In my last few posts, I've talked about how to combine your personal color palette with your style type. There are 12 seasonal color palettes, and one of them is perfect for your skin. Every color in that palette will be harmonious on you. But some of them will be your personal go-to colors. Part of that will have to do with the unique way your individual body displays that palette. And part of it will have to do with your personal style type. Certain hues and certain combinations will send a message that coordinates with your style type. So if you're strongly Romantic, what colors in your palette should you focus on? A woman who is strongly Romantic may have a heart-shaped face, sexy eyes, a high forehead, a delicate nose, and full lips, If this is you, you'll look like yourself in in the deeper versions of your reds, violets, red -violets, rusts, fuchsias, and purples. Your season's version of black will usually be great on you as part of your overall ensemble, because it reads as mysterious. You can even pull off your season's black as a head-to-toe look, as long as the effect is mysteriously sexy, not intimidating or shocking. (Intimidating or shocking use of your black would read as Dramatic, not Romantic.) Making black look mysterious, not intimidating, won't be difficult if your garments are as detailed as Romantic garments ought to be; the profuse detail breaks up the black visually, so it doesn't feel like a huge block of startling color. In my experience, Romantic blends are a bit less common than other blended types. Are you a Romantic blend? If so, how have you combined your palette with your style type? Please share in the comments!
73 Comments
Another Rachel
1/8/2020 03:04:55 pm
I am some sort of romantic blend (not sure which though) and definitely a bright spring. Once I figured that out, everything clicked! Pure black and vivid colors look the best on me. It’s really fun. I can wear purple eyeliner, red lipstick, and a green sweater and look pretty normal. :c)
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Miranda
1/8/2020 03:33:40 pm
Yessss I can wear all charcoal! I've always felt calm and looked good in all charcoal, but I've avoided it recently because I was trying to conform to my style ID.
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KC
1/8/2020 04:29:19 pm
Value is also part of the difference--Romantic jewel tones will be found at the deeper end of your palette, as opposed to Gamine's mid-value brights.
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Miranda
1/8/2020 04:58:33 pm
That's another of the problems I've had distinguishing between them - there isn't as much difference in the SSu palette between mid-tone colors and deeper colors that aren't too dark. The colors in this post helped a lot because I have definitely been going too dark.
T.
1/8/2020 04:16:46 pm
Thank you Rachel!! I understood earth tones for my natural & learned Ingenue has a “candy” theme, but I was having a hard time defining the theme of Romantic colors. And the black- an AHA moment for me! I am more of a medium contrast and it clear that black washes me out a bit - yet I would be baffled when I got so many compliments in satiny nearly all black outfits. Same for black eye makeup too. It even got to the point that I thought I was a Winter type b/c of all the black and “jewel tones” I got complements in. Thankfully I know how to find my season’s “blacks” now, but it helps to know I wasn’t crazy all that time!
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Melina
1/9/2020 02:30:06 am
T, can I ask what is your season? As I believe I'm a Winter, loving all-black & dark and jewel tones so much and being flattered by them, but what you wrote has now made me a bit unsure. ;) Going by my hair & skin colours, I am of medium contrast too, though I know it is still fully possible for someone of medium contrast to be a Winter. :) (Recently I've also noticed that the coolest, sharpest tones make me shine, though earlier I thought I can do a lot of warmth, and so I'm a bit confused now.)
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J
1/8/2020 06:37:27 pm
Thank you for this series Rachel. These posts have such great info for incorporating color into how we present our style ID. Being a combination I now have more ideas for using color as one piece for one ID and can then look to other parts to express the other ID('s). Really great, thank you!
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Melina
1/9/2020 02:22:41 am
So, no wonder I LOVE head-to-toe black, even if I (probably) don't have D ;) Plus the Classic influence, of course, black being a very classic colour. (Newly typed R-E-I-C by the calculator.) Plus my love for dark colours overall (in clothes). I do believe I'm some kind of Winter now, so that would enhance it even more, but now I see it's possible to lean towards those colours even if one is not a Winter.
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Melina
1/9/2020 02:41:14 am
But I'm a bit doubtful about Romantic blends being less common than others - I think they are very common, after all R is the basic feminine essence, it's just that nowadays the fashion is sadly so very un-Romantic and un-feminine, i.e. very casual and Natural / Gamine, so it makes it seem like most of us are not very feminine, which I don't think is true.
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Anette
1/9/2020 02:42:28 am
Hi Rachel
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Melina
1/10/2020 03:35:17 am
Anette, I know you asked Rachel (but she rarely replies here anymore), but IMO they look mostly like Winter colours, majority of them Dark Winter or True Winter. ;)
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J
1/13/2020 02:02:55 pm
Hi Annette, I think there are colors here from several of the seasons though the darker seasons are the ones I typically think of first for R type of coloring. Being a Summer though, I just go to the deepest, most jewel-like colors of my palette to reach the depth I need for this ID. Even a Light Summer has colors that would be their deepest, on them I think they would look closest to what we typically think of as R colors. I don't think any season is precluded from having any style ID but rather it's more from within their palette. That's my understanding.
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Kim
1/9/2020 11:58:51 am
I'm a True Winter and Rachel has determined I'm a Dramatic-Romantic-Natural (in that order). I wear:
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Miranda
1/9/2020 05:08:15 pm
Head-to-toe red! Or green or purple. Monochromatic Romantic colors with Dramatic lines could be good.
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Kim
1/9/2020 06:11:23 pm
Good idea!
Trisha
1/13/2020 11:23:29 am
Hi Kim,
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Carissa
6/3/2023 02:08:45 pm
I'm not a Natural but most of my friends and family have it in their blends. If it's your lower essence I would say bring it in with the details. Relax your clothing structure a bit, wear chunkier or organic inspired jewelry, leaf prints (especially elongated and sharp to bring in D), larger tribal prints like ikat, and test out bringing in textures like linen, chunkier knits, woven cotten, etc. Textures may not work depending on your seasonal coloring but that seems to be a factor many natural blends need. The TiB Pinterest boards have amazing inspo.
Another Rachel
1/17/2020 07:27:22 am
Dramatic color blocking!
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Vic
1/9/2020 04:46:54 pm
I know this is prob the wrong blogpost to comment this in... but I’ve been wondering for a while now- is Cobie Smulders an NDC or NDE? I do remember thinking “she looks like a news reporter” when I first saw her google profile pic image but at the the same time I like her in unique fresher colors. (Then again she does appear to have a brighter more colorful coloring, so that may have something to do with it)
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Megan
1/9/2020 10:38:47 pm
I tried to type Colbie a bit ago and I'm pretty sure I thought she had N at first, but I think she looked best next to EDC board.
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Vic
1/10/2020 11:51:03 am
Megan, I think you hit the nail on the head. For a split second I considered EC but she has so much Dramatic I simply couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of a Dramatic E.C. But then, every time I saw just EN or NC, I kept thinking “she doesn’t look good in those sandals”. But that paradoxical combo of EDC is exactly why I couldn’t figure it out! Good call- thanks!
TG
1/22/2020 05:07:31 pm
I think she’s NDC. I can see how she almosttt pulls off EDC, but after researching her in various looks I really began to notice how certain details (like simple natural materials and metals) really took her from “nice” to “WOW”. Another tell was the color combinations- look at the way Ethereal (especially EC) combines their color (even the brighter ones or the EDs) combine their colors. That gentle color combining aspect was never present in her best looks, nor was there Ethereal in the details. Additionally, no matter how much I tried the EDC board it always looked a bit over the top while the Natural, surprisingly enough, seemed to smooth out the look for out for her (in a good way). Moreover, I don’t know any EDC who can pull off Natural like she does... Now, I DO think she has a lot of classic so that definitely contributes to her not looking as masculine as you’d expect for an NDC, but the ethereal (especially full on EC) make her look mannish rather quick if she doesn’t temper it. Natural (especially NC) has a lot of thin materials which can read as Ethereal airy, especially when blended with Dramatic which one of the only 2 “superhuman” essences there are (Rachel has said Dramatic & Ethereal as one of the most often confused essence because of their exotic/unusual qualities).
Melanie
1/23/2020 03:11:09 pm
I think you guys are all right! 4 way blends are not as rare as you’d expect.. Rachel mentions them quite a bit & other have mentioned being type by Rachel as a 4 way blend. Rihanna was professionally identified as RG with some NI.. Lisa Bonet is ENG with some RD. I personally think Raven Symone is DNG with some E. After looking her up, I have a strong feeling that Cobie Smulders as primarily EDC with a small dose of Natural. I usually don’t pick up on stuff like this, but even I recognized how well suited she was for her lead role on her ABC show- showcases her ID, and in turn, highlights her talent! TBH, it’s one of the best casting jobs I’ve seen in a while! Keanu Reeves (EDI) in the Matrix is the last time I noticed such great casting
Ella
1/10/2020 03:31:08 am
I think she's mostly just NC.
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Vic
1/10/2020 11:57:27 am
I’m rather confident that she is Dramatic blend. If anything, that is the only essence that has consistently worked for her, even better than Natural (of course thats just my assessment). As an actress she plays off her Dramatic in her roles/characters rather believably and inspiringly, IMO
TG
1/22/2020 05:12:34 pm
NDC looked the best on her IMO! She just has to make sure to avoid the black and higher contrast looks since she has a gentler summer coloring, needs a touch of color/saturation, and isn’t naturally high contrast.
Melanie
1/23/2020 03:14:39 pm
I have a feeling she’s a 4 way blend (which isn’t as common, but isn’t rare either). I think that all of you who have commented are right- in my opinion she’s primarily EDC with a dash of Natural.
Vic
1/10/2020 03:52:37 am
Also is Sade Adu an RED or REN?
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k
1/15/2020 11:06:43 am
i don't see any natural in sade's features, more just in her presentation. i think it could be argued that she's an red.
Stormie
1/9/2020 10:05:01 pm
I’m pretty sure I’m Romantic dramatic ingenue. These romantic types of colors is probably my favorite to wear. Despite having a pretty sharp face shape I seem to get away with dressing almost entirely romantic ingenue. It’s a challenging blend to deal with. With a blend like mine it’s tempting to just add Christmas ornaments or something to the look because it’s so hard to find the right details in the right size. I could use some oversized bows for instance.
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Melina
1/10/2020 03:38:57 am
Intriguing that Rachel's RDI board is just full of those oversized bows ;) Didn't realize they were so hard to find!
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Stormie
1/10/2020 07:09:56 am
I had a hard time ruling out classic myself. ingenue came as a complete surprise to me, but now I can’t unsee it. Oversized bows works, so maybe I’ll have to make them myself or something.
Melina
1/10/2020 09:39:34 am
That sounds like a great idea, and (I guess) fairly easy to do! :) So there is a reason the RDI board is full of them, if they do work so well for RDIs ;) Maybe they can be used to eliminate D? ;) (As nothing oversized really works for me, I think.)
I'm also almost certainly RDI (typed in a different system something very close, as in, a lot of the pins are exactly the same), and I can't deal with a lot of the oversized bows either, just on a personal style level
Nicole
1/10/2020 12:00:49 pm
Have you tried Etsy? They often have great handmade hair accessories & jewelry!
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Vic
1/10/2020 02:35:17 am
And thank you for this series, Rachel! This article has helped immensely. Fingers crossed the REG board will get a new pin during this part of the color series. This ID can occasionally be tricky & frustrating to shop for!
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Nicole
1/10/2020 03:48:34 am
Any Spring RGI’s in the house?? Currently on the search for similar season people with similar ID like the rest of you. That way I can actually begin to pick out my style ID colors from my seasonal palette. But so far getting rid of natural jeans and chambray is the best thing I ever did to my closet!
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Nicole
1/10/2020 12:13:47 pm
^ Actually does anyone have any ideas for RGI casual wear? Again, I’d be SO appreciative of any RGI celebrity suggestions (especially Spring type) or any casual wear ideas for RGI. The idea of a Style ID is a whole new concept for me, but now I can’t believe I wasn’t aware of it before!
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Nicole
1/10/2020 12:13:52 pm
^ Actually does anyone have any ideas for RGI casual wear? Again, I’d be SO appreciative of any RGI celebrity suggestions (especially Spring type) or any casual wear ideas for RGI. The idea of a Style ID is a whole new concept for me, but now I can’t believe I wasn’t aware of it before!
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K
1/12/2020 02:34:27 pm
Is Brigitte Bardot an RGI? She looks it to me!
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Ella
2/7/2020 10:29:27 am
Katy Perry?
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W.
1/10/2020 02:38:44 pm
Is anyone else finding that the color guides are helping them find their best style? Just me? Because taken together, these posts have such good insights. I feel like I should have started with the colors rather than the lines.
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Melina
1/11/2020 04:35:38 am
No, not just you, W ;) Like I've been going on here (hopefully not too much, but a new discovery is always exciting!), these articles partly helped me to decide I have Classic instead of Dramatic, though it was only a small catalyst, which lead to me to re-do the calculator, and reassess my essences. :) I had the kind of opposite issue from you though, being only drawn to dark colours and having aversion to light ones, which I now feel is mainly due to R and C (and despite having I and E), though what confuses things a bit is that I don't know my season for sure.
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J
1/12/2020 03:05:11 pm
I have had almost the same experience, I think. I have known for a very long time that I was a Summer but then, in my search to understand lines etc, wasn't always sure the best ways to use colorcol bring out the different elements of my style. This series has served to solidify why I am drawn to both light and dark within my palette and not neutral's unless they have added facets, shimmer, glitter etc, and even then not usually my first choice. The series brought into focus the distnct differences io each type, in addition to color, which is extremely helpful. This also helped confirm my ID and have me ideas how to project it more effectively.
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J
1/13/2020 10:07:23 am
Sorry for the mistakes, I did it on my phone and my autocorrect is often incorrect. Lol
Trisha
1/13/2020 11:16:39 am
I was typed by Rachel early on, when she first started her system, as a Romantic Dramatic Natural - which actually, I came to realise, describes me with total accuracy, as a tall hourglass who lives in the countryside. I later sent for her colour diagnosis cards and came out a Bright Spring (later confirmed by CMB). The brighter, lighter reds work for me, going towards tomato, as well as corals and oranges. If I go too dark, into burgundies or too blue and cool in reds, I start to enter either Winter or Autumn colours, which dull my skin as well as me.
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Kim
1/13/2020 11:26:03 am
I, too, have those elements (but with Dramatic first, Romantic second). Determining your correct colors is a big deal -- really pulls everything together. I like the addition of Natural. To me that means that it's a glamorous look that messed up slightly, made more casual and wearable for every day.
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Janet
1/13/2020 11:15:20 pm
I'm wondering if anyone has any advice about style ID and makeup colors? These posts have been so helpful about how to put together colors for clothing, but I'm less sure of myself when it comes to makeup.
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T.
1/14/2020 12:14:33 am
I’ve found that the names from my perfume guide translate pretty well into my makeup/hair shade names (ie, caramel, tangerine, plum, etc)! As far as makeup finishes go, Rachel has stated that feminine leaning IDs should go for pinks & reds in shimmer/shiny finishes, & masculine leaning IDs should go for more matte finishes and neutral shades. As far as application goes, an unexpected placement of color would read as Gamine, an “in your face” placement for Dramatic, sheer would read as Ethereal, a thin layer of makeup would be more Natural, etc.. So I think you’re on the right track w/ the candy colors! I imagine a Dramatic eye (using black) with a light-med candy pink and a bright innocent blush with a dewey highlight would be nice. Come to think of it, you might like Peony Petal blush by Mac! That seems great for a youthful ED type. Also, I literally just happened to watch this tutorial yesterday but this might be an EDI friendly look as well: https://youtu.be/xUSKM2hdwyg . Best of luck on your style journey!
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Melina
1/14/2020 04:41:58 am
Ah-ha, so no wonder I've never been into the trendy "nude" makeup, having mostly feminine style ID (REIC)! Nor into very matte finishes. (And also very possibly due to my season - not sure what it is, but I do know it's one not well suited to "nude" makeup! ;)) TBH I've never understood the popularity of the "nude makeup" trend, but I guess that's also because the whole fashion nowadays is so very NG.
Melina
1/14/2020 04:43:57 am
I meant, with the fashion as a whole being so NG nowadays, it stands to reason that also NG makeup is popular. ;) But no way suited to all of us!
Janet
1/15/2020 12:42:36 am
Thanks so much, T! This was really helpful. And I was surprised how the makeup in the video is pretty similar to what I think is one of my best looks. But the woman in the video knows what she's doing a lot better than I do! I'll have to come back to it because I think it will help me make my look even better.
TG
1/14/2020 01:17:00 am
HELP PLEASE! I posted here 6 months ago but I am still totally lost about my ID! I realized that I need to find the items that I FEEL confident in that are ALSO items I get compliments on nearly every time I wear it. Once I did that, I did start to see a theme coming along but I can’t figure out what this ID is!!! Here is the link to my Pinterest with the items here: tinyurl.com/s4nns9r 🙃 It’s in order of favorite/best (at the top) to least favorite. Feel free to look at my profile pic too.
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Ella
1/14/2020 03:46:56 am
Judging from your board and profile picture, I would say Romantic Natural is a good starting point.
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TG
1/18/2020 06:27:16 pm
Thanks so much, Ella! I landed on RNG and it is an absolute perfect fit! So glad I was finally able to sit down & pin my ID over this weekend. Having the RN suggestion *really* helped me hone in on whether I was Gamine or Ingenue (the only thing I knew when I came to this system was that I had youth essence). I don’t care for (or suit) the details like dainty jewelry, babydoll tops, or tiny ingenue prints- when I wear it, it almost feels as if it’s overpowering me! Meanwhile RNG echos my affinity (and ability to pull off) creative/sexy cutouts, minimalism, and bolder colors. Thanks again for your help!!
Trisha
1/14/2020 03:53:42 am
Hi TG, the best solution would be to go for Rachel's style analysis, but if that is not affordable to you, have a look at the various two and three style combinations that are shown on this website under style analysis. Is there any grouping that shows affinity with your own preferences? Also remember, that what you like to wear or what your friends (real or virtual) like you in may have more to do with your/their own preferences that what you really look good in. It takes quite a strict and trained eye to see the structure of faces and bodies beyond the superficial level - which is not to say it can't be done. There's loads of advice in the blog section about style analysis too, so I would suggest reading that all very carefully as well - good luck. I'm sure other people will have good advice for you too.
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TG
1/18/2020 06:38:25 pm
Thanks Trisha! I took some time over this weekend to evaluate & I landed on RNG (a perfect fit)! The RNG guides have brought so much clarity and affirmation to my natural thought process whenever I’m getting dressed: minimal + sensible (natural), fresh/creative (gamine) with a dose of allure + waist/derrière emphasis (romantic). Additionally, comparing RNI to RNG really helped me ID my Gamine essence and better understand its qualities. Thanks again for your help w/ this!
Melina
1/14/2020 04:46:29 am
I second Romantic Natural as a starting point, and looking at all Rachel's boards of all blends with R & N in them, and see which one resonates best with you! :)
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TG
1/18/2020 06:44:35 pm
Thanks Melina! I landed on RNG and all of a sudden shopping for clothes makes so much more sense! :) Having the RN suggestions really helped me hone in and realize I had Gamine and not Ingenue. So glad to have this new appreciation + perspective of style and, most importantly, how I can use it to my advantage. Thanks again!
W.
1/15/2020 01:06:30 pm
Rachel: A question in advance of the ethereal color guide (maybe this is the wrong place to put this, but I'm curious...)
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V
1/16/2020 02:13:49 pm
Rachel, I see you have been refreshing & updating ALOT of ID boards recently- can you please update the RNG board as well? We RNGs would love some of the Pinterest love too!
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Anna
1/19/2020 10:51:05 pm
Hi everyone! I just recently typed as a Romantic Classic. I love the color schemes for both, but it's very difficult to do any casual looks. Also, I'm pretty sure I'm a bright winter, but I try to focus on the lines of my clothes more so than the colors. Does anyone have any recommendations?
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Melina
1/20/2020 04:18:14 am
Hi Anna, I have both of those essences too (self-typed Romantic Ethereal Ingenue Classic, all 25%), and casual is just not something that those with plenty of R & C really do well ;) But if one really has to, one way is to add some Natural to your outfits, whether one actually has N or not, it's an acknowledged way to "dress down". So, in your case maybe have a look at the Romantic Natural Classic board, to see some examples and inspiration. :)
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Anna
1/20/2020 02:54:12 pm
Hi Melina! I am also self-typed and admittedly was a little disappointed when I got Romantic Classic! I do love the fashion, but I always feel a little too fancy whenever I have to go out somewhere like the store. Thanks for the advice! I will give it a try!
Melina
1/21/2020 03:49:49 am
Glad if I could help, Anna :) And no reason be disappointed, RC is a beautiful and classy combination! :) I'm sure some people think I'm a bit too fancy or prissy in everyday life too,but who cares ;) I'm just being myself.
Amber
4/23/2020 09:38:48 pm
Hello. I have a question. I am a pure romantic but I am also a bright/clear spring. What kind of colors should I be wearing to harmonize both? Thank you!
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Susan Snyder
6/24/2020 11:05:13 am
Thank you for this post. When it first came out, I was surprised that these colors were Romantic-they look great on me, a True Autumn, Natural Classic. Better than the lighter, softer, more muted versions of Autumn palette. I used your Style Identity calculator to get to Natural Classic (I knew I was Natural, but also something more feminine.) Natural Classic was still a little harsh but I couldn't figure out the smaller amount that was missing. (Not Ingenue, I seem to be allergic to it, even as a little girl.) Doing some wardrobe planning this week, I redid the style ID looking again at the boards containing Romantic. Yes, this is the missing piece! My full mane of hair, the softer, drapey version of N&C fabrics, the touch of tiny, detailed jewelry! I already had pinned a lot of the same pins as your RNC board, long ago! Thank you so much!
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7/17/2020 09:40:25 am
I love the romantic style! The vibrant colors and the sexy, hot, and daring looks really look so good! It is the most popular style or if not, then it is the most popular style that stands out the most against all others!
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Shalin
8/20/2020 01:49:00 pm
I am a Romantic Ethereal Ingenue, so in the summer I can do a flowy white eyelet dress that reveals a good bit of skin and feel as light and free as a bird...but in the winter I have a favorite formal ensemble that reflects this Romantic depth of color. This look includes an ankle-length form-fitting deepest turquoise velvet dress. It is sleeveless and smashing, dahling! I wear it with a warm brown fluffy mink collar that looks very cozy and cuddly. I’m always surprised I can handle that depth of color when I typically wear the airier and more vibrant hues of Warm Spring...but I always feel the Romantic shine through in that dress! Note that I cannot add jewelry to this ensemble. My long curly hair is enough. Otherwise I would “overwhelm the Ingenue”.
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Lorna
11/20/2020 04:10:37 pm
Good to understand to that the darker colours in my spring pallete will be faves... I'll look out for dark jewel spring tones, hmm?!?
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Fabiola
5/19/2021 03:28:04 pm
Pues en mi caso soy muy romantica, pero mucho, las otras esencias son mis acentos y me ha resultado facil: soy invierno brillante, hay esta el truco. En negro completo es super facil tambien, por ejemplo ahora el verano: cuñas de esparto, un vestido fruncido escote off shoulder de un simple algodon, y un bolso informal. Y ya si lo quieres hacer bien mezcla rojo con negro y disfruta.. O mezcla un rojo con un verde gema, o con un azul fuerte....
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Angie
11/7/2021 09:12:22 pm
I am a RC Soft Autumn and colors can be difficult for me. I think Soft autumn reds are kind of tricky and don’t mesh well with my classic side. I usually go for classic colors - beige, navy, etc…for daytime and I go for rich soft autumn greens for evening.
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Jessika
12/7/2022 11:48:45 am
I got typed as a 30-30-30 mix of Classic Romantic Ethereal by the style ID calculator. Of these, the Classic translates to the need for my complete look to feel cohesive, polished and refined. Understated often looks boring on me but if I don't look polished, the whole look looks off.
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