Notes on Styling | 39 | Crack your Outfit Code (but more importantly fall in love with how you put your clothes together again).
How 5 Elements of Style can create a new vision for your style.
Our wardrobe is where our day begins. It's your personal and intimate space. It holds tightly onto many stories. It can be hard to understand to unpick the multitude of decisions we have made at it’s doors. Today, I want to share a little more about the 5 Elements Framework I use with my clients to help them understand themselves and in turn their style preferences better. What I hope for my approach to styling is that it gives the women I work with more self-trust in what they buy and in how they put the clothes they own together, day to day, so their style feels part of them ♡
Julie x
I like to think about my style and the things I love, kind of like the music I love. It’s not to everyone’s taste but it makes me feel what I want to feel when I listen. People can introduce me to new music (much like fashion trends or ideas) but I tend to come back mainly to what I love because - it’s what I love ♡
That’s the very nature of being stylish. Being true to your personal taste and not letting too many things/ people’s opinions/ jobs/ kids/husbands/ insert problem here - veer you off course. Ü
When I’m wearing an outfit that makes me feel stylish, to me it will feel natural and effortless with a little elegance or sophistication to elevate things. I know how to dial up or down this feeling depending on the occasion (maybe lots more elevation for a dressier occasion for example). Don’t get me wrong, it is good to try new things. But the confidence to explore and feel confident in that exploration comes from first having a deep-rooted knowledge about the core feeling you want to get from most of your clothes, most of the time.
This is why when we see something we love on someone else and try to recreate the look and feel for ourselves, it will only truly work if the direction (and feel) of this look is natural to your own true style instincts in the first place.
When you buy without knowing what you want to feel in your clothes, you are chasing the answer to your style through the clothes you buy - without looking inward first. You are chasing the feeling you want to feel in that next new thing.
✶✶✶ P.S. Comfort is not a feeling. We all want to be comfortable in our clothes.
And so, today I introduce you to the 5 Element Method I use with clients.
Embedded in acupuncture & many holistic health practices is the theory of the Chinese 5 elements and an understanding that the universe and everything in it (including us) is composed of different energy forces represented by Water, Wood, Fire, Earth & Metal - Nature’s 5 elements.
It is widely accepted that human behaviour, emotions and health are influenced by the elements and that people’s personalities can be distinguished by them. Each element has its own set of distinguishing traits, instincts, character styles and in the case of our world of styling, we can identify elements of style from each too, including colour palettes, fabrics and prints and other little things that might be your go too’s or should be your go too’s without you realising.
Exploring the 5 Elements with an open mind can show you why some things get worn all the time from your wardrobe and others, remain hanging with the tags still on. By looking at each element as a whole to see which resonate most for you, we can relate that back to the clothing habits that are holding you back as well as see clearly why certain styles, ideas, colours, brands and so much more will feel ‘natural’ to you.
Your unique elemental combination (we each have 2 that dominate for us) can then be used to build a style aesthetic, with other practical & meaningful details added on that make it truly bespoke to you.
In my experience, no one system has all the answers to what you ‘should’ wear. There is no such thing. The very nature of fashion is creative and explorative (even if you think this isn’t what you want - all you want is ‘nice outfits’ you can wear all the time). You will find that when you get confident in your core style, the confidence to want to try new things comes.
What I have discovered is that by having ways to explore both the innermost parts of yourself alongside having the guidance to help you explore creative ways to put your clothes together for your body and proportions, the answers that will feel most natural and stylish to you as a sort of recipe always come to the surface once we start choosing clothes.
It’s important to note just like I mentioned above, to feel fully in balance we do want to be able to explore new ideas (ideas that each of the elements can bring). Sometimes you want to be able to put on a red lippie because you want the fun and stand-out moment that it brings (this is a natural thing for a Fire element to do a couple of times a week) but it may not be you naturally every day. Understanding this is when styling with real intent begins to give you so much power and confidence! But first, we begin with a central core of what feels truly like you.
WOOD
If you have a lot of Wood Energy you value logic, practicality & common sense in life. You like to stay organised so you can get things done and move on to the next thing quickly. There is always a next thing for a person with a lot of Wood in their character! You are busy, productive, go-getting and active. You are always moving forward in life and want to make your ideas real in the world. You tend to be impulsive and direct. You approach problems with solutions and don't give up easily. If anyone will find a way, you will. You love starting a new project, are a great motivator of others and you believe in standing up for the underdog. You love being outdoors in nature or perhaps with something new to get stuck into. You like to know a little about a lot of things in life! You are likely that person with piles of books around the house and no time to read them all!
How a Wood energy type think about their clothes
You are not overly defined by your clothes. You don't care too much if you are seen out in the scraggiest clothes. But it can leave you feeling not so confident in your everyday style. It also depends on how your second element influences you but Wood in itself isn't driven so much by how they look. Your need to be comfortable & practical has led to a wardrobe of 'sweat' type clothes or perhaps your wardrobe has two extremes - uber casual or ready for the ball. You find it hard to work out the in-between, the clothes that marry up your need for movement with a feeling of everyday stylishness. You are an eager learner and embrace new ideas and so you will be really quick to consume this learning & get excited about putting it into practice.
METAL
If you have a lot of Metal energy you will be a highly conscientious person with a natural ability to focus on what's important. You have an innate sense of order and a keen eye for detail and you simply must organise new surroundings you go into. You do not like chaos. You are clear-sighted and focused, which makes you a great leader (along with the fact you love to be in control) ;-) You can come across as reserved to others, refined and perhaps a little arrogant at times. You like to be taken seriously as you put so much thought into everything you do. You can be quite hard on yourself too if things aren't always perfect. You are a sensitive person. You love your own time and space and can get easily overwhelmed by too many people. You love beautiful things and your home will be your haven.
How a Metal energy type think about their clothes
Your style is important to you - it is an extension of who you are. It matters to you to feel 'styled', put together, neat. Metal can tend to feel lost when they start dressing for the expectations of others. You like to maintain a feeling of simplicity no matter what you wear. For Metal it is hard to tune into your second element (which greatly influences your overall aesthetic) as you are so fixated on doing things right. You find it hard to let go and have fun with your look. Your wardrobe may be neat, ordered and everything will be clean but does it's contents light you up? You are naturally great at taking control for other things in your life and your style simply needs the same approach, to tune into you again and refine what true style means to you.
FIRE
If you have a lot of Fire Energy you will exude a natural warmth and affection towards others you meet - even the strangers. You feel joy when connecting with other people. Your emotions run deep but you are also good at communicating them. Fire people are wonderfully expressive, openly sharing their thoughts, feelings and life stories. You are also a free spirit with an innate need for fun in life - life should be fun! Your light-hearted energy will always light a room up. You are a very passionate person and put your all into the things you do but you can get bored easily. Socially, you love meeting new people and are the person to bring others together in a room. You would notice if someone is being left out. You are a great story teller and have a very active mind!
How a Fire energy type think about their clothes
You have a light-hearted energy that comes through in the clothes you love to wear. You love to stand out with colour & pattern, ideally together! Fashion should be fun and you embrace giving new things a go. You can find it challenging to fit your style into the realities of life. You want to feel excited by what you wear, not dragged down by others’ expectations. Clothes hold many emotions (and possibilities!) for you. They are not just clothes really. They represent how you feel on a particular day - you remember the stories associated with items and you use clothes as a way to be seen. Your challenge can be a disjointed wardrobe or a feeling of being stifled by the confines of what your surroundings demand or you can feel like your style has gotten lost as you have gotten older.
WATER
If you hold a lot of Water Energy you will like to contemplate, go with the flow and would describe yourself as a very deep thinker. Water will be present in your identity in the form of creativity, independence & sensitivity. You are one of life’s creators. You are insightful, intuitive and empathetic. You need solitude, space and thinking time. You are in your flow when you imagine, study, create and linger. You love to delve deep on the subjects that interest you. Your depth moves across your being. You will think more deeply than others. You process life intuitively and emotionally and because of this you need time to just 'be' with your thoughts. You like to march to your own beat and hate to be on anyone else's watch.
How a Water energy type think about their clothes
Your clothes will feel most stylish to you when the look feels unique, flowing, random & free. You look at clothes as an extension of your creativity. You are drawn to flowing fabrics & interesting prints. You need to feel freedom, movement, individuality and a depth to what you wear. This can be in colour too. You may feel at times like you have lost that part of yourself that used to be able to express herself through her clothes - that innate individuality. Sometimes clothes can also just be a bore for you too. You can tend to buy lots of one colour (perhaps black or darker tones?) because something in those colours gives you comfort.
EARTH
An Earth energy type will value the relationships in their life over everything else. You need a sense of connection and tend to focus your energy on others far more than yourself. You are a natural giver, exceptionally kind, caring and responsible. You are a reliable and loyal friend. You love to have routine in your life and find it hard to go outside of your comfort zone. You don't easily adapt to change. You can be firm in what you want to do and this can turn into a stubbornness. You are a great listener and your energy is what the world needs more of - a real genuine empathy for others. You tend to be a worrier and can take on everyone else's problems as your own. You also find it hard to take time out for yourself and in this way everything in your life suffers - including your clothes.
How a Earth energy type think about their clothes
You see clothes in a functional way, you don't like to waste too much time on what you wear but like to feel 'put together'. A big challenge for Earth is being sure you are Earth in your heart and soul. I have met so many Mum's for example who think they have Earth naturally because they are a Mum but remember the truth of who you are is not defined by the roles you currently hold in your life. Your challenge (if you are naturally Earth) will be feeling like your style is boring, and matronly. You are unsure how to take it up a notch and still feel like you. You can be very self-deprecating and it isn't natural for you to focus on your appearance but somewhere deep down you know having clothes that feel really good to you would make you feel more seen in the world and you are right. Focus on your secondary element to bring your style to life.
it begins with you + has 20 possible aesthetic combinations
Your unique style recipe comes from you. No one else in the world will want to put clothes together exactly how you like too do it. We each have 2 dominant elements and it matters which order we identify them in as this impacts your recipe as well as the STYLE WORDS we later identify that will help you create your outfits day to day. Your Style Words become your North Star helping you identify brands and items that will sit well in your wardrobe.
There are 20 different Style Aesthetics that can come from all the different elemental combinations. You can begin to explore how the elements come together into looks on my Pinterest (I’ve linked each combination below) but to truly get to your right answer, you must trust the process of deeper exploration. Have some fun beginning your style exploration by seeing what mix of elements draws you in! It is an intriguing place to begin for sure.
EARTH & FIRE - EARTH & METAL - EARTH & WATER - EARTH & WOOD.
FIRE & EARTH - FIRE & METAL - FIRE & WATER - FIRE & WOOD.
METAL & EARTH - METAL & FIRE - METAL & WATER - METAL & WOOD.
WATER & EARTH - WATER & FIRE - WATER & METAL - WATER & WOOD.
WOOD & EARTH - WOOD & FIRE - WOOD & METAL - WOOD & WATER.
It can be easy to assume you 'are' a certain element when you look at some lovely style ideas on Pinterest, but from experience, this is how our wardrobes can get mixed up. We are often clouded by what we want to be, what we used to be or what we never were but someone once told us we were. We can end up adding a little bit of everyone in there.
Stepping back and looking holistically at your tendencies, without any of life's complex biases is where your truly dominant elements are to be found. You are more likely to find the answer when you think about the things you loved as a young adult or even a child?
It’s also why I don’t include too many styling images here today as it’s important to first see that the elements are first about getting a sense of your natural style instincts separate from any clothes. But the above image can show you, how, once you understand your style instincts, the elements help you to see what you want your own personal interpretation of an item to be. That’s when your style begins to come to life.
METAL
organised - elegant - analytical - reserved - discerning - appropriate - meticulous - inflexible - visionary - intelligent - well mannered - minimalistic - perfectionist.
WOOD
ambitious - energetic - direct - assertive - curious - adventurous - a learner - idealistic - in motion - naturally healthy - dynamic - lively - competitive - initiating - youthful.
EARTH
grounded - responsible - nurturing - loyal - altruistic - committed - conforming - caring - diplomatic - selfless - protective - practical - calm - enduring.
WATER
creative - free spirit - unconventional - introverted - sensitive - philosophical - imaginative - intuitive - independent - spiritual - wise - eccentric - meditative.
FIRE
social - outgoing - animated - generous - talkative - passionate - radiant - fun - enthusiastic - entertaining - mischievous - impulsive - joyful - vibrant - emotional.
building out your unique style recipe
Your elements will begin to give you so much insight to begin to form a style framework and plan. You will begin to see a look emerge from the haze of all the possible looks you’ve already tried and that never felt quite right. A look that’s not about one way but more about creating parameters to explore within and around. A clear picture that you feel excited to hone further with tweaks, colours and other factors that just simply matter to you.
STYLE ELEMENTS + STYLE WORDS + A COLOUR PALETTE = STYLE RECIPE TO BEGIN HAVING FUN WITH.
I hope you enjoyed this little look at the 5 Elements. It’s a new and different approach for sure. It brings with it so much personal exploration and reflection and not everyone wants that or is ready for that and I get that too. I welcome questions & thoughts below in the comments or you can always get in touch on email.
There will be lots more where this came from ♡
See you soon,
Julie x
P.S. I have a lovely PDF I’ve created for any of you who loves the detail of the elements and wants more! If you would like to receive a copy, just pop me an email - hi@juliecobbe.ie
I so appreciate you being here with me. Thank you for reading. Substack gives me such a lovely home for exploring this new approach to styling with you. If you would like to support what I do you at anytime, you can choose to subscribe here. .
Julie x