Discover your color palette and your style type.

Dress For Your Face, Not For Your Body

7/16/2018

(Originally published August 2016.)

This is a revolutionary new way of thinking about style.

All of the advice you've received, all of your life, has been about how to dress your body. "If you're petite, avoid long pants. If you're curvy, emphasize your waist. "

As far as I can tell, every other style system advises you to dress primarily for your body.

But your body isn't what people are mainly looking at.

They spend the vast majority of their time looking at your face.

And dressing for your body at the expense of your face means you end up looking all wrong.

Let me offer you several examples to demonstrate this phenomenon.

Here's Ellie Kemper:

You might know her from "The Office" or "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." She's adorbs, right?

If you're guessing that she has a lot of Gamine and a lot of Ingenue (and maybe some Classic?), I'd agree with you. Those stripes are cute on her. (The palette is a separate issue, but never mind.)

Another pic of her looking fantastic:

The headband! The bangs! The cardigan! The tiny earrings! The Nancy Drew hair! So, so right for her. So much Gamine and Ingenue. (And maybe some Classic.)

Here, tiny ruffles, tiny necklace, yoke emphasis -- so Ingenue, and so good:

And here: adorable, face-framing curls, small geometric print, simple, round neckline, high waist -- again, lots of Gamine and Ingenue, very good:

Just a few more images of her looking awesome with lots of Gamine and Ingenue (and some Classic):

But let's imagine that Ellie Kemper's going to get style advice that considers her body as a significant factor.

I don't know if you noticed, but Kemper actually has a super-curvy, very Romantic body.:

Most style systems will assign Ellie Kemper a style type that dresses her for her curvy body.

But that would be all wrong.

See how uncomfortable, how not-herself, this Gamine Ingenue (or Classic-Gamine-Ingenue) looks in Romantic styles:

A plunging, cleavage-revealing neckline, which is great on so many women, looks inappropriate on Kemper.

In a drapy, clingy, figure-emphasizing dress, she looks lost, as if she's a little girl playing dress-up.

Again, this very draped neckline and slinky fabric is much too mature for her. It feels awkward.

Also too, too mature. The very detailed, plunging, bust-emphasizing neckline and sexy, cinched waist are completely at odds with her Gamine-Ingenue face.

Thank goodness Kemper (or her stylist) usually understand that she needs to dress for her face, not her body.

Here, Kemper's waist is obscured and her bust is unemphasized. And it's sooo much better!

(Jenna Fischer, also from "The Office," is another example of a woman with a Romantic body but a very youthful face. Like Kemper, Fischer looks all wrong in overtly sexy clothes.

By contrast, Mindy Kaling of "The Office" has quite a bit of Gamine, like Kemper and Fischer do -- but she also has enough sexy Romantic in her face to totally pull off figure-emphasizing clothes. )

"If you got it, flaunt it" is not a thing. Let it go.

Only emphasize your curvy body if it also harmonizes with your face.

Dress for your face.

Other celebrity examples of dressing primarily for one's face, not one's body:

Jane Krakowski of "30 Rock" and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"

A rather Natural body (little waist, thicker neck, small bust).

A rather Ingenue face (tiny chin, high forehead, big eyes.)

Is she better in Ingenue or Natural?

Ingenue bows, ruffles, puff sleeves, cap sleeves, high waist, feminine hair, midi length skirt: so good.

Natural t-shirts, layers, separates, shaggy hair, undefined neckline, geometric shapes -- not great.

Jane Krakowski is lovelier when she dresses her face, not her body.

I'm not saying to totally disregard your body. There are individual tweaks your body may call for that are consistent with a style your face doesn't manifest.

For example, Jane Krakowski is flattered by open necklines; they elongate her rather short neck.

That's consistent with Natural, not with Ingenue.

But her open necklines are best when they're adorned with ruffles or bows. True Natural necklines are wrong for her.

Gwendoline Christie, a.k.a. Brienne of Tarth.

Sweet Ingenue/Ethereal (and Natural?) face,

extremely tall, mostly Dramatic body.

Christie is so tall -- 6'3" -- and relatively narrow, most style systems would require her to dress as a Dramatic, or a Dramatic/Natural blend.

But that's really wrong for her.

Mostly Dramatic, and so not great:

Much more feminine, and so much better for her:

Even more celebrity examples:

Despite her height, Taylor Swift is fantastic in Gamine , Ingenue and Classic
Despite his height, Leonardo DiCaprio can pull off dapper Gamine looks because of his Gamine baby face
Brigitte Nielsen's gorgeous Dramatic face makes her best in similarly Dramatic clothes, despite her very curvy body

The same goes for Jamie Lee Curtis: her Dramatic face makes sexy Romantic looks seem wrong for her , even though her curves are pronounced

To sum up:

1. Identify your style identity based primarily on your face.

2. Make a few tweaks in the direction of a different style identity if you know your body calls for it.

Dress for your face!

106 Comments

Beth

8/31/2016 03:49:42 pm

Thank you. As usual, you have as my Father would say, "hit the nail on the head." This means you are entirely right and now I think why I have been having so much trouble figuring out my "style identity.' I know that I have a slightly curvy/Romantic body which is also a rectangular/Natural shape. I can wear some Natural type clothes and feel comfortable. The Romantic clothes make me feel like a six year playing dress-up in her mother's old clothes. As for my face, it is, I think, is Gamine in shape; small, youthful, and round. I also have narrow, small Green eyes, full Ingenue lips, but my Nose is very Natural, average to large, almost "shapeless." I also wear glasses. No one, but my cat or I would usually see me without my glasses. I have worn them so long; they are a part of my face as are my eyes, lips, and nose. I think, other than my glasses, you would probably notice the shape of face, (round, small, very youthful) rather than my eyes or lips. My eyes hide behind my glasses. I have had many compliments on my smile, though. Like, I said, I think you are greatly correct. I, also, think that if you would add in your "special giftedness", you would really be able to dress who you are. But, at first, I do have a question, when dressing and choosing clothes and the face is in in question, how do you determine which attribute or attributes of the face do you "utilize" in deciding your "style identity?" Please forgive if my post is too long. Thank you.

Rachel

8/31/2016 04:14:57 pm

Hi! Thank you for the lovely words.

I think you can identify two or at most three primary essences in your face, and then dress for that two-essence or three-essence identity. You mentioned Natural, Gamine and Ingenue with regard to your face; if that's right for you, this might be your best look:

https://www.pinterest.com/coloranalysis/natural-gamine-ingenue/

Eleanna link

8/31/2016 04:27:22 pm

Well said! I adore how you correctly type Gwendoline Christie, she's so sweet, it is unfair everybody thinks she has to wear "tall woman" styles as if she were Dramatic. Her beauty is so fragile it completely gets lost!

Beverley

8/31/2016 05:08:38 pm

Brilliant post and explains why mistakes can be made so easily. Rachel's suggestion to have a photo of your face on hand when using her style tool is genius.

Kristy

8/31/2016 08:12:10 pm

I think you are spot on with this. I have one of those faces that people usually call striking rather than pretty - somewhere between dramatic, natural, and ethereal. Yet I am of average height with a curvy, rounded figure...and the absolute worst style on me is overtly sexy, romantic, or feminine! I am at my best in a kind of loose minimalist, artsy kind of look, one that emphasizes my uniqueness. I think I am dressing for my face already...

Mary Ellen

8/31/2016 11:03:04 pm

Wow, Rachel! You are way far ahead of all the image consultants out there. Obviously, we couldn't wear a waist cinching dress if we have a thick torso, but if our face reads romantic, it makes sense to go with that and find a way to gently feminize our bodies. Please write more about how to analyze our facial types.

As always, thanks for the great posts. Yours are the best!

Melissa

9/2/2016 05:59:31 pm

Let me just say AMEN to everything in this post! As a skinny 5'3" woman, I didn't understand why I always felt so ridiculous in Gamine/Ingenue clothes until I learned that my face was mostly Dramatic. Thank you for confirming what I was already realizing. This post is logical, well-organized, and convincing. I want to take it to the mall, put it on a big screen, and help people figure out their types so they stop buying clothes that feel wrong on them! It would have saved me a lot of confusion and money through the years if I'd known about this all along.

Eva

9/4/2016 12:16:32 pm

Thank you for this amazing post. I keep reading it over and over and find that it's really changing the way I think about dressing myself. I'm not sure what I am but hopefully will figure this out! Thanks again.

Sue

9/4/2016 06:50:21 pm

Your descriptions are really informative, but I am still perplexed about my category. I'm gamine in stature, but not pure gamine in face; yang eyes, large turned up nose, full lips, elongated oval face with the high forehead. My hair is curly and I look good in bob haircuts and when my hair is gathered in a loose bun. People usually comment that i look a lot younger. Here's the thing, I'm an inverted v (slim athletic) with a somewhat full chest (isn't this a natural). I look better in clean lined, fitted tops, not boxy shapes or a lot of drapey layers. Separates look good on me and I prefer solids or sparse patterns over busy patterns which seem to compete with my features. I'm drawn to modern minimalist styles, yet, I can't seem to find a category that fits.

anastasia

10/3/2017 11:47:16 am

that sounds like it could be a flamboyant natural.

Violet

5/26/2020 05:33:54 am

Your description of your face is a combination of yin and yang features, making it also gamine. A full chest is yin, but your skeleton is yang - gamine again. And your description of what looks best on you is in line with recommendations by Kibbe for gamines. Maybe try colour blocking as opposed to prints. Maybe you're a mix of Gamine and Natural? https://www.truth-is-beauty.com/9794-9794-natural-gamine----the-tomboy.html

9/5/2016 01:58:33 am

Sue, Eva, and anyone else who still hasn't figured out their style type: I had Rachel analyze me, and it was worth so much more than what she's charging. For the cost of a couple of outfits, I learned specifically what worked for me and why it worked. It cleared up so many questions about why some outfits stayed buried in my closet and others were worn over and over. Since learning my type, I have saved myself many stressful, indecisive shopping trips (and returns). I spend less time getting dressed every morning and feel more confident in the outfit I ultimately end up in. It's a great feeling to know you're making the most of your looks, whatever style type you are.

9/5/2016 06:37:06 pm

I figured out that I'm a blend, hence all the contrasting and seemingly conflicting features. The blend that best appeals visually and works pretty well is the soft classic-natural-romantic. Even though I'm petite, the gamine features never quite resonated with me.

Fil

9/5/2016 08:44:39 pm

This is great, Rachel. I think you got it exactly right. So very insightful. Well done!

Melina

9/7/2016 07:51:20 am

This is very interesting, as until now I've thought one decides style identities based on body, first and foremost - that's also what these definitions http://www.truth-is-beauty.com/style-analysis.html seem to refer to; for example: "The Romantic style identity has womanly, sexy lines" - how are you to find "sexy lines" on the face, as that's not usually seen a sexy body part...? So that has confused me all along and put me off style identities; also as I do know what looks good on me and what doesn't, but no style identity is an exact match, not even a blend of two or three (although Romantic, Ingenue and Ethereal are the closest, I think.)

9/9/2016 04:28:21 am

Now that I've read more extensively about these style categories, this makes much more sense; for example, I have a mainly I/R face, with some E thrown in, but a mainly N/E body (I think), so I'd never be assigned to a R category in other systems, as I'm not that curvy, at least in the usual sense of "big-busted"... But R/I/E is the way I've been mostly dressing (nothing could look more wrong for me than N jeans and T-shirts!), and now I have confirmation it's actually the right style for me, if any was needed :)

ruby

9/7/2016 12:34:08 pm

This certainly rings true for me. Body-wise I am a DC albeit slightly tall. My face is probably much closer to FN, & my hair is definitely FN being thick & extremely coarse. What I have consistently found is that whilst the shapes of DC work well, & I always do better if I keep things simple, the overall vibe of the outfit needs to be closer to FN, so a lot more relaxed and rugged in feel than DC is usually seen as.

9/7/2016 02:01:40 pm

Also, Ellen Kemper reminds me a lot of a friend of mine who is totally R in the body but Gamine-Classic with a touch of Ingenue in the face. I could never imagine her showing cleavage, it would look quite bizarre and inappropriate!

9/10/2016 02:56:06 am

Like I said in a previous post, your observation about the high importance of the face in determining your "correct " style is an insight of "pure genius." I think the comments on this post bear this out. Most fashion stylists both on the internet and in books do not even think about. The face is usually only considered in the realm of choosing haircuts and glasses! But, I do have a few questions. First, could you please give a list of the facial characteristics of each style type. I really think that would clear up some questions and be very helpful. Also, I mentioned haircuts, since the hair is at the face, I was curious what role the hair plays in relation to the face in regards to determining the correct style type for a person. When, I say hair characteristics and its relation to style, I mean things like texture, wavy, curly, or straight, color, etc. Finally, I would like to add two things; the effect of "personality" in determining style type. I think, there might be a very strong relationship between the facial characteristics and personality characteristics. What do you think? Also, you mentioned I might be a natural/gamine/ingénue. After further study, I believe strongly I am just natural/ingénue which leads me to a thought. On the fragrance guide for this type, you mentioned several different ones. But, despite everything I keep returning to two that I have basically worn since college; L' Air du Temps and Avon's Sweet Honesty. It has come to the point that those are the only two I can really wear or maybe should wear. So many others give me such headaches I cannot bear it. And you are right about the "aquatics" and "citruses" in regards to the "natural/ingénue." Those are so far away from the personality, etc. of the "natural/ingénue." I still think you should write a book. I would purchase it. Thank you for your time and letting me say what is on my mind. Bless you. .

Dana

9/10/2016 09:40:26 am

Great post, and one of the best original insights I have seen on this topic! It opened up some more questions for me, though.
Appropriateness: how would a 65-year old of the Ellie Kemper type dress flatteringly, without looking silly? Does this change with age? What about an Ingenue or pure Romantic type, such as Salma Hayak, who needs to look professional or even intimidating? (Trial lawyer, corporate officer, etc)
Body movement/personality: Seems like this should be taken into account. I am thinking of particularly graceful persons, or someone just clunky and awkward. If one is an Ethereal face type, but moves and walks in a brusque or awkward manner, it seems like some accomodation would need to be made. I've known a few people of this type, where the abrupt body language was one of the first things one noticed about them.
Thanks Rachel for this fantastic post!

12/7/2017 02:27:00 pm

Hi, Dana!

One of my favorite things is seeing older women killing it in Gamine and Ingenue styles. I think those older women whose faces still read as quite Gamine or Ingenue can pull off these very youthful looks pretty easily. This woman has an adorably childlike face, and I think she's totally pulling off the wacky glasses:
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5a/dd/46/5add464b028035e1ba54775712305fe8.jpg

There are tons more examples out there. I will make a note to address this in a future blog post. :-)

Dee

9/10/2016 02:29:43 pm

Absolutely loved this. Made so much sense to me. Thanks for showing the bodies also. I am rather curvy, yet feel my face is far from R and I feel SO wrong in anything sexy or R. I thought 'I' was wrong... now this has made me realise perhaps my gut was right all along. Please write more like this and show more examples. Read this 3 times ;)

9/16/2016 04:00:09 pm

Gwendoline Christie does not look great in ingenue clothes ( despite the fact she has ingenue face). Isn't it dramatic-natural what makes her look good?

9/16/2016 04:02:59 pm

Hi!
I don't think pure Ingenue would be great on her, but I find some Ingenue elements adorable for her. I don't think Dramatic Natural does her any favors. But maybe you can link some pics where she looks fantastic in those DN lines and shapes?

9/16/2016 04:16:20 pm

Rachel, I meant those clothes that are shown here as an example when she looks great. I thought these are natural-dramatic, or natural-ethereal, "feminine". It interested me because I see myself here. Huge eyes, full mouth, narrow face. I'm not tall but ethereal. Ingenue, gamine and classic looks awful on me.

Alli

9/21/2016 08:17:13 am

Hi,

I was wondering if you had any ideas as to what Ellie Kemper's season would be?

9/21/2016 04:58:46 pm

TA maybe? Or TSp? I said TA because she seemed to look good in the burgundy.

9/22/2016 03:02:28 am

Hmm, to me she looks too good in the white top to be either... I'd say she looks very much a Soft, or possibly Light (?) season. It's intriguing to (try to) analyze, anyway :)

9/28/2016 12:38:47 pm

I've thought a lot about this, because I've seen The Office all the way through like 6 times. :-) I'm about 90% sure she's a Spring. True Spring is my first guess. :-)

Kathryn

9/27/2016 05:54:17 pm

Amazing insight! I remember two ladies with very different faces and nearly identical bodies who did this very experiment. They, too, concluded that they are really dressing for their faces. Even the great John Kitchener (I believe it was he) said that the face plays something like 50% of the style analysis. Thanks so much for sharing this aha! insight.

Rachael

10/10/2016 04:41:34 pm

So agree with this. Like many seem to be here my body is a lot more yin than my face, which has super prominent cheekbones, narrow yet squared off nose, straighter brows, blunt chin. I think about my body when choosing silhouettes/scale and then my face/personality when choosing the actual content of the style like the details, prints, textures etc. I love emphasizing my very dramatic waist and hips with the silhouette but then using more yang type elements when it comes to the styling (love super chunky 80s jewelry, loud lipstick as well as effortless t-shirts and jeans and other basics), I feel that perfect balance of sexy and true to myself when I dress that way.

Wampierz

10/15/2016 11:30:11 am

Definitely some interesting observation. But I thought the face always must be the same type as the body? Or not? Style analysis was never easy to me.

I wonder if it is not that maybe the ideas of what the type's body looks like are bit too rigid, as it's usually harder to catch than in the face?

Anyway, when it comes to Brigitte Nielsen, I don't think she was ever a person who you could describe as 'curvy', and certainly not very curvy.

I'm not 100% sure, but it looks she got breast implants some time into her career. But even if she naturally grew bigger bust at some point, it was literally the only curvy thing about her figure. Her whole silhouette was always very slender, elongated and toned. It always caught my attention how narrow her hips are. She had also slender tights and generally very slender limbs. She also never had actually accentuated waist, it just didn't attract attention, because she was so slender. I thought that would mean Dramatic or Dramatic/Natural or something like that.

Here are some old photos where her bust is either natural or simply just not accentuated:
http://t.imgbox.com/iwDSyp1i.jpg
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTAwWDMxNw==/$T2eC16R,!)EE9s2ugOz)BQdL!C58bQ~~60_35.jpg

10/15/2016 04:07:03 pm

As for Gwendoline Christie, to me it seems she looks amazing in all things you call Ethereal. Not only the clothes, but more floing hair with that S-curve you described is better than smaller, ingenue curls.

There is defenitely some youthful quality in her face, and in right outfits, if they show legs, she evokes an impression of some cute young but large animal, like a calf. Maybe it's more of Gamine than Ingenue?

10/15/2016 04:36:48 pm

I think this is where I have my real problem; what actually is the difference between the gamine face and the ingénue face. Also, between the gamine body and the ingénue body. As a teenager and through early adulthood, I think my body was probably a gamine/ingénue type mix. Then, as I grew a little more in life experience, my body became a little more romantic, at least in the upper portion. However, in addition the Dramatic style, I have never really felt comfortable as a Romantic style. I would never feel comfortable dressing like a Marilyn Monroe or Elizabeth Taylor! Even today, I think I do dress, maybe like a gamine/ingénue mix of types. In college, my friends called me the "all-American girl." But, I am too "short" to be a natural and I shun all makeup due to sensitivities and allergies, except for nail polish. I have a passion for light pink nail polish. Sometimes when I read on the internet, the gamine sounds like the ingénue and vice versa. I think I like my gamine side, but, I don't want to be a "Boy." One of my favorite actresses is Audrey Hepburn, the gamine of all gamines. Finally, have you ever studied how the Myers Briggs types are reflected in your 63 types. They say that each of the sixteen types dress a little differently and reflective of one's Myer Briggs type. Thank you very much. Have a great day!

Amy

11/3/2016 04:29:03 am

I needed to hear this. Or rather, read this. Youthful face that gets described as cute, but tall, curvy, and broad at the same time. Neither soft dramatic or soft natural worked. Going to consider ingenue blends now!

Julie

11/6/2016 08:23:48 am

So this has done a lot to help me but I'm still confused. You see, I've been treating myself as a FG but my face is VERY dramatic. My eyes are small and almond shaped, my facial contours are sleek, long and angular. Only my mouth is FG. Likewise my sister is very FN in her face. But we are both petite with very gamine bodies.

I find certain Gamine things are too 'cute' for me (especially near my face) and before I discovered kibbe I was drawn to monochrome ensembles but I can see in photos that an unbroken line doesn't flatter my height. At the same time, I look great with short hair (it's very curly so I keep it short).

So I'm still not sure where to go from here..,

11/6/2016 10:56:39 am

Hi, Julie!
My first thought is that you should concentrate on Dramatic particularly in your hair, makeup, and ensemble from the waist up, and manifest Gamine in your vertical line (by breaking it up) and in your hem and cuff lengths (by keeping them cropped).

11/19/2016 09:12:06 am

That's how I incorporate the gamine part of my physique, I look better in broken lines. The top part, for me, is better suited to a natural classic clean lined blend with a touch of romantic in he drape or pattern.

Anat link

1/3/2017 08:38:43 pm

Hi Julie! I'm somewhat obsessed with your website and your pinterest boards - very informative, comprehensive and fun! I have been into color seasons and Kibbe (and others) for a while, and your style identity calculator, alongside your posts, made me realize I'm some mix of Natural and Classic. Kibbe never seemed to fully "fit" for me maybe because there isn't a place in his system that matches the Classic quality with a yang quality that is Natural and not Dramatic. Did you encounter a similar problem with other clients-readers? Maybe one of the readers can identify? I ask because I do want to try and draw from Kibbe - who seems genuinely helpful once you crack your type, but I can't seem to get around the fact that I'm to tall for SC (5'8''), to balanced for SN and too soft for DC...

Anat

1/3/2017 08:40:12 pm

I wrote the wrong name after posting a similar question in a forum! How embarrassing :(

Katelyn

2/5/2017 06:41:19 pm

Hi! This is great and so helpful! I'm wondering if you have broken down Jenna Fischer's style type blend? You mention her here as a youthful face and romantic body...wondering if you mostly see gamine/romantic or something else? Would love to know!

Lauren

2/22/2017 11:47:19 pm

This is awesome. Thank you!!!

Ruth

3/1/2017 03:54:08 pm

Thanks for posting this! My face is on the dramatic (yang) side, while my body is curvy. In spite of my body, I have never been able to pull off Romantic looks. I appreciate knowing that someone else thinks the way I do - dress for your face first. I feel relieved.

LIA

2/5/2021 03:02:49 pm

I face the same problem. Totally yin body and yang face. Any ideas appreciated

Suy

2/14/2018 02:45:08 pm

This is great would love to see examples of black celebrities like Beyonce or rihanna or michelle Obama

Kath

2/22/2018 05:32:55 pm

I'm honestly obsessed with this website, it's so insightful and interesting. I feel like I can type others well but not myself. If anyone could help, I'd be interested in hearing what others would type me as.

My body is probably gamine. I'm short and thin, my figure is pear shaped but even then I'm described as slender. I have elongated limbs, "elegant" hands, a long and thin neck. I've had several people not realise how short I was, especially from looking at photos of me. I dress in "natural" because gamine or ingenue styles (my guesses for myself) don't suit me/feels wrong.

My face confuses me the most. It's small but oval, I would say ingenue or gamine, but I've been described as striking which is more of a dramatic characteristic, but I'm not. My brows are thick and full, my lips are full, my nose is upturned, like a button nose. I have prominent cheeks and "cat like" eyes according to people. It sounds dramatic but it all blends together in a way that my features aren't harsh. I look young so maybe ingenue? I've also been told I look like Grace Kelly, which is dumb because I'm not white, maybe they meant I'm a "classic" but it doesn't seem right.

If somebody could help guess, I'd appreciate it. Sorry for the wall of text, I'm stumped

Zara

7/21/2018 03:20:38 am

Have you thought about ethereal? Maybe classic ethereal?

saucyminx

3/7/2018 05:16:46 pm

How can you tell which kibbe type your face is?

3/14/2018 03:37:28 pm

Hi, Saucy. This isn't easy to teach, but I can give you some general help:

- Positioning yourself on the masculine-feminine spectrum can help rule out or zero in on certain essences. If you could pass as a boy in the right clothes, you might have a lot of Gamine; if you could do drag convincingly, like Glenn Close or Julie Andrews, you might have a lot of Natural or Dramatic; and if you could never do either in a million years, you have probably don't have much of those three essences.

- If your overall look is rather childlike, that can signal a lot of Gamine or Ingenue; if you've always looked like a little adult, even as a child, that can signal Dramatic or Ethereal (or sometimes Natural).

- If your face is impossible to caricature, that's a hint that you have a lot of Classic.

- If you can't do shaggy or tousled hair, you can probably rule out Natural. If you can't do big, luscious curls, you can probably rule out Romantic (and perhaps Ingenue). If you can't do super-long hair, you may be able to rule out Ethereal, Natural, and Dramatic. If you can't do super-short hair, you can probably rule out Gamine and Dramatic.

A lot of people have found the Style Identity Calculator helpful...

https://www.truth-is-beauty.com/store/p82/Style_ID_Calculator.html

Coralie

7/16/2018 05:57:21 pm

I have a question, regarding Ellie Kemper:

What are the things about her face in particular that make her very Ingenue and Gamine.

For example, her face shape is quite square and she has very broad cheekbones - I suppose I would have saw this as a Natural trait (like Christie Brinkley). Or is this Gamine?!

Is the Ingenue - her very big, genuine and sweet smile?

I am trying to learn to more easily point to traits in faces and I'm having a difficult time. As some faces are very similar to others in different essences (I speak of bone structure Only).

Any advice would be amazing.

Nancy

7/17/2018 04:07:46 am

Coralie, try not to focus so much on details. Look at the overall impression. Ellie Kemper gives a Gamine- Ingenue impression. She looks cute, perky, animated and sweet. Both boyish and girlish at the same time.
Because of her autumny coloring one could suspect that she also have Natural, but I think that Natural clothes and fabrics would overwhelm her.
I've noticed that many Classic women have a square jaw. Also Gamines can have a square jaw.

Gabriella

7/17/2018 04:28:51 am

Rachel, Brigitte Nielsen and Jamie Lee Curtis are not curvy. They just have big breasts. Silicone, I suppose. Their bodies are straight, maybe V- shaped. Thus Natural and Dramatic bodies.
Ellie Kemper doesn't have a super-curvy, Romantic body. Her body is feminine and gently curved. It is not super-curvy and Romantic. I would say a Classic- Ingenue body.

Ralu

7/22/2018 07:03:54 am

I think Ellie Kemper 's body looks Classic-Romantic, with more C than R. I feel that her body is clearly feminine and mostly proportionally balanced with some bust emphasis. I don't really see any Ingenue though. Both other woman look curvy to me. RD for their body type, with an emphasis on R. So, yeah, some disconnect between their body and face.

SilverRoxen

10/29/2018 11:28:53 am

I agree Ellie Kemper's body has too much yang to be just a Romantic. Look at her arms and shoulders, also she's not very wide, besides her hips.

7/21/2018 03:15:51 am

I’ve always liked this post, I’d love more like it.

Dia

7/21/2018 08:40:21 pm

One thing I've always struggled with is: do we go by how others see us, or how we see ourselves? I'm 31 and often told I look young for my age, which makes me think Ingenue or Gamine, but when I look in the mirror I see my own age. I feel most comfortable in Dramatic and Ethereal styles but wonder if I look completely ridiculous in them. I even like the simplicity and clarity of Classic, despite my cartoonishly large forehead, bulbous nose, and tiny mouth.

I suppose, considering the conflicting comments on this post alone, there can't ever be a consensus on what is the perfect look on any person. I personally preferred Gwendoline's Dramatic looks to the Ingenue ones, maybe that's just my bias.

Lisa

7/22/2018 09:00:01 pm

I think you asked a GREAT question, Dia!

I think there can be SIGNIFICANT differences between how others see us and how we see ourselves, for a variety of reasons.

I've also always felt/thought I looked younger than my age; an opinion that other people I asked agreed with. Now I'm 44 and when I look in the mirror I see my age (or OLDER) because approximately 70% of my hair is gray/silver in color (interestingly my best friend also thought this natural hair color made me look older than I am). And as an adult I could point out clothing styles I like, but I'd feel/look ridiculous wearing them for a variety of reasons (weight gain being the primary one).

Sometimes we can't see the forest from the trees. And people who know us have biases and opinions based upon their knowledge of us and their experiences with us - so they can't see the forest from the trees either. So maybe you should experiment until the truth reveals itself to you.

My experiment with style truth came when I finally had a complete stranger take a 100% unbiased and objective view of me, having no motive or reason to be dishonest with what she saw and no prejudice towards/against it since there wasn't a personal relationship between us - I had Rachel analyze my Style ID.

I have poured over her blog and explantations about why certain things look good on certain people - and she speaks the truth. I also love the dramatic clothing of Gwendoline - but only as clothing items, NOT as clothing on her. I can see the disconnect between her face/head and her body/clothing - Rachel is spot on when she says you should dress for your face and not for your body. When Gwendoline dresses for her face everything comes together harmoniously, regardless of her being 6'3" tall.

So have Rachel analyze your Style ID when you are able to. You could possibly Classic, Dramatic or Ethereal aspects that Rachel's fine-tuned abilities can see. Or you may look entirely different than the clothing styles you like. And that's okay too.

Rachel typed me as Ethereal-Natural-Ingenue.
And it got me thinking - when I was younger I NEVER felt comfortable wearing the sexy style of Romantics; it felt like playing dress up. And I felt 'off' somehow in the conservative elegant look of a Classic. Since I just started trying to improve my non-existant sense of fashion this year by having Rachel 'type' me, I have a LONG way to go before I look my best.

But enlist Rachel's help and start small - if you are like me you'll be amazed at the results.

I like this blog

7/29/2018 10:31:36 am

Dia, those conflicting comments could be result of misunderstanding - Rachel didn't answer what style is on the lower part of pictures of Gwendoline and some ppl might have confused it with Dramatic-Ethereal. In my opinion she looks bad in pure Dramatic, as Rachel has proven, and this one with shorts is really bad for her - is it only Natural or Dramatic-Natural? I would classified it as pure Natural.

7/22/2018 09:34:23 am

Is Gwendoline Ingenue-Ethereal-Natural, Ingenue-Natural or Ingenue-Ethereal?

Megan

7/23/2018 05:30:40 pm

I would guess that she's mostly Ethereal with a smaller bit of Ingenue. I don't see much Natural--it seems like her otherwordly face is best when it's surrounded by elaborate (as opposed to casual) styles?

I would love to see her with a more ethereal hairstyle...

I like this

7/29/2018 10:10:16 am

Megan thanks, Rachel couldn't classified it precisely, but you did.

Alex

7/22/2018 05:39:04 pm

This is such a great post! Thank you, Rachel!

Amke

7/23/2018 03:26:40 am

Thank you for your great work! It is always such a pleasure reading your spot-on posts!
I've been looking at people and trying to analyze them myself lately. Yesterday I saw a man, who hat very ingenue features. You already wrote about how to style women with ingenue features, but I had no Idea, what a male ingenue style would look like. What do you think?

Dyana

7/23/2018 06:34:46 pm

This post changed my life almost two years ago. I felt I decode something that was staring (no pun intended) me in the face! My daughter and husband are so excited about their Styles now. I keep spreading the word. Rachel, Thank you so much!

Dazed and Confused

7/24/2018 01:38:42 am

I'm so glad I found this website! I just wish my face didn't confuse so many people. I have tried asking people what they think I am, and I get conflicting results, although I've successfully eliminated Romantic and Natural--I don't have "lush" features and I have an undefined waist with small hips and lanky limbs, although I'm only about 5'2, and when I smile with my teeth, I look a combination of the Joker and Gretchen Grundler. I was hoping that someone here could try to help me narrow down all the choices so that I could find out what I am? It's so hard be objective when trying to type oneself.

I have a slightly high forehead, and a slightly long face with very thin, small features. My face isn't as long as someone like, say, Liv Tyler's, but sometimes I get comments from people that my face seems rather long at certain angles, while it looks more oval-ish in others.

I think that I might be an ingenue. I'm told that I look younger than I actually am, and that I look a bit innocent. I have thin, small eyes that are a bit far apart with very high eyebrows, a nose that isn't very noticeable in any way (it's not upturned, prominent, sharp, or flat, it's basically just the most boring nose ever lol), and small lips. They aren't thin, but I've had people tell me I had a rosebud mouth with a cupid's peak.

I can't tell if my features read as sharp or soft either, so I'm not sure which one of the youthful types I might be--I have hollow cheeks that make me look a bit gaunt in some angles, but they also don't give off the elegant, sharp impression that Dramatic features usually give. I had someone tell me that my features seemed to "recede" a bit and not really pop out--maybe that might read as Classic instead? I'm told that I either have a strange looking face or an unmemorable face, so I could honestly not be any more confused than I already am.

What also made it difficult for me to be objective when typing myself is that I recently lost a very large amount of weight, and when other people mention in a conversation that I'm very thin or slender, it doesn't register that they're talking about me, because I still look the same when I look in the mirror. I think that I might be one of the youthful types, or maybe classic. It's probably my own insecurity speaking, but I can't help but feel uncomfortable if I dress a little too "girly"--it seems that details like lace and ribbons make me look rather dour and plain, while Classic outfits, while okay looking, seem a little too stiff and restrictive for me. Gamine haircuts with bangs and short hair are actually my worst look, despite the fact that it is advised that women with foreheads get bangs.

I envy the lucky few who are only one type, because they probably have an easier time figuring all this out for themselves! I currently can't link a picture of myself like other commenters have in previous posts. I apologize this is very confusing. I know that this kind of stuff is objective, but if anyone has any guesses for what I might be, or any tips/helpful pointers, it will be greatly appreciated! :)

7/24/2018 03:26:51 am

Dazed and Confused, we like to help, but we need some pictures.

7/24/2018 01:10:07 pm

Nancy,

I'm so sorry but I don't have any pictures of myself at the moment--the only ones I do are of me when I'm at a different weight, glasses, and haircut, and the camera of my phone is currently not working. I have tried to transcribe what other people have objectively told me about my face, but that's not very helpful either. Either way, if anyone has their own experiences with struggling to find what they are, I'm sure it will be helpful for me!

7/26/2018 05:11:52 pm

Good news, my friend managed to help me find some pictures of me through her phone. Here's a link if you're curious:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1nFOtE8nW-LkIidgrfOOo0KLmYxYST0Ph

Sorry for the delay!

7/24/2018 11:18:07 pm

Hey Dazed. All of the below is VERY speculative, but:

have you considered Ethereal? If you're called strange-looking; people say your features recede; and you have a long, thin face--that sounds like it may be Ethereal! Do you look good in long, drapey fabrics? Does your face look harmonious next to the pure Ethereal Pinterest board? (Also--is your coloring light or faded?)

If you look plain in lace and ribbon, then you may also have some Gamine (or maybe Classic), which might make your look a bit less "girly."

Although you say that Gamine hair is awful on you...so maybe you have a bit of Gamine, but you have enough Ethereal (or another feminine essence) to make longer hair your best look?

You sound like you could have Ingenue (do you have roundness in your features/face?). However, if you have a good bit of both Ingenue and Ethereal, then it would seem like girly details should work...

So I would very, very, very tentatively guess that you probably don't have a large bit of BOTH Ingenue and Ethereal. (Or that if you have a good bit of both these two essences, then you also have a good bit of Gamine. Maybe each of these three makes up a third of your essence.)

I would say, again, very tentatively, that you probably have a combination of two or three of those essences. (Although from what you say, it sounds like you could also have a bit of Classic.)

(Random--Gwendolyn Christie, mentioned in this post, is likely an Ethereal Ingenue--do you resemble her, at all?)

Finally, it sounds like you don't have much, if any, Natural, Romantic, or Dramatic--I would make sure that you're really confident in this, though. Do those styles really just not work on you at all?

I hope I haven't confused you more haha...

7/25/2018 04:03:51 pm

Megan,

Thanks for the reply! I'm not sure if I look good in long, thin fabrics--I took a look at the pinterest board, and most of the stuff there are maxi length, which I don't wear too often because I'm only 5'2.

I do think I have roundness in my face, but now that you point out Ethereal, I don't know if I'm confusing Ingenue and Ethereal. I think that I have small features--for example, my nose isn't very sharp, but it's also not very ingenue-y. My lips are kind of small, not thin but average, but they look kind of delicate. My eyes aren't very big either, so I don't have the doe eyes that many of Rachel's ingenue examples have. I am mistaken to be younger than I actually am, but I am objectively young already (20 years old).

I have dark hair and eyes, and medium beige skin--it's not dark or pale--and I have neutral to warm-ish undertones (think NW25 to NW30 depending on the season).

Gwendoline has "cuter" features than I do. She has rounded cheeks, a dainty nose, and rounded eyes, so I can see the ingenue lines in her face. I think my face is a bit long, and I have thinner features, if that makes sense--my eyes aren't round, they kind of look closed in some pictures, and I have slightly hooded eyes.

Thanks!

7/25/2018 10:55:51 pm

Hi Dazed--if Gwendoline's features are noticeably "cuter" than yours, that may hint that you do have some Ethereal (or potentially Natural or even Dramatic... not sure if you've definitively ruled these out? If not, you could try the trick of considering whether you would ever be able to pass as a boy, to try to determine how much masculinity/femininity you have in your face...)

Anyway--a person with mostly Gamine and/or Ingenue would be noticeably "cute" looking, so it seems unlikely that you have only those types.

Though it sounds like you might have Gamine and/or Ingenue (and maybe Classic?) in addition to Ethereal...

Rachel did a post a while back on hairstyles that look best for the types, so maybe look at the recommendations for Ethereal blends and see if any of those styles really seems to harmonize (or not harmonize) with your face?

You could also compare your face to celebrities that are typed as Ethereal and see if the vibe/impression of your face resembles theirs...

Also--are there any necklines that you look particularly good/bad in? I'm a Romantic-Dramatic, and it's amazing how much more balanced my face looks in a deep-V vs., say, a crew neck. You might want to try to notice what different necklines "do" to your face, if that makes sense.

I also think that just because you're not tall doesn't mean you shouldn't wear elongated clothes. If your face is elongated, may elongated clothing is good on you?

Not sure if you've tried the Style ID calculator--personally I think it takes some/lots of practice, but I found it really helpful.

7/26/2018 12:46:29 am

Thanks so much for your help!

I actually joined the facebook group a while back, and a lot of the people there suggested E-I-C, so I think you're probably right :) Although I don't have much experience experimenting with E, because I never considered it.

Bushy, curly hair (which is what mine is naturally like) does not work with me, and neither does hair that is too structured, pulled back, etc. Something like Rooney Mara's hair in the Mary Magdalene movie is the look that suits me the best, because it's a bit more structured and restrained, but has a wave and some movement to it.

I think I can safely rule out Natural--while my body is a bit Natural (I have wider shoulders but narrow hips and an undefined waist), if I wear anything too N, I get lost under the lack of structure, and I look broader and wider than I actually am (same with R looks, they just emphasize my lack of curves). As for D, I'm not sure--if I do have any, it's probably <10%, so very small.

I've noticed that I can't do peter pan collars or ruffled necklines, because they look too messy and silly on me. T-shirts tend to look weird on me, too--they make my upper body look really bulky. I think boat necklines, or any wide necklines that expose the collarbone, are my best bet.

That's a good point about height, I've just automatically been trained to stay away from maxi dresses and skirts because I end up swimming in most of them if I try them on! I should definitely experiment with those, though :)

7/26/2018 12:47:47 am

Ack, just realized that I put your name as mine as I was writing my comment! I meant to address it to you instead. Sorry, my brain momentarily blanked out!

7/26/2018 05:14:21 pm

Megan,

I actually managed to find some pictures of myself with the help of a friend, and I think that your insights helped me try to view my own features more objectively. It's still very subjective, but I think narrowing things down and experimenting helps. I did finally manage to link pictures: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1nFOtE8nW-LkIidgrfOOo0KLmYxYST0Ph

So I definitely do see I and C. Not sure about anything else, but I'm definitely going to keep your advice in mind!

7/26/2018 11:17:56 pm

Dazed--you are so pretty and unique-looking! I see some ingenue and a bit of classic. I actually think Ethereal is probably your dominant essence--my disclaimer is, it looks like these are mostly selfies, and I know that selfies can elongate our faces a bit and make our features look a bit different... but if these pictures basically reflect what you look like, then I see a LOT of ethereal. I would definitely get others' opinions, though.

7/27/2018 03:57:10 pm

Megan,

You're so kind! Thanks so much for all your help, I really appreciate it :) Just curious, what constitutes a "large" percentage of Ethereal? Is it >50%? It comes as a surprise to me that I have any E at all, as my personality is not very otherworldly or graceful--quite the opposite, actually!

7/29/2018 05:11:25 pm

Hi Dazed-
To me, your face looked harmonious next to the pure Ethereal board... I still think you might have a couple other essences (although I now agree with other commenters who don't think you have classic... I also think if you have D, it's probably a pretty small %)

So I think it's very possible that ethereal makes up at least 50% of your ID.

I relate to your confusion that your personality is not "Ethereal"--Im around 50% Dramatic, and Im definitely not intimidating! I try to use it as motivation to be friendlier to people, so that theyll realize that Im nicer than I may look :)

7/29/2018 07:55:11 pm

Megan,

Thanks. Haha, yeah, dramatic essences usually make someone look a bit high fashion-y and kind of aloof--I find them stunning, though, and very hard to forget. I bet an ingenue-natural person would be perceived as very friendly, maybe that's why I see a lot of celebrities with those two essences very often?

And yeah, I suppose it takes time for some of us to get used to our essences. I went from originally considering I and C to ending up with the knowledge that I probably don't have too much of either of those. I know a couple of commenters suggested N for me as well, and that was also a shock--the two essences I was CERTAIN I had none of was R and N, even though I knew literally nothing else about my own face.

I truly appreciate the help everyone gave me, though--I realized that I had been unconsciously dressing and choosing E styles for a while (always trust your intuition!) without realizing it--I tend to have two strands of wavy hair framing my face, and usually end up wearing tops with bell sleeves, etc. Someone actually gifted me with a pair of lovely art nouveau earrings, saying that they seemed like they would look "right" on me! I just never picked up on the signs--I'm rather oblivious.

Although a lot of people have different suggestions, I find that they all usually agree I do have some amount of Ethereal, although the amount I do have, I'm not sure. I will definitely try seeking out pure Ethereal style boards--now that you mention it, I tend to avoid things with length because they don't fit me, not because they don't suit me.

I did briefly consider your point that some of the selfies I took might give a warped view of what I look like (as you said, they tend to elongate features and narrow them), I asked around to make sure, and they all agreed that usually my face looks the same as the selfies I take--some pictures I linked include pictures of me taken by others, but are cropped, and I don't notice much of a difference in either.

However, I do see some hints of D, I, and maybe even a little bit of N (?) (which is what I'm struggling with the most) in my own features that I wouldn't have noticed had the others here not pointed them out. I find that it ends up clicking, and explaining why something I wore suited me (for ex, an empire waist, Ethereal dress with a square neckline, despite the fact that with my lack of a waist and broad shoulders, it should've looked terrible). I am eternally grateful for this website and for everybody's incredible insight <3

7/27/2018 04:20:47 pm

Dazed, you look great in everything you're wearing in your photos - you seem to be able to carry a lot of looks.

I actually see N and D in you. I think it's your beautiful bone structure that says an N/D combination for me. I don't think you have enough N to wear everything on the N boards, but I love you in the minimalist, boxy, oversized-yet-drapey shirts in some of the early pictures. The photo of you in the black shirt is not as great because the sleeves have kind of an odd shape, honestly - I can't picture many people looking harmonious in those sleeves combined with a tighter fit around the torso. I like the red sweater and I like everything in the photo with the plaid shirt. The navy turtleneck is very harmonious.

I think you have E as well - you seem to be flattered by narrow shapes around the face (hair especially) and can take more detail than N or D usually can. My favorite picture with more feminine detail is the scarf. I don't love the vaguely peasant top - but I think I would prefer more ED Tilda Swinton sort of styles.

You seem to have a slightly similar quality to me in that you could have more than three essences and you can carry a lot of different styles. I think you have an androgyny that is flattered by minimalism, boxy cuts, and more "high fashion" looks (in a structural, modern-art way)- this is what sticks out to me about you.

In the full body mirror photo, I love everything (the slides are great), but the pants are too oversized paired with that jacket for you. I also suspect I'd prefer more of a cigarette pant on you, or a legging (maybe with some kind of reflective detail?) but I'd have to see it.

I prefer minimal makeup on you (I don't think you need much!) but I do love the heavy blush with otherwise not much makeup. I think this is where I see N in you - being flattered by the "undone" look.

Neck detail is good too. I actually don't see C or I. I think your need for minimalism is from D and some N. You are very symmetrical but it doesn't come across as C to me.

7/27/2018 05:05:06 pm

AM,

Wow! Thanks for the detailed reply, it's incredibly helpful, and I'm touched by your sweet comments <3

And I never suspected I had any N at all, actually---I don't have a friendly, toothy smile (I actually can't smile easily with my teeth, as my lower jaw is misaligned a bit), and I look best with a bit of a poker face.

I do know that I showed a lot of D traits a while ago, but I'm not sure if that reflects my actual face--Due to medical issues, I had lost a lot of weight in a short amount of time, so I looked a bit gaunt and ill, and had very hollow cheeks, which I think some people may have mistaken for D influence--of course, I am not implying that D women look gaunt and ill, quite the opposite, actually!

The N/D/E combination you proposed is quite a surprise to me--I usually imagine tall, graceful, model-esque women with those types, and I've been considered short (5'2) my entire life :). What essence do you think I have the most of? I think people tend to confuse C and D minimalism, no? That might be why I see quite an overlap in D and C, which people have suggested for me. I have actually realized that I've been unconsciously incorporating E elements into my hair--I need some sort of elongated wave near my face, and flat, straight hair makes me look too plain.

I am a bit hesitant about the N, actually--while I do think my body type has some N influence (wider shoulders, small hips, no waist definition), I've noticed that if I wear N clothing, it makes my torso and shoulders look bulkier than they actually are, and it looks off. However, I do find Natural to be the most interesting style type, in my humble opinion.

Katja

7/25/2018 03:28:20 am

Dazed, I'm thinking Ethereal too. And Ingenue. Are you tall or short? What is your body shape?

7/25/2018 04:06:26 pm

Hi Katja,

Thanks for the reply! I'm pretty short, I'm only 5'2. I have a pretty rectangular body, and my legs and arms look kind of lanky compared to my torso, where I gain most of my weight. I have an undefined waist and narrow hips, with straight shoulders. I think that might be a natural body type, but whenever I dress in purely gamine or natural fashions, it makes me look much more broad and bulky, and I feel kind of awkward.

Thanks again,

7/26/2018 06:18:58 am

Dazed and Confused, yes it seems like your body has Natural, Gamine or Dramatic influence. Have you considered Ethereal Gamine?

7/26/2018 02:20:04 pm

Katja,

I have considered that. I've joined the TiB facebook group, where one of the suggestions from someone was D-G-E. However, most people seem to suggest E-C-I for me. It is true that my body is more "yang"--although some people describe me as having a rectangular ruler body, my shoulders are slightly broader than my hips. I definitely think that my body seems to have more D/G/N influence, although my face seems to have none of those essences--in fact, everyone seemed to agree that I had absolutely no natural at all. I suppose I should follow the dress for your face and not your body rule, then.

Thanks again for your help!

7/26/2018 05:15:36 pm

Sorry for the double reply, but I finally managed to upload some pictures online--the link can be found a few comments above yours, if you're curious. I think that I have settled for I/C, maybe E but I'm less sure about that last one.

7/26/2018 07:19:56 pm

Dazed and Confused,

I see Classic+ Ingenue + Ethereal. Innocent, soulful and balanced. Very beautiful:)

Dazed and Confued

7/27/2018 03:57:44 pm

Alex,

Aw, shucks! You're so kind :) Thank you so much!

Tina

7/25/2018 11:15:51 pm

Weird question, but has anyone tried typing Bruce Springsteen? I don't know if he looks very different now, but when he was younger, I think he pulls off a full beard, but I don't know. Just thinking back to an earlier post on how men also have different essences.

7/26/2018 04:24:08 am

Natural Gamine ?

7/26/2018 11:02:56 am

Natural + gamine + romantic? He looks good in natural styles but with more detail and broken lines, plus he can pull off a soft beard and wavy scarf.

7/26/2018 12:55:05 pm

Yes, I did consider Romantic for a while.

7/26/2018 01:25:35 pm

https://popmatters-img.rbl.ms/simage/https%3A%2F%2Fassets.rbl.ms%2F11685394%2F980x.jpg/2000%2C2000/vWGwqgVvANWpAC9m/img.jpg

http://hipquotient.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/bruce-early-main-new.jpg

Yes, I actually like the curly hair and the soft beard around his face. Don't know how to feel about the more recent soul patch he sometimes sports now, though, it seems too "hard"/"sharp" for him--although I might be biased, I'm not a fan of soul patches in general.

7/28/2018 04:49:41 am

Hi, Dazed and Confused! I don't see any Classic in you. I definitely believe you have a youthful essence combined with a supernatural essence. And I think the youthful essence is Gamine. I see Ethereal in you and I think I can see Dramatic in you as well so you may have two supernatural essences in your style-ID. I've been considering Natural too, but I'm not sure. So, DEG, DEGN maybe. For a while I considered ENG, but I do think you have some Dramatic.
And I agree with Megan; you do have a unique beauty.

7/28/2018 05:51:53 am

You could have a dash of Ingenue. In some pictures I think I can see Ingenue, but in others I don't see it.

7/29/2018 07:59:08 pm

Katja,

Yup, I definitely agree that N isn't my dominant essence--thank you for your insights! I've been told my face is very difficult to type, so I appreciate all the help <3

7/28/2018 03:26:00 pm

Thanks so much Katja!

Everyone here has been so sweet and helpful! And I never considered having any D,E, or N at all, so this is quite a shock for me. If you don't mind me asking, what is my dominant essence, if I have any? There is a possibility that I confused the yin features in my face for ingenue, but they might be more ethereal--I am by no means an expert.

Where do you see N? I'm quite surprised by that the most, I never saw myself flattered by relaxed and casual details.

Thanks again :)

7/29/2018 12:37:26 pm

Dazed and Confused, I don't know what is your dominant essence. I just know that when I first saw you I could see that you had a youthful essence combined with a supernatural essence.
I'm not sure about Natural, but if you do have N it's not your dominant essence.

7/28/2018 06:00:11 am

Dazed and Confused, you can try DEI and DEIN too and see if that is better than DEG and DEGN.

10/17/2018 06:52:05 am

I read about a lot of different style systems but I always come back here and to your posts about typing based on the face and not the body. Your comment on how the patriarchy wants us to consider ourselves based on our bodies is sooo spot on - our beauty is so much more than the sum of its parts, but that's not what beauty magazines tell us.
I think many women are drawn at a younger age to the shapes, colors and lines that are a good fit for them, and with time draw away from them based on feedback from society. I see it all the time with my friends and I definitely know it from experience.
It took me a long time to recognize my classic essence because I have always felt a pressure to look sexy or cute. But even as a very young girl, I was always drawn to tailored, polished, minimalist looks - maybe with a dash of ethereal femininity to them - which is neither romantic-sexy or ingenue-cute. The irony was that when I started dressing more "classic" in a new, more formal work environment, almost all of the men I knew said it looked great -I was clearly more comfortable and confident and it showed.

Marissa McHugh

1/29/2019 05:52:05 pm

My body type is romantic/dramatic but by face is primarily romantic. This article was really eye opening. I don't always have to wear the tightest shirts or dresses to look pretty. I can go with fitted but more relaxed styles with ruffles and lace.

Maya link

11/21/2020 11:01:58 am

You're the best

Sophia

12/23/2020 12:05:43 pm

Thanks so much for this post! I started exploring your system a year ago (or has it been 2 years??), and I've taken away so much from it. My femininity has always been the dominant presence, and so many systems have abandoned ethereal and ingenue style elements, so I've always "defaulted" to romantic style recommendations. They rarely made me very happy, and now I see why: because my feminine elements are, in fact, ethereal and ingenue! Recently, I found myself questioning this as I've gained weight, which has caused even more emphasis on the curves of my body (true hourglass). I thought, how can I possibly think of myself as girlish and demure?? However, the smaller feminine details, more delicate/playful colors, and more modest clothing lines truly do look more beautiful to my face and honestly just much more comfortable to wear. Thank you for bringing back exploration of both of these style identities, I love your work!

KT von D

4/18/2021 08:00:11 am

Oh my! And, yes, exactly! That’s why I have had so much trouble with figuring out which type I was. I have a classic body (skeleton and body flesh answers are 8c and 1d), but I think my face is gamine (answers are 3b, 2e, 1c and 1a for fine, straight hair), there’s no balance in my face, you can easily caricature my eyes (round) and nose (round, narrow bridge but slightly wide tip and very distinctive shape). I even look cartoonish. I look definitely better in short hair, long hair make me look like everyone else. Classic clothes look plain on me. Correct but plain. I’ll never agree with that classic Kibbe typology, I don’t think everyone’s style is such a simple thing. We’re not some homogenous groups like from some dystopian young adult book. I always intuitively gravitated towards gamine (btw in some online test my results were first gamine and second classic). You cannot look good in something you don’t feel - that’s the first thing. Thank you, because I realised I’m probably a classic gamine. Pure gamine is too much for me, too short and childish; same goes for pure classic - it’s too boring. I need to mix them in even proportions, then I look stylish and interesting and professional too. The bad thing is I love natural style but I don’t think it looks best on me, especially on my upper torso. But you can always add some small element in a different style, especially if it’s cohesive with the other elements (for example the line can be classic/gamine but the fabric - linen). Am I right?

Amber

11/2/2021 11:06:14 pm

I want to thank you for all of this.
In the Kibbe system, I am in the R family. I have always struggled to find myself in most commercially available clothes. Before I discovered Kibbe, I was already going for an R look, but felt something was missing.
I have one dress and a few top and pants coords that I get MOST compliments on, more than the rest of my wardrobe. They are airy, floating, and elongated, with some „sexy“ detail added.
But I am 5‘4“, so not tall. They should look less good on me than they do, or…?
Now I understand that my body is Romantic, but my face is actually a mix of Ethereal and Romantic; funnily, Kat Dennings is one of my biggest celeb crushes! I have always been pulled to Ethereal clothing, but it’s even harder to find than Romantic garments. And I see the types so clearly now; my mother is Ethereal and Ingenue; my brother is Classic and Romantic… etc. Your insights make total sense! It’s as if a lightbulb turned itself on.

Modest Fashion Stylist link

11/24/2021 05:42:03 am

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1/12/2023 05:23:28 am

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Thanks

Truth is Beauty

Dress For Your Face, Not For Your Body

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