTok and trends popping up left, right and centre, it can be hard to develop a well-honed sense of style. Thankfully, there’s a simple method that might help you.

Created by Allison Borstein, a New York-based stylist and the author of Wear It Well, the ‘three-word method’ is a practice that helps you nail down exactly what your style is.

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After sharing the method on TikTok last year, her videos about the method have gone somewhat viral and spurred many people (myself included) to start implementing it in their own lives.

What is the three-word method?

The great thing about this method is that it’s pretty simple; all you need to do is choose three adjectives that you feel define your personal style. In her TikTok series, Allison explains that the adjectives you choose are used to “describe your current style and/or the style you aspire to have”.

@allisonbornstein6 FINDING YOUR PERSONAL STYLE! what are your 3 words… comment below!!! #FORDfortheBuilders #fashiontiktok #fyp ♬ original sound – Allison Bornstein

These words serve as a reference point when getting dressed and building your wardrobe. They can, of course, be changed at any time during your style journey, so don’t get too caught up when choosing your three – they aren’t necessarily your words for life.

How does it work?

The first step is to open your closet and pull out the items you wear all the time. Hang these up or place them around your room so you can visualise them all in one space. Allison highlights that these aren’t the pieces you necessarily love the most, they’re more the ‘go-tos’ in your wardrobe.

Once you’ve pulled out all of these pieces, take a step back and analyse them. Ask yourself how would you describe these pieces. Look at their similarities and differences, from their silhouettes to their prints. For example, if you’ve pulled out several baggy blazers and baggy jeans a word to describe your style could be ‘oversized’. If you’ve pulled out lots of grey, black and white coloured clothing one of your words might be ‘neutral’ or ‘minimal’. This is how you land on your first two words.

The third word is slightly different – it’s used to describe your dream style. To find an adjective for this have a look at Pinterest, celebrities and influencers whose style you admire and designers you like. Once you’ve gathered your key sources of inspiration, choose one word that unites them. This will give you a guide for what direction you want your style to go in the future and it will help you avoid making impulse purchases that stray too far from what you want your aesthetic to be.

Still struggling to find your words? Allison suggests you phone a friend and ask them to describe your style. You could also try making a style mood board (even better if you use pictures of your own outfits) and then pick the first words that come to mind when looking at it.

Finding my three words

Even though I’m a fashion fanatic, I don’t have my style down pat and getting dressed in the morning can be a real struggle. After pulling out my Ksubi baggy jeans, a tailored black blazer and my Zimmermann Patchwork Booties, among a few other pieces, I managed to settle on my three words: ‘effortless’, ‘glamorous’ and ‘chic’.

My style can vary quite dramatically from morning to night hence having two distinctly different words. Usually for daytime, I opt for a relaxed but put-together outfit. Often it’s some variation of a white singlet, a striped shirt layered with a blazer and a pair of baggy jeans or bootcut leather pants. For a night out, I might wear a sheer floor-length dress paired with a square-toe mule and a shiny silver shoulder bag. Basically, at night I dress to impress, which is why ‘glamour’ is my second word.

It was a little harder choosing my third word – I thought of many other words before I decided on ‘chic’. For context, my two style icons have always been Camille Charrière and Alexa Chung. Both have had a strong influence on the way I dress. I’m half French and spent many of my most formative years in France, so my dream style is the coveted French girl aesthetic that both these women embody (despite Alexa being British, her aesthetic is undeniably French). With this in mind, I chose ‘chic’ as my third word.

How does it help you define your sense of style?

Now that you have your three words, you have a framework you can use to curate your wardrobe. These words will serve as a guide when shopping and will help you when putting outfits together in the morning. With these words in mind, you’ll be able to curate outfits that align more clearly with your dream style.

And when you feel tempted to buy into the next TikTok micro trend, remind yourself of your three words. If the item in your basket doesn’t feel aligned with them, it’s best to leave it where it is. Remember, this method isn’t a hard and fast rule you have to live by. It’s fluid and can evolve over the months and years as your interests, body and tastes change.

For more on the three-word method, head here.