Style
Style is a distinctive manner or characteristic way in which something is expressed, performed, or presented, encompassing the particular features of form, content, and execution that define an individual, group, period, or culture across various domains including the arts, fashion, literature, and personal behavior.[1] In its broadest sense, style serves as a recognizable pattern of aesthetic or expressive choices that conveys identity, cultural values, or artistic intent, influencing how ideas, objects, or actions are perceived and interpreted.[2][3] In the visual arts and design, style refers to the shared principles of form, appearance, and technique that characterize works from a specific culture, era, movement, or artist, often reflecting influences such as materials, processes, or societal beliefs.[4] Examples include period styles like Gothic art, which emphasized spiritual abstraction and verticality in architecture and sculpture, or formal movements such as Impressionism, which prioritized light, color, and loose brushwork to capture fleeting moments.[4] These styles not only evolve through historical and regional contexts but also allow for individual variations, as seen in artists like Vincent van Gogh, whose turbulent, emotive brushstrokes defined his personal expressionist approach.[4] In fashion and personal adornment, style denotes a durable and recognizable combination of clothing, accessories, and grooming choices that express individuality or align with cultural trends, distinguishing it from transient fashion by its timeless or personal coherence.[2][5] It often integrates elements like lines, shapes, fabrics, and patterns to create a cohesive aesthetic, as in classic styles that blend functionality with elegance or subcultural styles that signal group affiliation through motifs and silhouettes.[5] Beyond aesthetics, style in literature and rhetoric involves the choice of language, structure, and tone to convey meaning effectively, such as the ornate prose of Baroque writing or the concise minimalism of modernist narratives.[6] Overall, style functions as both a creative tool and a social marker, adapting across contexts while maintaining its core role in shaping perception and communication.[2]Arts and culture
Literature
Literary style refers to the distinctive manner in which authors use language, structure, and rhetorical devices to convey meaning, evoke emotions, and articulate their unique vision and sensibility. It is shaped by genre, form, and broader historical, political, social, and cultural contexts, serving as a material expression of the author's perspective rather than an isolated technical choice.[7] This approach balances content and form, where style can enhance thematic depth or, if mismatched, overwhelm the narrative.[7] The historical development of literary style originates in classical rhetoric, particularly Aristotle's Rhetoric, which identifies clarity as the foremost virtue of style, achieved through precise word choice and avoidance of ambiguity, while incorporating ornamentation via metaphors and similes to elevate expression without excess.[8] Over time, this evolved through Renaissance and Enlightenment emphases on eloquence to 20th-century theories like New Criticism, which shifted focus from extrinsic factors such as authorial intent or biography to intrinsic formal elements, advocating close reading to reveal a text's organic unity and how style integrates with structure to produce meaning independent of content.[9] Central elements of literary style include diction (precise word choice, ranging from formal to colloquial to convey connotation and formality), syntax (arrangement of words and phrases to control pace and emphasis), tone (the attitude toward subject or audience, such as objective or intimate), imagery (vivid sensory details to evoke experiences), and narrative voice (the consistent, unique persona of the author or narrator).[10] These components allow for varied expression, as in Jane Austen's ironic style, which employs verbal and structural irony to subtly critique social conventions, exemplified by the opening line of Pride and Prejudice: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife," mocking matrimonial obsessions.[11] Similarly, James Joyce's stream-of-consciousness technique captures the nonlinear flow of thoughts and sensations, drawing from psychological influences like William James and literary precedents such as Dorothy Richardson, as seen in the fluid, unpunctuated monologues of Ulysses that mimic inner mental processes.[12] Cultural contexts profoundly shape literary style, with Romanticism prioritizing individualism by elevating subjective experience, imagination, and the poet's authentic self over rational universality, as in confessional modes that unify personal intuition with broader moral insights.[13] Postmodernism, conversely, embraces fragmentation—disrupting linear narratives through multiple endings, mixed media, and abrupt shifts—to mirror a chaotic, decentered reality and challenge notions of wholeness, as in John Fowles's The French Lieutenant's Woman with its authorial intrusions and alternative conclusions.[14] In poetry, style manifests through meter (rhythmic patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables, such as iambic pentameter) and rhyme (sound correspondences that reinforce themes), which independently boost aesthetic appreciation, emotional intensity, and cognitive fluency, making poems more memorable and evocative regardless of semantic content.[15][16] In prose, styles like minimalism prioritize omission for implication, as Ernest Hemingway's "iceberg theory" reveals—exposing only surface details while submerging deeper truths through denotative language and syntactic economy, as in his precise, experience-based sentences that evoke universal emotions without verbal excess.[17] Literary style thus overlaps briefly with linguistic style in its reliance on grammatical and lexical choices for communicative effect, though it emphasizes artistic interpretation over systematic rules.Film and television
In film and television, style refers to the distinctive aesthetic and technical approaches that shape narrative and emotional impact, encompassing mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, and sound design. Mise-en-scène, derived from theater, involves the arrangement of visual elements within the frame, including camera placement, lighting, and actor blocking, to create spatial and atmospheric depth before editing begins.[18] Cinematography captures these elements through lens choices and composition, while editing controls rhythm and juxtaposition to build tension or continuity. Sound design integrates diegetic and non-diegetic audio to enhance mood, from ambient noises to scores that underscore thematic layers.[19] The evolution of cinematic style traces from the silent era's innovative visuals to modern hybrid techniques. In the 1920s, German Expressionism pioneered distorted sets, high-contrast chiaroscuro lighting, and tilted angles to externalize inner turmoil, as seen in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), where skewed architecture evoked psychological unease.[20] This subjective approach influenced later genres like film noir. In contemporary cinema, directors blend practical and digital methods; Christopher Nolan, for instance, favored tangible effects in Inception (2010), constructing massive rotating sets for dream sequences to achieve immersive realism over CGI reliance.[21] Iconic directors have defined personal signatures: Alfred Hitchcock mastered suspense through precise framing, as in Notorious (1946), where a crane shot descends from a party overview to a close-up of a key, amplifying hidden stakes.[22] Quentin Tarantino employs nonlinear narratives and verbose, pop-culture-infused dialogue to drive pacing, evident in Pulp Fiction (1994), where interlocking stories heighten irony and unpredictability.[23] Television styles vary by format, reflecting serialized depth or episodic brevity. Breaking Bad (2008–2013) exemplifies serialized drama through character-driven moral ambiguity, tracing protagonist Walter White's ethical descent in a universe where actions yield inexorable consequences, reinforced by stark desert cinematography and escalating tension.[24] In contrast, The Office (U.S., 2005–2013) adopts an episodic sitcom structure with mockumentary realism, using handheld cameras and direct-to-lens confessions to capture awkward workplace dynamics and naturalistic irony, eschewing traditional laugh tracks for subtle humiliation.[25] Technological advances have reshaped stylistic choices, particularly in post-production and distribution. Color grading allows precise mood control, as in Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), where vibrant reds and blues, achieved through digital enhancement, evoke a confectionery 1930s Europe amid farce and tragedy.[26] Streaming platforms' binge-release model has accelerated narrative pacing, enabling tighter serialization without commercial breaks but prompting denser plotting to sustain viewer retention across episodes.[27]Music
In music, style encompasses the distinctive patterns in melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre that characterize genres, historical periods, and individual artists. These elements create recognizable sonic identities, such as the intricate interplay of voices in polyphonic textures or the rhythmic drive of percussive grooves.[28] The Baroque era (c. 1600–1750) exemplifies ornate counterpoint, where multiple independent melodic lines weave together in complex, decorative structures, as seen in works by Johann Sebastian Bach. In contrast, jazz emerged in the early 20th century with its emphasis on improvisational syncopation—accenting off-beats to generate swing and unpredictability—rooted in African American traditions and evolving through figures like Louis Armstrong.[29][30] A historical overview traces these evolutions from the Classical era (c. 1750–1820), where sonata form structured compositions into exposition (introducing themes), development (exploring variations), and recapitulation (resolving in the tonic key), as in symphonies by Mozart and Haydn. This gave way to 20th-century minimalism, a style of gradual transformation through repetitive motifs, exemplified by Philip Glass's works like Music in Twelve Parts (1971–1974), which layer pulsing rhythms and subtle harmonic shifts to evoke hypnotic stasis.[31][32] Musical styles manifest at various scales, including bands, albums, and songs. Grunge bands like Nirvana defined 1990s alternative rock through distorted guitars, heavy feedback, and raw emotional delivery, as in their album Nevermind (1991), capturing Seattle's angst-ridden sound. On the album level, Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) pioneered conceptual style, unifying tracks around themes of time, madness, and mortality via seamless transitions, innovative sound effects, and lyrical introspection. At the song level, pop often employs verse-chorus structure for accessibility, as in Taylor Swift's 1989 (2014), where verses build narrative tension leading to anthemic choruses, blending synth-pop hooks with personal storytelling.[33][34][35] Cultural influences shape evolving styles, notably in hip-hop, which originated in 1970s Bronx block parties through DJ techniques like sampling—recontextualizing snippets from funk and soul records—and rhythmic flow, the cadenced delivery of lyrics over beats. By the 2020s, this had globalized into trap substyles, characterized by 808 bass drums, hi-hat rolls, and auto-tuned flows, as in artists like Travis Scott, reflecting urban narratives and digital production tools.[36] Fusion styles blend traditions, as in electronic dance music (EDM), where the build-drop structure creates tension and release: a buildup escalates energy with risers and filters, culminating in a drop of full bass and rhythm, popularized by Daft Punk in tracks like "One More Time" (2000) from Discovery, merging house grooves with orchestral samples for euphoric peaks.[37]Fashion and design
In fashion, style refers to the personal or collective expression of identity through aesthetic choices in apparel, encompassing elements such as silhouette, color palettes, fabric textures, and accessories that convey individuality or cultural affiliation.[38] This distinguishes style from transient trends, emphasizing enduring personal interpretation over fleeting popularity.[39] Historical movements in fashion style illustrate evolving societal values, from the Victorian era's emphasis on corseted formality, where undergarments like stays and cage crinolines molded the waist and supported voluminous skirts to project modesty and structured elegance, to the 1960s mod revolution led by designer Mary Quant, whose miniskirts—often 6 to 7 inches above the knee—symbolized youthful liberation and geometric simplicity in youth culture.[40][41] By the 2020s, sustainable athleisure emerged as a dominant style, blending comfortable activewear with eco-conscious materials like recycled polyester and organic cotton, driven by heightened climate awareness and consumer demand for ethical production that minimizes environmental impact.[42] Design styles extend beyond apparel to influence furniture and interiors, contrasting the opulent Art Deco movement of the 1920s, characterized by bold geometric patterns such as zigzags, chevrons, and sunbursts in polished woods and metals for symmetrical, luxurious pieces, with mid-20th-century Minimalism's advocacy for clean lines and essential forms, epitomized by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's philosophy of "less is more" in structures and furnishings that prioritize structural clarity and material honesty.[43][44] Cultural and social dimensions of style often manifest in subcultures as forms of rebellion or unity, such as the 1970s punk movement's DIY ethos, where torn clothing, leather jackets, studs, and safety pins crafted from everyday materials rejected mainstream conformity and embodied anti-establishment defiance.[45] In the 2020s, K-pop's coordinated idol aesthetics have popularized synchronized group looks, like Blackpink's black-and-silver bejeweled ensembles at Coachella or NCT 127's matching gray suits in promotional visuals, blending luxury branding with thematic unity to enhance performance narratives and fan engagement.[46] Global influences underscore style's cross-cultural diffusion, with Paris-based haute couture houses like Chanel pioneering timeless elegance since 1910, when Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel opened her first millinery shop and introduced simplified silhouettes, the little black dress, and jersey fabrics that liberated women from restrictive garments while emphasizing refined versatility.[47] Meanwhile, the rise of streetwear, exemplified by Supreme's founding in 1994 as a New York skate shop, transformed urban casual aesthetics into a global phenomenon through limited-edition drops, collaborations like Nike sneakers, and hype-driven exclusivity that fused skate culture with high-fashion appeal.[48]Science and technology
Biology
In botany, the style is the elongated, stalk-like portion of the pistil, the female reproductive organ of a flower, that connects the stigma at its apex to the ovary at its base. This structure is essential for the transmission of pollen from the stigma to the ovules within the ovary, forming a conduit through which the pollen tube elongates to deliver sperm cells for fertilization. The style's tissue, often composed of transmitting cells lined with mucilage or callose, supports the directed growth of the pollen tube while potentially screening incompatible pollen through biochemical barriers.[49][50] The anatomical function of the style varies with pollination syndromes to optimize reproductive success. In insect-pollinated flowers, such as those of orchids (Orchidaceae family), the style is typically elongated and integrated into the complex gynostemium (fused reproductive column), facilitating precise pollen deposition by pollinators like bees or moths during pseudocopulation or nectar-seeking behaviors. In contrast, wind-pollinated grasses (Poaceae family) exhibit short styles that branch into feathery stigmas, allowing efficient capture of airborne pollen without reliance on animal vectors; this reduction minimizes energy expenditure in exposed, inconspicuous florets. These adaptations reflect selective pressures for efficient pollen transfer in diverse environments.[50][51] The style emerged as a key innovation in the evolution of angiosperms around 140 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous, coinciding with the origin of enclosed ovules in carpels that enhanced seed protection and dispersal. This development contributed to the rapid diversification of flowering plants by enabling sophisticated mating systems, including heterostyly—where populations produce two floral morphs with reciprocal style (long versus short) and stamen positions to promote outcrossing and reduce self-fertilization. In primroses (Primula species), heterostyly evolved once in the genus and is genetically controlled by supergenes like the S-locus, fostering speciation through pollinator-mediated gene flow and self-incompatibility.[52][53][54] Illustrative examples highlight the style's role in reproductive strategies and agricultural applications. In tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), style morphology, including length and curvature, influences pollination dynamics; wild relatives often feature exserted or curved styles that hinder self-pollination to favor cross-pollination, while cultivated varieties have shorter, enclosed styles promoting autogamy for reliable seed set. Recent 2025 genetic research has identified new quantitative trait loci (QTLs) regulating stigma exsertion and style traits in tomatoes, linking these variations to enhanced pollination efficiency and potential yield improvements in breeding programs aimed at heat-tolerant or high-output cultivars. The style thus integrates seamlessly with the stigma for pollen reception and the ovary for ovule access, remaining morphologically and functionally distinct from protective sepals or attractive petals.[55][49]Computing
In computing, style refers to the set of rules that govern the visual presentation and formatting of digital content, particularly in web and software development, allowing separation of structure from appearance to enhance maintainability and accessibility. A primary example is Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), a stylesheet language developed to describe how HTML or XML documents are rendered on screens, in print, or through other media.[56] Proposed in 1994 by Håkon Wium Lie while at CERN, CSS was first standardized as CSS Level 1 (CSS1) by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in December 1996, marking a shift from embedding presentation directly in markup languages.[57] Key concepts in CSS include selectors, which target specific HTML elements or groups of elements (e.g.,p for all paragraphs or .class for elements with a particular class); properties, which define stylistic attributes such as font-family: Arial; for typography or color: #333; for text hue; and inheritance, where certain properties cascade from parent to child elements unless explicitly overridden, promoting efficient rule application.[58][59][60] For instance, the common page reset rule body { margin: 0; } eliminates default browser margins to ensure consistent layouts across environments.[61]
The evolution of style in computing progressed from rudimentary inline HTML attributes in the early 1990s, such as the deprecated <font> tag for basic formatting, to external CSS files that decoupled content from design, reducing redundancy and improving scalability.[57] A major advancement came with responsive design principles, enabled by CSS media queries, which apply conditional styles based on device features like screen width; for example, @media screen and (max-width: 600px) { body { font-size: 14px; } } adjusts text for mobile viewports. Media queries were conceptually proposed in 1994 but formalized in the CSS3 module as a W3C Recommendation in 2012, accelerating adoption through frameworks like Bootstrap, released in 2011 and widely used by 2025 for grid-based, adaptive layouts.
Applications of styling extend to user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, where systems like Google's Material Design employ shadow elevations to convey depth and hierarchy; for example, a card component at 8dp elevation uses layered shadows (e.g., 0px 3px 1px -2px rgba(0,0,0,0.2)) to simulate three-dimensional layering on flat screens.[62] In document preparation, tools like LaTeX utilize .sty style files—packages that encapsulate formatting commands for consistent output, such as defining margins, fonts, and theorem environments in academic papers.[63]
Standards for computing styles are maintained by the W3C through modular specifications, ensuring interoperability; notable updates include CSS3 and beyond, with the Flexible Box Layout Module (Flexbox) introduced as a working draft in 2009 and reaching Candidate Recommendation status in 2012 to handle dynamic, one-dimensional arrangements of items within containers.[64] These guidelines, alongside ongoing CSS Working Group efforts, support evolving needs like accessibility and performance optimization in modern web applications.[65]
Another key aspect of style in computing is programming style, also known as coding style, which encompasses conventions and guidelines for writing source code to ensure readability, maintainability, and consistency in software development. These styles often include rules for indentation, naming conventions (e.g., camelCase for variables), commenting practices, and code structure, helping teams collaborate effectively and reducing errors. Examples include Google's Java Style Guide, which specifies 100-column line limits and brace placement, or Python's PEP 8, recommending four-space indentation and 79-character line lengths. Adhering to a defined programming style facilitates code reviews, debugging, and long-term project sustainability.[66][67]