New Year, New You? Check out this week's feature article on Defining your own Style Sense for 2007!

Defining Our Fashion Styles!
With so many designer brands and runway fashions in our faces, it can be hard to determine which styles tend to work best with your individual taste, personality or occasion. Take a few minutes to answer the following questions about your own personal fashion sense to see which Style category you tend to enjoy most.

If you take a look at my wardrobe, you’ll see mostly:
A. All of the latest designer looks and styles. You name it, I have it and more. I could use an extra closet for all of the clothes that I have.
B. A good mix of the latest styles that I found at the mall, boutiques or discount stores. I love catching a good bargain!
C. Plenty of timeless classics, such as pantsuits, skirts, and blouses.
D. Comfortable jeans and skirts, statement t-shirts and bold accessories

You are headed out with your girls on a Friday night – what are you wearing?
A. Designer embellished jeans, v-neck sweater with my new designer boots.
B. Mall brand embellished jeans, sweater with boots I caught on sale last season.
C. Basic black slacks, sweater set and polished ankle boots.
D. Boot cut denim jeans, political t-shirt, fitted blazer with a chunky bangle bracelet.

You are leaving the mall very excited about your latest purchase. What’s in your bag that you are so excited about?
A. Sexy pair of designer stilettos
B. A pair of wedge boots that you caught on sale
C. Cole Haan tweed pump shoes
D. Flared denim jeans

Which celebrity best represents your sense of style?
A. Halle Berry, fashionable and sophisticated
B. Jennifer Aniston, charming girl next door
C. Oprah, professional and in charge
D. Queen Latifah, soulful and laidback

If your wardrobe were song lyrics, it would best be described as:
A. “Fresh dressed worth a million bucks”
B. “Living my life like it’s golden”
C. “Don’t make me over”
D. “Easy like a Sunday morning”


If you chose mostly A’s, then you represent:
Diva Fashion
You live and breathe fashion. You are aware of all the latest designers and trends. You don’t just wear the new styles before they hit the stores; you create the trends that the rest of us follow. You have celebrity style, always ready for the runway or paparazzi snapshots. You’ll never get arrested by the Fashion Police – your wardrobe is stylish, sexy and sophisticated. Your closet is the envy of most women.

If you chose mostly B’s, then you represent:
Girl Next Door Fashion
Your style is often mistaken for Diva Fashion because you like to keep current on the latest styles but this diva is living on a fashion budget. You tend to head straight for the clearance racks. You aren’t afraid to mix styles and often have unique pieces that you’ve found during your shopping hunts. You follow the Diva’s sense of style but on a more practical budget. You tend not to be caught up in designer hype and you aren’t afraid of knock-offs – if it’s cute, you’re wearing it!

If you chose mostly C’s, then you represent:
Professional Fashion
You tend to lean closer to the classics – some may dare to call your wardrobe boring but you like to consider it “practical”. Sure, you’ll throw in a bit of color or shimmer here and there but for the most part, you aren’t straying far from your pinstripes and classic fit styles. You can bring home the bacon and fry it up in the pan! You enjoy simple and sensible additions to your wardrobe that will last from season to season.

If you chose mostly E’s, then you represent:
Mystic Fashion Style
If Neo-Soul music had a fashion equivalent…then your style would be it. No one will catch you spending hours at the mall shopping for the latest trends; you have a fashion style that is distinctly yours. For you, it’s all about the comfort of the clothing and you tend to add the personality with bold accessories and handbags. Your style is easy, laid back and natural, with a hint of retro thrown in.

Although we all have our individual shapes and style, the fun part about being a woman is that we can be versatile. Don't be afraid to experiment with new fashion styles. The new year is a great time to experiment with new styles, so have fun!

Shanel Evans is a freelance writer based in the Washington, DC Metro area. She owns a web based boutique www.mydivashop.com, which features stylish women’s fashions, trendy plus sizes and accessories. She also works with emerging designers, featuring their items on her website and fashion shows. For questions, comments or additional product information, contact her at info@mydivashop.com or (866) 293-5116.