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When it comes to building a wardrobe you love, clarity is key. On this episode of Seamwork Radio, Sarai and Haley explore Allison Bornstein's popular "Three-Word Method" for defining personal style, and how this approach can transform your sewing practice into a more intentional and fulfilling creative process.
What Is the Three-Word Method?
Allison Bornstein's Three-Word Method has gained popularity on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram for good reason. This simple yet powerful framework helps you define your personal style by selecting three specific adjectives:
- One practical word that reflects your lifestyle and daily needs
- One aspirational word that represents how you want to be perceived
- One emotional word that captures how you want to feel in your clothes
What makes this method particularly valuable for sewists is that we aren't just choosing clothes—we're creating them from scratch. This means we can apply this intentionality at every step of the process, from pattern selection to fabric choices and design details.
Understanding the Three Categories
The Practical Word
Your practical word should reflect your actual lifestyle and what you need from your clothes on a daily basis.
Sarai chose "workwear" as her practical word because she's drawn to hardworking, utilitarian pieces that can stand up to her active lifestyle. Haley selected "effortless," as she needs clothing that doesn't feel like a burden and allows her to feel free and unrestricted.
When choosing your practical word, consider what you actually do in your clothes. Are you chasing kids? Working in an office? Teaching? Your practical word should reflect this reality and help prevent you from making beautiful garments that don't actually fit into your life.
The Aspirational Word
Your aspirational word represents how you want to be perceived—the impression you want to make. This word might feel slightly out of reach but should still feel authentic to you.
Haley chose "playful" for her aspirational word. She tries not to take things too seriously, including her style. She enjoys incorporating fun elements like a green collar, printed pants, or oversized fits to keep her clothing from feeling too stuffy.
Sarai selected "timeless" as her aspirational word, drawing her toward classic designs that won't quickly go out of style and steering her away from ultra-trendy silhouettes.
When selecting patterns, ask yourself: "Does this design align with how I want to present myself?"
The Emotional Word
Your emotional word is all about how you want to feel in your clothes. This aspect is crucial because ultimately, we want to feel good in what we wear.
Sarai chose "moody" because she's drawn to rich, dramatic elements that have depth and intrigue. She explains that this doesn't mean walking around in a bad mood, but rather having clothes with character that evoke feelings of mystery, romance, and even a little magic in daily life.
Haley selected "warmth" as her emotional word. She wants her style to embody the comfort of "a hug, a fresh cup of coffee, a picnic in the sun, a freshly made bed." This word guides her toward fabrics and designs that create a sense of comfort and coziness.
Applying the Three-Word Method to Your Sewing Practice
Use It as a Seasonal Theme
One of the beautiful aspects of this method is its flexibility—it doesn't have to be permanent. Try using your three words as a theme for just one season of sewing, similar to Seamwork's Design Your Wardrobe program.
Think of it as a style experiment where you can see what works and adjust as needed. For example, if "relaxed" is one of your words, your summer collection might focus on flowy linen garments with easy silhouettes.
Create a Visual Reference
Once you have your three words, create a mood board that visually represents them. Include fabric swatches, pattern ideas, color palettes, and inspiration images that align with your chosen words.
Sarai notes that for her words—workwear, timeless, and moody—she envisions sturdy fabrics like denim and canvas, classic silhouettes, and deeper, richer colors.
This visual reference becomes invaluable when shopping for fabric or patterns, allowing you to quickly assess whether a potential purchase fits your defined style.
Apply It to Your Fabric Stash
The Three-Word Method can be a game-changer for organizing and decluttering your fabric stash. Look at each piece and ask if it aligns with at least one of your three words.
While this doesn't mean you have to discard everything that doesn't match—fabrics with sentimental value or special project plans can stay—it can help you make more mindful decisions about future fabric purchases.
Refine Your Pattern Selection
When browsing patterns, run them through your three-word filter to create more cohesion in your handmade wardrobe.
For example, with Sarai's "workwear" word, she's drawn to patterns with functional pockets, sturdy construction, and practical details. Her "timeless" word steers her toward classic designs, while her "moody" word might influence her to choose patterns with interesting drape or unique structural elements.
Be Open to Evolution
Your three words aren't set in stone—they can and should evolve as you do. As your lifestyle changes or your personal preferences shift, your style words may need adjusting too.
Check in with your words every season or every year to see if they still resonate, and don't be afraid to swap out a word if it no longer feels right. Style is a journey, not a destination—it's supposed to grow with you.
Conclusion
Allison Bornstein's Three-Word Method offers a powerful framework for defining your personal style and making more intentional sewing choices. By identifying your practical, aspirational, and emotional style words, you create a filter that can guide everything from fabric shopping to pattern selection.
Sarai's words—workwear, timeless, and moody—and Haley's words—effortless, playful, and warm—demonstrate how unique and personal this approach can be. The beauty of this method lies in its simplicity and flexibility, allowing your style to evolve naturally over time while maintaining a cohesive vision.
Whether you're looking to declutter your fabric stash, plan your next sewing project, or simply bring more intention to your creative practice, the Three-Word Method provides an accessible and effective way to align your sewing with your authentic personal style.
Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Allison Bornstein's book Wear It Well
- Seamwork's Design Your Wardrobe program
