Last updated on October 26th, 2021 at 09:58 pm

Do you think there’s a difference between fashion vs. style? Believe it or not, there is! Let’s take a look at what each of them mean, and how they work together. 

Style 

Your sense of style is completely unique to you, and differs from person to person. No two styles are alike! There’s so many different types of styles, and more often than not, people fall into more than one category. 

Style is who you are as a person. What types of clothes make you feel comfortable and confident in what you’re wearing, and changes how you carry yourself. We’ve all had that outfit we wear because it looks cute, but doesn’t really feel like “us”. 

It can sometimes be difficult and time-consuming to identify what your core sense of style is, and it evolves throughout your lifetime!  Having a good idea of your sense of style is a great way to create a base for your wardrobe, and bring in different elements of fashion!

But first, where does “trendy” come into play?

We went back and forth on whether of not “trendy” was it’s own style category and we’ve pretty much decided (at least in our opinion) that it’s not. Trends really fall under each type of style.

For example, there were a lot of trends this year in the Romantic category (see description below). You’re familiar with them, you just may not have known they fell into a category. Those would be puff sleeves and smocking, two things we saw all summer long.

There’s a great article about it in the Zoe Report that you can read here. We’ll list the current trends in each category below. If you’re drawn to these trends, it may help you figure out where your style category lies.

Fashion vs. Style: The Different Types of Styles:

We’re sharing the different types of styles with both real and fictional characters to help you visualize what these styles look like.

Romantic – feminine colors, fabrics and shapes. Think silk, cashmere, linen, lace and cotton.

Romantic Current Trends: Sweetheart necklines, puff sleeves, smocking details, full skirts, corseting

Chic/Classic – these two are pretty similar, and are sometimes used interchangeably. Classic lines and silhouettes. Neutral colors, like black, white and navy. Wearing minimal accessories, but also loves to make a statement. 

Chic/Classic Current Trends: Long suit coats, classic trench coats, statement buckle belts, black and white

Casual – looser fits with an emphasis on comfort (all of us over the past year!). Denim, sweatshirts, lycra, cotton and wool. 

Casual Current Trends: Oversized knits, hoodies under blazers, shearling jackets and boots, bralettes, oversized pants

Glam – va va voom! More body-hugging styles, luxe fabrics, glitter, designer bags and belts

Glam Current Trends: Sequins, shimmer for daytime

Minimalist – includes any and all colors, not just neutrals! Unique and architectural lines, and outfits are usually less pieces

Minimalist Current Trends: Both bright colors and pastels, shirt dresses, jumpsuits, monochrome suiting, white accessories for fall (bags, boots)

Vintage – 40’s and beyond silhouettes, patterns and colors. Can be classic or quirky. Can be found shopping in vintage stores, or can be vintage-inspired. 

Vintage Current Trends: Roaring 20’s, 90’s revival, head scarfs

Boho – flowy silhouettes, earthy colors and textures. Crochet tops, suede, faux-fur, fringe, embroidery and lots of piled-on accessories

Boho Current Trends: Florals, bold and unusual color mixes, layering, maxi dresses

Edgy – think punk rocker vibes. Black and denim, leather jackets, ripped jeans, studs and band tshirts

Edgy Current Trends: Cut-outs, “Hot Goth”

Preppy – east coast or southern have preppy styles. Stripes, gingham, plaid, nautical and vests. Linen, cotton, cable knit. Fleece. Leaning more toward brown leather than black. 

Preppy Current Trends: Sweater vests, Academia, chunky loafers, novelty sweaters, pleated skirts

Do any of these different styles apply to you? Can you identify different styles that fit into your personal aesthetic? 

Once you have a good idea of your style, this is where you start to look at different fashion trends and how you can incorporate them into your wardrobe! 

Style is also enhancing and showing off all of your best features!

Fashion

What is fashion vs. style?  

Fashion on the other hand, is what you see on the runway, in fashion magazines, and on the most fashionable people you know. 

The trick is taking fashion trends, and identifying how they translate to fit within your own personal style. This is where trends and other fads live, and eventually fade away. 

Also keep in mind, a lot of the fashion you see is on women who have unattainable looks and unrealistic bodies. 

In fashion, there are no timeless or classic pieces in your wardrobe. Think about what was fashionable last year – are people still wearing those things now? Probably not! The fashion industry is a business, and they’re trying to make money. That’s why fashion changes so often!

What does this mean for your love of fashion?

It means you still fawn over fashion magazines and runways, and use your best judgement to figure out what current trends fit into your style, and how. 

You know your budget best, but fashion isn’t where you should spend the bulk of your money. Save that money for great classics that fit your style, and can mix and match with everything else in your closet. 

Be discerning about fashion and trends, and spend money on the items that really feel like you. And if you’re not sure? See if you can find a way to buy the trend for less, so there’s not as much of a risk if you end up not loving it!

So, what do you think of fashion vs. style? Is it pretty much what you thought? Let us know in the comments below.

Want to know Dianne’s Style Story? She was interviewed on Gwen Beloti Collections’ blog that you can read here. And coming soon, Jen’s Style Story!

And, as always, you can check out how we “Wear It At Any Age” – Volume 4 is our latest edition.