Discover your color palette and your style type.

What's the Most Common Style Type?

6/17/2018

A reader recently asked me this question. It's a fun question for me, data nerd that I am. :-)

To answer it, I took a quick look at my last 26 virtual style analyses. I counted the number of occurrences of each of the seven individual essences.

A couple of clients have come out as pure types -- for example, I have had a pure Natural and a pure Dramatic -- but most women turn out to be a blend of two or three essences.

It turns out that all seven main essences were more or less equally represented in my last 26 style analyses.

At the high and low ends, I had seven appearances of Ethereal and ten appearances of Gamine.

7 of my last 26 clients had some Ethereal essence.

10 of my last 26 clients had some Gamine essence.

Each of the other five basic essences -- Natural, Dramatic, Classic, Romantic, and Ingenue -- appeared eight or nine times.

So perhaps Gamine is slightly more common, and Ethereal is slightly less common?

Or the difference could just be due to chance -- though I didn't test it, I doubt these differences are statistically significant.

And there's also the possibility that women who contact me are not a representative sample of all of the types.

Which style combination types are the most common? I tried to answer this by looking at which of my personal style products are ordered the most frequently.

The style types most frequently requested are:

Natural-Classic-Gamine - The Posh Tomboy
Natural-Classic-Ingenue - The Polished Farmgirl
Romantic Natural - The Babe Next Door
Romantic-Natural-Classic - The Sexy Prep

As for the question which combinations are the rarest, there are a couple of combinations that stand out as being very underrepresented in products ordered from my store. They are:

Dramatic-Gamine-Ingenue - The Childlike Czarina
Dramatic-Natural-Gamine - The Casual Punk
Ethereal-Classic-Gamine - The Polished Sprite
Ethereal-Gamine-Ingenue - The Spunky Fairy
Dramatic-Natural-Ingenue - The Dark Mori Girl

Dramatic-Gamine-Ingenue, the Childlike Czarina, is far and away the least ordered type. So perhaps it's the rarest type?

Or it could be that DGI woman are less likely to type themselves as such, or to visit my site, or to order from my site. Hard to know. :-)

The trend I notice above is that each apparently uncommon type combines a supernatural-ish essence (Dramatic or Ethereal) with a childlike essence (Gamine or Ingenue.) I do think it's rare to see people with those combinations.

Are you one of these very rare types, or do you know anyone who is? Do you know any celebrities who might be one of these very rare types?

If you're not sure of your style ID, try the Style Identity Calculator! Or consider investing in a virtual style analysis.

80 Comments

Sally

6/18/2018 10:47:41 am

My friend is high in ethereal with some ingenue. She has a unique and beautiful look. She hasn't aged in 20 years (honestly). I on the other hand am natural and classic I suspect, and look like many other ladies my age.

sasha

12/21/2018 12:37:04 am

I think my whole my family is Ethereal (Elvish/Fairy) Essence...especially on my mom's side more so. I look more like an Elf, it took me awhile to accept it, or how to be alright with it..I think people with Ethereal can pull of Dawson's casting (tv tropes land) and look younger a lot longer..plus for anyone, who has mars in gemini, or some kind of gemini..even Marilyn Monroe/Audrey Hepburn/Britney spears/Keira Knightley/Gemma Arternon i think have some soft Ethereal influence. I started noticing this with a lot of actresses...

Nancy

6/18/2018 12:51:31 pm

Lea Michele is typed Dramatic-Natural-Ingenue.

Christy

6/18/2018 01:29:25 pm

As an EDC, primarily D, and someone who had convinced myself I could be neither D nor E because I am short, I appreciate the value of an objective analysis . Rachel did mine, and it was life changing. I think many people may see some Gamine in a self analysis that may be more from a personality type (I am pretty masculine), not necessarily their actual physical appearance. Many style icons are dressed or made up in Gamine styles, too. I really struggle with Gamine (or slightly cartoonish) tendencies in eyeliner, etc.. the differences are subtle, but meaningful. I love the toughness of a motorcycle jacket, but it makes me look like I am playing dress up: I need something more elongated. Consider getting analysis from Rachel. It is worth the investment.

Lisa

6/20/2018 02:25:07 am

I whole-heartedly second Christy's recommendation of getting an analysis by Rachel.

After YEARS of not being fashionable and hating shopping, I finally reached a point in life where I decided to do something to improve my appearance. Left to my own devices I would have NEVER figured out what "look" was best for me, since fashion was never a priority or interest for me.

I invested in Rachel's objective, unbiased view and was typed as Ethereal-Natural-Ingenue (ENI) at 25% Ethereal, 35% Natural and 40% Ingenue. And then I mulled over the shopping guide, the fragrance list, the visual style guide, the swimwear guide and the what not to wear guide. And then I started to wonder if I could actually buy and wear what she recommended. And then I decided to start small with jewelry and some tops. And I realized this was doable -and it was GOOD.

My former buzz cut is now growing out into a recommended hairstyle for ENI - I buzzed it because I was tired of dealing with hair and I'd seen some beautiful women with buzz cuts (alas I did NOT look the same way). It will take a LONG time to be where it should be, but I can experiment with other aspects of the ENI Style ID and continue to grow while my hair does the same.

Christy

6/20/2018 08:40:12 am

So with you, Lisa! Finally embracing the things I can’t change rather than trying to hide or compensate for them. It is so counterintuitive, after years of listening to all of the info out there!

Anon

6/18/2018 03:04:17 pm

This is interesting! A lot of the Ethereal-Ingenue/Gamine people I know have a very doll-like/20s silent film star look to them. I have a friend with Ethereal as her main essence, with some classic, and *maybe* a little bit of ingenue. She has a narrow, oval face and petite features with slightly wide set eyes and high cheekbones, and I would think that features like wide set eyes could be seen on someone who is both Ethereal and Ingenue. I'm not sure if Ethereals can have small, petite facial features, though--would that be more Ingenue?

I was wondering, what's the difference between Ethereal delicate and Ingenue delicateness? I wonder if it's easy to confuse the two, especially if one also has Classic in the mix, which has a neutralizing effect. My friend is East Asian, and she doesn't know of many Asian celebrities that also have Ethereal--does anyone know of Asian celebrities with Ethereal? Any info is greatly appreciated! :)

Shawna

6/18/2018 10:42:29 pm

Anon, I'm wondering about Sandra Oh. She has an elongated face that seems Ethereal to me.

Anon

6/19/2018 02:31:07 am

Shawna,
Hm, I'm not quite sure. I know she was an example for the Natural type in this blog, but I think that Naturals can also be elongated--just in a blunt/wide way, as Rachel mentioned in another reply. I don't see much Ethereal in her, but I might be wrong.

Katja

6/19/2018 04:23:06 am

Shawna, I think Sandra Oh could be an ENG.

Shawna

6/19/2018 02:38:55 pm

Katja, I like the idea of ENG for Sandra.

Katja

6/19/2018 02:23:58 am

Anon, here are two examples of two Ethereal Asian girls:
Choi Ji Woo and Yoona.

Anon

6/19/2018 02:32:48 am

Thanks so much, Katja! In your opinion, what other essences do Yoona and Choi Ji Woo have, besides Ethereal? I can definitely see Ethereal in both of them!

Katja

6/19/2018 04:22:13 am

Hi Anon! Yes, an Ethereal-Ingenue blend often has wide set eyes and high cheekbones. Ethereals and Ingenues have both delicate features, but Ingenue features are more rounded and smaller. Ethereal features are more elongated.
I've hardly seen Choi Ji Woo and Yoona before, but I will give you my first impressions of them: I think they both have a youthful essence besides Ethereal. And it might be Gamine in both cases. Or maybe Yoona could have Ingenue or both. Choi Ji Woo may have Classic as well. I don't know if Yoona has Classic.

Anon

6/22/2018 06:14:38 pm

Thanks again for your help! It helped my friend a lot :)

Christy

6/19/2018 07:03:30 am

I think there are ethereal representations around the globe. Iman comes to mind, the Buddhist goddess Kwan Yin came up in a google search and a really beautiful woman came up (can’t paste the picture) in a search for chinese women with long faces (she was on a page for haircuts for asian women). While I see femininity in Choi Ji Woo (mentioned below), she seems more youthful to me. Ethereal is more wise and otherworldly.

Kamila

6/20/2018 04:26:32 pm

As for the difference between Ingenue and Ethereal delicateness, I would say Ingenue is delicate like a small flower and Ethereal like a feather. Meaning Ethereal is actually more delicate, more soft but it is less sweet, more airy, less tangible. E is also the most yin type while I comes second.
I thought E was quite common for Asians as they seem exotic to me but maybe this is just a subjective thing.

6/23/2018 12:18:42 am

Kamila, I agree with you about I and E delicacy.But I think E is quite rare among Asians.Because fews of them have elongation, sculpt features that belong to E.But I think lots of AsIans are G and I.Not because they are small, but because they have roud face, short nose, short chin and they usually looks younger.

Kamila

6/23/2018 07:49:09 am

PJ, I see, that makes much more sense that Asians are I-G. This is why Lolita fashion is an Asian thing I guess.

Lauren

6/18/2018 04:52:16 pm

Well, im almost sure that i am a GDE, not based in how i look (i struggle to see myself objectively), but in what looks good on me. I look terrible in delicate stuff, i need angles, bright/dark colors and also movement in cloths, hair and jewrerly. But i dont fit in croppeds, as a pure gamine would. So i guess i have ethereal too.

Lauren

6/18/2018 05:06:43 pm

By the way, Bjork is a classic example of ethereal gamine...

6/18/2018 09:20:44 pm

Based on Rachel's articles, I thought I was some mix of Classic and Ingenue, with possibly a tinge of Ethereal. But the style ID calculator revealed a balanced Ethereal-Classic, or the same with a smaller amount of Ingenue. (For those who don't have the calculator, there are a couple of ways you can use it, so results might be slightly inconsistent.) My impression is that the differences between EC and ECI are not jolting, with the caveat that I haven't reviewed their respective style guides yet. It's fun to think that I might be a rare type.

Janelle

6/19/2018 12:05:38 am

I’ve been wondering about Aubrey Plaza for a while now. She’s got quite a bit of a childlike look, and it seems to be more ingenue than Gamine. Maybe classic as well? But then I wonder if she has some dramatic or if my eyes are just being drawn to the black eyeliner and other heavier makeup.

Alli

6/27/2018 08:40:10 am

Aubrey Plaza is interesting because I think there’s definitely a youthful essence (honestly I think either might work)

https://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_480w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/06/08/Style/Images/NUP_138436_0021.jpg?uuid=Te2GmLGxEeG2pT6F5yOMZA

https://i.pinimg.com/236x/2b/28/b0/2b28b095f74026ef4fdaee381f9fde32--aubrey-plaza-aubrey-oday.jpg

But then there’s also pictures of her like this where I, as a probable GI, would look ridiculous

http://celebmafia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aubrey-plaza-photoshoot-for-rogue-magazine-2017-1.jpg

Victoria

6/19/2018 12:23:49 am

Lily Cole comes to mind. She seems both supernatural and childlike...

Alex

6/19/2018 07:08:22 am

How common is Ethereal-Natural-Gamine? I know several people whom I think are ENG, but I'm not sure!

Lena

6/19/2018 12:51:11 pm

I've heard that ENG is an unusual stile-ID.

6/19/2018 09:49:38 am

I have a question that sort-of relates to the supernatural + youthful idea - I'm still struggling with the bangs issue. I guess I just don't associate fringes with always being youthful. I'm curious if some examples of people I believe look good with fringes without having a youthful essence are actually youthful on some level. (Particularly G.)

I'm thinking of Caroline de Maigret here as an example of someone who does not have a youthful essence (based on her features, in my opinion) but looks great with a fringe. She is mostly N and D, with perhaps secondary C. Perhaps in her case, the fringe brings C face-framing/balancing and D boldness/angularity. Other examples (I'm curious if they are supernatural + youthful) would be Francoise Hardy and Dakota Johnson. Do they all have some G, even if I don't really see it in their features? (Francoise, maybe a bit.)

I know a sideswept fringe has been recommended for N but I have found that style to be quite unflattering on me, and I would not see it as particularly becoming on any of these examples, excluding Francoise.

(Heidi Klum is also an example, who was listed on the N page on this site. There seems to be a particular sort of wide-but-balanced face with a supernatural essence that suits a blunter fringe. Though I don't think any of these people are flattered by a bob with bangs, the rest of the hair has to be long. I agree that a bob with bangs too youthful.)

Shawna

6/19/2018 02:49:54 pm

The bangs/fringe issue is a confusing one to me too. I have had one for most of my life and people tend to like it, even prefer it. IN fact for the past thirty years I've tried to grow it out but as doing so is not fun, I get frustrated. People then tell me, oh well I like you with it so you should keep it. No hairstylist has ever suggested I grow it out. BUT I am growing it out now as it drives me nuts and I am past the worst most awkward stage Anyhow, I have a small dose of Ingenue but not a lot. It took me awhile to sort it all out but I have settled on 50% E 35% N and 15% C ( I get Ingenue if my score ends up as a 4 part result ) and I don't know which part of that combination makes bangs look good on me but they seem to. Side swept bangs are not good.

Just musing out loud here-probably not contributing anything useful. LOL

6/19/2018 03:10:58 pm

Trying to grow out a fringe is indeed awful! Which is why I'm inquiring further. I get that ultimately we need to make our own decisions and no system is absolute, but the advice here has been generally spot-on me for aside from the fringe issue (and a few R-body, no-R-in-face proportions/silhouette edits I've had to make).

Shawna

6/19/2018 04:31:00 pm

AM, I am sure the fringe thing is a bit subjective too. Sometimes they are very in fashion and sometimes very out and we all get used to a certain look. Women with long faces and high foreheads ( like me ) are usually advised to wear bangs because heaven forbid we offend the world with this face that isn't the cultural ideal. It's a bit like the dressing to create the illusion of an hourglass concept. It's time for some of us to rebel.

Isn't a bob with bangs sometimes Dramatic? It can look sharp and edgy on someone with very straight hair and dramatic features. Maybe they need Gamine and Dramatic. I like your idea about Caroline de Maigret. I can't even find any pictures of her without bangs so could it be that we just see them as looking good because it's all we know? I suspect she tries to soften her face and play down its dramatic lines and that somebody told her years ago that the bangs would balance her nose. On the other hand, she does have an impish and tomboyish vibe so maybe there is some Gamine in there. I really like bangs on Alexa Chung too and I think she has Gamine. Don't like Bangs on Sandra Bullock and she has a lot of Natural. Love them on Olivia Wild and Jennifer Garner who both probably have a dash of Gamine. JLo seems to look good with and without though perhaps a little better without. Now I am just Googling celebs with bangs.

6/19/2018 04:52:40 pm

You're right, what a fringe is associated with is indeed subjective. It does indeed place one big staccato line across the face, but a fringe can be shaped to mimic a lot of different lines.

I think a bob with bangs could be D - I think a lot of fringes could be D. I don't understand the notion of D being limited to short or ultra-edgy hairstyles, though it can go that way. Cher and Anjelica Huston come to mind when I think of women with very strong features who wear a long straight hairstyle potentially with fringe very well. I think it's a suitable style for women who are somewhat masculine-looking or unusual, but who for whatever reason do not wish to have short hair. The straight lines echoed in that style are flattering to more "masculine" features, I think. And the long hair suits the elongation.

I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on how you feel different celebs look with bangs. I agree with your thoughts on all the examples thus far. This website definitely is challenging me to think beyond the idea of "balancing" or "softening" one's features, as you mentioned with the belief about bangs and high foreheads, which I've found it really empowering. The fringe, however, is something I like - but am I wearing a style that doesn't suit me as well as something else because I feel I must "balance" my features? I wear bangs for the same reason Caroline de Maigret likely does - the narrow eyes/strong nose combo. But I feel bangs do flatter some women with those features - is it a D thing? Is it G? Is it just an individual proportions thing?

Shawna

6/19/2018 05:46:12 pm

AM I am inclined to think that as in all cases, some individual tweaking is required and even some stepping outside of the normal guidelines to create your own unique look. So many rules increasingly seem unnecessary. I have worn my hair short and with bangs for years as the advice for a long face and high forehead but look at all the long faced celebs rocking long hair! I like Angelica Houston with bangs, definitely but Cher I like without. I wonder if Cher has E and D. I love her big curly hair look. Dakota Johnson is a fellow high foreheader whom I do prefer with bangs because the bare forehead seems to make her look younger than she is in a way that isn't as flattering. Just my opinion though. Lucy Lieu seems to look good with or without bangs. I was wondering if bangs were just very french-icon but Charlotte Rampling doesn't do them unless they are blended well into her hair. I wonder what type she is. I'm thinking that quite a lot of D or G is what makes straight bangs look good. Everyone else seems to get away with softer bang styles with blended layers at the sides, side swept bangs or ones that part slightly in the centre.

Melina

9/21/2022 11:45:25 am

I certainly agree that lot of D or G is what makes straight bangs look good (as Shawna wrote)! Or any bangs. Usually bangs are seen as suiting I or G best, but I don't think they necessarily suit an Ingenue... (Me being one with I as major essence, and I prefer without bangs.)

(And yes, I do know this is an old post, but like I wrote below, I only found it now, though I'm very familiar with most other articles here. :))

Shawna

6/19/2018 09:54:41 pm

AM-slightly confusing....I did the style calculator with my bangs/fringe pinned off my face and I have been doing that lately as I am trying to grow them out. BUT I tried using a photo of myself with bangs and it's a bit different. I look much better with Gamine blends and I wonder if the bangs make me look Gamine when I am not or do they suit me and get compliments because there is Gamine in there that I am not seeing. GAH!

6/19/2018 05:28:48 pm

Question for Rachel:
What is the difference between looking "yourself" in casual wear because it is a cultural norm, and being a strong Natural? This is a hard distinction because I feel so many people do not look *bad* in casual clothes per se (and there are many N blends), but some people just transform in formal wear when they are made-up/have their hair done. Tips for telling the difference?

Christy

6/20/2018 08:50:24 am

Would love some guidance on this, too. It seems like three essences are what I see people wear most: natural, romantic, or gamine. I don’t think that these work for everyone, but they are certainly pushed by the media, etc..

Shawna

6/21/2018 11:26:50 am

Christy, I definitely think those are the 3 media-created female ideals- cute and spunky, hot and sexy, casual/sporty babe. I am also convinced that there is a lot of relaxed, loose clothing because it is easier and cheaper to make. While I suit a relaxed vibe, I prefer some degree of shape to the clothing, some seams under the bust are ideal for me but difficult to find unless the item is super-tailored which doesn't work.

6/23/2018 12:28:03 am

AM, I'm RIC and I'm looked "horrible" in casual wear(plain T-shirt and jeans).They always make me look like a nerd girl who has no idea how to dress.The only casual wear I can tolerate is relaxed blouse with ruffle or bow, skinny jeans/pants that show my curve, relaxed dress or skirt, flower prints.

I know some person who wear just T-shirt and jeans and looks fabulous.They are Natural girls.

Lilac

6/19/2018 07:15:24 pm

I believe I am an EGI :)
Elongated and delicate, yet childish, "baby-face" features.
I've been called "fairy" and "elf" many times :)

Shawna

6/19/2018 10:23:44 pm

At this point, if I have mistyped myself it is a case of being an Ethereal Natural Gamine who thinks she is an Ethereal Natural Classic. There is a significant difference in my appearance with or without bangs and pretty much everyone in my life prefers me with bangs. With bangs I look better next to ENG than ENC. Is it just the bangs doing that or is it trying to tell me something?

Christy

6/20/2018 09:02:24 am

Bangs are tough. I have grown mine out only a couple of times because of all the stuff out there (including family and friend feedback) saying they were better. I sent Rachel pics of me with and without for my style analysis. When I asked her specifically, she recommended against the bangs for my DEC type. I can see it now, but having a LOT of trouble convincing my hair stylist.

Shawna

6/20/2018 11:38:31 am

Christy, that is interesting. I am consistently told by people that they like the bangs better and yet I feel somehow convinced that they aren't better. I thought I might try to grow them out slowly and softly rather than pulled back. I mean, let the sides of them grow first-not sure how to explain that. LOL Good Luck with your hair stylist!

Christy

6/20/2018 03:27:44 pm

Bangs are a tough thing. I have a long thin face, so have always thought I should have bangs. I happen to like a sideswept thing on me (shortest piece jus below my cheekbone). It is hard to get there, though, and my hair stylist just cut the shortest piece too short in order to incorporate the bangs into my sides (angling). To make matters worse, they want to curl in the summer humidity, so way too short for now. Pulling them straight back does not really give the same effect. Trying to learn patience.

Katja

6/20/2018 03:11:40 am

Shawna, do you have a picture of yourself without a bang?

Shawna

6/20/2018 11:35:54 am

Katja, only pictures of the bangs pulled back off my face. Not something I would do forever but what has to be done as they are growing out. The picture I shared a little while ago is like that and I have a not so good picture with bangs (badly cut I must add) on the same pinterest board for comparing photos with my face. https://www.pinterest.ca/McComberS/with-my-face/

Nancy

6/21/2018 04:19:01 am

Shawna, I like you better in short hair with a bang. I don't know why, I just do. But that doesn't mean that you have Gamine. A Classic can have short hair and a bang and a Natural too.

Shawna

6/21/2018 11:14:40 am

Thanks for the feedback, Nancy. You are definitely in the majority. I do agree that I have seen many N and C influenced people looking good with bangs. I will just have to start thinking of them as my signature look.

Ralu

6/21/2018 12:11:40 pm

I think sometimes whether one can pull a bang also relates to their hairline. I prefer you with a bang, at least, at the length you hair currently is. I wonder if you would look good without it if you had really long hair.

Shawna

6/21/2018 12:45:19 pm

Ralu, I know what you mean and I suppose my desire to grow out the bangs is based on the desire to also grow the rest of the hair longer. I wore it long and bangless as a child but of course I don't look the same as I did then! I do seem to look better with softness around my face. Hairstylists love to give me a soft, pixie with soft wispy bits of hair framing my face. Most people love that cut on me but I don't. I've been growing out a pixie which is why I have such choppy looking hair now.

Katja

6/22/2018 11:55:08 am

Hi Shawna, I think you can have a bang if you want to, but I think it should be rather long. If it is short it will make your face look longer.

Shawna

6/22/2018 03:53:57 pm

Hi Katja, thanks for the feedback. I don't really want the bangs but so many people seem to prefer me with them, probably because they shorten my face. They irritate me and especially when they are long. I am definitely leaning towards growing them out and the world will just have to cope with seeing my forehead!

6/23/2018 11:26:29 am

Shawna, maybe a sideswept bang? Or a "curtain" bang that splits in the middle?

Christy

6/20/2018 03:32:22 pm

Extra question for Rachel: at what age should someone get their color or style identity analyzed? My daughter is 15, and while I think she is too young for a full analysis, I see some things emerging with her. I want to teach her to embrace her strengths in all areas, and image is part of that. I am seeing D and E in her, and maybe some N. I think D and E are a bit hard to embrace at a young age, especially for someone with a really sweet disposition, which she has.

Kamila

6/20/2018 04:02:49 pm

I think it's interesting to know which style IDs and their combos are more and less common because it puts your appearance in the context of society. This is what I have observed so far:

Most females have a mixture of Romantic or Ingenue and Natural. I also see many Gamines. One could think that females have more feminine IDs so that comes to a surprise. Natural seems to be common in both genders but even more so in males. I would say Natural is number one for males and Romantic for females. Pure types are very rare and "triple types" are the most common, a bit more so than "double" types. Dramatic is rare in females and Ethereal rare in males? Don't know about Classic.
I would like to hear what others have observed.
How common is N-I-E? I wouldn't mind having a unique style ID haha *.*

Kamila

6/20/2018 04:06:18 pm

I meant Natural for females plus either Romantic or Ingenue.

Megan

6/21/2018 02:11:14 pm

I agree with these observations, except for the notion that romantic is most common in females--I think romantic is definitionally an "extreme" essence, meaning that the facial features that come with the romantic essence (very full lips, large smoldering eyes, small chin) are relatively rare. (Obviously many women have some of these traits, but I think that relative to, say, natural traits, these traits are rare.) I would tentatively say that natural blends seem most common for both men and women. Just my opinion, though, and more based on theory than on what I've observed.

Kamila

6/23/2018 07:59:30 am

Pure romantics are rare for sure. I mostly see romantic mixes in females, quite a lot actually. That's interesting that the two genders which are clearly distinguishable both have natural a lot. Like what is it then in the outer appeareance that makes women look female after all and men masculine? The percentage of each style ID might also be important here. But I'm still convinced that the most common style ID for women must be a female one.

Kamila

6/20/2018 04:57:56 pm

Of all these rare types listed at the end of the post, I know G-I-Es, 2 of them (maybe 3, am not sure about one). Also one G-I-E. I know only one C-I-E and think this is also quite rare as a type. As for celebrities, I see Cara Delevingne as a D-G-N.

Ralu

6/21/2018 11:59:15 am

I also know several G-E. I thinks this stems from gamine subtypes (especially G-R) being extremely common where I live. I have 2 G-E cousins from my fathers side and my Godmother is also one. A lot of relatives have G. My dad too. My mom is R-D-E though and she is taller than my dad by an inch!

6/21/2018 02:10:45 am

Wow, just did the style ID calculator and I am extremely confused! I think I was thrown off on many of the boards by one or two outfits that I know would look incredible on me, while the ID itself doesn't really express my appearance (particularly DCG and RDN, which I rated highly).

I think, while the advice of dressing for your face is amazing and useful, body does need to come into play. I've rated a lot of R boards highly because I have an extreme hourglass figure. I *need* waist definition, and I will never be able to wear styles intended for boyish hips - and I will automatically rate, say, the NC board very low because I know I will look atrocious in the cut of the pants featured on that board. I actually create the illusion of a less-feminine silhouette by wearing ultra-high waist pants that are wide enough to obscure the hips to some extent (aka a somewhat R silhouette, according to the boards) – and this faux-androgyny looks good, which confirms my suspicion that my face doesn't have a great deal of R.

I do feel a sigh of relief when I see the avant-garde styles. Maybe it's just a strong taste preference – but I have noticed, when I've gone too N recently in an attempt to "test" my likely ID out, or too boho, I feel sad. Not like myself. Diminished. I see N on other people and they look vibrant and wonderful. But I look angry, like I'm wearing a sack and trying to hide.

Is it possible N is overdiagnosed because so many of us see ourselves as not extraordinary - and it's really hard to "see" extraordinary without makeup, styling, etc? (Most of the "exceptional" celebrity examples would not look remotely the same without professional beauty services/lighting/lenses). Is it potentially more helpful to think about the "overall feeling" you bring, then to overanalyze the lines of our faces (when so many of us suffer from severe body image issues, like I do – and the invitation to just accept that you're "average" and should wear chill textured clothes is all too tempting?) Again, not slamming N here (and I know it gets different sorts of descriptions depending on the style system), but I have never been described as friendly/relaxed/easygoing (based on either my appearance or my personality). "Aloof" and "otherworldly" are the best overall descriptions for the impressions others tell me I bring, without getting to know me well. "Not present in the real world" or "not part of the group" or, derogatorily, some variation of "haughty" show up a lot and reflect how people respond to me unless I make a conscious effort otherwise. However, even though my features alone definitely have a lot of E and C based on the descriptions, I didn't even pick out the EC board. And I know I've got a masculine essence too, which is probably N, but translating that into the N styles featured just doesn't check out for me. Maybe this is really just a conflict of my personal preferences with what would look best on me - it took me *years* to accept my season, and gradually replacing all the red and black in my closet with SA colors has been great. (No more heavy foundation!) But I do maintain that the high-fashion looks are where I feel most comfortable/most at "home." Maybe EC, with both D and N as my masculine essences, with some R proportions I need adjustments for? This is getting so complicated, haha. And I'm starting to wonder, if I need to watch for 5 essences, if I should just go with Kibbe's idea of C as yin/yang balance and call it a day. So long as there's some high-fashion influence and some E flow/elongation, with N suede/denim/maybe a rolled sleeve, I can live in C. (Which basically leads me back to needing to look out for 4 essences.)

(Thanks for tolerating the rant, everyone. Just so confused after the calculator!)

Shawna

6/21/2018 02:58:56 am

AM it has taken me awhile to get on the right track using the calculator. I love it and it's fun and I have learned a lot but it isn't always easy. I look best in elongation but I was seeing that as softness and responding to the Romantic draping as the right sort of softness and the feminine detail of Ingenue when what I need is the delicate detail of Ethereal. Sometimes Ingenue can seem sort of young-classic which is a style I've worn often in my life so it looks familiar. I know I am not flattered by Natural in many ways as it's heavy for me and Preppy is one of my worst looks BUT when N compliments E just in flowing lines that aren't structured it's fabulous. And as for that youthfullness, it turns out there might be a dash of G in me though it is probably small enough to be ignored or to allow me to dip into ENG sometimes. I have decided I am ENC but that wasn't the first place I landed. I think that everyone who is ENC will still have differing proportions of those essences and will thus use the guidelines differently. For me it's like using Natural to normalise Ethereal lines-turn Ethereal into regular clothing- and using Classic in accessories to get the light touch I need. That means not everything on the ENC board is something I would literally wear but rather I have used it to understand possible ways to combine these essences. I can also look at EN and tweak those ideas with Classic accessories but many N and EN things get too unshaped for me. Maybe that's where the C comes in or just tweaking for my body is involved.

I don't mean to bore you with the details of my own style ID but am trying to explain how I think we will all need to really understand our ID blend and adapt it to our own particular look and needs.

Also, do the calculator over and over and over and use a variety of photos. Try it with the 123 scoring and the 1 only scoring. I get slightly different results when I do that and I think it's because when I use 123 I select too many boards. I score loads of them as 2 because a lot of boards seem pretty good or mostly good. I was happiest with my results when I took the best seven boards but I still had to work my way past seeing the R items as good because of draping and having a bias against N because I know it can be both too shapeless and too heavy for me.

Katja

6/21/2018 05:30:19 am

" we will all need to really understand our ID blend and adapt it to our own particular look and needs." and " everyone who is ENC will still have differing proportions of those essences and will thus use the guidelines differently." Very well put, Shawna! So true. Women with the same style-ID can look very different from each other.

Gabriella

6/21/2018 04:08:54 am

Of course your body needs to come into play You can not dress for your face only.

Gabriella

6/21/2018 05:32:45 am

I agree with you, AM. Of course your body needs to come into play. You can not dress for your face only.

6/21/2018 10:29:56 am

Agreed, Gabriella. And other people (friends, strangers) *love* when I dress in very tight, R styles. To be blunt, they are not looking at my face at all. If I wanted to get constant compliments, I would wear skintight R clothing all the time.

I feel like it's quite common for people to have lots of I and R in their face and very N or G bodies. I have the opposite problem - when I have been a higher weight, people compare me (my body) to Christina Hendricks. Maybe I do have some hint of R in my face that enables me not to look ridiculous in R styles - or maybe it is just indeed my body/makeup (though, again, the question of what your style ID is with/without makeup and being "done" is so hard... I initially got opinions on my type/was judging myself during a serious no-makeup phase).

6/21/2018 02:21:15 pm

AM,

Everything you say -- ALL of it -- was so like my experience. Just yes. Point to your post, and yes to everything in it. E yes. N so bad. C *should* work? But EC is meet I. Sigh of relief with Avant Garde, but a lot of D is what? Every bit of it.

I've since settled into ED and I'm calling it good. Here's what I think is going on for me: I have such a balance of E and D that it almost looks classic. I get called classic all the time, but actual classic elements are frumpy. What I need is the knife's edge balance of masculine and feminine with the otherworldly edge. Almost nothing is great on me, but when it's great, it's smashing.

6/21/2018 02:26:46 pm

EC is meh* -- autocorrect did something odd there. Also: I found I did better with ED in practice than other elements in theory. Downside is, I look very intimidating in my best look. But eh?? So it goes. I just have to act even more friendly now.

6/21/2018 03:25:07 pm

To W-

Yes yes YES to the C working in theory but being frumpy on me in practice! (And EC, my "theoretical" ID, was way too... no. Just no. Full midi skirts are not for me.) I probably have a similar thing going on with an even balance of super masc and super fem features, especially taking my body into account, that may appear "classic" in its balance but is actually androgynous in a different way.

I do very well with intimidating looks. But I have soft coloring, so I've gotten a lot of negative feedback about, say, fire engine red D looks. But I see, when considering my correct colors, how perfect avant garde is for me and how comfortable I feel in those styles. I think I'm settling into ED territory as well. Sadly I have bought a lot of preppy clothes recently because I thought I was a Classic. I still think I may have a bit of C as I can suit some preppy "details" (collared things, occasional nautical detail, houndstooth) that, combined with somewhat costumey long coats and crazy architectural pants, give off some of a Vogue editorial British aristocrat vibe. Which is probably my best and most comfortable look, thinking about myself in actual clothes from the past and not in theory.

"Knife's edge balance of masculine and feminine with an otherworldly edge" - this is perfect. I notice myself "tipping" over into too feminine with makeup (not even a lot, but like - wearing mascara often looks too feminine and just not right), so I have basically abandoned makeup at this point aside from occasional skin fixing and a lip that makes me look more alive. Brow emphasis can be good too. Or makeup that isn't meant to make you look remotely feminine, like no eye makeup with a subtle contour and brows, and a slightly crazy highlighter. Editorial makeup, space makeup, fantasy makeup, that sort of thing.

I am beyond thrilled to know that my favorite pants ever - my leather leggings - are something I should expand on in my style. And that pairing them with some of my other favorite pieces, like minimal but avant-garde sweaters and sweeping theatrical trench coats - which I guess I always knew looked good on me? - is where I should be heading.

I think my echoes of N and C (and really just echoes) are best expressed in some more natural textures (no hemp or anything but polished suede is awesome - which may have to do with being a SA who lights up in tan/wheat sort of colors?) and some random C details, like an oversized vintage polo paired with something insane and architectural and elongated.

Now that we've come to the same conclusion, what are your thoughts on hair? Maybe I would suit a very elongated short cut better than I think I would (my friends certainly would love me to go full Tilda Swinton), but I'm afraid I would feel too much pressure to maintain a certain weight to make my body more androgynous. I also had short hair last year (like blonde bob to my chin) and while it didn't look *bad*, the extremes of my features really popped out. (Maybe this is something I should embrace with ED?) Some of my ideas include just keeping what I have (which is a long blunt bang with some "winged" longer edges, if that makes sense, with mid-long blunt hair), doing ultra-long Cher middle-parted hair (in real life, I wear mostly 70s styles - which is a good approximation of ED's shape if you need to incorporate more casual N and wear jeans in real life), or doing something more genuinely androgynous. Thoughts?

(I also literally almost bought one of the sweaters on the ED board - I sadly missed it on sale. I remember noticing that when I first came to this site, but of course I decided to overthink everything instead of going with my gut. However, despite my mistakes in judgment, I am forever deeply grateful to this system for introducing me to the notion of reflecting your yin/yang proportion in dress, and for pointing out that masculine features are not ugly, just not matched well with, say, ruffles. Ultimately, though, comparing your thoughts on your features to a list and making the judgment that way is not the best if your results absolutely compromise everything you know about your best looks in practice.)

6/23/2018 12:04:32 pm

Again, completely hearing and agreeing with your assessments. Also Christy (below) - excellent point on fabrics/textures being key. I find I can 'get away' with items that might be more N or C or something, provided the fabrics, color, texture reads ED. Example: I have a plain tshirt - but it's my version of black (LSu pewter grey) - that's covered in tiny rhinestones. Sounds absurd, but in practice, it somehow totally elevates the tshirt and jeans look to strikingly magical.

For hair... So, I've thought about this a LOT. Rachel has a hair post, and what I notice for ED is that it seems to be less prescriptive of cuts/colors as it is suggestive of a certain vibe. And for myself, I know I find I do best when my hair is less like hair, and more like sculpture.

That may sound odd, but example: if you look at Tilda Swinton, she actually doesn't look bad in her longer hair (when she was younger). It's just that it was best pulled back and up into a sort of Victorian/Gibson-girl like sculpture. Her current best hair is sculptural. If you put her in a 'normal' hairstyles (see movies Okja, Trainwreck), I think she looks... meh to odd. It just doesn't suit. Put her in anything that resembles a sculpture, whether longer or shorter, and it suits. On the other hand, Cate Blanchett has that classic element that lets her get away with a blunt (D), wispy (E), light (E), shoulder-length bob (C). I thought I could pull off the same, and it was... ok. Not great. So yeah, I think sculpture is key.

It may sound totally bizarre, but I get a lot of inspo from Video Games. Because video game 'hair' is just a structural mesh meant to evoke hair, there are some really great possibilities there. Do be warned: it takes a REALLY good stylist to translate a video game haircut into a working style for a human head. I've gotten some horrid haircuts trying this technique, but then I found a stylist who is amazing. Some gaming styles run pretty gamine, but most female styles are decidedly Dramatic, and many evoke E if you're looking at a magic-user. Example: Maya the Siren from Borderlands. (http://borderlands.wikia.com/wiki/Maya/Skins)

I've tried at least 5 of her hairstyles, and they were all great. And yes, my stylist thinks I'm completely insane and she's down with it. :)

Christy

6/24/2018 04:11:41 pm

W: interesting approach to hair. I was skeptical about the sculptural thing until I looked at the pictures. I have worn that extremely angled bob, and loved it. I am growinmy hair into the pulled back long version of Maya! I think that works for those of us with a big dose of D. In fact, i have a plan to get that extreme bob when I finally decide to let my hair go gray: dye the long front piece a fashion gray, and cut the rest really short until it grows in. Saw something like it on a villain in an old Tron cartoon my kids used to watch. Great tip.

6/25/2018 12:09:49 am

Interesting about the hair being sculptural! It totally fits. Tousle on me is just... no. Shagginess and layers are the worst thing ever. (Sadly I have extremely thick, extremely curly hair naturally... just going to have to accept, like I've suspected my whole life, that my natural hair makes my face disappear and is very unflattering). I think I do probably have enough C (I see way more overlap with Cate Blanchett than Tilda) for hair that is more conservative, but a blunt cut was a revelation for me. My life changed for the better when I quit layers altogether. I'm thinking my go-to hair - long and blunt with long blunt bangs - works because it has both the elongation and the structure. And the way i style it is with as little "tousle" as possible - I'm always mussing with it to make sure the bangs are arranged exactly right.

Minus bangs (I'm just undecided), I'm interested in Rachel's suggestion on the ED page for extreme length, but I'm concerned "just" very long hair might look kind of blah. The best hair for me, if it makes sense, is elongated (anything above collarbone is... not fantastic) but not too feminine. Which is nearly impossible, because most people read all long hair as very R or I feminine. Basically I fear ultra-long hair will evoke Ingenue through making me look like a very young girl who doesn't bother to get her hair cut. Hmm.

Dazed and Confused

8/23/2018 02:01:22 pm

Hi AM!

Sorry for the reply to an old comment, but you helped me try to type myself a while back (thank you so much, btw, your feedback was greatly appreciated and helpful). I think I have E and D as well--you mentioned that I might have N also, so I might be able to help. I've gotten feedback some of my friends and one of them thinks I am an E-D-I, and doesn't see much N (although I think that Natural can sometimes either be very easy or very difficult to see in someone who is a blend).

I agree with the Classic working in theory but not in practice look. I think it's because we see so much classic/natural clothes in general--they are the two most "human" types, as Rachel mentioned in a previous post, so I think that since so many people wear Classic type clothes, for work or whatever, we get used to seeing it and have difficulty separating that we're accustomed to a look vs. we actually harmonize with the look. Other people suggested I was E/C (with some I), and I took a look at the board for that, and figured out that a lot of the classic elements I wore were "ok", but not my best. I looked too buttoned up and restrained, and with a lot of the natural looks I tried, I looked sloppy and messy without any structure. Sometimes it's easy to confuse classic structure with dramatic structure.

I have naturally bushy, thick hair as well--while it doesn't look too bad on me, I think the best haircut for someone with E and D would need a more structured wave--it depends on how much D or E you might have, but I know that if my hair is straightened, it looks too limp and sickly. I usually stick to a controlled wave parted in the middle (and I have sworn off of bangs because it's one of my worst looks) and maybe with a few strands framing my face.

I think that Cher is a good fashion icon to refer to if you have E and D--she's stunning and I absolutely love her with that hairstyle you mentioned--parted in the middle and sleek--although I heard that some girls back in the 70s ironed their hair with a clothes iron to get that look! I don't think it's mandatory that you choose to go for a more vintage look vs a more sculptural modern look, since you're still figuring things out. Of course, it's different for everyone, but I don't have a cohesive sense of style and I actually have more fun experimenting.

Christy

6/21/2018 03:47:50 pm

AM and W, can I reiterate the value of a style analysis by Rachel? The testimonial blog post froma few weeks ago was mine. I went through much of what you are experiencing, and rather than continue to torture myself, I left it to the expert. I no longer need to second guess myself: I know (having tested things out from my wardrobe, etc.) Rachel is right. I am DEC. yes, I have to adjust things for fit, etc., but I have not made a wasted purchase since my analysis. In fact, I bought a gorgeous Asian jacket yesterday that I had talked myself out of at least five times before. I do still need positive reinforcement (my daughter is great), but it is so amazing to know it works and why. When it comes right doen to it, the right style type will save you money in the long run.

Just an aside: I am finding that getting the fabrication right is hugely important for my ED elements, as is the color balance. I have always leaned toward monochromatic looks, which plays into my D, but as a Deep Autumn, a lot of my brights and mid range colors really don’t work without a great fabric or cut.

6/21/2018 08:49:06 pm

Truthfully, I would love to, but I can't afford it at the moment. I got a bunch of style guides a while ago, and I now realize I would have been better served by a virtual style analysis from the start. But now I'm in a place where I can't do that. It's too bad, too. So I'm making myself content that I think ED is my spot. The advice in the shopping guide is working well, anyhow.

Julia

10/23/2019 11:45:08 pm

Rachel, I would love it if you wrote a post about... *drumroll* ... necklines.

As lines that often stand the closest to the face, I feel necklines are extremely style-colored. I, obviously, have a personal interest in this (still unsure of my exact style ID, but sure what (neck)lines work, and which do not), which leads me to think there might be a wider point to be made about which type of neckline generally "points" to which style identity.

I know it is a lot to ask, but it would be quite wonderful if this topic made your blogging list one of these days.

Thank you!

Megi

9/2/2021 04:48:54 pm

Hi Rachel!
So interestic topic. I feel I am Dramatic Natural Ingenue blend, because i tried so much styles, analysed myself lot of times and I thought for a long time I am Ethereal Natural, but I always looked much younger than I am, and when I tried lot of different pure styles, Ethereal was something my body look good but my face is not otherworldly, not delicate, something just strange. I was surprised how proportionate and sweet I looked in ingenue clothing, dramatic black suit added me a lot of power and Natural makes me look very comfortable and relaxed, good proportioned also. So I finally decided to follow dramatic natural ingenue way.

I was thinking about Ethereal because I too much tried to count characteristics of this essence that exist in my face, I was not looking just how I LOOK, what impress I make. I think it is very helpful to try some key essence styles to figure it out.

Amber

11/5/2021 08:59:40 pm

I am E/R/I. My mother is E/D/I.
We both have in common that as children, were described as having a mysterious vibe, from our early teens for a short span of a few years, were read as older and especially approached by older boys who explicitly misread us as their age, and then suddenly, around 18-21 years old, the tide turned and since then, we are continually being assumed as far younger than we are. I just traveled and during the passport control at the airport, was told I would have been guessed to be in my early 20s; I am in my mid-30s. A new colleague recently asked me „what type of youth pill I’m taking“. My stepdad is 20 years younger than my mother; he initially thought she’d be not much older than him. I don’t have a good example for me, but my mother kind of resembles a mini version of Tilda Swinton, but with round eyes and a fuller, yet sharply defined mouth.

Melina

9/21/2022 10:53:17 am

This is so intriguing, as I'm the same - in my teens, I was taken for slightly older, but then at around 19-20 the tide turned! And now I'm 50 and usually taken for someone around 30, even sometimes asked for ID when I buy alcohol! Wierd. And yes, I have both Ethereal and Ingenue :)

Melina

9/21/2022 10:49:34 am

For some strange reason, I only now found this old article :) I do have both Ethereal and Ingenue (Ingenue is probably my main essence), plus a few other essences, and to me it's not a strange combination at all! Plus, the EI board is so exquisitely lovely, how could anyone see any contradiction in it? :)

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