Discover your color palette and your style type.

Style Identities: The INGENUE

5/3/2015

Ingenue beauty is often what you're seeing if someone is clearly "pretty," but you'd feel uncomfortable styling her in overtly sexy clothes because she just looks too darn sweet.

Laura Linney -- try to imagine her dressed like J.Lo.

Lupita Nyong'o -- would you ever style her like Salma Hayek?

The curving line is the defining line of all the feminine types, but Ingenue's circles are small and restrained, rather than large and lush.

Brandy Norwood looks adorable with tiny curls surrounding her face.

Ingenues look appropriate, not ridiculous, in girlish details such as small bows, tiny flowers, headbands, simple lockets, and puffed sleeves.

The Ingenue face is quite round, with a tiny, tapered chin, a small, pert nose, round, wide-set eyes, a large forehead, round cheeks, and plump lips. Ingenues often have naturally curly hair; if they don't they are still flattered by curls. Overall, an Ingenue reads as girlish.

Jane Krakowski in puffed sleeves.

Jayma Mays with bow detail.

By contrast, they look silly -- like a kid playing dress-up -- in anything "sexy" or womanly, such as elaborate jewelry or a plunging neckline..

In more sexy styles, she looks like a little girl playing dress-up.

Alison Brie. In modest pink floral, she is lovely.

And of course, Ingenues are no less sexual than any other people. It's just that visually, they read as girlish rather than womanly.

Eyes that appear very light relative to the overall coloring read as youthful, and therefore Ingenue (or Gamine).

Zooey Deschanel's eyes are surprising light for her coloring.

So are Rihanna's.

Note that this signifier should be interpreted relative to the overall coloring. On a pink-skinned, yellow-haired person, deep blue eyes probably won't read as Ingenue. On a brown-skinned person with black hair, caramel or light brown eyes will read as youthful.

(On the topic of eyes, a dark ring around the iris also contributes to an impression of Gamine or Ingenue. Such a ring is characteristic of kids' eyes but not of adults' eyes.)

Rihanna's dark-ringed iris.

Emma Stone's dark-ringed iris.

Ingenues appear authentic and relaxed with sincere, joyful smiles.

Olivia Newton-John

Emma Stone

Ingenues often hear "pretty," "cute," "sweet," and "adorable." They're not perceived by strangers as intimidating, mysterious, tough, or intense.

This can be frustrating to an Ingenue with a more assertive, competitive, or no-nonsense personality.

If that's you, my advice is to take advantage of the element of surprise that your innocent appearance grants you. They won't see you coming. :-)

They think you're all...

But you're actually...

69 Comments

moni

2/17/2015 02:39:52 am

I find this whole style identity posts really interesting! However, when I read it, I understand it but I find it very difficult to put it into practice. I have no idea what I and most people I know could be, unlike color, which seems like something more intuitive.
Does the eye thing only apply to Ingenues? Also, about Rihanna, I think she can pull of the sexy look? Sigh, this is confusing! Hopefully I will learn more with your posts.

And one last thing, do you think that altering the way we look modifies our identities or season? For example, plastic sugery, hair dye, colored contacts...

Kate

2/17/2015 04:19:48 am

Ha ha ha, brilliant. Love the last pictures (Dang! She looks like a mean old B***!). Every time I try to come across sweet and innocent, it just doesn't work. Arouses suspicion. What's she trying to hide? Guess no ingenue for me! Great stuff to read.

Abir

2/17/2015 12:34:31 pm

Thank you so much for continuing this series! I've been waiting for the ingenue post as I've had an inkling it's my style identity.
I gravitate towards baby doll dresses, lace, and bows. I've never had anyone say I'm sexy. Guys who get crushes on me always do because they think I look sweet. I have a small bust, small waist, the smallest hands, and even though I'm 5'5," I look a lot shorter than my mother who is an inch shorter.
I have three questions though: I have very dark eyes. Does that matter?
Can you be ingenue and romantic? Or is that a combination that doesn't make sense.
As Ingenues get older, how do you dress in your style without looking like you're trying to be young? I always thought women who were older and dressed young looked a bit ridiculous. Is it harder for Ingenues to look ridiculous in young clothing even when they get older or do they have to alter their style slightly?

Solania

2/18/2015 05:39:08 pm

Yes, it is possible to be a Romantic Ingenue blend. Like Marilyn Monroe and Scarlett Johansson. They can appear sweet and sexy at the same time!

Diane

2/17/2015 01:09:25 pm

Hi Rachel,

Thank you for writing this detailed article about ingenues. It is easy to understand ingenue with the article you wrote. I don't think I am an ingenue now that I have read this article.

My question is what if you cannot find your own style identity?

Is it possible for some one to be none of the style identities?

Mary Ellen

2/17/2015 03:53:17 pm

Can any color type be any style essence? I'm thinking that deep colors wouldn't work so wel for an ingénue. Also, how would an ingénue modify her look if she has white or silver hair? Would the hair color make her look too mature to pull off this style type?

Abir

2/19/2015 03:31:39 pm

I am convinced I am ingenue but I'm also a dark winter and deep colors really suit me. Even though I had no idea I was Ingenue, I noticed that I gravitated toward burgundies and deep jewel tones but the clothing silhouettes were very girlish. Baby doll dresses, lace, etc.
I am also interested how age affects Ingenue's style.

1/23/2017 06:08:53 am

I am a Dark Winter too, and an Ingenue / Natural. One of the original examples of ingenue was Helen Hayes, who had dark blue eyes. The original books were euro-centric, but in these more inclusive times the categories should be able to fit all races. Look at all the super cute asian pop stars these days! Lots of them are very ingenue but they have high contrast and dark eyes and hair. Most babies in the world are born with dark brown eyes so dark eyes can look youthful too. Personally, I think coloring, impression, and personality are all separate and can be combined in all ways. With 7 billion people on the planet there's all combinations!

As far as age, originally it was thought that all ingenues matured into classics or romantics. I'm not sure that's true, but a mature ingenue may want to incorporate elements from one of those categories. Also, most people have a secondary category and so you could draw from that if ingenue feels too childlike. Betty White is a senior example of an Ingenue / Gamine.

Abir

2/20/2015 04:25:46 am

Your comment made me realize how color and style create a vast number of looks. Because if you're ingenue but a dark winter like me then there's contradictions that make me so different from an ingenue that is a light spring. This is not even taking into account that most people are two style identities which makes things really interesting.

Peridot83

2/24/2015 04:45:37 am

Oh I think lots of ingenues/gamines even though childlike in face/appearance look great in dark colors (Audrey Hepburn is a gamine example). Maybe dark ingenues/gamines have an advantage with age, because it's easier to pull off the small whimsical aspects in darker colors than it is if you look best in powder pink and powder blue.

Maria B.

2/18/2015 11:18:03 pm

Sorry to bump in with more questions. Your articles are really interesting.
I was wondering if hair texture/colour could also make a person seem more youthful. For example, having baby fine or very light hair?

Is there a rule to help people decide whether they are a certain type or type combination? How would you differentiate, for example, between an Ingenue with some Gamine features and a Gamine Ingenue? Could Lupita Nyong'o be a Gamine Ingenue? Sorry, if I'm asking an awkward question. I'm not good at this, but I'm trying to learn.

Sally L.

2/19/2015 06:46:58 pm

I thoroughly enjoy reading your blog posts. This one is no exception. It is just as wonderfully insightful as the others. Looking forward to the next one. :)

Rachel Arnt-Schemmel

2/23/2015 12:47:46 pm

Coloring definitely contributes to an overall impression. It's one factor of many. Light coloring contributes to an impression of youthfulness (Ingenue or Gamine); high-contrast coloring contributes to a Dramatic or Romantic impression; low-contrast coloring contributes to an Ethereal impression; muted coloring contributes to a Natural impression...

Rachel Arnt-Schemmel

2/23/2015 12:52:40 pm

Dark Winter coloring might add an element of Romantic or Dramatic to a primarily Ingenue style ID.

Abir

2/23/2015 02:44:19 pm

Rachel, I knew I was an Ingenue but was wondering what my second identity was which is why I asked if a person could be Ingenue and Romantic. Your comment on dark winter adding a romantic element to Ingenue answered my question. Yay! Thank you!

Rachel Arnt-Schemmel

2/23/2015 12:54:58 pm

All of the details of appearance contribute to the overall impression. Texture and coloring are part of it.

I'm working on a tool that will help women DIY their style identities. I hope you all won't have to wait too much longer!

:-)

Peridot83

2/24/2015 04:50:20 am

It has interesting implications for ethnicity too! To a western eye, a lot of other ethnicity groups have highly gamine/ingenue faces due to being smaller with smaller faces and features and full cheeks. Yet their bodies/coloring/personality may suggest a highly different type. Like poor Selena Gomez who has a highly ingenue face but clearly would like to dress her body/project a personality that's different.

Rachel Arnt-Schemmel

2/23/2015 12:56:44 pm

There are absolutely women with grey or white hair who still create a very youthful impression. Betty White is the most frequently cited example. Jane Goodall also comes to mind.

Abir

2/23/2015 02:43:39 pm

Thank you for answering all our questions except I'm still wondering how Ingenues should dress as they get older. I've always felt that older women who try to dress young and girlish just end up looking older. There's always the sense that older means more sophisticated clothing.
Are Ingenues an exception? Can they get away with girlish clothing after 40? Or is there a way to keep the Ingenue style but it needs to be altered? I can't figure it out.

Rachel Arnt-Schemmel

2/23/2015 03:08:35 pm

Harriet McJimsey writes, and I agree, that many women with Ingenue qualities lose them to some extent as they age. So, to the extent that your Ingenue decreases, you'd decrease those elements in your look. But if you retain a lot of ingenue, you can still successfully wear a lot of Ingenue in your look. It's probable that you'll lose some as you age, but it's not certain. Jane Goodall is someone I can easily picture in pigtails. :-)

Monica

2/24/2015 03:48:25 am

Hello Rachel. Thank you for your informative posts. With regards to colouring where would medium contrast fit in for the style types? Ex: pale/light colouring with medium/dark blue eyes but not with a significant dark ring around the iris and naturally medium/light brown hair dyed light blonde.(analyzed True Spring). Thought I was ingenue blend but now...?

Katie

2/24/2015 08:48:49 am

I was browsing your pintrest boards and I came across a photo of Michelle Williams in the Gamine Ingenue board. I think Ginnifer Goodwin is a Gamine Ingenue as well.The dress and pixie cut that Michelle was wearing reminded me of Goodwin. Sweet and spunky describes Goodwin's street style perfectly.
Evidence:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/132011832797584916/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/460422761877896351/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/284993482641602163/
Last photo looks great because it looks like her natural hair color.

Kay

2/25/2015 03:17:49 pm

You just explained why interactions of all sorts (except business, now not-so-ironically) has been so awkward ALL MY LIFE-until now. Where Were you during my school years! Haha I Looove it, please keep these posts up. God bless you!!! You're a total Godsend.

Paulina P.

2/26/2015 09:07:05 am

Thank you so much for this article! It helped me realize that I am possibly some type of an ingenue and opened my eyes to the whole new brand of femininity.

I read your previous article on feminine visual beauty, but even then I didn't connect the dots - I didn't feel feminine at all. When I looked at myself, I only saw shortness, naive-looking face and lack of sex appeal. I envied other women who seemed much more attractive than me. I wanted to be more luscious, more regal, more mysterious, more interesting... more "something".

It only "clicked" when I saw your pictures of Alison Brie - they reminded me of my own attempts to appear sexy. There was always that feeling that I'm a few years too young for my own clothes.

I'm still unsure what my exact style identity is, but I think I'm now much closer to determining it. I enjoy looking at all those pretty ingenue things that I previously avoided. I don't have to struggle anymore; I can embrace my inherent sweetness. And it feels sooo good.

To all the ladies that still feel insecure about themselves: don't be! I'm convinced now that there is a style identity for every person, just like everyone has their best set of colors. Quite possibly the things that you currently dislike about yourself are the same things that make you unique and interesting - and with the right style they will shine, becoming your greatest asset.

Morgan

3/1/2015 07:10:33 pm

I think Lupita Nyongo is a Romantic, not an Ingenue at all. I´m speaking about her face, not her body, because I´m not sure about the last. But her face is totally a Romantic one, with all the traits that make a woman look sexy and feminine. She is sweet, but she doesn´t look like a girl, but a grown woman. Her sexy is not agresive, but she is not girlish either, and she is much more than simply "pretty".

lunchcoma

3/5/2015 04:40:13 pm

Thank you so much for doing the three-way identities! I think I only have two, but looking through them really helped me clarify what my style identity was. When I’ve tried with other systems, I’ve always started at Romantic because my body type seems to fit the description, and have gotten a bit frustrated when the clothes suggested tend not to be all that flattering.

When I went through your sets, I started there too with the same results. I paged through the rest out of curiosity, and when I got to Dramatic Ingenue I saw pictures of a celebrity whose facial features strongly resemble mine and a bunch of clothes that look like ones people tend to compliment me on. I hadn’t heard of the Ingenue identity before reading this blog, but Dramatic Ingenue does seem to fit with comments I sometimes hear like “pretty in an odd way” and “you’re so much nicer than I thought you’d be when I first saw you” (!). I suspected that I might be a Romantic-Dramatic-Ingenue, maybe just because I was used to thinking of Romantic as a likely suspect.

Now that I see the sets, though, only some of the ones in that one work for me, and I think the part that’s working are the Dramatic and Ingenue ones. I looked at other three-way sets that included those elements, and felt the same feeling of seeing some things that might work but others that wouldn’t, even when the third one was something like Classic, which I’m pretty sure I don’t have any of at all. So, it ends up being a really helpful check. (Also, thanks for including pictures of women in their 30s and 40s in the Ingenue post and the Dramatic Ingenue Pinterest set – I think I would have rejected that identity pretty firmly if I hadn’t seen some examples of what it might look like on a woman closer to my age.)

sarah timmins

3/15/2015 04:56:25 am

Hi. I love reading your blog and I had a question. I think I am a light summer (despite having medium brown hair and grey-green eyes) and I also think I am an ingenue style. I work as a social worker and have to dress smart/casual and fairly pratical. Any tips for me as a light summer ingenue? i also need to be taken seriously lol. x

Melissa

4/19/2015 05:36:01 pm

Still anxiously awaiting the long-promised Romantic and Ethereal posts (pretty please.....?) ;-)

Eleanna link

7/9/2015 10:07:25 pm

Hi! Thank you very much for posting this! I was identified as a Natural Ingenue a few years ago by a stylist, but I'm always happy to read more about it. I also love the photos of current celebrities that you have included. Always helps. I'm also a Dark Summer (or Soft Summer, depending on style school). Any ideas for haircuts? I've had my hair in long layers and bangs for ages and I'm really bored by now. How could I change it without going against the "sweet" and "cute" image that I have?

Sonny

8/31/2015 05:32:23 am

I think a blunt bob or "lob" with bangs would be super cute - like Emma Stone's current haircut.

kostadina

7/29/2015 09:54:45 am

hallo.I am ingenue because i made the analysis of style and i have a question.What kind of haircut is for an ingenue woman?long or short? because i have long hair and lot...sometimes i feel little dark..please help me.

Cozycat

5/19/2016 12:53:24 am

Thank you for your blog! I love it! I would like to suggest a few more possible ingenues to the list: Kristen Bell (Classic Ingenue), Kirsten Dunst (I'm guessing Romantic Natural Ingenue or Classic Natural Ingenue?), Kristin Kreuk (Natural Classic Ingenue), Kristen Stewart (Dramatic Gamine Ingenue? or is she Dramatic Natural Gamine?), Alexis Bledel (Ethereal Gamine Ingenue), Ariana Grande (Dramatic Ingenue), Megan Good (Dramatic Romantic Ingenue/Gamine), Jennifer Garmer (Natural Classic Ingenue), Miranda Kerr (Maybe Romantic Gamine Ingenue? not sure about the gamine part though...), And one of my favorite ingenues of all time, Kate Bush. She definitely looks like an Ethereal Natural Ingenue to me, especially when she was in her teens and up to her 30's. Maybe now that she's older and heavier, she's more Romantic than Ingenue? This is fun...and whoah I just read through my list, and that's alot of Kristens/Kirstens lol!

Cozycat

5/19/2016 03:22:21 am

Oh,I forgot to add Rachel McAdams to the list above....and Selena Gomez.

Melina

9/8/2016 11:09:21 am

I'd like to ask whether you see an age limit for Ingenues? This might seem a strange thing to ask, and it wouldn't have occurred to me otherwise (as it's counterintuitive to me), but on another site someone said women can only be Ingenue until around 25 max (and scathing words about women over 40 trying to look like teenagers)... I had thought one can be any type, whatever your age? As surely we all know there are women who are youthful and girlish until an advanced age, even though it seems some people are actively denying this...

Candle

12/16/2016 02:50:37 am

I can't answer for the author and I am probably very under qualified and I am not even sure if you still are looking. But here are my thoughts never the less. My mother (definitely is over 40) has ingenue in her. She isn't pure ingenue but it's definitely a factor. She has always looked and read as 'young for her age' and still does. And while she can definitely no longer pull off lacy shorts she incorporates the minature and delicate into more 'mature' styles and it works.

For another example some vintage stars definitely carried on with the girlish elements of their clothes well into middle age and beyond with no problem.

I think this stylist doesn't realise that girlishness and youth are the precise identity of ingenues and it isn't erased by age. Another factor could be her bias. She clearly sees girlishness as un-womanly (under developed in either their body or mind) When the point of this isn't to decide who is or isn't womanly but to provide a basis for people to decide out of all the many options what will look good on them.

Tl/dr: The basis on inguene style is girlishness, They will alway appear young for their age and dressing them in something deemed 'age appropriate' will always look a little to a very odd.

Melina

12/16/2016 03:35:29 am

Thanks for your reply, Candle :) I have since found I'm a Romantic-Ethereal-Ingenue, so it's definitely a part of me too.
And it's not something I often like to admit but I'm over 40 myself too, and people usually take me for younger, often *much* younger. Oh, and I hate the term "age appropriate", this may partly explain why ;)

Stroppy Ingenue

4/14/2017 07:38:52 am

***Body and personality doesn't suit 'face personality' of Ingenue*** ANYONE ELSE?

Really interesting page- thank you. I'd like to comment on the last bit:

'Ingenues often hear "pretty," "cute," "sweet," and "adorable." They're not perceived by strangers as intimidating, mysterious, tough, or intense.

This can be frustrating to an Ingenue with a more assertive, competitive, or no-nonsense personality.'

I recently had my style analysed and came out as Natural Ingenue. When asked right at the beginning of the session what word I'd like people to describe me as, I said 'anything but cute, I get it all the time and I dislike it'. I've always had this problem and it is intensely irritating. I'm a teacher and even students say I'm cute. It's frustrating because my personality isn't cute at all. I've been dressing more Natural Gamine, T-Shirts, jeans, rucksack for most of my twenties (almost 30) and when dressing up, more sexy. I have extreme curves, huge butt, hips and wobbly thighs (which I like), smallish waist. I also have difficult feet which means I have to wear walking boots all the time, I always clomp around!

Essentially my body and personality don't match my face. I've been wearing little flowers in my hair and bought some aquamarine jewellry... and yes, I can see it does match my face better. But waist down, I really can't wear delicate Ingenue skirts/dresses/trousers because of my difficult clompy feet.

Anyone else have this issue? Thanks in anticipation for any sharing!

Rachel

4/14/2017 09:24:03 am

Hi! I'm Ethereal Natural, and I accommodate my big feet and muscular legs by going more Natural than Ethereal from the waist down.

Re: the contrast between exterior and interior: I'm science-minded and perhaps data-obsessed, but as an EN I read more "hippy-dippy earth mama." I don't mind the contrast; I enjoy surprising people. But we can use Style Identity Analysis in a practical way to achieve our interpersonal impression goals: when I have needed to come across as more serious, I have added Classic- or Dramatic-influenced items to my ensembles. I keep a couple of conservative dresses and blazers in my closet for this purpose. Adding C or D to my outfit sacrifices a bit of my authentic beauty, but it occasionally feels correct for the occasion. (Is it actually? Do I actually appear more authoritative as a C-inflected Ethereal Natural? Maybe it's just a placebo effect. Doesn't matter, though, does it?-- how we feel is the whole point of this.)

Whit

4/14/2017 02:31:38 pm

< meant to hit reply - long answer below in comments :) >

Stroppy Ingenue

4/16/2017 03:09:15 am

Hi Rachel and Whit,

Thank you so much for your supportive replies!

Ethereal style wasn't an option at the House of Colour style I went to- but through research can see it loads on here!

I have bought a couple of Hobbs linen navy jackets (£20 from Ebay- yessss!) to smarten up my look for school. I've always thought navy is a great authoritative colour. Definitely agree that it is how we 'feel'. It's bizarre how something as simple as a change in neckline or pair of earrings can make you feel different. Sounds cheesy, but for years I've not liked looking in the mirror, but since I started to dress more for my style than just Natural or Gamine, I've not minded. Was always trying to dress like my Classic Gamine sister--- 'why don't I look as sassy as her!?'

Funny because my Myers Briggs personality test I come out as an INTP which is characterised by fierce independence and prefers logic over feeling. An INTP in regards of personality is probably the antithesis to the stereotype of Ingenue... but I'm determined to make it work and dress in a comfortable, independent way without feeling like a princess in a tower waiting to be saved!

Love your link to Julie Andrews. My dad always says my mum looks like her and how you've described how one wouldn't cross her, is very, very true of my mum. She dresses Ingenue Classic I think and always looks very natural but assertive. I think all this style analysis is good at helping you look and feel as you say Whit, 'authentic'.

Interesting how you and me are different, short hair looks atrocious on me, suddenly I look like a really cross boy somehow! Patterns seem ok on me but I don't want to overdo it!

Thank you both for your replies, this was really interesting and supportive. I shall be channeling Julie Andrews from now on!

Whit

4/14/2017 02:29:05 pm

Hi Stroppy,

I, too, have an element of ingenue that I didn't really want to acknowledge. Like you, I often get called 'cute' - even when I'm trying to be authoritative or rational. And I, too, am a teacher. So I completely feel your pain. I used to say to my husband, "Okay, so *again* someone asked me if I needed help when I was just trying to do my work like I always do. Do I just have a 'Treat Me Like A Kid' sign attached to my forehead or something?" Turns out, I kinda do. ('Course, there are probably other elements at play there, but I don't doubt that's part of it.)

So, in a way, that's super annoying. In another way, it's really helpful to know that something in my features tends to make people think 'cute' and 'aawwww.' I guess this explains why strangers frequently tell me their entire life stories. Ingenues look trustworthy.

And THAT has been my saving grace in this: ingenues look trustworthy, even if people at first doubt their competence. I saw this really great TED talk about how Trust is the most important thing to establish at work. That if people trust you, they listen. For a teacher, this looks like 'trust me, I do know this subject.' (As in, I am trustworthy AND competent) or 'trust me, if you do not do the assignment like I asked, there *will* be a poor grade to follow'. I find that this can sometimes jar people - oh, you looked so NICE - well, I AM nice, but I'm also going to be hella honest with you. And if you mess around in my class, you're going to get what I promised from the first - a consequence.

My muse in all this is Julie Andrews, actually. She gets categorized as a 'soft classic' all the time - but I think most of that 'soft' is ingenue - and ethereal. But while she looks all sweet, in the movies you see that five seconds after meeting here, you would NOT want to mess with her. She still has a doll face - and I would never, ever cross Dame Julie.

I don't know if that helps at all, but I found that by embracing ingenue - a little, anyhow - it made me look more authentic - much more so than forcing myself into dramatic classic work clothes that just made me look old. In ingenue-inspired details (with classic elements overlaid) I found I seem a lot more approachable and 'me.'

A couple thoughts on how I use ingenue details: I avoid patterns like the plague (that's the classic element in me). Bows are ok, maybe, but I leave them for casual wear. Short hair works well for an ingenue, and is professional and easy to care for (again, the Julie Andrews effect). It works really great as pretty, special jewelry - lockets, charm-style braclets, etc. a little goes a long way. Also, I tend to stick with high-waisted things - it works for my body type, and reads ingenue - so cropped blazers, short-waisted dresses, belting cardis at above the natural waist.

But yeah, I hear you. And I wish you the best of luck with professionalizing this identity. Again, I think Dame Julie Andrews, and I tend to find something that looks 'cute on the outside, but dayum, I do mean business' right under the surface.

Good luck!

Stroppy Ingenue

4/16/2017 03:10:04 am

Hi Whit,

Thank you for your reply... I've replied on the original thread above.

Beth

7/4/2017 12:05:43 am

The more I study myself; the more I think I am very probably just a grown up Ingénue. Several other fashion/style/personality sites seem to concur. I think what may be the most indicating factor other than until I tried to be someone I was not ( some co-workers, friends etc. calling me gentle, sweet, creative, imaginative, etc. ) is the very prominent gray ring around my eyes which are kind of blue; kind of green; but I wear much more blue than green; just sometimes mint or aqua.
Finally, I just decided and I discussed with my hairstylist that I am mostly a Summer; not Autumn, Spring, or Winter; as my coloring is also gentle and cool. And, I say "cool" because I went premature gray; but most people guess my age up to twenty or so years younger and I have great looking gray hair. I need to not "brag" But, I did finally figure out that in photographs when I wear flaming orange; I look very ungainly and not like me at all. (like I am a big mac truck; instead of a sweet grown up girl.) Thank you. .

Lilac

7/31/2017 04:58:16 pm

Hello Rachel!
I have a question: If a woman is an ingenue, but she is around 40 years old, will she still look appropriate with all those floral prints and bows? :)
Reply

Eve

3/1/2018 04:08:08 am

This article is really interesting, the pictures of Alison Brie made me realize I might have a large part of Ingenue.
Do you think Alison Brie is a blend of different styles? I totally agree that she has a large part of ingenue, but could she have some classic too? Or other styles?

konstadina Ioannidou

5/22/2018 06:54:01 am

Hallo. i made the analysis on house of colour, and i discovered that i am summer ingenue. As i reading articles about the 12 seasons, i believe that maybe i am a deep winter.I have dark brown eyes, dark brown is my natural colour of hair but when i dye my hair black, it seems to strange on me. It is very very hard on my face. My skin is not very dark except on summer, which becomes bright chocolate. But my natural skin is lighter. I think that black and white doesnt suits me as i told you. But as i am in ingenue, everything which doesnt seem natural, is not good to me. What do you believe is my season tone? Please help me. I have read a lot lot lot articles and i am totally confused. Very Large and little round, dark-brown eyes, dark brown hair but not black. rose beige skin tone on winter, chocolate on summer. I forgot to tell you that i get tanned of the sun very easy. i dont get burned at all as i read for summers. How can i be a summer, as my eyes are not light? Thank you.

Shawna

6/4/2018 01:14:29 am

I know this is an old post but I've just figured out that I've got some Ingenue in me and enough for it to need accounting for. In fact, thanks to you I've figured out that I have a significant amount of ethereal and a dash of ingenue so it is no wonder I was struggling with Kibbe! I am tall and have an intense personality ( am an MBT INTJ) so this is a bit confusing at the moment. I think I have read the Ingenue aspect as Classic until now and it does seem that I might have equal Ingenue and Classic elements. Still exploring and thinking. Thanks so much for all this food for thought you provide.

Lydia

6/22/2018 02:57:51 am

Do you think body type comes into the picture for an ingenue? I have a very youthful and sweet face. I often hear "cute," "adorable," "pretty," and "sweet," more than "beautiful." But I have a distended gut and I'm a bit on the wide side. But in my acting class, I was cast as the sweet innocent one for nearly every scene I did. Would body type come into the equation for acting/casting?

Kellie link

12/19/2018 04:07:38 pm

I think I have an Ingenue element but also a natural and maybe something else.
I think as many Ingenue’s could use this style in touches at any age if the whole look seems to much.

I am looking for a famous example(s) of the Igenune/ Natural

Zoa

10/11/2020 01:06:12 pm

Why do you have Olivia newton's picture in both the gamine and the ingenue?

Melina

10/12/2020 02:52:33 am

Why not? It's entirely possible for someone to have both these essences, as most people are a combination of 2-3 essences, some even 4 :)

Arletta

10/14/2020 12:09:03 am

But, I - the free and spirited Flamboyant Natural - have a dark ring around my iris and you said I was average, nothing remarkable, etc.

I do hope you'll consider rethinking and rewriting some of this blog of yours. Especially about Naturals and Gamines. And, give others equal treatment to the love letter you wrote to Classic Woman and the sub-typing of the Dramatics.

What you wrote about Naturals sounds purely hateful. I am saddened by it. I only came to your blog because a woman who would never say such things about other women showed how well you typed her and helped her see something good about herself that she did not (at least not fully) know. It was impressive.

Now, your actual blog is depressive and oppressive to the Naturals. You are making people miserable, basically telling them they are the ugly, worthless women of all the types. Shame on you!

Melina

10/20/2020 03:28:18 am

Arletta, what on earth are you on?! :o Naturals are actually praised *a lot* in this blog, just as all others, I've seen nothing hateful or oppressive towards them whasoever. Which would certainly be weird, considering the blog owner is herself mostly Natural...! You've truly got the wrong end of the stick there! And seeing as "Flamboyant Natural" is not a category in this system, you're probably confusing this with another system. (Like Kibbe, which I've found to be quite inaccurate and total bull.)

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Miriam

7/21/2022 02:51:53 pm

I think Lily Collins is a Classic Ingenue Gamine. She has that prettiness, sweetness and innocence about her. Her smile appears like a sweet princess smile (ingenue and classic).

She might have Dramatic and Natural essence too (because these looks actually don't look off on her) but if you narrow it down to the more prominent ones, I think CIG fits the bill.

I don't see Ethereal in her, that much is obvious I think. I also don't see Romantic. Apart from her not being curvy or all that rounded, I don't see her pulling off conventionally sensual looks. If she does go for it though she usually adjusts her makeup to it though. I've noticed that she especially darkens her eyes and puts a lot of eyeshadow in her eye crease to create depth because she as an Ingenue has quite that wide-eyed appearance. And I also mean in the literal sense now because Lily Collins has a lot of space on her whole eye lid with the eyebrow arching quite high above her eyes — maybe a pattern of the Ingenue appearance? Romantics have their come-hither look because there are usually shadows around their eyes naturally. Their eyes are commonly not as big as the Ingenue. They are less yin than Ingenues and on the specturm they come closer to classics again (in McJimsey's and Kitchener's system). (Now, I wanna stress that this what I observed but I also take into consideration that might have been hasty in this conclusion of mine. Do feel free to give your input.)

So naturally if Lily wants to replicate this Romantic feature she would need to darken her eyes and create shadow in her crease. Something else that works really well is using eyeliner.

Romantics almost look like they have a shadowy eyeliner underneath their brow bone naturally. So that is what you need to pay attention to if you wanna look more like a Romantic. You can do so much with makeup, it's truly mind-blowing and so cool.

What's also known is that opening your mouth a little, slightly tilting your head down and looking up creates this come-hither vibe. Lily Collins uses that too if she wants to look sexy on the red carpet or in photoshoots or whatever event she's attending.

But naturally (I mean without or without much makeup), she looks quite cute, sweet and innocent but also sophisticated and cheeky. I also think she has the compacity to look quite intense but she also looks quite approachable and friendly.

I don't mean any disrespect to anyone with this comment. I don't wanna offend anyone and I am not trying to throw shade at her. I think she is an amazing and beautiful actress, and this is just my attempt at an analysis which I have tried to do as objectively as I could.

Now having said that, I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Feel free to comment, feel free to disagree. I'd be keen to hear it.

Miriam

7/22/2022 09:14:21 am

Oh, and the raised eyebrow for that look too I want to add.

But if the looks are not adjusted to fit (meaning hair and makeup and the like) it would feel wrong to put Lily Collins in Romantic styles.

Melina

7/22/2022 09:53:41 am

I think you are probably right about her being CIG, but just wanted to point out that being Romantic doesn't necessarily mean you have a curvy body at all, after all this system goes by face, not body! :) So that alone doesn't exclude R. There's a good pic somewhere here of Keira Knightley, who has a very lean body and fairly flat chest (at least it looks so in that pic), and yet she does well with an *impression* of cleavage, as she has a lot of R :)

Miriam

7/22/2022 11:37:06 am

I know, I think I might have not been clear in what I wanted to say here. I know that having Romantic essence has nothing to do with having a curvy body. I just meant that Lily Collins is not wearing cuts that well that are designed for curvy people not only because she doesn't have Romantic essence but also because she doesn't have a curvy body.

I totally understand why that might have been misunderstandable though. What I mean is that if you have Romantic essence but you're not curvy and your goal is to look curvier then you might need to adjust the shapes a little more here (meaning shapes that create the illusion of curves like clever draping, patterns all over the dress that confuse the eye, fit and flare dresses, a line dresses, or you can simply use shapewear if you wanna wear figure-hugging dresses).

I think it was Ellie-Jean (Body and Style) who once said that body type should influence the shapes and essences should influence details. I'll also take Keira Knightley as an example here or her iconic Atonement dress to be exact. It has quite the soft fabric to honor her Romantic essence but there is no question that it is cut for her Dramatic body type (and Dramatic essence too) because of the drop waist. It also has a deep geometric v neck.

And here we would get to the next point: Sure she is wearing a deep neckline here in the picture that you've referenced but I notice that it looks quite geometric too. It's fitted but the fabric of the top also looks quite stiff. So it would not be something that would look on a true Romantic.

I also don't think that wearing cleavage necessarily has something do with your essence. Yes, some people do better in modest styles (like Classics and Ingenues) but I think you need to think about the shape of the cleavage too. Geometric necklines (like v or square necklines) are better suited for the yang types while rounded necklines (like round or sweetheart necklines) are better suited for the yin types.

Thank you for your input. I really appreciate you taking the time to read this mess that it is my comment 😅😊

Daria

7/22/2022 11:56:31 am

I also agree with CIG for Lily Collins.
From what I have seen I have to disagree on your point about romantics, though. Cleavage may sometimes be a good indicator as it is associated with traditionally sexy, but on its own it still doesn't make a strong case for romantic essence. I think noticed a pattern with dramatics wearing cleavage (and wearing it well) and that is that they are wearing V-shaped and deep plunging necklines best to show off cleavage. Could you imagine a similarly-shaped neckline on Marilyn Monroe? To be honest, I could not and that is because they look too geometrical, too dramatic. My verdict is that dramatics can wear cleavage (even without romantic essence), but it has to be geometrical and sharp. Keira Knightley can wear cleavage so well because she has both romantic and dramatic I believe. That is not to say that romantics cannot wear deep necklines, the lines have to be softer and can never harsh or sharp and the fabric has to be soft as well. Here is an example of Marilyn Monroe excellently wearing a deep neckline: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/417638565436114409/
As you can see, it is softer and more rounded, and it just looks perfect on her in my opinion.
Here is an example of her still wearing a deep neckline well, but (to me) something is slightly off: https://www.amazon.com/Tin-Metal-Signs-Marilyn-Monroe/dp/B01N6S20YU
Maybe that's just me, but I think this neckline is slightly too dramatic for her. What helps her pull this off, though, in my opinion, is the fabric and the sexiness this neckline exudes.
Necklines to show off cleavage for dramatic essence would be more like this: https://www.insider.com/lily-collins-sequin-romper-ysl-fashion-show-2020-2
Or this: https://www.pinterest.de/pin/256494141252898020/
I know that Lily Collins has other essences as well. But in this outfit she dresses according to her dramatic essence only, and I think it looks amazing on her.

Melina

7/23/2022 05:42:52 am

Miriam, I'm a bit confused now by a part of your post, as you say "I also don't think that wearing cleavage necessarily has something do with your essence", and then you go on to say it has to do with how "yin" and "yang" you are - but that is specifically connected to one's essence, how yin or yang you are! ;) Also, this sytem does not actually use terms "yin" or "yang", but simply feminine and masculine, so I feel you may confusing this with other systems too? (You also mention some others, like Body and Style.) IMO it's clearer to stick to one system, ie. the one this site is about :)

Daria, I quite agree that very deep plunging necklines are more D than R. But as Rachel has said, Romantics look good with bust emphasis (regardless of bust size), that's a big sign of R, so maybe that's a better term to use than "cleavage" here, after all. ;)

Miriam

12/20/2022 06:16:36 am

Dear Melina.

I don't think there is anything contradictory about this. I meant that showing cleavage is not tied to any essence. Any essence type can show cleavage. Types of necklines, however, can lean more yin or more yang. Since when is wearing cleavage and necklines tied together? Please make it make sense, girl.

A deep neck shows cleavage but is most certainly more yang, likely Dramatic. A sweetheart neckline also emphasizes the bust but is more rounded, more yin, clearly Romantic.

Quite frankly I don't know what you're trying to argue here.

I know Truth is Beauty is allegedly using the Kitchener method a bit differently but as far as I have seen feminine and masculine are basically the same thing as yin and yang. So yin is supposed to be feminine and yang is supposed to be masculine. The archetypes have the same names too. What is different here, execpt maybe her interpretations of which essences which person exudes (so basically the same us Yin and Yang enthusiasts do ourselves)? Please explain it to me.

Body & Style is also using the Kibbe and Kitchener method. That's why I mentioned her.

Honestly we could also argue about how well they actually use it.

But I was talking primarily about the Kitchener method as far as I recall, maybe including Kibbe a little bit. I like to use all the Yin and Yang concepts that I know because I think some work beautifully together. If that's what trips you up then maybe you don't know as much about it as you think. You can use them together if you have fully understood them. Honestly I suggest you do your own research properly since I don't think I'm the one who is confused here.

Miriam

12/20/2022 06:23:05 am

"A deep v neck shows cleavage but is most certainly more yang, likely Dramatic", is what I wanted to write.

(I also said "likely" because I think that depending on the look/vibe of the clothing piece maybe other types could make it work too. But very deep v necks seem like a pick for a Dramatic to me since they echo verticality and are quite bold and severe.)

Melina

7/22/2022 10:01:48 am

Here's the pic (& caption) about Keira Knightley I referred to above, Miriam: :)

https://www.truth-is-beauty.com/blog/style-identities-the-romantic

Miriam

7/22/2022 10:47:41 am

I frequently say compacity but I actually capacity 😅

Miriam

7/22/2022 10:49:06 am

* I actually mean

Emilee Cleaver

7/22/2022 01:59:58 am

I am convinced I am an ethereal romantic ingenue, and I look at those gorgeous dresses and I think “why would I wear anything else?” But then I wake up and realize how inappropriate they would be at Walmart and church (basically the only places I ever go!)
So I am borrowing from some similar types but they are mainly dresses too.
Maybe this is why I always hated wearing pants as a child.
It would be nice to add some every day outfits for several of these types:)

Melina

7/23/2022 07:07:44 am

Agree about everyday outfits! ;) Though what I mostly do is to try to go by the shapes pictured, and just adapt them to more everyday clothes.

REI is what I mostly get from the calculator too, and I hate wearing pants too! ;) (Don't remember how it was as a child, but I don't think that's relevant.) But I feel sure that's not the whole picture in my case, and that there's a bit of "yang" in the mix too (though I know Rachel doesn't like to use that term); most probably Classic, as by a process of elimination I have more or less ruled out other essences with "yang". ;)

mellysa

3/9/2023 05:40:46 pm

aaah im ingenue then!
my mom always said i have such a joyful smile when i smile lol, and baby-ish feature on my face. thanks for the information!

Truth is Beauty

Style Identities: The INGENUE

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