Style Vs. Fashion
Exploring instinct versus influence
I recently took a fashion history course, and one of the first assignments asked a simple but layered question: What is the difference between style and fashion? We were invited to explore each through separate mood boards, it was a prompt that stayed with me.
FASHION
STYLE
Style feels timeless. It transcends trends, moves intuitively, and often reflects both who we are and the life we live. Fashion, on the other hand, is more transient, playful, expressive, and fleeting. It’s meant to shift. It can inspire, influence, and invite experimentation.
The tension between what’s new and what feels true is where the two begin to work together. When you understand what works for you, fashion becomes a tool rather than a rule, and style becomes the anchor. Here, I collected references that reflect that balance for me.
In a moment where aesthetics and “vibes” are constantly flashed in front of us, it’s easy to be influenced without intention. Trends circulate faster than ever, shaping taste in real time. Because of that, I find it important to step back from my devices and rediscover inspiration more slowly through books, exhibitions, travel, and simply noticing what’s around me.
That pause helps train my eye and keeps my perspective fresh. It creates space for fashion to inspire without overpowering, and for style to remain personal and grounded.
You might consider creating your own style versus fashion boards. Not to define either, but to observe what sparks, lingers, and feels most like you.
The tension between what’s new and what feels true is where the two begin to work together. When you understand what works for you, fashion becomes a tool rather than a rule, and style becomes the anchor. Here, I collected references that reflect that balance for me.
In a moment where aesthetics and “vibes” are constantly flashed in front of us, it’s easy to be influenced without intention. Trends circulate faster than ever, shaping taste in real time. Because of that, I find it important to step back from my devices and rediscover inspiration more slowly through books, exhibitions, travel, and simply noticing what’s around me.
That pause helps train my eye and keeps my perspective fresh. It creates space for fashion to inspire without overpowering, and for style to remain personal and grounded.
You might consider creating your own style versus fashion boards. Not to define either, but to observe what sparks, lingers, and feels most like you.