Women's fashion styles
There are as many personal styles as there are people. But when it comes to fashion styles, there are plenty that are universal and often used.
Romantic, rock or elegant styles are already regulars on our streets. But there are dozens of other easily recognizable styles. Some you may not have heard of.
Here you’ll find over 20 popular as well as more unusual fashion styles to inspire you. Including examples of clothing and capsule wardrobes.
Styles by name
- Alluring, sexy style
- Aristocratic, preppy style
- Bohemian style
- Countryside, cottagecore
- Classic, elegant style
- Creative, artsy style
- Dramatic style
- Ethereal style
- Exotic style
- Fairy-core style
- Fantasy style
- Girl Next Door
- Girly/Ingenue style
- Gothic style
- Historical style
- Minimalist style
- Mori girl style
- Natural style
- Rock style
- Romantic style
- Sporty style
- Tomboy, gamine style
- Vintage style
- Witchy/Strega style
style gallery
Classic style
The classic style doesn’t need too much description, we all know it well from the business world and exams – sheath dresses and skirts, suits, shirts and blouses, elegant monochromatic trousers, just like for the office or behind the bank counter.
The classic (or elegant) style includes timeless cuts and moderation, both in color and in makeup, hair and accessories. Neutral colors, fitting but not too tight clothes, sleek hairstyle – and pearls. These are all traditional hallmarks of classic style.
Alluring style
Elegance combined with light provocation and a touch of self-confidence.
Aristocratic
A flamboyant cousin of elegant style enhanced with gold, glitter, fur and attitude.
Exotic style
A style inspired by traditional garments from Asia and Africa, feminine and bold.
Dramatic style
Dramatic style has many forms, it can look a bit like classic, alluring, tomboy or rock style, but its key features are geometric shapes, large extravagant elements and jewelry and color contrasts. Nothing small, delicate or rounded belongs to it.
A woman in the dramatic style also has specific facial features, characterised by a certain sharpness and angularity. A rectangular face, a prominent nose or chin, rather narrow lips, … Cher is a prime example of a person with dramatic features.
Romantic style
There are countless styles that are characterized by a distinct femininity, yet the first style most of us think of when we hear the word “feminine” is romantic.
It is characterised by the elements that we associate with feminine dressing throughout history, namely lace, bows, ruffles and of course the prevalence of skirts and dresses, although in modern times a ruffled blouse paired with trousers can also be in a romantic style.
Romantic style comes in many forms, so it works best when combined with another style and the wearer creates her own distinctive version. Still, it will always be defined by the softness and nostalgia inherent in it.
Gothic style
A popular dark style based on gothic music, heavily inspired by punk and romanticized history.
vintage style
Inspired by the 20th century, vintage style has a firm place in the hearts of history lovers.
Girly style
A more innocent, girly equivalent of romantic style with cute elements and modest cuts.
Bohemian style
The popularity of the boho style has come and gone periodically, with its greatest fame in the hippie era and its return as boho chic in the 21st century and still finding fans today.
Originally the style of gypsies and nomads, bohemian style is characterised by bold patterns and colors, natural materials and a slightly chaotic mix of rough and soft.
It features patterned dresses and floor-length skirts, lace cardigans, bell-bottoms, fur vests and bold, almost exotic jewellery with large rough gemstones.
The style belongs especially to free-spirited souls with a love of nature and a traveling bent.
Natural style
There are many forms of natural style. From the famous “eco” blouses, to “ethno dreadlocks” and women in quite ordinary long skirts to the English countryside. But there’s something that everyone who has natural style shares – natural colors and materials, comfortable fits, mineral jewelry, warm sweaters and earthy colors. They are inspired by nature – of course – but also by the rural and the past.
Most natural people long for country life, enjoy gardening, caring for animals, but also crafts, cooking and herbalism. They tend to be into ecology, but there are also sportier individuals who are more practical and not so keen on ideals. The typical farmers.
Mori girl
Japanese Mori girl style, aka the “forest girl”, is defined by layering and inspiration from nature.
Cottagecore
Dresses, skirts, coarse sweaters and waistcoats – country style is mainly inspired by folklore.
Girl next door
The basic urban style using jeans, striped t-shirts, shirts and trench coats, sometimes also dresses.
Ethereal style
Light as a feather, ethereal, pure and slightly disturbing – an ethereal style. People in this style look as if they are always somewhere else in spirit, in another place, another time, maybe even “from another planet”. They have something mysterious, untouchable about them. They resemble angels, gods or demons (in a dark, dramatic version). They seem fragile or cold, as if carved out of marble.
Some physical characteristics are typical of people in this style – oval face, fair skin, hair and eyes, tall and slender figure.
Ethereal clothing is characterized by lightness, simplicity and transparency. It uses light colors such as white, grey, pale blue or beige.
Fantasy style
A unique style created deliberately to embody fictional characters. Inspired by history and shaped by the imagination of the authors, fantasy style is still more often found at ren faires than on the street. But that doesn’t mean it’s wise to ignore it. It’s very popular in certain circles, encountered at themed events and on social media.
As varied as the literature it is inspired by, among the wearers of the fantasy style we can find outfits inspired by noble elves, mischievous fairies, princesses and warriors.
It features dresses and skirts as well as leather trousers. Corsets and waistcoats with lacing are typical, as are pieces of armour, historical-looking belts and satchels, and fake weapons as accessories.
Historical style
From ancient times to the 20th century, historical style directly copies, combines or is inspired by different fashion eras.
Witchy style
A combination of gothic and natural or bohemian style with witch elements and symbols, with layering being common.
Fairycore
A sub-category of fantasy style inspired by fairies, characterised by asymmetry, ragged looks, layering and glitter.
Rock style
Rock’n’roll and the style of dressing we associate with it took root in society around the 1950s and has been a constant in our wardrobes ever since. It has influenced the dressing of tough youth as well as the collections of great designers. Like the metal style, it belongs to lovers of hard music and to the rebels.
We can safely recognise it by its black and red color, leather, check pattern, massive metal jewelry and chains and military boots. T-shirts with band names are also typical.
Minimalist style
Minimalism has passed its peak, yet it still has its place in fashion – but for most people in a more restrained version. By contrast, minimalist style is minimalism taken almost to the extreme. In both colors and cuts, it strips everything that is not essential down to the bare necessities.
Minimalist dressing is characterised by simple almost baggy shapes, straight lines, the absence of embellishments and the use of only a few colors, especially black, grey and white or beige.