As a personal stylist, you’re great at helping clients find their unique personal style and express themselves through fashion. But when it comes to defining your personal brand, you might feel overwhelmed! If so, I’ve got good news for ya: discovering your personal style and defining your personal brand are actually REALLY similar!

In this blog post, I’m going to walk you through how you can adapt New York-based stylist Allison Bornstein’s famous Three Word Method for discovering your personal style, and use it to help you define your brand words. 

Once you’ve nailed down these three words, you’ll have more clarity and confidence around your personal brand. 

But before we get too deep let’s touch on…

The Rise of the Three-Word Method

I’m sure you’ve noticed how the Three-Word Method has become incredibly popular in the personal styling industry in the last few years, and it’s no surprise why! 

Allison Bornstein’s approach has really made waves on social media because it resonates with so many people by providing a straightforward yet powerful framework that helps people clarify their personal style.

Why Three Words?

If you’ve read Bornstein’s book, Wear It Well, she really gets into the power of specifically narrowing down your personal style into three words in order to achieve balance. 

Having three distinct words is all about having enough flexibility while keeping things clear. She explains how using just one word can box you in too much, making things too simple. 

On the flip side, using more than three words can get a bit confusing and make it harder to define your style and get your message across. Three words strike that perfect balance, giving you a solid yet manageable way to define your personal style.

This is exactly how I feel when it comes to your personal brand, which is why I’m so excited to walk you through how we can use her framework to gain more clarity in your personal brand. 

But first, you might be wondering…

What Are Brand Words and Why Do They Matter?

Brand words are very similar to words you would use to describe your personal style. They are key descriptors that basically capture the essence of your personal brand. Just like when you help a client identify their three style words, your brand words should be authentic, specific, and aligned with your values and vision. They will serve as your North Star, guiding your brand messaging, how you interact with clients, and how you show up online. 

Now that you have a better idea of the similarities between personal style and personal branding and the importance of using words to help refine your brand, let’s dive into how you can adapt Bornstein’s famous Three-Word Method more specifically. 

Adapting the Three-Word Method to Refine Your Personal Brand

Let’s break down how to find your three brand words using Allison Bornstein’s method, with a twist for personal branding.

Step 1: Define Your Core Values 

The first step into gaining clarity in your brand as a personal stylist is to ask yourself some powerful questions. I want you to think about WHY you became a personal stylist. 

You need to get clear on what you value and why because that will naturally impact your styling philosophy, how you present yourself, and what your clients can expect from you. 

Your values help build that connection between you and your clients by giving them an opportunity to connect with you. 

Important questions: 

• What drives you? 
• What are your core values? 
• What is your purpose? 
• What matters most to you and your business?
• Who do you want to impact?
• What is your styling philosophy?

Write down any and all words that come to mind. Don’t overthink it—this is a brainstorm!

If you need some help, here are some common descriptor words that you can use to help get you thinking…

Common Descriptor Words for Core Values:

• Authentic
• Ethical
• Passionate
• Reliable
• Sustainable
• Empowering
• Creative
• Trustworthy
• Caring

Step 2: Define Your Brand Personality

Now, let’s explore the personality traits that define your brand. As a personal stylist, you are essentially the face of your brand. People want to connect with YOU personally—know your quirks, and understand your approach. 

I want to point out that you don’t have to show all parts of yourself if you don’t feel comfortable. But it is important to figure out what parts of you that you want to make sure you’re highlighting in your personal brand.  

I see a lot of people get really fearful of this part of the process because they are afraid that they might scare people away if they share more of their personality and to that I say—good! 

You aren’t for everyone, and that’s totally okay! In fact, the mark of a great brand is one that is a bit polarizing. You want to make sure that you’re attracting people that are for you. 

Important questions: 

• What’s your vibe?
• What quirks or unique traits can you show off to make your brand more personal?
• Which parts of your personality do I want clients to see?
• What values do you want clients to connect with in your brand?

Common Descriptor Words for Personality:

• Bold
• Playful
• Sophisticated
• Approachable
• Quirky
• Elegant
• Edgy
• Optimistic
• Friendly
• Professional

If you’re having trouble figuring out your brand personality, you might start by asking friends and family what kind of vibe you give off. 

For example, do people often tell you that you have a very calming presence? Or maybe they say that you are super easy to talk to, making you approachable and friendly. You can even look at what past clients have said about you to help gain more clarity. 

Step 3: Define Your Visual Style

Let’s dive into the fun part! As a personal stylist, you thrive on creating visually stunning outfits for yourself and your clients, whether in person or through style lookbooks. 

I want you to think about what you naturally gravitate towards. Start by reflecting on your own personal style. What are the three words you would use to describe your personal style? You might find some similarities between those and your visual descriptor words when it comes to your overall visual aesthetic. 

Important questions: 

• What’s your style uniform?
• How do you decorate your home? 
• What colors do you naturally gravitate towards when selecting outfits for yourself?

All of these components will help you determine the visual elements that will define your personal brand’s visual identity. This includes your color palette, typography, and overall design. 

Common Descriptor Words for Visual Style:

• Modern
• Minimalist
• Vintage
• Luxurious
• Eclectic
• Clean
• Rustic
• Futuristic
• Whimsical
• Bohemian

Step 4: Define Your Emotional Connection

How do you want clients to feel when they engage with your brand? This word should capture the emotional impact of your work. 

This is super important for making that emotional connection between you and your clients. We are emotional beings and because you are in an industry that is so personal, it is important that you don’t skip this step! 

You want to make sure that your personal brand and visual identity are evoking emotions that have an impact on how you interact with your clients and also on how others perceive your brand. It is also important to consider the visual representation that an emotional connection can look like when represented in your visual identity via different colors, textures, styles, etc. 

Important questions: 

• How do you want your clients to feel when they work with you?

Common Emotional Descriptor Words:

• Inspired 
• Empowered
• Elegant
• Relaxed
• Confident

Step 5: Narrow It Down

Okay, now that you’ve done some deep brain-dumping, I want you to start narrowing down your words. Try selecting one from each category that is most aligned. Try to aim for words that are specific and intentional. Test out combinations to see what feels right! You ultimately want a combination of three to five words that feel cohesive and representative of you.  

For example, my personal brand words are…

• Authentic (core value)
• Approachable (personality)
• Quirky (personality)
• Vintage (visual style)
• Confident (emotional)

Why Your Brand Words Are a Game-Changer

Getting clear on your brand words is like finding the perfect outfit—it just feels right. Here’s why they’re so important:

• Consistency: Your brand words make sure your messaging is always consistent, from Instagram to your website, etc. 
• Clarity: They help you stay focused on what makes you unique, making it easier to communicate your value to potential clients.
• Confidence: Knowing your brand inside out gives you the confidence to market yourself in an authentic way.

How I Can Help You Define Your Personal Brand Words

As part of my signature branding experience, we dive deep into your values, mission, and vision, basically taking you through a very similar framework to help you transform your personal styling business into an authentic personal brand!

Ready to Define Your Brand Words?

Feeling inspired to find your brand words and elevate your styling business? Let’s make it happen! You can view my services page here for all the details or apply to work together through my contact form.

If you loved this blog post then you’ll love my FREE private podcast, where I take you through these exact steps for finding your brand words and have included a notion workbook that goes along with each episode so you can jot down your thoughts and ah-ha moments.