You might look great but how exactly do you dress? Are you more into fashion or style? Women across the world tend to confuse fashion with style. Fashion and style are two related concepts since they can both refer to types of clothing, aesthetics, or ways of doing things. Although similar, they have their key differences.

What is fashion?

Fashion is the popular way a group of people dress within a particular period in time. Fashion is based on trends, which changes. The word “fashion” denotes adherence to that which is of the moment, not that which looks best on you as an individual.

What is style?

Style is a person’s personal preference for self-expression. Style goes beyond clothing to other areas like music, architecture, writing, etc. It’s visible in your overall presence. Style generally means to design something while personal style is about designing to suit a particular individual. 

Fashions fade, Style is eternal.

Yves Saint Laurent

What’s the difference between fashion and style?

Although both terms are used interchangeably, these 2 forms of dressing have distinct differences.

Internal vs. external

When it comes to style, your attention is inward. You wear what identifies with who you are, or at least who you want to be. When it comes to fashion, your attention shifts outwards to match what’s trending.

Fashion is about dressing according to what’s fashionable. Style is more about being yourself.

Oscar de la Renta

Timeless vs. trendy

Style leans more to the classic look than fashion. A fashionista would follow the latest trend. A stylish person may use trends to create their own personal aesthetics or invent their own look all together.

The difference between style and fashion is quality.

Giorgio Armani

Individual vs. universal

Style, especially personal style, is a thing of individual expression. Fashion has to do with popular trends and the business of fashion. 

I still appreciate individuality. Style is much more interesting than fashion, really.

Marc Jacobs

Connect vs. Distract

Style connects the dots in your personality so you can express yourself accordingly. Fashion presents what’s already accepted by many, which limits you from showing who you are. This distracts others from identifying your unique personality. 

I am no longer concerned with sensation and innovation, but with the perfection of my style.

Yves Saint Laurent

Other simple differences

• Fashion is for masses, style is for classes.
• Fashion is copied, style is creative.
• Fashion is for followers, style is for leaders.

You don’t learn style from watching people on a runway. Fashion happens every morning when you wake up.

Shalom Harlow

Elegant Women Choose Style Over Fashion 

As you can tell by now, style and fashion mean two different things. Between the two, an elegant woman should value style more. Here are five reasons why style is more valuable than fashion.

Reason #1: It never goes out of fashion

The best thing about style is that it has no expiration date. Fashion, on the other hand, changes with time. Fashion comes and goes but style is timeless.

Since fashion is what is being offered and worn by most at any particular moment in time, It lasts for a brief period. It lacks enough “staple” or timeless pieces. When you follow fashion, you tend to remain in a comparison mode, wanting to look and be seen like everyone else. You purchase and wear the same garments that are being offered in stores, depicted in magazines, and shown on the runway. It can be exhausting, not to mention quite a drain on your pocket, to have to keep up with the new offerings each season. In fact, a phrase coined “fast fashion” has been a hot topic in environmental movements. Criticisms of fast fashion include its negative environmental impact, water pollution, the use of toxic chemicals and increasing levels of textile waste. In one report, they concluded that the average American throws away approximately 80 pounds of used clothing every year!

Style has a dynamic nature, too, but its dynamism has to do with the expression of who you are and your sense of self. It encourages you to purchase pieces that suit you so your insides match your outsides. Elegant women love classic pieces. Their clothes are a form of investment meant to stand the test of time. The key to avoid getting tired of your clothes so quickly is to choose clothes that make you happy whether trendy or not.

Fashion fades, only style remains the same.

Coco Chanel

Reason #2: It’s personalized

The most obvious thing about style is that it’s a personal thing. It’s unique to the particular individual and has less to do with what’s in fashion. Rather it is an indication of your persona. Personal style is about developing a sense of self, rather than simply absorbing trends. The kind of person you are can be reflected in your expression of style.

Style is more valuable than fashion because it’s more likely to take into account such things as a person’s body type, age, complexion and other things that make them unique.

You can buy fashion but style is what you do with it. A stylish woman might not avoid trends all together because there might be trendy pieces that suit her personal style. Instead, the stylish woman will look at trends and put her own personal, unique spin on it.

Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess.

Edna Woolman Chase

Reason #3: It sparks creativity

Style is less technical than fashion. With style, you have more freedom because you can inject your own personality into it. Style allows you to experiment with different colors, designs, and textures. Style means you mix and match your outfits and pair them with accessories, instead of just copying another look. You can let your imagination run wild as far as style is concerned. It encourages one to think out of the box. Women of style are more likely to have fun and break the fashion rules, while women of fashion follow designers and trends.

Style is joyful if you allow yourself to have joy.

Stacy London

Reason #4: To love and honor yourself 

Fashion comes out when you know others are looking. Style is always there.

Style is all about truly, truly knowing yourself, loving yourself – not just modifying, covering flaws, etc. – but loving yourself exactly the way you are right now – and dressing to honor that. Fashion has the capacity to erode self-esteem and confidence because by its nature, it assumes a gap between where you are and where you should be.

Style is done according to your personal design principles. It’s your mindset, values, and the way you act. Style makes you address your insecurities. By doing so, you feel empowered and pass a message to others that you take care of yourself. 

Style is whatever you want to do, if you can do it with confidence.

George Clinton

Reason #5: To make your mark in this world

By cultivating your own style, you’re building your unique personal brand. You start exuding influence in just about any setting without even intending to do so. People start trusting you more and the words you say to them will carry more credibility because you are the living epitome of elegance. Your words, actions, mannerisms and confidence become apparent. 

Your style and your image are very much tied to your success. By cultivating your own unique style, you become more attractive to be around, to go into business with, and more eligible for a promotion. You give better first  impressions because having a personal style is seen as cooler, higher status, and smarter. You gain greater respect. You become more charismatic. You become the type of woman that everyone loves and is drawn towards. You become instantly and effortlessly more attractive.

You never know where your personal style can take you. If you become an influencer and your personal style becomes iconic, you may start your own clothing line, thus turning their style into fashion. 

In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Final Remarks 

Fashion and style are similar because they both mean ways to do things, but a good rule of thumb is that style relates to the individual, while fashion is more collective. 

Overall, the importance of style cannot be overstated since it helps you become more classy, unique, creative, confident, and charismatic. Style is healthier than fashion.