I start with the idea that there are seven basic styles essences.
I continue by accepting that any individual might be one essence alone, or a mix of several essences. I then suggest that for any person to combine more than two primary style essences into a coherent style identity without the help of a paid image consultant is difficult at best. This is a problem! My solution is the Truth is Beauty Style Identity System: 7 pure identities + 21 possible two-identity combinations I believe most people will be able to find themselves either within a pure style identity or within a two-style identity combination. In upcoming posts I'll detail what I believe are the defining physical traits of each style identity, based on my study of the currently existing style systems. I'll also provide the style recommendations I've deduced for each style identity. In the meantime, here is my list of 28 style identities. Dramatic Natural Gamine Classic Ingenue Romantic Ethereal Natural Dramatic Dramatic Gamine Classic Dramatic Dramatic Ingenue Dramatic Romantic Ethereal Dramatic Natural Gamine Natural Classic Natural Ingenue Romantic Natural Ethereal Natural Classic Gamine Gamine Ingenue Romantic Gamine Ethereal Gamine Classic Ingenue Romantic Classic Ethereal Classic Romantic Ingenue Ethereal Ingenue Ethereal Romantic * * * * * * * Many of you know the seven essential styles as well as (or better than!) I do. With the exception of the Angelic style, which was first identified by John Kitchener and on which Ethereal is based, the style types go back decades. So I would love to get your feedback, hear your ideas, see your Pinboards and Polyvores. Please contact me! (Also, my decision about word order for each style identity was based simply on what sounded better. Disagree with my choice? Let me know!)
35 Comments
Sarah
9/24/2014 05:20:00 pm
I'm wondering if your system takes into account which of the 2 essences is dominant. In Kibbe's system TR and SD are both Romantic and Dramatic combines, but are 2 very different types. SD lines are closer to SN lines and TR lines are closer to R lines. So I'm wondering how these types are differentiated in your system. I'm fairly certain that I'm SD. I look great in those lines, I look OK in SN lines, I look like ridiculous in TR lines.
Reply
Mary
9/24/2014 07:58:32 pm
Very interesting, and thorough... Just so I'm clear on what angelic/ethereal is, though... Is it kind of like, gamine turned inside out? Like gamines are small and somewhat soft on the outside but dynamic personality wise, and ethereal is tall and slim on the outside but soft spoken, vulnerable, etc. personality wise? I guess I think a bit systematically so I'm curious for that reason lol.
Reply
Rachel
9/26/2014 12:06:58 pm
Hi, Mary!
Reply
Rachel Arnt-Schemmel
9/26/2014 12:21:38 pm
Sarah, I have been thinking about the TR/SD problem for a while now! Here are some of my thoughts:
Reply
Interesting; I see it completely differently--Kibbe doesn't have youthful/ingenue at all. He only has three possible "ingredients" in his system: sharp yang, blunt yang, and yin. For me, there is no confusion about how TR and SD can coexist in one system; SD is sharp yang with a yin undercurrent and TR is yin with a sharp yang undercurrent. Sometimes it can be difficult to decide whether a person is SD or TR, this is true, but I have found that for those who are undecided, if a long vertical line is more important than waist cinching, they are SD and vice versa.
Reply
April
10/8/2014 06:09:52 am
Kibbe doesn't combine types... I think that is the key difference. He has Natural, Gamine, Romantic, Dramatic, and Classic and each of those types either leans yin or yang. So, a TR is a Romantic who leans yang, *not* a -combination- of Romantic and Dramatic. And an SD is a Dramatic who leans yin, *not* a combination of a Dramatic and a Romantic. If you take out "TR" you would be taking out the Romantic who lean yang and all the types have one that leans yin and one that leans yang. (Plain Dramatic is inherently Dramatic who leans yang and plain Romantic is Romantic who leans yin.)
Reply
That is incorrect. This is what he says about TR, for instance:
Kathryn
9/30/2014 12:48:48 pm
Rachel, this is freakin' awesome!!! I wondered what became of you after we were all trying to figure out our essences on the FB group. I finally came out N/A (your Ethereal Natural), which explains this bouncing around in the Kibbe system. I trust you have narrowed yours down by this time. Thanks for doing this list. Amazing. Over the top. Super brilliant!
Reply
Rachel Arnt-Schemmel
9/30/2014 02:30:36 pm
I think you and I actually have the same proportions of Ethereal and Natural per John Kitchener- don't we? I'm 30 of each in his system. Aren't you something like that?
Reply
Kathryn
9/30/2014 08:47:53 pm
I did not realize we came out so close. I'm 30N/25A with R and D following very closely. He was surprised that I'm not very tall. Even more interesting is that we don't always carry the traits in the same places.
Reply
Laurie
10/1/2014 01:15:37 am
I am fascinated to hear about the Ethereal type and would like to see pictures of the different Ethereal mixtures, in particular the Ethereal Romantic. I would also love to hear a more specific description of Ethereal. Thank you so much for posting this!
Reply
Laurie
10/1/2014 05:56:45 am
I would love to have more feedback about the Ethereal Romantic. I am most likely a Romantic in Kibbe's system but I don't feel sexy enough to be totally at home there. I don't have the youthful energy of the Gamine, either. So I wonder if I have some Ethereal in me, especially since I am drawn to mystery and otherworldliness. (It could be wishful thinking, I know. :) )
Reply
Laurie
10/9/2014 03:04:02 pm
Whoo-hoo! I just got off Skype with John Kitchner himself. :) I would highly recommend him--he is amazing. I am 35% Romantic and 30% Angelic, with some Classic, High Spirited, and Youthful thrown in. My clothing choices seem to make so much more sense now!
Reply
Melissa
10/18/2014 01:08:33 am
I'm also looking forward to hearing more about the Ethereal Romantic. I believe I am a Romantic in Kibbe's system, and Kitchener typed me as 35% Romantic, 20% Natural, 20% Dramatic, 15% Classic and 10% High spirited. He didn't give me any Angelic, but said I could wear the "exotic" or "gypsy" looks. Those are not looks I would feel comfortable wearing for anything other than a costume party. I never understood the "no Angelic" verdict because when I watched his videos of each type the only type I related to was the Angelic. When I asked my FB friends (not the color and style community, but those who know me IRL) to describe me in one word the one word that came up repeatedly was Ethereal. So, the people who know me all see me as Ethereal, but the man who created the Angelic/Ethereal type sees only androgynous, bone thin women as "the ultimate in femininity." It reminds me of the attitude many fashion designers have that all women should look like young boys with no curves whatsoever. Women and angels come in more variety than that! Thank you for seeing that the Ethereal essence or style can be paired with any of the other types.
Reply
Katie
10/2/2014 02:25:29 pm
I hated the Kibbe system so much when I read about it. I was unsure when I first started reading about this, but you won me over. SO much better than the Kibbe system! THIS makes sense. When reading the Kibbe system, I immediately thought I was Romantic, because I have an exaggerated hourglass figure. But it seemed too polished, too controlled by itself. I think I'm a Romantic Ingenue. The Romantic combined with the flirty fun of Ingenue. I still don't completely understand the difference between Gamine and Ingenue? I guess I could maybe be a Romantic Gamine? What are some things that separate them. Also what do you think Brigitte Bardot's type is?
Reply
Sile
10/5/2014 04:22:17 pm
I'd love to see more about Dramatic Ethereal! I'm most likely Flamboyant Natural in Kibbe's types, but there is defiantly an "otherworldly" element to me. I'd like to compare the Dramatic Ethereal and Natural Ethereal and see if one fits better.
Reply
Sarah Marie
10/8/2014 08:57:40 am
I'm looking forward to reading your descriptions! I collect fashion advice and distill for my own style use. I'm a Light Summer Soft Classic, Probably a Romantic Classic with a hint of Ethereal as you describe it.
Reply
Rachel Arnt-Schemmel
10/9/2014 03:08:16 pm
Oh, that sounds beautiful!
Reply
Laurie
10/10/2014 02:43:30 am
Certainly. I am sending one through the email address you've attached to your blog. (And I am rather curious to see if I fit your theories, as well.)
Reply
Rachael
11/8/2014 02:33:28 am
This is all very inspiring, I'm looking forward to seeing your style system develop. I've been trying to figure out my kibbe type for a year and a half to no avail. I think 'ingenue' was the component I was looking for but could never find in Kibbe's system. Gamine always seemed too yang, too tomboyish. Soft Gamine felt wrong because of the strong R influence. So I hope I can finally find a type that fits!
Reply
Silvia
11/9/2014 12:57:38 am
Hi Rachel, I'm studying your system on these days and really think that's brilliant!!! With Kibbe's system I'm a Soft Gamine and seem I'll stay the same with yours. I think Gamine in general is often represented as a too childish style, while seemed to me as a "Fench chic fashion" one. SG to me is badly described in many Pinterest/Polyvore sets, ok with Romantic influence, but all that bows, little hearts...too Ingenue stuff to me!
Reply
Rachel
11/13/2014 07:10:28 am
Hi, Silvia!
Reply
Kathryn
11/30/2014 02:37:21 pm
Hi, Rachel...I'm really glad you have chosen the word "Ethereal" instead of "Angelic". It seems to cover more style territory without conjuring up the same tired images of celestial beings and wings and unicorns, etc. It really has a rich variety of expression, the more I learn about it. Thanks for the hard work you've done!
Reply
Li
1/19/2015 02:44:39 am
Hi,
Reply
sandy
1/30/2015 10:06:57 am
All I know is that I like classic with some Ethnic accessories sometimes. I love your blog. It's one of the clearest on the topic. I've looked at so much that I'm confused. My difficulty is having a leisure lifestyle which calls for more casual dressing, yet straight up casual doesn't make me feel the best. So I've been buying classic lines and using more casual elements. Maybe I'm doing this wrong? Sometimes I just want to drop the whole thing and stick with the colors...LOL.
Reply
Johanna
6/2/2015 11:28:13 am
This speaks to me so much. I've felt disappointed and as if I was dragged into a "dramatic classic" category that I'll never fit in with. Being very thin and obviously classic, it seemed like it was my only option. Ethereal classic really speaks to the bohemian side I've been suppressing. (Plus I'm often compared to elves from Lord of the Rings :) )
Reply
Kate
1/24/2016 07:41:34 am
Hi! Good idea with that thing on different hair styles for those who are a combination of 2 categories! But what about those who are a blend of 3 categories? For instance natural-romantic-classic?
Reply
Rachel
1/24/2016 09:58:33 pm
Hi!
Reply
Daniela
2/2/2016 09:45:07 am
Hello! I am a rng. My question is: am I a soft gamine with some natural influence? Or am I not a gamine at all? Am I instead a blend of 3 different categories? If I am a blend of those 3, is sany of them dominant? Kibbe has soft gamine, but I have noticed that you have romantic gamine instead. Are yout romantic gamine the same as his sg?
Daniela
2/16/2016 03:01:18 am
Hello! I wonder what make-up an rng should wear. I do not know what essence I see most easily on my face. I see all 3 of them, but maybe the essence of gamine is what I see the least of. I am a soft autumn deep. My hair is brown and my eyes are hazel.
Reply
Lilac
6/14/2017 07:47:10 am
Hi Rachel,
Reply
Rachel
6/15/2017 04:26:11 pm
I'm very happy to hear this! I didn't attempt to define four-essence combos because I thought it would be an impractically large task, and because I think it can be overwhelming for some people to attempt to combine four essences in one look. But I definitely think a motivated person can make it happen. :-)))))
Reply
Z
12/15/2021 06:24:39 am
The links do not work anymore! Could you please fix them? Thanks!
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
About Me...I'm passionate about helping people become their most authentic and beautiful selves. Categories
All
|