Podcast Summary: "Do You Speak Style? Better Words, Better Wardrobe"

The Everyday Style School with Jennifer Mackey Mary
Date: October 7, 2025

Overview

This episode of The Everyday Style School, hosted by Jennifer Mackey Mary, focuses on the importance of building a strong style vocabulary to make shopping, dressing, and communicating about clothes easier and more successful. Jennifer shares practical tips for becoming "fluent" in the language of fashion, empowering listeners to identify, search for, and confidently talk about the styles that work best for their unique lives, bodies, and budgets.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Importance of a Style Vocabulary

• Personal Story: Jennifer recounts an experience in Nordstrom where a lack of shared terminology made finding a specific blouse nearly impossible. She realized that knowing “the language of clothing” is essential not just for professionals, but for anyone who wants to dress with confidence and ease.

  • Quote: "Becoming fluent in the language of clothing is one of the best things you can do to make style easier. But it’s something that most women have probably never thought about." (04:29)

• Top Three Reasons Vocabulary Matters (07:16):

  • Easier Shopping: Misunderstanding words (e.g., not knowing "Merino" is a type of wool) can lead to wasted resources and frustration.
  • Better Communication with Professionals: Knowing proper terms helps when working with tailors, stylists, or salespeople.
    • Quote: "If I had been able to say, ‘Can you make this swing dress a little more a-line?’... instead, my dress was ruined." (10:31)
  • Greater Confidence: Fluency in style language helps you feel like a "style local," able to navigate trends and wardrobe choices with assurance.

2. Eight Essential Categories of Style Terms (17:30)

Rather than giving an overwhelming list, Jennifer breaks the vocabulary into digestible categories:

• 1. Clothing Silhouettes:

  • Skirts/Dresses: e.g., a-line, pencil, wrap
  • Bottoms: e.g., wide leg, palazzo, jogger
  • Tops: e.g., tunic, blouse, shell
  • Layering Pieces: e.g., trench, duster, boyfriend

• 2. Necklines:

  • e.g., crew, scoop, turtleneck, cowl, split V-neck
  • Note: Necklines impact the appearance of the face, neck, shoulders, bust, and torso.

• 3. Fit Terms:

  • bodycon, tailored, relaxed, oversized

• 4. Sleeve Types:

  • Construction: raglan, dolman, drop shoulder
  • Shape: puff, bishop, bell, flutter

• 5. Fabrics & Finishes:

  • Fabric Content: wool, polyester, ponte, chiffon, linen
  • Construction: knit vs. woven ("Knits cling and wovens glide")
  • Finishes: stone wash, brushed, coated, enzyme wash

• 6. Prints & Patterns:

  • polka dots, stripes, foulard, liberty florals, ditzy florals, houndstooth, tartan
  • Anecdote: Miscommunication about patterns can lead to style "misses."
    • "I thought you hated plaid." "Oh, this isn’t plaid." (36:15)

• 7. Accessory Types & Silhouettes:

  • Bags: satchel, hobo, clutch, bucket, crossbody
  • Shoes: loafer, sneaker, heel types, toe shapes
  • Jewelry: drop earrings, cuff bracelet

• 8. Design Details:

  • gathering, ruching, pleating, smocking, draping, darts, godet, applique, laser cut

3. Roadblocks to Expanding Your Style Vocabulary (40:40)

• Meaninglessness in Retail/Influencer Lingo:
  • Brands use terminology inconsistently. E.g., "moccasin" vs. "loafer" (41:54)
• Lack of Standard Definitions:
  • Terms like “cropped” or “capri” vary by brand.
• Practical Knowledge Over Mere Vocabulary:
  • Just knowing the words isn’t enough. You must know what works for you and how to use terms to get what you want.
    • Quote: "Knowing the words without being able to use them in a practical way… is just useless knowledge." (45:00)

4. Practical Steps to Build Style Fluency (48:26)

• Start With What You Know:

  • Try to describe your daily outfits using the discussed categories.
  • Self-Test: Can you name the silhouette, fit, fabric, pattern, etc. of what you’re wearing?

• Expand as You Shop:

  • When shopping online, read item titles and descriptions; look up unfamiliar terms.
  • Compare new terms with similar familiar ones for deeper understanding.
    • Tip Example: “Google the difference between palazzo pants and wide leg pants…Now you know how to use the word to get what you want.” (51:12)

• In-Store Learning:

  • Touch fabrics and read labels to connect words and sensations.
  • Challenge yourself to identify multiple necklines or dress silhouettes in a store.

• Make it a Habit, Not a Chore:

  • Build vocabulary as a byproduct of everyday activities, not as an extra to-do.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the value of knowing the right words:

  • "When you have the words to search for what you’re looking for, getting the wardrobe you want gets a whole lot easier and a whole lot faster." (12:20)

• On the myth of a universal vocabulary guide:

  • "For years I have had women ask me to put together a guide of style words, but that guide already exists and it's called the dictionary... In the time it would take you to look up a word in the Everyday Style Vocabulary Guide, you can just Google it." (16:49)

• Using knowledge to avoid frustration:

  • "Let go of the idea that these words have rigid definitions… Rather than getting frustrated, look at it as an opportunity to expand your search words." (55:42)

• The real benefit of style vocabulary:

  • "The magic of style vocabulary happens when you know what looks best on you so you know how to create it. Just knowing the words isn’t all that helpful." (56:03)

Actionable Homework (57:28)

Jennifer assigns listeners the following:

• Incorporate a vocabulary-building exercise:

  • Describe your daily wear using at least four style categories.
  • Find and look up at least one new term when shopping online.
  • Identify different silhouettes or fabrics in-store, reading the labels.

• Goal: Add one or two new words to your style vocabulary in the next two weeks.

Episode Flow: Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:00 – Introduction and mall shopping anecdote
• 04:29 – Why speaking “style” matters
• 07:16 – Three main reasons for building style vocabulary
• 17:30 – Eight essential style vocabulary categories
• 40:40 – Roadblocks to expanding vocabulary (brands’ inconsistent use, lack of standards)
• 48:26 – How to start building your style vocabulary
• 57:28 – Episode recap, homework, and encouragement

Tone and Approach

Jennifer’s warm, practical, and slightly humorous tone makes the episode feel like a friendly, empowering style class for real women—focused on concrete, actionable advice without judgment.

Memorable Sign-Off:

You will have more confidence and be one step closer to making style easy. (58:18)

Takeaway

Cultivating a style vocabulary is a game-changer, making it easier to shop, communicate needs, and curate a wardrobe you love. With a little attention to the words in your fashion life, style can truly become easier, less stressful, and more fun.