You should notice a switch that goes on and off, or a feeling that flows and ebbs. As you flip back and forth, pay attention to what changes inside you. In another screen, put your picture next to a garment that you're certain is awful for you.

You might try this: put your picture next to one garment that you're absolutely certain complements you. Seeing myself with fresh eyes can help me notice my aesthetic reaction. I also make a habit of going away from a picture of myself for a day or so, then coming back to it. Selfies are more trustworthy than a mirror for some reason, it's much easier to objectively evaluate a frozen image of ourselves. The aesthetic reaction is a sense of liking or not-liking, attraction or lack of attraction, that I personally sense in my chest: something there warms and lifts when I'm seeing visual harmony. When you're able to do it, you're in a state of mind where you're viewing yourself rather dispassionately, as a visual image you're responding to on an aesthetic level, but not on a personal level, or with value judgments. I suspect that most of us are drawn to color and style analysis because we realize we often aren't objective about ourselves.īeing objective about oneself is a challenge, absolutely. I hate to be yet another voice telling women not to trust their instincts! We get so much of that, don't we? Yet, for the sake of truthfulness, I have to say that many of us don't have an instinct for what looks good on us. A head-on photo reveals what you actually look like, and will give the most accurate results. But a photo of a face at an angle distorts the dimensions of the face. Most of us don't find this our favorite type of picture we prefer ourselves at an angle. It's important to use a photo of yourself looking directly into the camera. 'Happy face' doesn't have to mean an ear-to-ear grin, although it may I suggest using the smile that you feel most flatters you. I think this is because our best clothes complement our authentic selves, and our authentic selves are happy selves.

Over time, I've found I get the most accurate results with a happy face. When I analyze other people, I *also* find that the type of picture used affects the results quite a bit.

If you manage to find the time to answer here or in one of your future blog posts, I'll be most grateful. Unfortunately, I have no close friends I could ask to invest the time into analyzing me using the Calculator, so I have to rely on my own attempts at understanding the system better - and your ever so enlightening and helpful explanations - to try and decode my 'true' Style Identity, assuming there is (only) one.Īpologies for this lengthy a comment/question. The only constant seems to be that I'm a Dramatic (and almost always also Ethereal), but - again - can it really be separated from the person's character, namely the fact that I simply LIKE Dramatic (and Ethereal) looks and therefore am more likely to consider them something that would 'fit' me? Ultimately, I guess, my question is this: how can one really be *objective* when it comes to Style Identity Analysis? I honestly feel my knowledge of my body/face/hair (very curly!), fashion habits, coloring, as well as the mood I am in (!) all seem to significantly affect my results. Or am I just *used to* wearing and liking them.? (Style Stockholm Syndrome? Haha.) Romantic styles do not seem to 'fit' my face, but I know from experience form-fitting clothes are good for me. Knowing my body, however, I know many Natural garments (the look of which I am instinctively drawn to and love!) just make me look super-frumpy and disproportional. If I, as you recommend, focus *only* on my face, Natural works (and Romantic seems. If I am not looking directly into the camera, Ethereal seems fitting ('looking into the distance'). Here's the thing: I find that the type of photo I use with the SIC is not only helpful, but also affects the result - if I'm smiling in the photo, I find more playful (usually Gamine or Natural) styles more acceptable. I have tried calculating my style identity probably about a dozen times over the past several months, with VERY varying results. I am also immensely intrigued by your Style Identities, and have purchased the Style Identity Calculator, but I must confess I have trouble using it.

You have helped me enormously to discover and accept my natural colouring (lipstick draping for the win!).

True autumn soft gamine