Sometimes, a style evolution is brought on suddenly with a new life change (becoming a parent, for example, or perhaps moving to a new city). Other times, your style changes so gradually over time that you don’t notice it until one day you look in your closet and realize it’s filled with things that no longer represent your taste. The latter is what happened to me as I spent the end of 2023 purging my closet. Even though I try to do a wardrobe edit a few times a year, this particular one was one of the biggest purges I’ve done in a while; I really took my time critically assessing what I actually wear and am excited about in my closet right now. And one thing this process made really clear was just how much my style has changed over the course of the pandemic. That, of course, got me thinking more about where my style is today, which led to me considering how I’d define it.

If you don’t already follow stylist Allison Bornstein on social media, I highly suggest getting on that. Her three word method for defining your style has helped me narrow my scope in my current era. I’ve always had a sense of what my style is (and, perhaps more importantly, isn’t), but as she explains in her many videos, putting specific, considered words to your style can go a long way in helping you figure out how to create compelling looks and what to look for when you shop, so that you’re mindfully building a wardrobe and repertoire of outfits that you feel excited about. In other words, it helps make getting dressed easier and more effortless.

After spending some time thinking it through, the three words I’ve landed on to describe my style right now are: current, relaxed, and refined. And I think this outfit perfectly encapsulates all three of my words. Current: I always need to be wearing something trendy, whether it’s a specific item or general category — in this case it’s the Celine sunglasses, Spezials, and cargo pants. Relaxed: I’ve always preferred a more casual vibe (i.e. lots of crop tops and denim), and right now I’m loving all things slouchy — here, it’s the proportion of the cropped sweater and loose pants, as well as the combination of the cargos and sneakers. Refined: AKA minimal, simple, pared back — at the end of the day, my outfit is just a sweater and jeans, nothing overly complicated or contrived.

Have you tried the three word method? I’ve been telling all my friends to try it! It’s a fun exercise, and a new year is a good a time as any to evaluate your relationship to clothes and become more thoughtful about how you approach personal style.