I didn't even think about separates before I knew my style type. But how you put separates together actually has a big effect on the impression you make. Romantics, Ethereals, Classic, and Dramatics are each best in a head-to-toe look. If you think about it, this makes sense, because all four of these types are formal and grown-up in their own way: the Romantic is mature womanly sexiness, the Classic is a "ladylike" adult woman, the Dramatic is a powerful ruler, and the Ethereal is an immortal being. None of these pure types is youthful or casual enough to look her best in an obvious use of separates.
Another easy way to do a head-to-toe look is to just wear a dress. Ethereals, Romantics, and Classics have a lot of great dress options.
Speaking of which: the message a Natural sends with her use of separates is, "I own nothing but separates, and I basically just throw them together because that's how confident I am, but the effect is never weird, because I can't be bothered to put in enough effort to make it deliberately weird, because that's how casual I am."
A Gamine's use of separates says, "I deliberately combine separates no one else would dare to put together, because that's how fun and quirky I am. I want you to notice!"
If you're a blend of two or three types, as most women are, and you manifest Natural, Gamine, or Ingenue through your use of separates, you'll want to lean a bit more heavily on your other essence (or two) to balance the effect. So, for example, A Natural-Classic-Ingenue combining separates in a casual, Natural way would take extra care to bring in Classic and Ingenue in other aspects of her look. If you're not sure of your style type, try the Style ID Calculator!
29 Comments
Another Rachel
10/8/2019 07:58:17 am
This makes total sense! Thank you!
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Melina J.G.
10/10/2019 12:28:25 pm
All set! Loving my new guides! (P.S., you can use the scent notes on the perfume guide as a guide for the best makeup & hair colors to purchase!)
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Melina
10/11/2019 03:28:14 am
Great that your problem was solved, my namesake! :) I'm just intrigued as to how can one use the scent notes on the perfume guide as a guide for the best makeup & hair colours..? Sounds interesting, anyway :)
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Ella
10/15/2019 02:43:39 am
Dakota Johnson maybe?
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Ella
10/15/2019 02:49:00 am
Nevermind I think she's more Classic than that.
Megan
10/15/2019 11:06:55 am
Think Debby Ryan is RNI. Selena Gomez is another possibility, though actually looking at her compared to Debby, I think Selena may be RNG.
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Melina
10/11/2019 03:24:52 am
A good thing that I have plenty of Ingenue, otherwise I'd be in trouble with wearing separates ;) (With R, D and E as my other essences.) I do love dresses, but they have to be of fairly specific type to suit everyday life (which includes none of the dress options shown above).
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Karen
10/16/2019 10:04:28 am
Melina, can you explain anything more about the dress which could fit everyday life please! As A RCE I'm realizing why I have so much trouble dressing for everyday after reading this article. I don't have a drop of Natural or Ingenue (and I'm only Gamine in my short legs ; )
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Melina
10/17/2019 04:03:59 am
Karen, I don't have any G either, and not much N (if any), but dressing down usually means adding some N, even if it's not among your essences, and a little - e.g. so-called jersey dresses are fine for everyday, I've found :) (Like e.g. these: https://www.vickerey.com/wpr3285-prana-nadia-dress-coal.html , https://www.amazon.com/Womens-Casual-Solid-Print-Sleeve/dp/B07D7K1W3X - hope the links work! :) ) Of course, adjusted as per your own specific combination of essences, but I would think this kind of dresses could also suit a R-C-E :) (I'm R-I-E-D, most likely.)
Melina
10/17/2019 04:07:20 am
And yeah, now realized the links don't work as such here, of course, but only by copy & pasting ;)
KC
10/19/2019 07:22:15 pm
I would think relying on Classic dresses for everyday (and then using R/E accessories) would be a good strategy, since Classic is simple and put-together without necessarily being overdressed. You'll probably have more flexibility in dress styles during the spring/summer season, since flirty, flowy, feminine dresses are all the rage that time of year.
Ilona
10/13/2019 03:44:03 am
This was very helpful and interesting. I found it especially helpful to take a look at my essences one by one and then adding another essence to see how the separates or the lack of them changed. For example C, then CI and finally RCI.
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Kermit
10/14/2019 01:08:43 pm
My work just instituted an all-black policy and this explains why I always feel so goth and solemn in all black duds even though I’m one of the winters. I’m a Gamine Ingenue, so I almost always feel like I’m in someone else’s clothing when I wear all black (unless I accessorize to a wild degree). Interesting. I wonder how I can navigate this. A challenge presents itself! 🖤 I’m already wearing separates or feminine dresses each day, but my skinny jeans and pants kind of read more Dramatic than Gamine...maybe I’ve gotta get my ankles out.
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Melina
10/15/2019 01:28:24 pm
Interesting, as I have kind of the opposite problem from you, Kermit - I feel only too much at home in black, even though it may not be in my seasonal palette... Now I realize it's probably (or partly) because of more than an ounce of Dramatic, must be more than I thought. And while black isn't usually seen as very Romantic or Ethereal, those are formal essences after all, as noted above, and black *is* a formal colour! (My main essences are R and I, plus most likely E and D.)
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KC
10/19/2019 07:01:03 pm
When they say all-black, does that include accessories? ;)
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Luminous
10/15/2019 01:44:09 pm
I would love soms tips for winter clothes as an ethereal ingenue and warm spring colouring. Any ideas or pinterest boards?
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T.N.
10/19/2019 02:04:52 pm
Help! I am a curly haired REG and I have an hair appointment for next week but I have no idea what to say I want for my haircut. I want to stay med-long length, and I kinda want something like layers but layers are very Natural... what’s my alternative here? My natural hair texture is “3B”.
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T.N.
10/19/2019 03:15:09 pm
Sorry I meant I’m looking for RCG haircuts & colors, not REG
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KC
10/19/2019 06:55:25 pm
Hi T.N. I don't know if you already read these posts from Rachel, but they might give you some ideas:
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T.N.
10/20/2019 11:34:56 pm
Thank you!!! You put a new perspective on how I see my ID’s beauty!
T.N.
10/23/2019 12:16:56 am
Also, anyone know what Mandy Moore’s style ID is? We have somewhat similar coloring and I can see she has Romantic, but I can’t figure out what else! The only thing I don’t necessarily see in her is Classic or youth essences
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Megan
10/24/2019 03:16:31 pm
Agree that Moore doesn't have Classic or youth essence. I think probably Ethereal Dramatic Natural. She looks good next to that board, and the curves in her face do appear more ovals (Ethereal) than round (Romantic).
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Mariana
10/29/2019 09:56:04 pm
So how do you reconcile NGI?
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Janelle
11/13/2019 03:51:10 pm
Mariana, what do you mean by reconcile? I’m NGI and would try to answer your question if you elaborated a bit more. :)
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Mariana Reynolds
11/21/2019 11:17:31 am
Hi Janelle. Allegedly I am as well.
Melina
10/19/2020 03:23:09 am
Mariana, at least the superbly easy thing for a NGI is that you can basically stick to separates only! ;) You got that part nailed down, a no-brainer. and as the article says, that's pretty much the only everyday wear you find in shops nowadays, so I think NGI's have it way easier that those with mostly, or merely, formal IDs, who struggle with separates. (Like me, whose only non-formal essence is Ingenue... ;)) As to how to reconcile the "message" N, G and I each send with their use of separates, that is admittedly trickier - but can't an outfit (consisting of separates only, ofc) be quirky, pretty and casual all the same time? I don't see why not :)
Janelle
11/24/2019 10:59:05 am
Mariana,
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Mariana
11/26/2019 12:16:14 pm
Janelle, I don't know what to say except for thanks for responding to my initial post. :)
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k
11/27/2019 10:52:47 pm
Honestly, separates are a godsend. I'm (probably) RDI and my hips and thighs are a full size larger than my bust and torso; I'm also pretty short, which throws off the proportions of most dresses since they're designed for women half a foot taller than me. Plus, it's really hard to find non-separates that have waist definition that's pronounced/structured enough to work on me. Belting doesn't cut it, soft lines often look frumpy. Often the best option is tucking in.
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