📏👙 How to dress for your face and body | combining style systems
My most asked question is how to dress when your face type doesn't match your body type... or your style doesn't match your face type... or your colours don't match your style... this is my method
In today’s newsletter…
👁️ Beginner method: focus
🚶♀️ Advanced method: follow
🧑🍳 Expert method: refine
🎙️ Q&A video: combining systems
👰♀️ Look book: flamboyant natural with ingenue essence
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👁️ Beginner: FOCUS METHOD
The easiest method for combining different styles systems is to let each style system do a different job. Each style system is confined to one area of dress e.g. style system 1 would focus on silhouette, style system 2 would focus on the details.
Example 1: body type + essence
romantic + gamine
Allison here, one of our incredible style scholars members, is combining her romantic body type with her gamine essence using the focus method. Her top has a round neckline and round puff sleeves, the outfit has waist definition, the trousers have a rounded shape, her glasses also are rounded - all of these elements cater for her romantic body type. The details of the outfit (the patterns, textures and ‘vibe’) is more gamine: the top has a geometric plaid pattern, the trouser texture is more solid and relaxed and the glasses have a quirky feel.
Example 2: colour + style roots
dark winter + flower
In this outfit we have a dark colour palette with black and deep purple - colours we wouldn’t usually associate with the flower root - combined with more delicate, flower details such as floral fabric, ballet shoes and a blouse silhouette.
🚶♀️ Advanced: FOLLOW METHOD
The follow method involves following the rules from each style system exactly, so that you essentially you find the elements of style systems 1 + 2 which intersect and cross over. The goal is to find what the different style systems have in common.
Example: body type + style roots
dramatic classic + sun
I started by writing a list of potential crossovers between the two for inspiration
denim jacket
sharp trousers
stripes
military jacket
crisp shirts
solid colours
trainers
houndstooth
fringe
metallic
animal print
plaid
pointed toe
This outfit incorporates stripes which are a simple geometric pattern AND a pattern all the same so still fun. The trousers are one solid colour which is minimal detail but also creates a bold impression by wearing a bold colour. The shoes are a metallic colour which is a very unfussy way to add something avant-garde into the look.
🧑🍳 Expert: REFINE METHOD
Perhaps the trickiest method is refining each detail from style system 2 so that it matches the recommendations of style system 1. Essentially, you adapt or change the stereotype of that detail so that it better fits the recommendations of the other system.
Example: essence + colour season
dramatic + light summer
In this example, the problem is that light summer colours can appear more ‘flower’ as they are delicate and soft. Try to think how you can make your light summer colours more dramatic: you might make them darker, brighter, and choose colours from the lightest and darkest end of the spectrum to make the look more intense
In this outfit I have chosen a deeper version of a light summer pink, with a slightly deeper grey. The silver shoe is a dramatic alternative to summer grey.
Final thoughts…
It’s important to remember that a good outfit will probably use elements of the focus, follow AND refine methods all at once in order to combine a variety of style systems in one outfit. It becomes a bit like driving - with a bit of practise, you stop thinking about your clutch, your gear stick, your wheel all separately and it becomes natural to do lots at once!
New Uploads:
🙈 YouTube - How to Find Your Face Type for BEGINNERS | This is my breakdown of how to easily find your essences by defining your features
😡 Reel - Trinny Woodall’s sheer outfit ‘scandal’ | I was fascinated by some of the awful responses to Trinny Woodall’s sheer look on Instagram , and wanted to share my thoughts
👁️ Reel - my breakdown of the 7 face types | The typical features you might find in the facial features of each of the seven essences
♥️ Instagram - my birthday in London | our outfits (me and my mum) from our day together in London celebrating my birthday
Thank you for reading the free style scholars newsletter. In this week’s paid segment below:
combining your essences: Q&A
my new favourite podcast
how to combine flamboyant natural with ingenue essence
outfit challenge of the week
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