Unlocking Your Personal Style with Ellie-Jean Roydon’s Style Roots System

Unlocking Your Personal Style with Ellie-Jean Roydon’s Style Roots System

Imagine you’re standing in front of your closet. You close your eyes, grab any top and bottom, and then get dressed. What are the chances you’re wearing a cute and cohesive outfit? 

A year ago, I couldn’t imagine this exercise going very well in my wardrobe. I wanted to make my wardrobe more cohesive, and Ellie-Jean Roydon’s Style Roots system was a fun and accessible way to do just that.

Whether you’re someone who likes a framework to follow or you just enjoy experimenting with new looks, the Style Roots system can help make your wardrobe more useable and authentic to you.

What Is the Style Roots System?

Ellie-Jean Roydon’s Style Roots system pulls eight major sources of style inspiration from nature to help you identify which facets of fashion feel most like you. The philosophy behind the system is that you don’t need to have totally separate wardrobes for different parts of your life; the bulk of your wardrobe should be clothes that say more about you than about what you’re doing that day. You start by identifying your core personality traits and aesthetic preferences and connect them to three nature-inspired “roots” to guide your style choices.

There are eight style roots to choose from: Earth, Fire, Flower, Moon, Mountain, Mushroom, Stone, and Sun. Each root reflects different aesthetic preferences. There’s a lot to it, but in brief:

  • Earth is relaxed and natural
  • Fire is luxurious and sensual
  • Flower is delicate and feminine
  • Moon is ethereal and dark
  • Mountain is strong and formal
  • Mushroom is minimal and neutral
  • Stone is sporty and urban
  • Sun is bold and playful

(Do a few of these already stick out to you? When I first perused the list, I knew I’d probably have Flower and Mushroom in my blend, but I wasn’t sure what the third root would be.)

Once you decide on your three roots, there you have it! One of 56 style types that reflects your personal style, blending the three roots to curate a wardrobe that truly feels authentic to you—not just for a season, but across many years. But if it’s not immediately obvious, how do you determine what your roots are?

Finding My Roots

There’s a quick method and a more in-depth method for determining your style roots, and I did both (plus the unofficial bonus method).

Quick Method: Quiz

The quiz is in a simple this-or-that format (eg, light or dark? Delicate or strong?). You’re thinking about who you are, how you’d describe your style, and how you’d like to be perceived. Tally up your results to see the options for your top three style roots—there may be more than three options! My top options were mushroom, mountain, flower, earth, and sun.

More-Involved Method: Style Streams Exercise

The style streams exercise has two steps.

Step 1: Brainstorm 

I got a pen and paper and started thinking. What are some of the traits that I consider fundamental to my personality? How do I want to come across at home, in social situations, professionally? How would I describe my clothing?

Here’s a peek at part of my list:

  • feminine
  • academic
  • soft
  • British countryside-inspired 
  • relaxed
  • confident
  • nautical
  • approachable

I’ve been exploring how to describe my style for years, so most of my list came easily. But when I got to 20 (Ellie-Jean recommends 30), I got stuck. I went to my Pinterest fashion board and described what I saw: retro, floral, cozy, gingham, flowy, natural.

Step 2: Group and Match 

Next, Ellie-Jean has you organize your words into groups of similar entries. “Confident” and “put together” went in one group, and “nautical” and “cheerful” went in another. (That last one may not seem logical to you, but they’re connected in my mind, and that’s the point—it’s personal!). You then connect your groups with the root that has the most similar words. For example, “confident” and “put together” matched with Mountain, and “nautical” and “cheerful” matched with Sun. Then you tally up your results.

I got similar results in the quiz and the exercise, but I was glad I did the exercise too because it gave me the chance to consider my style more deliberately. At this point, I tentatively chose three roots and moved onto the third method.

Bonus Method: Confirm with the Pinterest Boards

Now for my favorite part: Ellie-Jean’s fabulous Pinterest boards! There are 56 possible style roots combinations, and each one has its own Pinterest board section filled with inspiration pictures. You could probably start on Pinterest to find your type! But the style streams exercise is a really useful way to understand yourself and your style better. 

I’ll admit I’m still torn between two combinations: flower, earth, mushroom or flower, earth, stone. But it’s fun to experiment with both combinations, so I’m okay with that! With the knowledge that my outfits need a feminine element, an earthy element, and a minimal or casual element, I feel so much more equipped to build outfits that I know I’m going to look and feel good in.

Why Follow a Style System? 

The idea of following a style system doesn’t resonate with everyone. For many women, fashion is about spontaneity, creativity, and wearing whatever feels good in the moment, and rules can feel restrictive. 

But for those of us who feel like fashion doesn’t always come naturally, these systems can provide clarity, helping us build a wardrobe that feels both cohesive and true to who we are. Style systems aren’t meant to stifle creative freedom—they’re just another tool for those who find fashion a little intimidating or who enjoy having a framework to guide their choices.

Whether you like having a system or prefer a more freeform approach, the goal is the same: to express yourself authentically through style. So embrace what works for you and leave the rest on the table. With Ellie-Jean’s style roots system, you can definitely find a balance between guidance and freedom.

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How Mae Threads Can Help You Express Your Style Roots

A great way to figure out your style roots is to experiment with building outfits.  Lay out your clothes on your bed or download an app like Stylebook or Whering. Maybe you have lots of lace and satin to cover your fire and flower roots, but you are needing some more mountain in your outfits. In that case, you may want to try adding some crisp button downs, formal trousers, and structured jackets. If you find your wardrobe has any gaps, head over to Mae Threads to see if we can’t help you fill it in! Here are some ideas for each style root:

Earth: The Caralenia Button-Down Dress, The Raffin Woven Set, The Cailey Wide Leg Pant

Fire: The Attie Dolman Sleeve Sweater Dress, The Desmond Lounge Jumper, The Glitzy Sequin Party Dress

Flower: The Kettle Organza Dress, The Devin Swiss Dot Top, The Lyndie Flower Detail Sweater

Moon: The Madonna Sequin Fringe Dress, The Harper Top, Skeleton Crew Sweatshirt

Mountain: The Winters Eve Turtleneck, The Melanie Ivory Dress, The Iris Trim Detail Midi Dress

Mushroom: The Petersburg Set, The Keegan Ribbed Set, The Chicago Striped Top

Stone: The Marley Denim Double Pocket Top, The Rae Buttery Active Skort, The Aaron Cargo Skirt

Sun: The Winifred Striped Midi Dress, The Valencia Floral Jumpsuit, The Britney Flutter Sleeve Bodysuit

Want to Dive Deeper?

Explore more about Ellie-Jean Roydon’s Style Roots system by visiting her website for resources like quizzes, guides, and more detailed information on each root.

With a few closet edits and inspiration from you three style roots, creating outfits can be as easy as grab and go. Mae Threads can help you curate a wardrobe that matches your style roots, no matter which ones you identify with. Explore our collection on our website or check out our aesthetic collections on our Pinterest profile.

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