What’s a “T-SHIRT WORD?” (And How It Can Help You Define Your Authentic Style)

One Word That Defines You

Ten years ago, during my Fashion Feng Shui training, one of the very first assignments I was given was to identify my T-Shirt Word.

One word.

A single word that describes who I am at my core. A word that captures a defining characteristic of my character. A word that reflects a piece of my essence.

At the time, I remember thinking… what does this have to do with personal style?

Dressing the Inside, Not Just the Outside

Most women dress their outside.

This concept is about dressing “your inside” — your inner beauty.

I’ve always believed that style begins with the woman, not the clothes. But I didn’t yet have language for how to intentionally connect inner essence to outer expression.

That’s where the T-Shirt Word changed everything.

It became a simple yet powerful way to define how my essence correlates to my personal style — and how I show up authentically in every area of my life.

Let’s Try It

If I handed you a blank white T-shirt and told you that you could print just one word across the front… what would it be?

My Word: Excellence

In 2016, my word was Excellence.

That word began to explain so much.

It clarified why I’m drawn to certain clothing styles and completely uninterested in others. Why fit matters deeply to me. Why quality has always been more important than quantity.

Excellence shows up in the way my clothes fit. It shows up in the fabrics I choose.

And honestly? It shows up in how I do life.

It influences how I run my business. How I prepare to teach. Even how I host friends and family.

More Than Personal Style

Your T-Shirt Word won’t just define your style — it will reveal how you naturally operate in the world.

It’s not about trends.
It’s not about copying someone else’s look.

It’s about aligning your outer expression with who you already are.