We’re now going to explore your style values. These are connected to but not the same as your style pillars (the first part of this Module’s exploration).
Your style values are the principles you believe are important and significant. When used to determine your style priorities, they can be a gauge to tell you if your style is moving in the right direction for you (note there is no universal “right” style direction, just one that is right – or better – for you).
When your style choices match your style values, your style is usually on track and you are satisfied, energized, at peace, and feel a sense of joy in your style. But when your style decisions and values are out of alignment, this is when you can feel your style is simply… wrong. Something feels out of balance, off-kilter, and you feel out of step, perhaps in an undefinable yet undeniable way.
This is when you can feel a deep sense of dissatisfaction with your style, and yourself in general. There is too much space and discord between your core and your surface, your inner and your outer. It can also be a source of anxiety, stress and unhappiness.
Being the self that we truly and innately are is the antidote to feeling like an imposter all our lives. This is why making a concerted and conscious effort to identify and get in touch with your style values is so worthwhile and impactful.
We have defined 12 universal style values. These universal style values are based on original work by Eduard Spranger who in 1914 defined 6 life values which we have expanded into 12 universal style values. We have found them to be useful and enlightening as a process to understand the place style occupies in your life.
Very often when conflict arises around the topic of style and image (for example: is it too expensive and not worth it? Who cares about what I look like? Should I dress a certain way or not? Should I cover up? Should I call the hostess and find out what the dress code is? Is it important to express my uniqueness through my image and not be the same as others? etc.) there is a conflict between external messages and internal values at play in your life.
Understanding your style values – what matters to you – and how you can express this within your style will assist you in further developing your style and taking another significant step along your style journey.
Any of the 12 universal style values can be significant to any of the 16 Style Types. The universal style values that are most significant to you will be determined by a number of factors including:
- Your Style Type and what your style pillars are. Your Style Type describes your style and personality essence so there is likely to be a correlation between your Type and the things you value.
- Your upbringing, education, background, attitudes and worldview, culture and many other factors (as identified in Issues of Identity in Module 1).
Even though we believe a correlation exists between some of the 12 universal style values and the 16 Style Types we would never assume to tell you what your universal style values are based on your Style Type.
So we’re going to invite you to explore what you most value from the 12 universal style values through a series of exercises.
And we’ll finish up by exploring the connections between your Style Type pillars and your style values, defining a statement of your style foundation.
The Universal Style Values
We have defined 12 universal style values. These universal style values are based on original work by Eduard Spranger who in 1914 defined 6 life values which we have expanded into 12 universal style values. We have found them to be useful and enlightening as a process to understand the place style occupies in your life.
Very often when conflict arises around the topic of style and image (for example: is it too expensive and not worth it? Who cares about what I look like? Should I dress a certain way or not? Should I cover up? Should I call the hostess and find out what the dress code is? Is it important to express my uniqueness through my image and not be the same as others? etc.) there is a conflict between external messages and internal values at play in your life.
Understanding your style values – what matters most to you – and how you can express this within your style will assist you in further developing your style and taking another significant step along your style journey.
Any of the 12 universal style values can be significant to any of the 16 Style Types. The universal style values that are most significant to you will be determined by a number of factors including:
- Your Style Type and what your style pillars are. Your Style Type describes your style and personality essence so there is likely to be a correlation between your Type and the things you value.
- Your upbringing, education, background, attitudes and worldview, culture and many other factors (as identified in Issues of Identity in Module 1).
Even though we believe a correlation exists between some of the 12 universal style values and the 16 Style Types we would never presume to tell you what your universal style values are based on your Style Type.
So we’re going to invite you to explore what you most value from the 12 universal style values through a series of exercises.
And we’ll finish up by exploring the connections between your Style Type pillars and your style values, defining a statement of your style foundation.
You may find this Paired Comparison Analysis tool really useful as you go through the quiz. Many members have found it really helps them clarify their thoughts and get their values in the right order for them.
Check out the tool here before you do the quiz.
Now it’s time for you to take the style values quiz, so mark this page complete and move onto the quiz in the next section of this module.
