Discover your color palette and your style type.

What Do They Call Your Beauty?

5/6/2019

One way to think about the seven style types is to think about the words we use to describe the type of attractiveness each identity embodies.

Romantic beauty is sexy , glamorous, and womanly.

These are probably the women who hear "gorgeous" and "hot" the most often. When they look their best, their friends might call them "glamorous," "alluring," or "sexy."

Monica Bellucci

Adele

Ethereal beauty is otherworldly and delicate

Ethereal woman are often described by admirers as "unusual-looking." Other adjectives they might hear are "otherworldly," "exotic," "fascinating," or "magical."

Riley Montana

Cate Blanchett

Dramatic beauty is striking and intimidating.

These are women who hear things like, "You have a really strong look," or "only you could pull that off." Dramatic women get called "majestic," "stunning," and "magnificent." Like Ethereals, Dramatics also often hear "exotic" and "unusual-looking."

Agatha Mougin

Liu Wen

Natural beauty is friendly, often handsome.

We don't use "handsome" to describe women very often these days, but in another time Natural women would often have been described this way. Natural women hear that they look "confident," "healthy," or "approachable." There aren't a lot of one-word synonyms for Natural's type of beauty, but, growing up, Naturals might have heard from friends (as I did), "You can get away with not wearing makeup," or "You always look great when you wake up."

Chloe Sevigny

Catherine Keener

Classic beauty is ladylike and elegant.

Classic women might hear "lovely," "elegant," and "attractive" a lot. They'll receive a lot of positive but restrained comments like, "You have a timeless look" or "You always look classy." "Graceful" is another word Classics may have heard. This is a beauty that doesn't stand out at all, but is undeniable once it's examined.

Zhang Ziyi

Diane Kruger

Ingenue beauty is pretty and girlish.

Many Ingenue women received compliments on their appearance throughout their childhoods, and they will have heard "pretty," "precious," "darling," "cute," and "adorable" a lot, even as adults.

Lupita Nyong'o

Jayma Mays

Gamine beauty is cute and boyish

Gamine women, like Ingenue women, will have heard "cute" and "adorable" in adulthood. They'll also get adjectives like "feisty," "spunky," or "sassy," and "loveable" seems to pop up a lot.

Amber Rose

Rihanna

I'd love to hear in the comments what your style type is, if you know it, and which compliments you've received in your life.

I'd also love to learn which compliments you've rarely or never received! I'm an Ethereal Natural, and I've rarely, if ever, been described as "classy," "adorable," "feisty," "darling," "majestic," or "glamorous."

Not sure of your style type? Try the Style ID Calculator!

113 Comments

Marissa

5/6/2019 05:01:06 pm

I'm pretty sure I'm an REI. I've been told that I look innocent, sweet, pretty, or cute. Every once in a while I might overhear guys talking about how "sexy" I am because I have a big butt, curvy hips, and a tiny waist. I think I can pass for pretty with the right hair, makeup, and clothes but I don't see what everyone else sees.

Lizzie

5/6/2019 07:03:51 pm

Hi Marissa! I am REI as well! It’s one of those things where I’ve always known REI was my proper corner of the style world and how to dress accordingly for my features, but I didn’t realize where my ID sat relative to others until I learned about this system. Needless to say, the descriptions in this article are spot on! There so many types of beauty. It’s inspiring!

My biggest problem at the moment is that I can’t find any minority or mixed race REI’s AND IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY because I am mixed race! I see a lot of people comment about IDs here and get celeb recommendations (or at least suggestions) but I haven’t seen that happen for REI. Christina Hendricks has been my only match for REI and following her style has been SO helpful. But, I’m not white or fair skinned so it’s hard to translate some the light colors and straight hairstyles she wears.

And to be honest, for ONCE, I would like to be able to see a minority who has similar features and suits the same style as me. Who I can look to for style inspiration such as darker skinned makeup colors, curly textured haircut, hair color & contrast, etc. At this point, I’ve even stumbled across a few minority REGs (which is helpful) but still no REIs. And as crazy as this sounds... I’ve even been scrolling in social media thinking I scrolled past a photo of myself.... Only to find that it was a digital rendering of an REI type or Disney Princess type character. It’s weird. I mean... I just wish I could find a minority (or at least tan skinned) REI like myself in REAL life! The closest I’ve seen a minority come to my ID is Kirby Griffin; she appears to be EI (100% feminine with no masculine essences) but she is still lacking the Romantic essence. Sorry for my rant here, I feel like I just spilled out all my guts to you guys.... I really would be so thankful for any tips or recommendations anyone has <3

5/6/2019 10:11:14 pm

Amara la Negra? I know she’s mostly R and I, but it seems like she has a touch of E as well maybe? The eyes?

5/7/2019 12:16:20 am

Could Nathalie Emmanuel be REI? She looks like one to me and I like her in REI-ish looks. Better than RGI or RCI looks.

5/7/2019 03:27:43 pm

(I'm really terrible at style typing folks (so taking a stab at this) but --)

Perhaps Ellen Rosa or Philomena Kwao or Lauren Veluvolu? I was also wondering about FKA Twigs, but she might be gamine, not ingenue? Like I said, I'm not super great a style typing. But there's a tumblr called modelsofcolor (https://modelsofcolor.tumblr.com/) that is just awesome for finding a more diverse style inspo. Most of the models are D blends of some kind, but some aren't. (I found that on that site, the 'plus' tag turns up more R blends. Ignoring the ridiculousness of industry labels like plus, there are some amazingly inspiring models on that site.)

(also sorry if these ladies aren't REI after all. i'm still struggling to recognize what's G vs. I and E vs. D)

Lilac

5/6/2019 05:25:30 pm

I've been typed by Rachel as a classic natural gamine, with some ingenue. And I agree, I do hear "classic" and "princess", as well as "cute" and "baby face".
But I also get a lot of "delicate", "elf-like", and "magical". Maybe there's some ethereal in me after all, perhaps it's just more visible in real life than it is in photos.

5/6/2019 06:03:59 pm

Maybe the "elf-like" and "magical" descriptors are referring to your Gamine element, since Gamine is strongly associated with pixies these days.

Lilac

5/7/2019 09:46:24 am

Pixies - yes, elves - not really...

5/7/2019 09:52:38 pm

Depends on if you're thinking Keebler or Tolkein! ;)

Lilac

5/12/2019 08:20:11 pm

Had to google "keebler". Lol :) :)

Katrina

5/6/2019 05:28:28 pm

Very interesting question! I always take compliments with a grain of salt, especially from men, because they tend to see what they want to see. However, you can't argue with a lifelong consistent trend. For most of my life I was called ladylike, elegant, and classic, and on some occasions, even proper or dignified. That's a pretty clear confirmation of my self-analyzed primary Classic.

Donna

5/6/2019 05:30:56 pm

Under 5'2", so majestic isn't a compliment I've ever received. :)

My husband likes the word "beautiful," but I've rarely heard that from anyone else. One time I overheard his mom's boyfriend say (thinking I was napping, but my eyes were just closed), "What a beautiful child!" I was 34 at the time and just 10 years his junior. LOL

Most of the time it's either "cute" or "pretty," although I've had questions about my nationality. In North Central Kansas, a girl who looks "Jewish" or "Italian" is considered just a little exotic.

I'm also treated as if I'm as delicate as glass, which is sweet, but puzzling, since women of my girth are rarely considered delicate or dainty. I've also heard the term "girly girl" applied even though I'm SO not into makeup or frilliness. Give me a tunic or bright T-shirt, a pair of jeans, and a long braid down my back. Maxi dresses are cool, too. Simple, comfortable--that's me!

As for my style, I have no idea what I am. My body type is completely yin, while my face is a mixture. My yang is soft, though, not sharp. In your system, I've typed myself as Romantic Natural, but I'm still not completely certain of it.

5/6/2019 06:07:28 pm

Have you considered an Ingenue blend? Sounds to me like others perceive a lot of Ingenue in you.

Donna

5/6/2019 07:04:58 pm

I've tended to shy away because of my stereotype of Ingenue, but I think you're right. After writing that post, I'm giving it serious thought.

I used to think my youthfulness was Soft Gamine, but I've never been mistaken for one of the boys.

Gitte

5/7/2019 02:28:12 pm

Donna, if you mean 'soft gamine' as in kibbe, in his system 'looking like a boy' isn't a requirement at all. It is just about the lines, (soft gamine: rounded (because of the yin), small and broken (because of the big variety in yin and yang, random puzzle pieces put together) a short skirt with contrasting thighs with a scallop hem, stuff like that) and you sound exactly like a soft gamine.

Silverroxen

5/9/2019 04:52:17 pm

I'm glad you cleared that up Giette. Soft Gamine is one of the Image IDs that is stereotyped a lot. I'm one myself, so I tend to get defensive about it lol.

Donna, its actually Gamine that looks boyish.

KK Slider

5/13/2019 10:41:38 am

Two things! Is your interpretation of Kibbe’s Soft Gamine the equivalent of a Romantic Gamine in this system? I’m Gamine Ingenue who will look like a boy in some contexts bc I have a haircut like Amber Rose, and because Ingenue is less overtly feminine than Romance. Am I SG? Donna’s “being treated like glass” thing sounds more like how people treat what they perceive as daintiness in Ingenues rather than the feistiness folks perceive in Gamines.

5/6/2019 06:05:27 pm

I'm pretty sure I'm DNG.

Only I'm LSu, so it's kind of strange. I do best in an edgy, playful, menswear look, but set in light, candy colors. The more casual-edgy the styling, the better I look. (It's taken me forever to get to this conclusion, and I may be mistaken, but that's what seems to work.)

But I'm not sure I trust other people's observations about my looks. Growing up, I was not infrequently bullied about my appearance, so I find it hard to be objective. I also find it hard to trust someone else's assessment of my looks. That's part of why I'm here, trying to recreate a more objective (and positive!I) image of myself.

However, kinder people have told me that I have a "classic look" or I look "old fashioned" -- like I could have come out of the middle ages or something. I've been told I look like an elf, a nymph, a female Viking, and I've even been compared to a white crane (seriously). People often notice my height, and sometimes I've had women tell me I'd be a pretty boy (which is like.... Thanks?)

I'm more often told I look "cool" or "stylish" when I dress up. Rarely do I hear "hot" or "lovely". (Significant others not counting here).

I'm also frequently mistaken for being more athletic or outdoorsy than I really am. I do keep busy, but I also have a lazy streak. People seem to think I'm this super-together stylish go-getter with this drive and clear-eyed mission. And I'm like... But I'm a potato with anxiety?? So how did you get all that??

Among the things I have heard:

"I guess you have to be tall to wear that."

"Are you not wearing makeup? I guess you can get away with it, but I'd never leave the house without it."

"Those gigantic clunky boots actually look cute on you." (E.g. Doc Martens, heavy hiking boots)

"That is such a weird [insert article of clothing here]. But you can pull it off."

Things I rarely hear:

Words like "hot" or "smoking" (again, significant othersn counting)

"Sophisticated" or "polished"

"Precious"

"Girly, womanly, ladylike" --- come to think of it, I've never heard any of those descriptors

5/7/2019 12:25:38 pm

Sorry about the bullying, W. I'm sympathetic to this and have experienced it myself and I believe Rachel's work is incredibly healing for people who had a rough time in their youth because they didn't look like "everyone else" in some way. Many people's visual sense is not highly developed, and whether or not your particular look is "in" when you are an adolescent is luck of the draw.

Older people interpret my relatively masculine face as "old-fashioned" as well, interestingly. Perhaps the lack of overt sexiness is what they mistake for this, and how more angular features can be more flattered by tailored clothing (you would have that with D and G certaintly).

Masculine beauty does harmonize with what we consider "cool" nowadays, thankfully, that whole structural athleisure look. I have really shifted my style to reflect this and I'm enormously pleased with the results. Have you tried jogger pants, particularly incorporated into a monochrome look with a chunkier (Doc Martens) shoe? This past winter, I basically transitioned to wearing sleek black joggers, a black turtleneck/"fashion-y" chunky sweater, lace-up black boots, and either a really flamboyant parka or crazy supervillain long coat, also black... and alas, no one ever commented on this look. Not a single comment, despite this being a bit "extreme" for where I live (my mostly work at home job was an influence on the joggers, haha). It was even better when I made myself even more boyish-looking with a sports bra.

Interestingly, I have found that a lot of leggings, if your legs have any kind of curve, come across as feminine because of how figure-hugging they are. I have mostly eliminated leggings and tight jeans, swapping them out for narrow straight silhouettes or crazy architectural wide-legs, and I look massively better (or the aforementioned joggers).

5/7/2019 03:49:02 pm

Thanks, A! That really means a lot to me. And yeah, it does take so many of us a while to re-create a better self image. It's why I love seeing people's style journeys in the comments. :) It lets you know you're not alone.

I like your idea of joggers. I got a pair this winter and they work well. I think your comments about curvy pants are interesting. I think I'll have to test this out. I'm pretty wide in the hips. Thus almost all 'body type' advice for a pear shape is totally opposite a DNG's recommendations. (Again, yay Rachel! I will never try to make myself wear a poufy skirt again.)

Sadly, I look truly horrible in black. I wish I could wear it, as it makes D blends so easy to do. And black is so easy to match! Instead, I work in shades of grey a lot. Grey + black is something I do to fake my way through winter. But I find my color palette doesn't necessarily look candy-like on ME. Coral just looks orange. Raspberry looks like red. I love how TIB got me to see that if you embrace your own palette, it won't look weird on you. I can shift a punk look into greys + rainbow and it somehow still feels right. Right now, I'm having to tell myself that getting more rocker-vibe as I get older will not make it look like I've lost my mind and failed to 'age properly'. Rather it will look completely appropriate. :)

5/7/2019 03:54:04 pm

Also A, I'm sorry no one commented on your look. I would totally want to say That's awsome. Because people dressing up for themselves makes me smile. :)

5/12/2019 12:14:12 am

Oh yeah, and how could I forget to mention the times I was told that people didn't want to befriend me before they actually met me because I looked like a b?*!#? Again, I guess my dramatic was showing. I do look intimidating when I'm not smiling, but when I do smile I look much more approachable. I have to remind myself to smile as I go about my business so I won't scare people away. 😁

5/27/2019 06:43:17 pm

W and A, would you be interested in starting a DNG Facebook group? I could use some support in this yang journey from real women who aren't supermodels (also pear shaped and not sure how to make slim pants and skirts work). 😁 Rachel, how do you feel about this? I feel like I just asked someone on a date. 😏

5/12/2019 12:01:41 am

Hi, W. I was recently Rachel-verified as a DNG!

I too, am assumed to be more athletic than I actually am. I've also been told I have a very "unique" look. I've heard edgy, too. My best friend once told me I "could be a model if it wasn't for my body." Uh, thanks? But perhaps that's the dramatic in me. I have also been told I look good without makeup, and I have to agree. To much makeup ages me and makes me look mannish.

It's interesting to me that you've heard that you look like an elf, etc. because in my more critical moments I've seen myself as a troll (especially when my hair is long) or a hobbit. LOL! I could also see the Viking similarity. Hehe.

5/12/2019 12:27:43 am

Oops, lots of negativity there. I forgot this was a "compliments" thread. Sorry. 😔

5/13/2019 08:01:02 pm

No problem re: negativity. I didn't take it that way -- more that it can be hard to reconcile yourself to your own unique look. I can see how deeply RI women struggle with it, as well as DNGs. :)

I think the reason I get 'elven' is because while I've got a good amount of Dramatic, I think I have a little Ethereal as well. But it's a very little. I can't ever tell if it's *really* ethereal? Or just pale dramatic? Or a blend? I thought ED was my style ID for a while, but that's just because whatever dramatic i have is more blended ED in nature. Anyhow, that's why the elven comments, I think.

Here's wishing you the best in the Mostly Yang style journey! ;)

Tabitha

5/28/2019 12:48:58 pm

C., I am not a DNG but I too have received similar comments of “your face is model material but not your body”. I feel you! It’s def one of those comments that sticks with you if you choose to acknowledge it... You sound like you’re headed in a good direction though! You go girl!

Mill Carter

5/27/2019 08:02:14 pm

Relieved to hear there's another dramatic light summer out there! I find it the most vexing combination - look great in bondage/military/assymetrical bodycon clothes but the medium colouring of a light summer is inherently contradictory to the contrasting lines of a dramatic style, in my opinion. Can't find any specific information on it, either.

Tabitha

5/6/2019 06:21:26 pm

I most often, and very often, hear "beautiful." Just plain beautiful. Not from my husband but from others. I have never heard "sexy," "romantic," and haven't heard "cute" since maybe college days and since I've started dressing more in line with stuff I actually like versus following fashion fads. Like, I feel like if I were wearing cute clothes I might get called cute, but since I've started exhibiting my style ID, courtesy of the TIB calculator, I nearly always get beautiful when I'm fully exuding it. Ethereal Classic Ingenue. People (mostly women and old men--I'm only 32 and a lot of my male friends are my peers and we're pretty religious so I guess they feel it would be weird to comment to me directly about my appearance) usually deliver the comment in such a way as if they're agonizing over the right word to describe me and always just go back to "beautiful," usually followed by a "just beautiful." I also get a lot of comments (probably more) on my temperament than my looks, and most often get "sweet" (once I got angelic but it was because she'd heard me singing in church, lol). It's funny because despite being an ECI I'm a Myers Briggs type INTJ, so very...almost masculine minded, not your average woman (0.5% of US women, so very rare), I'm self-typed Highly Sensitive. High IQ and all that so the "sweet" bit seems a little off to me, and I used to resent it as a box someone wanted to put me in so that I wouldn't speak my mind and be snarky or straightforward when I felt like it. But with maturing, I'm finally starting to find a place in my mental/emotional state and life choices where I can exhibit "sweet"--for me it translates more into being compassionate-- without losing the mental acuity and quick-wittedness INTJs are known for.

5/7/2019 03:58:39 pm

You bring up such an excellent point! How personality meets looks - just, everything you say here. The point about feeling almost coerced by compliments of 'sweet' -- totally hear you. I think it's such a funny interchange between personality + looks. It sounds like you've found a balance, but I agree, that's never an easy thing.

5/7/2019 08:04:54 pm

We’re almost style ID twins. When I did the style ID calculator, my initial results by order of amount were I N E C. After tweaking it, it was I with some E and either N or C depending on a couple boards. I wear a lot of light floral blouses. I’m a 31 year old ISFJ and get sweet, pretty, cute if I’m emphasizing I and lovely, beautiful, and occasionally delicate if my E is coming out more. I used to dress more purely I, and the more I incorporate my other essences, the less I get called cute which I’m fine with.

Kellie link

5/6/2019 06:21:35 pm

I think there may be some classic in me but as to the responses I get ( cute, spunky lovable, sweet) I think Ingenue and Gamine fits. I certainly don’t get words like lovely, graceful, dignified , elegant.

5/6/2019 06:47:49 pm

I've mostly gotten variations on "cute" throughout my adult life. My family members have compared me to a kitten, and I was once accused of not being old enough to drive shortly after graduating from college. I've never once gotten anything close to "hot," "sexy," or "glamorous."

I can see some mannishness in my own face, and I have the typical toothy Natural smile (which I've always disliked, to be honest--I always felt like my smile emphasized my least favorite features), so I'm pretty confident I'm a Natural + Youthful blend of some kind. I thought I was an ENG, but once other commenters on this site pointed out that selfies taken with a phone camera usually distort the face, I realized I had to reassess some things.

The funniest descriptor of someone's beauty I've ever heard actually happened to my youngest sister. She's tall, blonde, and often described by others as "intimidating" (she's also gotten "hot," "sexy," and "gorgeous" from guys, but I think they were doing what men often do and focusing on her hair and figure instead of her face--she doesn't seem Romantic to me at all). She definitely has a lot of Dramatic, and I think she has Gamine and possibly Ethereal as well. She was at a party once, and another guest wanted to get her attention but had forgotten her name, so he called out, "Hey, you with the elven features!" XD Amazingly, my sister turned around and said "Yes?" and then thought to herself, "Wait a minute, how did I know to respond to that?"

Lizzie

5/6/2019 07:28:56 pm

LOL! Thanks for sharing that story KC! I have a friend who had a somewhat similar experience, but the phrase “eleven features” (and your sister’s instinctual response) definitely takes the cake haha!

Lizzie

5/6/2019 07:05:38 pm

I am an REI and the descriptions in this article are spot on! There so many types of beauty. It’s inspiring!

My biggest problem at the moment is that I can’t find any minority or mixed race REI’s AND IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY because I am mixed race! I see a lot of people comment about IDs here and get celeb recommendations (or at least suggestions) but I haven’t seen that happen for REI. Christina Hendricks has been my only match for REI and following her style has been SO helpful. But, I’m not white or fair skinned so it’s hard to translate some the light colors and straight hairstyles she wears.

And to be honest, for ONCE, I would like to be able to see a minority who has similar features and suits the same style as me. Who I can look to for style inspiration such as darker skinned makeup colors, curly textured haircut, hair color & contrast, etc. At this point, I’ve even stumbled across a few minority REGs (which is helpful) but still no REIs. And as crazy as this sounds... I’ve even been scrolling in social media thinking I scrolled past a photo of myself.... Only to find that it was a digital rendering of an REI type or Disney Princess type character. It’s weird. I mean... I just wish I could find a minority (or at least tan skinned) REI like myself in REAL life! The closest I’ve seen a minority come to my ID is Kirby Griffin; she appears to be EI (100% feminine with no masculine essences) but she is still lacking the Romantic essence. Sorry for my rant here, I feel like I just spilled out all my guts to you guys.... I really would be so thankful for any tips or recommendations anyone has <3

Miranda

5/6/2019 10:33:32 pm

I got angelic or elven a lot as a kid, but now elven or pixie. I've also been called "cute but not beautiful" by two exes who came up with the same wording independently. I don't think I've ever gotten sexy or beautiful except from my partner, but he can't be trusted to be objective. "Nurturing" tends to come up though.
(REG)

Sarah V

5/6/2019 10:42:09 pm

I'm a CER and I get I also get a lot of people who have said I have a Mona Lisa smile and I get comparisons to classical art...I have a high forehead and soft, proportionate features and I look very, very balanced. So much so that people don't realize how big some of my features actually are (I have fairly large breasts, wrists, fingers, and feet, for example, and I'm average height and slightly overweight, but people have the impression that I'm smaller than I am). When I was younger and insecure about my weight I would either dress in a Soft Natural way to hide (it looked shapeless and slubby on me) or showed off cleavage to try to be sexier, but despite my assets I just don't have that Christina Hendricks or Kat Dennings vavoom thing.

I also get cute A LOT. My personality definitely contributes because I don't have any Gamine and when I dress particularly Ingenue it looks childish and cloying. Lately I've really leaned into the youthfulness and whimsy but in a way that honors my style identity. For example I have my hair in a chin-length bob that's tailored enough to be Classic but has enough texture and bend that adds Ethereal/Romantic elements to soften it. I also love polka dots and florals, but I make sure they're on the more elegant side rather than cartoonish. And of course my color choices also help (I'm a Light Summer and I have pink hair).

Janet

5/6/2019 10:48:01 pm

This is such an interesting thing to think about! As best I can tell, I'm EDIC. When people make positive comments about my appearance, it's often "pretty" or "beautiful," but those seem to be fairly generic words to me- I hear them used for women with all different kinds of beauty. As an adult, I hear "cute" every so often. I heard it rarely as a child, but I wonder if that's partly because the ED part of my style ID made me look older than I was. Now, most people seem to think I'm younger than I am.

A lot of the other words I hear- I don't know. I've always thought they were about my personality, but now I wonder if they're connected to what I look like too. For example, a few people have told me I have a calming presence (never mind the emotional turbulence I might actually feel)- is that because my face has some ethereal qualities, or because I'm quiet and hopefully give people emotional space to be themselves around me, or both? Has anyone else had this experience?

And I also wonder if the more generic positive comments are because I have a fairly mixed style ID? Or maybe because, with both dramatic and ingenue, two of my IDs are extremely different from each other. Has anyone else with two very different style IDs or with a very mixed style ID had the same experience?

Megan

5/6/2019 11:54:38 pm

I'm RDE (more R and D than E) and the descriptors I get are pretty generic, like beautiful or pretty. I've also been called "classically gorgeous," which I think is somewhat odd, given that I'm probably about 50% E/D and that someone else has told me that "I don't look like a lot of people."

I've also been called cute a handful of times and have been told that I look young many times--esp without makeup. I think this might be a function of the fact that I am objectively young (early twenties) and that I have large eyes, lips, and forehead, and pretty small chin--I do have a lot of youthful-looking features, despite having no G or I.

I look very different with makeup, and do look quite young without it. I think the different comments I've gotten might reflect how much I was wearing, or the clothes I was wearing. Still coming to terms with the fact that look to my best, I have to look "dressed up" most of the time.

KarenH

5/7/2019 12:06:05 am

Romantic/Ethereal/Dramatic. Heaping dose of Ethereal and Dramatic with just a dollop of Romantic. During college years I would frequently get told I look like an elf. I’d also get “delicate” a lot. Now that age has blurred some of my lines, I don’t hear that as much. I do still get called “unusual” “intimidating” or “striking.” I also hear things like “you’re the only one I know who could pull that off” when referring to my clothes, jewelry, or bright lipstick. My husband is the only one who’s ever called me hot or sexy, but I think he’s totally biased.

Ella

5/7/2019 02:11:27 am

As a NCG, I've been called "cute" (like 1000 times a day by my bf), "elegant", "pretty", "impish" (:D), "feisty", "delicate" and "graceful". I don't get many natural-related compliments, but apparently when I'm in a good mood and smiling I exude that natural friendliness.

I've never ever been called "sexy", "glamourous" "intimidating" or "beautiful" (well, only by my bf, and only when I'm very happy).

Slightly off-topic: does anyone know of any NCG celebrities? It doesn't seem to be a common type among famous women.

Danielle

5/7/2019 02:51:47 am

Ella, maybe Julia Dreyfus is a NGC?

Ella

5/8/2019 03:47:47 am

Hmm, I think Julia has a feminine essence, or at least leans a little more feminine than NCG. But thanks for the suggestion!

5/7/2019 03:37:53 pm

Diane Keaton for NCG, maybe?

Ella

5/8/2019 03:50:00 am

That's a good one! I think we have a match. Thanks! Now to go analyse everything she's ever worn. lol

Another Rachel

5/7/2019 09:28:45 am

Just wanted to say, I SO appreciate the work you’re doing here, Rachel. The idea that women can have seven types of beauty, instead of just being valued by how closely they match one specific type of beauty, is so freeing.
I hope this continues to spread and more women learn to celebrate their individuality, and celebrate it in others, too.

5/7/2019 12:12:29 pm

Dramatic Ingenue. Maybe some N or C (or maybe that's just my realistic clothing style as a twenty-first century person!).

"Stunning" most often. "Pretty" very often. "Aristocratic." Very commonly hear "only you could pull that off" and variations of that. I also get a lot of comments about how "extremely" small my waist is (but I don't ever hear that I'm curvy/womanly, it's more people expressing awe/gawking at my proportions, which is more of a Dramatic thing).

I have never been called sexy, though I have heard gorgeous and beautiful. People do (more in the queer community) pick up on a certain masculinity, though older people interpret it as chasteness or reserve.

When my hair is curly (rare), this is all people comment on. I am completely swallowed up by the hair and it's extremely unflattering on me. When I wore my hair natural in high school, people were aware of my hair but didn't really know what I looked like (and I thought I was really ugly). It's the absolute worst look on me, hence suspecting at least a bit of Classic. When my hair is right for my lines and vibe, I get more comments about how *I* look "great" without people picking out any part of my appearance, which is the goal I suppose?

Katrin

5/7/2019 05:14:20 pm

My type is DNC (self-typed, but pretty sure): When I was a teenager, a really good friend said: "I was often thinking that your features are so mannish and that you don't look female at all - but I was mistaken: you have a beautiful face." As a teenager, I often dressed like a girly-girl with puffy sleeves, pink and glitter. I'd never wear that today - it definitely makes me look massive and mannish. Other friends told me that my body an face are "really balanced" and "well-proportioned". When I was wearing a bun and a simple maxi dress, my grandma often told me that my beauty is "classic" and that I look like an ancient Greek beauty, like Iphigeneia in that painting. I've always been drawn to simple looks that suit me well and got compliments like "elegant", "plain" or "precious" on my outfits. People who don't now me yet, often describe me as "professional" and "friendly". I've also been told that black looks "stunning" or "striking" on me.
I'm pretty sure about my style type - it's hard to grasp though, because it's unpretentious and striking at the same time. Does anyone of you know any DNC-celebs? I didn't find anyone until now.
I really appreciate this site and your work, Rachel! It makes perfect sense for me and helps me to be confident about my appearance that doesn't match Romantic beauty at all. I'm excited about wrapping my head around DNC beauty and about learning more and more about it.

5/7/2019 05:36:24 pm

Is Claire Underwood a DNC?

5/7/2019 10:36:15 pm

DNC celebs : Robin Wright Penn? Maybe Brooke Shields? Karlie Kloss also comes to mind.

That's funny that you and A. also have the experience of being called "classic" as a way of noting masculine features. Both of you mentioned older people in particular seem to call masculine features 'classic' or old fashioned - Grecian, in your case.

It makes me realize that there's something about masculine features that seem to evoke painting or sculpture? It kind of makes sense, since a lot of old masters used men as models primarily (I'm thinking Michaelangelo, who studied corpses of men, and all his paintings of women are fairly buff looking). This helps me explain the mystery of why I often get called "classic" and yet twin sets and pearls look absurd on me.

But I also think there's a difference between people giving a compliment, and what people say if you ask them what your visual impression is. I get compliments that don't always make sense. If I ask what I look like, I usually get "striking" right away.

Katrin

5/8/2019 04:21:16 pm

Yeah, Brooke Shields is a thing! She doesn't seem to know about her DNC appearence though - she often dresses in fuzzy details, ruffles and Romantic stuff. But she looks absolutely stunning in DNC looks. I'm on to something here! Robin Wright Penn is also so not into DNC looks - she often dresses and looks all wrong in pure Dramatic looks and Gamine hair and much greater in Classic and simple Natural elements with some Dramatic. I will observe that. Claire Underwood is not bad as well - I'm fascinated how she looks great in Classic man buttoned shirts. Thank you so much, K. and W!

Wilhelmina

1/9/2025 10:01:49 am

Hi, Katrin!
Based on your description of yourself and the comments you get, I'm wondering if you might have some ethereal in your blend? The ethereal essence adds timelessness, which many people read as classic, but it is anciently classic. Your mention of simple clothing suiting you, along with long dresses, made me wonder.
If you were dramatic and classic plus ethereal, either in addition to natural or instead of it, it would emphasize that timelessness. You could test it by looking at textures of fabrics. In my personal experience, simplicity is also important for ethereal as well as classic, but in a different, more truly timeless way, and having both together, along with dramatic, would emphasize the statuesque, Greek goddess type of beauty.
Part of what made me wonder about the ethereal was the comment from your friend about at first thinking you didn't look feminine, but then changing her mind. I have ethereal in my blend, and I find that there is an odd ability to appear more angular or more rounded depending on light, and on makeup, etc. As if we are iridescent and our appearance changes with the light. You can see this in other people with ethereal in their blend, for instance Tilda Swinton and Claire Daines. You may well have no ethereal at all, but just thought I'd put this out there!
Also, just as an aside, I don't believe that it makes sense for a women's beauty to be described as "masculine". If female, it is feminine beauty, and I am sure you are feminine and beautiful in exactly the way you are meant to be. In nature, we see the female expressed in a plethora of forms, and we don't say, for instance, that a female crane looks masculine just because it has angularity.

halisi

5/7/2019 05:39:21 pm

Is there a way for large noses to be romantic in this system? With Kibbe, there are B (natural) and E (romantic) noses. I asked someone about this, and apparently both can be wide - B is "wide and blunt" and E is "rounded and softly wide." I was told that wide romantic noses are rounded, fleshy, have lots of soft, curved lines; they can also be bulbous at the tip. Does this apply here?

Megan

5/8/2019 12:24:30 pm

Just speculating--in this system, Romantic lines are characterized by very round, medium-to-large circles. Which in theory means that a romantic nose would be rounded and might be fleshy and medium to large.

Just by observing, I think that women with a lot of romantic often do have rounded noses with somewhat fleshy tips, and that these noses might look quite wide on another face. Because romantic women also tend to have wide rounded eyes and full rounded lips, their rounded wide noses can look harmonious on their faces.

Having an angular nose seems definitionally more like a Gamine or Dramatic trait (Gamine and Dramatic lines are characterized by angles), and a small nose would probably be more Ingenue.

With that said, I think Rachel's system is generally less restrictive in terms of saying that a feature that looks a certain way belongs to a certain category. And I know she has said elsewhere that a wide nose is generally more characteristic of masculine essences (specifically Natural and Gamine, because men on average have wider noses than women).

However, when thinking about whether or not a nose is wide, I think it's important to think about this RELATIVE to the face. Natural faces tend to have smaller eyes and thinner lips, so a rounded, wide, fleshy nose is going to look wide and large on those faces in comparison to the other less rounded, less wide features. (This isn't knocking Natural beauty; the ability to look flawless with very little makeup is a type of beauty that I very much admire!)

Whereas on a face with a lot of Romantic, a large fleshy nose will (theoretically) appear harmonious with the other large, rounded, fleshy facial features and so will not appear as wide.

tl; dr A Romantic nose can probably be wide or narrow, and since the Romantic essence is characterized by full, rounded circles and fleshiness, in theory, a Romantic nose could be characterized by those same traits.

Clara

5/7/2019 11:29:30 pm

“Greek Goddess” is a compliment I’ve received on many occasions throughout my life. I definitely fall more into the “otherworldly” beauty and believe my style of beauty is a little more striking. I’ve had immense difficulty typing myself, but I think EDI would be a best fit.

Does anyone have input into what I could be? I have a very “three dimensional” face — deep set eyes, high pronounced cheeks, sharp nose. But what’s strange is when I went to Asia I was continually told I look like a doll: I have very large round eyes, tapered chin, and rounded lips. So all in all, I have some pretty contrasting features. Hence my combination of Ethereal-Dramatic-Ingenue that I’m guessing I am??

The same weird contrast goes for my body! I’m tall — a little under 5’9”, but I don’t look as tall as I am and I have a very small and thin bone structure. People used to say they felt like they’d break me if they hugged me. My head is pretty large on my body. My body feels like a taller version of a gamine’s, but I don’t know if that’s accurate.

Anyways, great post! Love reading the comments.

Lizzie

5/8/2019 04:30:51 am

Ethereal features and “doll” description definitely makes me think of Ethereal Ingenue (or Ethereal Gamine at best). You might take a look at EI, EDI, and possibly the ENI boards. If you’re dollish in more of a “ballerina” sense (and your facial features lean particularly feminine), you may want to look at the ECI board too. If you don’t like those boards, maybe consider the Gamine counterparts to these boards instead (by replacing I with G). Though E.I. blend really does sound like a good fit. (Holding up your face to the different boards can be helpful as well.) Just from your description, I can totally see EDI for you! I’m pretty sure Devon Aoki is EDI (gorgeous)! And if you’re very open minded in sourcing style inspiration- I think actor Keanu Reeves has been typed as EDI too. I’m not sure of EDG people in particular but, loosely, maybe Camren Bicondova? She reminds me alot of Michelle Pfeiffer, who also seems to pull off some EDG. But I think Michelle has more of an E with C/D (maybe R) look instead. Lastly, I’ve seen Liya Kebede typed by others as both DNC type and as EDG type. (I don’t know her ID, but of those 2 options, I think she leans EDG). Hopefully you can find some inspo or similarities through these celebs & their styles. Good luck with your style journey, Clara!

Nina

5/8/2019 01:25:48 am

I had settled on EGI as my type, but now I'm thinking it might be Romantic instead (there's a quiz out there that analyzes facial features, and there's not a single answer to any of the questions that doesn't correspond to both Ingenue and Romantic!). Historically I've gotten "cute" and "pretty" more than anything, but I also dressed very Ingenue during the peak of those compliments--when I cut my hair short, people complimented my hair/clothes less (my Ingenue dresses were cute as hell), but they also seemed to see me more...before reflecting on that, I thought I was predominantly Ingenue! Nowadays I still get cute above all, and am frequently told I'm like a fairy/pixie/elf. Don't get pretty as much, although it still comes up occasionally. But I think that may be in part due to me not dressing in a way that people would associate with the vibe of the word "pretty"--especially now that my hair is short. Sometimes I get "cool" and very occasionally "hot". Oh, I also used to get "dainty" a lot--most common during my Ingenue phase, but still pops up now and again. May be due in part to my mannerisms, though.

I've gotten better at identifying the "vibe" a look needs more or less of--I often finding myself needing something edgy (but not Dramatic edgy--sort of a quirky, witty, spunky sort of edge; if I go too Dramatic it looks like I'm trying too hard). Sometimes I also think some Ethereal would help, provided there's still some of that Gamine offbeat-ness somewhere in the outfit. The reason I'm wondering if my third type could be Romantic is because when there's too much Ingenue (or...almost any visible amount) I find myself thinking it's too chaste and innocent. That's not to say I need a LOT of Romantic--too much can look like I'm playing dress up in the closet of a much more mature woman--unless it's simply too revealing, in which case...I can't tell why it feels wrong yet, because it doesn't feel like it's the "too mature/sexualized" thing. It might just be that none of my pants' waistlines match well with crop tops :P I do best if I keep my Romantic levels to "flirty" in tandem with G and E.

Btw, if anyone has recommendations for Ethereal Gamine (possibly Romantic) hairstyles, please share!! Only time I seem to have hit the mark was growing out a pixie cut 😭

TL;DR - REG (G>>E>R); "cute" and "fairy/pixie/elf" are most common

Lizzie

5/8/2019 03:43:46 am

Hi Nina! Before realizing I was REI, I was considering REG and I learned about Emily Browning. I’m pretty confident she’s an REG. Tyra Banks is possible RE with an tinyyy dash of G (if at all). Now, Ruth Negga also looks like REG to my eye, but I believe she has a surprising touch of Dramatic. (Though TBH I could totally see Ruth pulling off EDI or maybe even DGI, so I’m not completely sure about her). Lastly, I am very confident Amanda Seyfried is EGI and one of the blog admins here has also stated this before.

Hoping these suggestions are more helpful than they are confusing! REG is both a very unique and rarer ID. Good luck in your style endeavors!

Miranda

5/14/2019 02:45:34 am

I was typed by Rachel as REG, and I too have found grown-out pixie cuts to be flattering in the past. I keep my hair long now though and prefer updos. It helped my look *immensely* when I added bangs, but they have to be bangs with some sort of shape to them - they've grown out a bit and I've been wearing them sideswept, and it looks terrible.
So for me, a good combination of my own tastes and my style ID has been a single braid or braided updos - especially bunned rope braids - with cute bangs. Topknots are particularly good. I'm trying to do EG for accessories, but RE also looks good. Rachel mentions accent braids and asymmetry for EG in her post about hair, and I'm figuring out how to add in those elements.
Crown braids are listed as I, but I wonder if it's down to the type. Heidi braids are often called crown braids and seem very I to me because of the part, while a true crown braid (Dutch braided around the head) seems E. Coronet braids (one braid wrapped around the head) are different again, but I'm not sure where I think they are yet.
High double buns are maybe G?

From what I've seen, the ID and percentages refer to the overall look and YMMV on a lot of the recommended elements. Sideswept bangs should be good for someone with a lot of R and I wore them for years...badly. G bangs work *very* well, but only when they work with my hairline and aren't plastered flat. I believe that straight across would still be G, but that would be a bad terrible no-good option for me.
And too, it's down to your own preferences and lifestyle. I'm simply not going to cut my hair short again for G nor wear it loose for R, so I work within what I'm willing to do and make it better than it was - much, much better. I had been doing a slicked-back bun without bangs for years because it was easy and I'm lazy, so after being typed, I figured out what would be more flattering, but still within what I knew I would actually do on a daily basis.

Cheryl

5/8/2019 12:49:19 pm

"Pretty" is by far the most common compliment i get, closely followed by "cute". On occasion (like when i dress up) i also get a bit of "gorgeous" and "sexy". Definitely never get called stuff like magical or fierce or majestic lol! I did think i am RI (with a touch of C maybe?) so that figures...my figure is extremely R but my face is more cute than sultry so a somewhat girlish "disney princess" look suits me better than an outright sexy siren look (despite being in my 30s)

Melina

5/8/2019 01:47:22 pm

I am, or used to think I am, REI with some N, but considering these adjectives, I've been called many things but probably most often "gorgeous", "beautiful", "pretty", "cute" and "stunning / striking"... Which would be more consistent with RID, it seems? Which is what I've lately began to think, too (i.e. that I have some D, unlike I previously thought).
OTOH, I don't think I've ever or hardly ever been called the adjectives connected with E or N here... Interesting. ;)

Melina

5/8/2019 01:51:18 pm

Also, come to think of it, I think I have been considered feisty at times, but that's more my personality (and the fiery red hair I've often sported), I'm pretty sure I don't have any G whatsoever ;)

Circé

5/10/2019 01:42:57 pm

Hi Melina,

You may have E and N, but it could point to D too. D is just in between N (masculinity) and E (otherwordly feeling). If it/they are 3rd or 4th essences they might be even harder to tell apart (and you might wear the one instead of the others pretty well combined with your main ID). But D's particularity is the striking strengh ; E and N have both, for different reasons, a much more relaxed feeling. Try intense monochrome looks maybe, to see if it fits you? It would be a way to bring D without messing too much with RI geometry.

Since I'm here, I think Fran Summers may be RIE or RID. thoughts anyone?

KK Slider

5/10/2019 02:53:02 pm

I can’t see the R in Fran, but I’m just on her insta. Definitely see E. Maybe G as well.

Melina

5/13/2019 03:50:03 am

Hi Circé, what specifically do you mean with "intense monochrome looks"? :) I know I can't do black & white (especially not stripes, which are so fashionable!), it's way too stark, but that's mainly because of my season (I'm pretty sure I'm Spring of some sort); I'm at home in all black though, especially during winter season (in spring & summer I tend to be more colourful). Also, 'relaxed' is not really me, I do need some degree of formality to look my best (though not too much of it), that much I know. :)

According to a Kibbe test I did, I'm a Theatrical Romantic, which in that system is a combination of Romantic and Dramatic, so I am quite convinced now I do indeed have some D (even though I don't get that in Rachel's quiz, which I feel is more due to the specific styles she has chosen to represent D). :)

Victoria

5/8/2019 01:58:57 pm

I'm an RNG and I've mostly gotten pretty, beautiful, cute, stunning, gorgeous, sexy, mischievous, sassy, spunky, feisty, glamorous, fierce, hot, and adorable. People have compared me to old-timey movie stars or pin-ups, or said I was giving off "goddess vibes." When I had a pixie haircut, I did get pixie, brownie, imp, or sprite comparisons. I never ever hear things like, dramatic, classy, classic, elegant, ladylike, refined, intimidating, otherworldly, or majestic. I do get a lot of comments about looking good without makeup or having "built-in" makeup, perhaps because my brows, lashes and lips are naturally darker/more defined as a Dark Winter.

Kellie link

5/8/2019 02:21:29 pm

I remembered that when I was preteen and had short hair I could and was mistaken for a boy . I wasn’t thinking I had that much Gamine but it is something to rethink.

Lizzie

5/9/2019 06:28:29 pm

Hi commenters K., W., and B.- thank you for all your help!!! (I have to reply down here because the “reply” button is missing from you guy’s responses.) I am going to look into these celebs! Of the celebs mentioned, Amara la Negra is def in the RI family and more similar to me; I’ll have to research her a bit more to see her in Ethereal outfits. And Nathalie Emmanuel is a bit too masculine but I will still try to garner some inspo from her too. I can see why you considered REI for her though. I’m feeling a little bit better already! It really does help me not to feel like such an isolated incident when I can see other people with similar ID as me (who don’t look crazy in femme outfits). Being an ethereal type, in general, also tends to exacerbated feelings of being unusual/rare/exotic/unearthly/nonhomogeneous. I always laugh when I see an Ethereal in their family photos because, even if they look similar, they never look like they “belong” in the family haha! (Beyonce is one example of this, and this has been my experience as well.) It’s just because of the alien vibe, I guess... LOL. Thanks again you guys! I had never heard of that website before (modelsofcolor.tumblr.com) but I am so inspired by it already! I feel optimistic that I’ll find an REI there, under the “plus size” category :) Grateful for people who run websites like that (and this website)!

Megan

5/9/2019 07:12:12 pm

Lizzie, just adding that I see a lot of ethereal in Amandla Stenberg and possibly R and/or I? I don't think she has D, N or C. She seems to style herself with a lot of Gamine, so I'm not sure if she acutally has it or if she just likes those styles. To me she generally looks most harmonious the more feminine her styling is.

Lizzie

5/13/2019 02:58:21 am

Thanks for mentioning Amandla! She DOES dress extremely Gamine when I’m not sure she even has G. I do love seeing long-er ethereal noses like mine :) Thank you for mentioning her!! I’m going to take a closer look.

I was wondering if you (or anyone) have any thoughts about Rachel Hurd-Wood being a an EI with R? Thanks again you guys for all the support!

Megan

5/15/2019 01:51:53 am

Rachel Hurd-Wood looks pretty good next to the REI board to me!

Tabitha

5/10/2019 11:36:39 am

Any RCIs or RCGs in the house?? Ella, I totally agree with you. CG and even CI seem to have a smaller presence in Hollywierd nowadays.

Like many of you have commented- I’m wondering about RCI and RCG celebs? I am stuck between the 2 but I’m think I’m RCI. Seeing the difference between the two would really help. I know someone once mentioned Monica Bellucci for RCI but I really don’t see Ingenue in her. All insights are welcome and greatly appreciated!

Ella

5/10/2019 01:51:32 pm

Hi Tabitha, I've only been able to find one RCI: Rita Hayworth. Emilia Clarke could be an RCG.

Briga Heelan is a good example of a CI, without the R.

It's hard to find women who are both super cute, va va voom sexy, AND classy...

Ella

5/10/2019 01:58:40 pm

Oh and maybe Jessica Alba for RCI

Megan

5/10/2019 03:49:28 pm

Agree that Monica, especially current Monica, doesn't seem to have much Ingenue. BUT interestingly, she looks pretty good with full bangs, which seems to be a childlike, Ingenue hairstyle. Not Romantic. I guess it could be Classic...

Danielle

5/15/2019 02:25:47 am

Lizzie and Megan, I see Ethereal and Ingenue in Rachel Hurd-Wood, but I don't see any Romantic. Maybe she has Classic.

Lizzie

5/15/2019 12:40:29 pm

Hi Danielle, thanks for chiming in! She looks like a fully feminine blend to me (either REI or EI).

Can you link me a few images of Rachel Hurd-Wood in REI clothing vs EIC clothing? Just so I can get a feel for what you mean, visually?

Tabitha

5/10/2019 12:39:33 pm

I’m in a pretty similar situation as you Lizzie. I understand how you’re feeling- I promise it does get better over time! I bet you’ll find someone on the link you shared!

I’d love to hear RCI/RCG suggestions of any ethnicity since I really don’t know of a-n-y. But especially minority celebs would be great! White, black, latina, and all in between really! At first I thought about Kerry Washington but I feel she’s RDI... I’m think Duckie Thot is a CI but she’s seems CID... not RCI. Thanks in advance guys!

Janelle

5/10/2019 02:23:04 pm

Tabitha, I think Marion Cotillard could be a celebrity example of RCI. I know she’s R and C for sure, but I think I also see some I. Perhaps Mila Kunis as RCI as well? Maybe Fan Bingbing of X-Men as an Asian example of RCI?

As far as RCG, I think Janelle Monáe is a good possibility, maybe lily collins as well. These are my best guesses! I’ll let you know if I come up with any more!

Kat

4/22/2022 04:44:33 pm

I don't see R in Lily Collins though. I thought she has Ingenue, Gamine and a little bit of Classic. And her body shape looks kinda Dramatic (I mean with the lack of curviness and her narrowness I think that just seems natural)

NoName

5/13/2022 05:43:21 am

I don't think Lily has the Romantic essence at all. Not at all that sexiness and glamour vibe that Romantics have, she looks far too cute, too adorable and too youthful. Maybe she has some ingenue? There is where some yin might come in. But the rest of her appearance seems relatively yang, I mean she likely has gamine, maybe a little bit dramatic, a little bit classic? Maybe maybe a little bit natural? But in general not very yin, especially not in body type. She is so narrow, tiny, straight up and down, no curves. But despite that she has a good body with quite the toned figure so she definitely takes care of herself. However, she looks weird in R clothing, like a child playing dress up.

caro

6/16/2022 06:13:13 pm

There is no Ingenue essence in Lily Collins either. Her features are very sharp. I think she likely has Gamine Classic Dramatic. Maybe Natural still because I think that she pulled off oversized looks well enough... but then again, maybe that's due to her Dramatic essence?

But the fact of the matter is that Lily Collins is not soft or rounded. She has a long face and sharp facial features. Also Lily Collins has a straight and angular body shape and she doesn't have any curves. She has very narrow shoulders and hips and no waist definition which why she is flattered by straight cut designs.

Anything that has soft fabric or is somewhat rounded looks off on her body and brings out her sharp features.

Smith

9/15/2022 08:41:01 pm

I'm sorry, I have to phrase it that way: If you think Lily Collins has Romantic essence you don't know what Romantic essence really is. I used her (and some other celebrities with Gamine essence) as case studies recently, and I've finally settled on ICG for Lily Collins. It fits her perfectly. She also has some significant Dramatic essence too but it's not as dominant as the aforementioned essences.

Plus some people seem to forget a very important factor when settling on certain essences; something that maybe is not even nearly talked about enough: age appearance. Lily Collins looks soooooooooo freakin' young! It's insane to learn that she's already 33! You would think she might still be in her teenage years! And she's always looked very young, it's nearly as if she didn't change one bit.

When she wears Romantic it looks quite try-hard on her. The styles don't flatter her AT ALL. The tons of makeup she has put on to come close to these womanly features is absolutely insane. But you see that she heavily overdraws her lips, you see that she puts so much effort in trying to recreate the Romantic woman's bedroom-y eyes (by trying to create more depth there). You can see how hard she tries trying to look sexy, trying to fool us into believing she's curvy (she's not, and that's okay) and mature-looking. But she just has quite childlike features. She has that innocent, cheeky and elegant kinda vibe with some theatricality. She never looks womanly or sensual in the Romantic essence kinda way. I mean you can google some recent photos of her makeup free and see for yourself. She still looks sooooooooo young, damn! She fits the Ingenue archetype so well! I will quote Rachel on this, "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." Also the descriptors of the Classic Gamine Ingenue board fit her so well!

Her beauty doesn't come out when she tries to wear Romantic. Trying this typical Romantic Dramatic makeup only bring out her her theatricality. She looks harsher instead of womanly. Often the DCG boards fit her waaaaayyy better then. NEVER any board with Romantic in the mix.

Oh boy, and when tries the come-hither looks. She often looks like she's questioning your outfit choice or as if she was caught in a weird moment, as if she saw something strange and raised her eyebrow or she looks as if she was challenging you or maybe just plain weird or even uncanny at times (or like a uncanny hamster? Because this look is weird: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/43/18/fb/4318fbeb7b28f9ed414c0b3b4124f2fc.jpg)

If she wears these looks you just SEE that something's off. She can wear all the makeup in the world but she will never be able to hide her youthful features. I think it often highlights her Classic essence. That's why these looks more often than not appear garish and cheap on her. But not at all elegant. You can see how hard she tries. The Romantic curls are always far too soft on her very sharp face. (For example she looks so stiff in that one Cartier commercial video trying very hard not to smile, because would see her Ingenue essence and her Classic essence. But mostly throughout the video the vibe she gave off was DCG. That board fit her so perfectly there!)

Figure-hugging dresses don't flatter Lily Collins at all. Not only because she has that very rail-thin, narrow straight up and down body shape (column body shape) but also because her essence blend doesn't help her pull it off either. Because she's IGC (with some Dramatic).

However, I think she's recently realized this and been staying away from Romantic styles.

After all you can also learn through trial and error. I mean, yes, I know I ranted but wearing looks that don't flatter you is definitely not the end of the world.

I think I can now see quite well what RCG looks like. I think YouTuber Aly Art might be one (though I think she might have a little bit Ingenue also somewhere within her blend). And you can see that Lily Collins and her don't look alike.

Again Lily Collins looks way younger whereas Aly looks more like a mature woman.

(Also I think something that I think is interesting that she's often trying to imitate Audrey Hepburn. They do look very much alike, it is true. They fit the descriptors and the CGI style essence board very well. However, there is something that sets them apart. Definitely not their Dramatic essence, I think both of them have it secondarily in their blend, right after their Primary essences. But then— there's something that sets them apart. Do remember that black dress that Audrey once wore? With that cigarette and that ornate jewelry? Yes. Audrey has Romantic in her blend too. She is able to look sexy and womanly.
If Lily had this essence — which she very, very clearly doesn't — she would be total look alike. But she looks younger and sweeter and can't handle mature yin.

Marina

5/11/2019 02:32:23 am

Ooh I like this game! Any refs for RGI celebs? I get called sassy, pretty, and glam just like the sections say. I feel like this blogpost just summed my whole life LOL. So wild

Marina

5/11/2019 03:44:50 pm

Anyone have an idea of Jasmine Sanders style ID? RGI? REG? RID? NIR? Interestingly, I noticed she’s Romantic and looks good in R luxurious jewelry, but she’s looks her best when she takes a minimalist approach to her R jewelry. Classic maybe? She has a unique look!

K. Beetle

6/11/2019 05:35:19 pm

I think Aly Art on YouTube and Brigitte Bardot are both possible RGI?

Gitte

5/11/2019 06:11:52 am

I don't hear things like this often, but the few things I have heard are 'delicate' and 'elegant'. I have also heard that I have a very girly face, and that my head is quite small with 'tiny' features. My eyes are medium-sized but quite round, my cheeckbones are quite sharp and high, my nose is just...A nose (the typical 'roman' nose you see on facial features charts. That's my nose: http://cedarseed.com/portfolio/human-features/), and my jaw - being very contrasting to my cheekbones - is very soft. Not very tapered, but soft. My faceshape is essentially in between a diamond and an oval. my lips are also very simple, but thin and not very broad. I don't have a single idea think I might be ECG (I really like those clothes, which might or might not say a lot) or CGI. I think, even though small, I must have some 'masculine' essence in me as I definitely need some slight geometry, because of my overall sharp bone structure in both face and body, with soem more softness and girlyness over it in flesh and features, but that could also be provided enough by the classic as it's very slightly.

gitte

5/11/2019 06:14:14 am

Never been called anythign like hot or sexy though, like, at all. And I must have a lot of classic in me because now I think a bit more of it, I have also bene told my features (eyes, nose, lips) are quite symmetrical. It's mainly the surrounding face SHAPE and body that's a bit more...Random. (I know you don't really consider body but I think it's at least worth thinking about)

gitte

5/14/2019 11:47:13 am

Correction: I HAVE been called gorgeous.

Okay, storytime. I was 14 and wans't exactly popular - on the contrary. Everyone thought I were some weird creature. I was quite smart and had the whole 'nerdy girl' look with a sidepart and my hair from the bigger part being pinned to the back so it was out of my face, with the rest of my straight, long, coppery light brown hair loose. I also wore blocky, dark pink, rectangle-chaped glasses with some lacey detail.

I had, like, two 'friends' and at a moment I was quite selfconscious because of obvious reasons (being a 14-year sold unpopular nerdy girl that was air for 99,9 % of people) so one of these girls asked me take the bobbypin out of my hair, take my glasses off. She asked me to shake my head, and then, after the typical teen movie -nerdy-girl-turns-hot make-over scene, she told me: Oh my god, you're so HOT.

Really, that was the only time. I am only 18 though so maybe I'll start to hear thigns like this more often...

Jenn

5/11/2019 08:46:46 am

I’m purely a natural, and only my husband and my mother have ever described me as beautiful, pretty, etc. and I’ve definitely never heard magical or spunky. But I have heard that I look great first thing in the morning, and that I look great when I don’t do anything with my hair. I also get compliments when I wear my hair in a messy bun and when I wear moccasins. :-D

Charity

5/11/2019 10:50:46 am

I'm a classic. Not sure what else. Ingenue is awful on me. Not sure about Gamine. The cut of the clothes flatters me a lot (high necklines, shorter skirts) but I haven't tried color blocking yet. Too bold of a skirt is bad.

I've heard - cute, beautifu, and pretty. On occassion, sassy, but that's due to my attitude more than anything.

Alex

5/11/2019 11:59:42 am

ENG (I've known about the Ethereal and Natural for a while, only recently recognized the Gamine). I get "ageless" a lot. I also get "friendly" and "cute" a lot, and occasionally "otherworldly" and "magical".

Rebecca

5/11/2019 12:51:03 pm

I have self-diagnosed myself as some type of classic - I always used to think it was classic romantic (when I followed Kibbe's system), but knowing more now from Rachael's expansive system, it is more than likely classic ingenue or classic gamine. Even in adulthood, I have always heard "pretty, sweet, cute, and adorable" to describe me. And people ALWAYS think I am younger than I really am.

5/11/2019 08:22:35 pm

Does anyone know which style IDs or blends look really good in 20s/flapper looks? I’m pretty sure Gamine’s on the list, and I think someone suggested EGI at one point, but I’d love to hear any other suggestions. Flapper girl seems to be one of my best looks, so I’m hoping I can use that to narrow my style ID down from “some kind of Youthful + Natural blend.”

Charity

5/11/2019 10:19:03 pm

I consider flapper clothing (the short skirts, boxy clothing, boyish haircuts, etc) to be extremely Gamine. You can take it a step further, and mix it up with a striking top and petal pusher pants of a dramatically different color (red and black/white) with flats, too -- that's very Gamine, I think? If you can pull it off, I'd say you have Gamine.

Kellie link

5/12/2019 02:09:03 am

Yes I think the flapper style is very Gamine . I could see a dramatic and romantic essence as well depending on specific choices.

Sonia

5/13/2019 12:16:38 am

Usually I get "cute" "pretty" "sweet" "I thought you were 16 not 26"... I'm a gamine ingenue according to the calculator. My boyfriend, however says I look like a "roman statue" and my mom always describes my beauty as "old fashioned" so I think I may have some dosage of classic in there. WIthout fail, fashion-knowledgeable women ALWAYS say, "have you ever thought about wearing pinup style/rockabilly fashion?"

Nobody has EVER called me "exotic looking", told me I had a "powerful look", "androgynous" or said I had "sharp" or "strong" features.

Anat

5/13/2019 07:37:12 am

I'm a C-N, possibly C-N-E. The words I am more used to hearing are "smart", "graceful", "lively", "cute", "elegant" and "sophisticated". I got "attractive" and a few "hot", but never "sexy" and never "sweet".

SofiaCalotti link

5/13/2019 02:13:04 pm

I'm a dramatic classic ethereal type. So this is translated from dutch, but I have heard a few times that I have a very 'classical' and elegant look about me. Another thing which I remember very fondly is that a friend once said to me: You look like you could be in a renaissance painting, like I seem not fully from this place/time. I guess this says something about me looking ethereal (also I'm autistic, so that could play a role in this as well, haha).
I've never heard something about the dramatic part, except for maybe people saying I have a 'fierce' look in my eyes, like I will strike out if I have enough of me of someone else getting hurt (which is actually true).
I've never been told I look sexy or glamorous (which is fine by me), I am really, absolutely not a romantic type. Some people do think I am approachable though?

Charity

5/13/2019 02:00:44 pm

If you get called "super cute" whenever you wear a cap (like, a solid color "private cadet" style cap, not a baseball cap, although those look cute on you too) -- does that mean you have Natural or Gamine? I had to borrow my dad's "army style jacket" and hat to take the dog this morning, and everyone agreed I was adorable in that, a tank top, and jeans.

Miranda

5/15/2019 12:50:39 am

That sounds NG to me.

Megan

5/19/2019 06:32:54 pm

For anyone looking for celebrities who share their style ID (in order to get ideas about what to wear/what not to wear, hairstyle, makeup, etc.) one kind of weird thing that has worked for me is to use those websites where you can upload your photo and they'll give you celebrity look-alikes. Caveat is that not all of my matches are my ID (or even close) but if you try different sites and different photos, you may find that you find a celeb--or more--who are good inspo.

This method could also potentially be used to narrow down one's style ID if you're having trouble, although it would by no means be foolproof and might end up leading to more confusion than clarity.

Carol

5/22/2019 05:28:06 pm

I don't know my style type, but I have been called thick (if that is a compliment), curvy, cute, pretty, classy, elegant. I am 5 feet 2 inches and slender, so it is confusing when sales people refer to me as curvy when helping me choose clothing items. I don't recall anyone ever calling me sexy, but my gay co-workers have commented that if they were straight, they would have a hard time working with me.

I have never been called adorable, lovable, or approachable. I have never been called majestic or other worldly or exotic.

I would like to say I am some kind of gamine, but I am not sure because when I actually try on gamine clothes, my face and body look absolutely terrible next to and in the clothes. On the other hand, a short curly pixie looks the best on me, but my long wild curls look pretty good, too, as long as they are not tamed.

I think this is all very interesting, and I enjoy reading the comments and learning.

Mill Carter

5/25/2019 08:26:37 am

I'm definitely a dramatic gamine with some ethereal, and 'handsome' is used to describe the dramatic elements. I'd say naturals get called 'attractive', 'healthy', 'hearty'.

Lise

5/29/2019 02:31:50 pm

LOL, I was a dancer and a model in NYC most of my young life, I've been married twice, and I've never been complimented on my looks, beyond a perfunctory "you look nice today" type thing. I think this was more normal for my generation (I'm 54). You guys must be amazing--I admit I'm a bit envious of your self esteem. Times have really changed!

Claudia Murray

12/3/2019 07:54:07 pm

I’m a RDI and black so get in equal measure, sexy, cute and striking. I knew I was R and D straight away but I knew something was not right or missing so I used the style calculator. I really thought I’d get Classic but surprisingly got Ingenue. Once I added that one cute or girlish element to my outfits, usually a bow or small flowers in my hair, I was all set, it’s all so easy and natural now. I also sometimes get ladylike but it goes along with sexy, cute stunning/striking.

2/10/2021 10:27:34 am

This is a great (though old, I know, sorry) post and very enlightening.

I've been rediscovering this system (and Kibbe's, though I never truly found myself there, sadly) after rather losing touch with myself during the pandemic. Prior, I had experimented with DYT and found I was a Type 4/1, which utterly confused me and made me think Gamine might be a good look for me after all. But I couldn't have been more wrong - and nothing brought that home more than having experimented with a pixie haircut. After cutting off all my hair, I did not become cuter or more visible - I became the contrary: invisible and detached from myself, even frumpy. For the record, I tend to look better in sleeker, longer styles that are moderate in length.

I think it may be more likely that the 'youthful' quality I've always heard I have is actually Ingenue - 'girlish' rather than 'boyish'. But this is not my main type as I do look best in stronger verticals, darker colors, and elongated lines, despite being shorter. I think my height, and something in my facial features, gives people a bit of this Ingenue impression, which totally disappeared when I tried to go more in the Gamine direction. Gamine lines are actually some of my worst looks, followed by Natural, and then Romantic.

So this leaves me with Ingenue, Dramatic, Ethereal, and Classic as possibilities. I am most definitely a blend of at least three, if not all four, of these. I look best in unbroken lines, but they also need a bit of delicate flow. Having looked through all the possible blends, anything with an Ingenue blend in clothing lines would be nearly as bad as Gamine and Romantic (frills near my face look ridiculous as my face has more of what Kibbe would call Yang), so this is maybe a tertiary essence.

The one blend that I related to the most was Ethereal Dramatic Classic. That's closest to the things I feel right and empowered in. I have often heard "classy" as a compliment, which makes me think that I do have some Classic in me after all. I just ordered the Style Calculator and cannot wait to experiment with it.

Elise

2/22/2021 01:27:59 pm

I feel like I've only ever been called "cute." That points to Gamine/Ingenue, which I knew. But I have been slowly seeing clues that point to Classic for me, and now am remembering that teachers/adults have said in birthday cards or notes to my parents that I have poise and/or grace. There's a good chance they were mostly talking about my attitude--calm, demure, deferential--which I have also outgrown as I have become more critical of the patriarchal training I grew up idealizing... and I haven't heard those words said about me since I found my courage, voice, and inner self. But it's possible those two words, poise and grace, also apply somewhat to my face. In addition to the youthful quality, I believe I benefit from smoothness, structure, and reserved detail. Is it possible to have Classic in you if your facial features are really NOT symmetrical?

3/7/2021 07:28:27 pm

Hi Elise, well big surprise - I just did the Style Calculator and, I'm 30% Ingenue(!), my highest %, followed by 25% Ethereal. Classic was tertiary. As for thinking I was more "Dramatic" or "yang" and could not wear ruffles, I realized it's the *type* of ruffles that mattered. I also used a very neutral picture (forward-facing, slight smile/slightly far-away expression, which is typically me and should have been telling me something!) that is actually black and white, so I was not distracted by what colors were doing and therefore could just concentrate, as objectively as possible, on lines, and what shapes really made my face 'light up'.
Also regarding objectivity, Rachel's advice to use a picture and not a mirror is spot on. Yep, the rounded cheeks, the little mouth, the heart-shapes (I) and the S-curves (E) were all there. Not much, if any, "yang" there at all (but there is a bit of Classic). I think I have so conditioned myself to "put on yang" for so long, to appear more badass, or to be taken more seriously, that it's become almost a knee-jerk reaction to reach for as much yang as I could possibly throw on. The Style Calculator revealed that this stuff is very heavy on me and all wrong. To think I've been hiding under mainly Dramatic Natural for a long time (and mostly in black) made me think leaning more C was progress (and it was), but the I dominance was really enlightening. I didn't think something as insignificant in the grand scheme of things as style could feel like such a revelation, but it is, and it's liberating! I can literally throw off the heaps of heavy dark fabrics and get the load off my chest that they've been carrying for so long (I'm not gonna lie, this will be a process, but it feels right).

11/19/2021 12:36:19 am

"Cute" and "adorable" are what I've heard in the most enthusiastic voices.

Which always seems kind of unusual to me because I'm tall -- often taller than the people calling me "cute"!

Beyond that it's been an assortment? I think I've heard "lovely," "attractive," "graceful." "Kind." Technically that last one isn't a beauty-specific word but I've heard it, and variations, about how I 'look'.

I've heard other things along the lines of "stunning/regal" and shop assistants have been excited to put certain clothes on me because apparently I have the body/posture for it, but I don't know if that reflects on my face much, or just on my height/body.

On one occasion someone compared me (seeming to intend compliment) to someone else they considered unusual-looking, which seems like an ethereal-tilted compliment. Personally I kind of think I look like an alien, so I'd have assumed I'd have ethereal in me.

But for whatever it's worth, I'm gradually self-assessing as some blend of Natural-Classic-Gamine. I think Natural is my strongest influence, but the 'cute'-ness is necessary -- and the elegance.

There may be a dash of Dramatic/Ethereal or Romantic in there, but I don't think ANY Ingenue.

Jocelyn Palmer

2/12/2022 05:18:35 pm

Mixed reviews when I was a wee thing: I had strong features from the word go, and schoolmates who didn't know how to react usually called me ugly (and never let me forget it!). Comments from adults ranged from "adorable, sassy, pixie, magical" to "striking, unusual looking, like something out of an old portrait". I confess I liked the idea of looking like an old portrait.

Nowadays I'm called handsome, striking, regal, exotic, sophisticated, dignified, otherworldly. Rarely am I called beautiful, sexy, or womanly unless I'm being catcalled.

Note: I am self-typed as majority Dramatic with traces of Gamine and Romantic.

Loopsy

8/21/2024 11:07:29 pm

People say I look like a doll. Some say I don’t look real or human.
I’ve been called cute, pretty, sexy, have spiritual beauty, heartbreaker, bombshell, a feast to watch, a witch, stunning what I get the most is that I look like a glamour model. Men(I’m not attracted to) say I’m innocent but other men(I’m attracted to) don’t see me as innocent. But I still don’t know my essence.

Men smirk at me a lot so I don’t know what that means essence wise.

Can someone help me guess what my essence is.

Wilhelmina

1/8/2025 10:51:59 pm

This is an interesting excercise! Looking back, I've gotten a really strange mixture of compliments, and I've also been compared to celebrities whose looks are diametrically opposed to each other. I've gotten "beautiful", "pretty", and "cute", but also "mysterious", and have had random strangers say I look like a witch, way too many times. But I also seem to look approachable enough that random people seem to feel comfortable talking to me. I've had friends ask me "do strangers always talk to you this much?" and tell me that it is not normal for them. I thought everyone was constantly harrassed, haha. But I've also been told I am intimidating, and some people thought I was stuck-up, even when I was a shy awkward teen.
I've also had people say I look timeless, and that I'm a fairy or elf.
I've had people tell me I look like a model a few times, which is really weird to me and not true in my opinion, being that I am not very tall and have never been model thin.
My partner says I look like a "witch next door", and says I look more like a sorceress with my makeup, but more of a sweet girl next door without it. When he compliments me he calls me pretty, cute, and beautiful.
None of it seems to make sense or fit together, but I have recently come to suspect that my essence blend is ethereal, dramatic and ingenue. My colour season is dark winter. I have a theatrical romantic body (but with, in my opinion, weirdly long arms, hands, and feet). All this considered, the weird mash up of compliments seems to finally make some sense.

Truth is Beauty

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