78 Comments
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Sogole Kane's avatar

As a fellow schizo Gemini who's mood and vibe ebbs & flows almost every day (we are ruled by Mercury after all!), this was PURE GOLD Kelly. I absolutely love how you break down the ways we can sorta dress in any which way we want, so long as we maintain a visual (and personal) thruline. I am bookmarking this to come back to again and again this summer--and beyond!!

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Kelly Williams's avatar

It means the world that you liked this and that you GET IT. I realize that one day I look more feminine and another day I look more timeless etc, etc. But everyday I just want to look like Kelly and I feel like I can create cohesion to do that.

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Jennifer Klee's avatar

Happy Kelly Day / Midimalist Monday to all those who celebrate. Vacation packing (especially in the summer) ALWAYS has me thinking most strategically & this is such a powerful example of how beautiful it can be to be intentional. And intentional in a way that is still really fun and expansive whether you document everything, use an app or just, y'know, lean into white bottoms :-) We're visually curating our day-to-day, and I love giving it a more narrative lens. Xx

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Kelly Williams's avatar

Yes!! I thought of you with your recent post about vacation packing and the strategic colors you choose. Obviously it means everything will go together but- also- has the hidden benefit of making you look very stylish.

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Annette Silveira's avatar

I celebrate 🙋🏻‍♀️

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Kelly Williams's avatar

🥹🥰😘

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Sue Bradley's avatar

Finally someone says it! 3 words don't work for me either. I don't fit into a mold everyday. I love to play and experiment with colors, shapes & styles according to my moods and theirs plenty of those. Color mixing ideas out there have given me a new found freedom too. Love the collar on you. ❤️

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Kelly Williams's avatar

Oh whew, so glad someone is in this with me!! I love that you are an experimenter and I’m right there next to you 👯

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OFELIA's avatar

You and Natalia are my love languages !!! I love both of y'all's writing so so much. I'm not a gemini (but as an honorary gemini - my niece is one and I want to be like her when I grow up), I also feel very seen by not feeling like I fall 100% of the time into 3 words. A few remain the same, but there is often one that gets switched up. I've found myself "remixing" since I read Natalia's newsletter and it's been so much fun. I'm going to try to expand on that with your "cohesion dressing" tips. Now I have more to think about as I continue to experiment with getting dressed!

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Kelly Williams's avatar

To be in the same bucket as Natalia is a dream because she is so stylish and brilliant. I’m glad you relate to the lack of 3 words and maybe we can normalize needing lots of words to capture our style!

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Louise's avatar

I think you put into words the way I dress! I am all about the silhouette and the colour, so my outfits tend to follow colour patterns across the seasons, even though there are disctinct differences in shapes season to season.

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Kelly Williams's avatar

Louise, I am so excited that this hit something for you! I love the idea of shifting seasons but stay cohesive through shape!!

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Yuliya's avatar

So relatable :)? This Gemini styling approach is just 100% me: "I can’t pick just 3-words unless I get to pick 3 new words every day! Or, at least, every few months."

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Kelly Williams's avatar

I am so glad we are in that together!! Today my words are quite different than yesterday 😜

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On Shopping My Closet's avatar

What a refreshing reminder that style is dynamic, not static and that we don’t need to have it all figured out to be “doing it right.” The idea that outfit repeating can build personal style rather than limit it is something that I could have easily written myself here on Substack ;) There’s something powerful about leaning into the pieces we already love and letting them do the work over time.

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Kelly Williams's avatar

Dynamic not static!! Love that wisdom.

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Maria Hyde's avatar

I loved Natalia's post and now yours, too!! I always admire your ability to connect your ideas with the best references and this was no exception. Loved your encouraging sign-off at the end, too - you always bring so much positivity to this fashion space (that's why we love you!) Also, the Kallmeyer shirt is SO good on you!

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Kelly Williams's avatar

Thank you for the continual encouragement. It means so much coming from you since I genuinely admire your style consistency so much.

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Stephanie Johnson's avatar

"Before I sign off, when Anika Kruger and I spoke on video we discussed this shared desire we have for distinct style and Anika beautifully reminded me that we all have personal style and we are usually just too close to see it." THIS. Love this reframing from someone who also often feels limited by the three word method or other styling tools!

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Kelly Williams's avatar

I'm so glad you liked it, it means a lot. And I'm glad you liked the loving reminder that we got this girl 💪

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Devon Rule's avatar

Oh, I am so on board with this. I totally agree that 'three words' has its limitations. It can at once be too defining ("how can three words capture all of my moods?!") but also too open-ended. Those same three words could map onto a million theoretical outfits.

And at the end of the day… there are only so many days in the week. I can only wear so many things. So what am I actually choosing, day after day, to create cohesion? That feels to me like a more useful and practical question.

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Kelly Williams's avatar

YES! My closest friends will tell you that I'm nothing if not extremely practical. And you are so right that asking "where is there cohesion from yesterday (or last month or whatever)" is the best right question *for me.* Though, still very much after landing on 3 words that feel like they can do that work 🙃

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Julia Norberg's avatar

Such a good one, and love all the inspo pics you found for this. I have no idea what my cohesion would be but I'm definitely going to try and notice it more!

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Kelly Williams's avatar

If I learned anything in writing and thinking about this, it’s that we are all much too close to our own style to even notice it!

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Traci Landy's avatar

Yes!!!!!! I love how cohesion dressing gives you the freedom to play while still feeling like you.

The subtle pieces/style/colors that tie it all together are where the magic happens.

Personal style isn’t about staying the same, it’s about staying connected to yourself while you grow & experiment!!

Loved this one, Kelly!!!

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Kelly Williams's avatar

I’m glad you said “personal style isn’t about staying the same.” That’s a message I’m still accepting for myself and I needed to hear that! I’m so glad you liked this.

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Traci Landy's avatar

This post as a wealth of knowledge and allowed for some introspective reflection as always. You rock!!!!

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Asta / Aastha's avatar

Phenomenal post! So good, Kelly. So many practical ideas. So many different paths to get to the same outcome. Obsessed.

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Kelly Williams's avatar

Thank you!! It means so much coming from you 😘

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Jordyn Sharfe's avatar

it’s all just too good. The juju necklace is soooooooooooooo you. Love everything about this piece I can’t even pinpoint one comment to make. Thanks for making us all better!!

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Kelly Williams's avatar

I appreciate you so much. My sister in- Juju Vera collar- arms. I love knowing we are connected over space and time with the necklace.

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Natalia Quintero Ochoa's avatar

Cohesion dressing is the dream, the standard, and the goal for me — thank you for naming it. I love how it somehow shifts the focus from the present moment and adds a sense of time — connecting past choices to today’s looks, and shaping the ones we’ll make in the future.

Also, I wish we'd focus on three words that describe the way we want to feel in our clothes throughout the day, in addition to a few words to describe the actual clothes. Comfortable, confident, and cool (as in, not sweating all of my body's water content) would probably be mine today!!!

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Kelly Williams's avatar

Natalia; thank you for being the muse of my post and forever inspiring me. I love the notes you had both about the connection between past/present/future style choices. But also about how clothes make us feel! Yes!! I often want to feel “cool” in the undefinable way. I know when I put an outfit on that makes me feel that way but it’s almost indescribable.

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Grace's avatar

Beautiful signature necklace! I feel so proud of myself when I look at my Victorian diamond seed pearl ring 🥰 It’s silly that we feel pressure to reinvent the wheel when we could embrace cohesion.

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Kelly Williams's avatar

TOTALLY!! I am turning over a new leaf and embracing this now.

PS- I wish I could see your ring; it sounds beautiful.

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Grace's avatar
Kelly Williams's avatar

Omg fun!! Thanks for a site to explore too.

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