The ability to form an individual style that would be a true reflection of your personality is a real art. But in order to achieve the goal, it is not at all necessary to act by trial and error and spend a lot of money on a personal consultation with a stylist or shopping with him. Ekaterina Velichkina, a psychologist, an expert in the field of beauty, self-knowledge and self-realization, tells about how to determine your own type of appearance and look as effective as possible in any life situations.
Yin woman and Yang woman
Following fashion trends has been and remains an important part of our life. But often we spend exorbitant sums on shopping, visits to a beauty salon, consultations with stylists and designers, and as a result we still feel out of place. And those around you continue to "meet by their clothes" and do not discount your failures and countless attempts to find "the same" ideal image for themselves.
In the 1980s, rising fashion and style star David Kibby, author of the bestselling Metamorphosis, introduced the public to a completely new idea of typing. Its basis was the determination of the style of clothing, hairstyle and color scheme, depending on the woman's belonging to a particular type. Kibby suggested two - Yin woman and Yang woman.
Kibby classification: types and subtypes
After analyzing the external data of many of the fair sex, the stylist established an interesting pattern - many of them are similar: smooth facial features, plump lips, big eyes, rounded shoulders, soft body lines - these are Yin women. Cheekbones, chiseled contours of the body, easily traceable geometric shapes - Yan women.
Kibby deduced 5 main types, which complement 13 subtypes (combinations when one psychotype complements another, without replacing it), and invented for them the key to the ideal style.
5 basic types:
- dramatic - pure Yang;
- romantic - pure yin;
- classic - complete harmonious mixing of Yin and Yang;
- natural - mutually beneficial union with distinguishable Yin and Yang characteristics;
- gamine - collision of Yin and Yang while maintaining contrasts.
Why is this approach valuable?
David Kibby introduced the concept of typing by appearance. With it, a woman only needs to pass a special test and study her own portrait in order to easily adjust her style - to make it more harmonious and original. Knowing your individual basic wardrobe gives you a lot of advantages for revealing your unique style and gives you a complete understanding of how to emphasize the advantages of appearance and make the flaws less noticeable (also read: "6 Easy Ways to Look Taller and Slimmer")
Principles for determining your type
In order to understand the features of your appearance, it is important to figure out which features are the most striking in it. Typically, these include: height, face and figure.
Romantic is a girl of medium height, 170 cm and below.
She has a rounded, expressive, slightly plump face with noticeable cheeks. The facial bones are neat and small, while the nose, cheekbones and chin are wide and plump. The eyes are large, almond-shaped or half-closed.
The figure is a classic "hourglass". The chest and hips are rounded, the waist is thin, the arms and legs are soft and plump with small, wide palms and feet. The shoulder line is soft, sloping.
Experts recommend to such girls romantic and in the classical sense feminine outfits with an emphasis on the waist and without geometry, as well as soft pastel colors. Sharpness and active colors should be abandoned in makeup.
Star Representatives: Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Gene Simmons, Kate Winslet, Drew Barrymore, Helena Bonham Carter, Madonna.
The Natural type includes women with a height of 160 cm and above.
They have a broad face with angular cheekbones and chin. The cheeks are predominantly sunken, the eyes are almond-shaped or round, small to medium in size. The lips are thin and straight.
The figure is "square", with broad shoulders, no roundness. Chest, waist and hips are approximately in line.
The name of this type speaks for itself - you can safely rely on casual style, relaxed combinations, denim and knitwear, calm "earthly" palette, moderately loose silhouettes. The same goes for makeup and styling: dim shades and slight negligence will be as appropriate as possible.
Star Representatives: Jennifer Aniston, Gabrielle Anwar, Jennifer Morrison, Kate Middleton, Eli McGraw, Ellie Sheadey.
The dramatic type is girls with a height from medium to tall, from 165 cm.
Facial features are straight, with an expressive nose, narrow straight lips and the absence of pronounced cheeks. The eyes are almond-shaped or slit-shaped.
Girls of this type are stately, slender, often with a sinewy figure. The arms and legs are usually long, narrow in bone; the shoulders are most often square.
“Dramatics” need not be afraid of excessive severity, geometry and contrasts (both in clothes and in the beauty component) - they will not get lost even in the most shocking images. At the same time, it is better to forget about romantic "flying" dresses and oversized oversized sweaters and baggy jeans.
Star representatives: Katharine Hepburn, Cate Blanchett, Eva Green.
Owners of the classic type are height between 160-170 cm.
The classical features of the face are characterized by proportionality and precision - it is extremely difficult to single out the "outstanding" part in them. The same can be said about the figure: flexible, slightly sinewy, with a commensurate ratio of the lengths of arms and legs, which do not exceed average values. The true advantage of the classic type is that when you gain weight, it is evenly distributed over the body.
The classics also rule the show in fashion and beauty recommendations of this type. However, in this case it is not at all synonymous with boredom and despondency - noble restrained shades (from pearl and beige to “royal blue”) and classic silhouettes combined with elegant and discreet accessories will become the ideal solution.
Star Representatives: Grace Kelly, Catherine Deneuve, Kate Bosworth, Bar Refaeli, Blake Lively.
The gamine type is girls with a height below 165 cm.
They are distinguished by large eyes, lips of medium thickness, often sunken cheeks.
Girls of this type have sharp, geometric body contours. They are thin, flexible, their shoulders are narrow, their arms and legs tend to be long.
"Gamin" is an amazing type that will look equally impressive in a mini dress (thanks to the miniature figure, this length does not look defiant on him), and in an androgynous image, for example, an oversized T-shirt and skinny jeans (see also: With what Wearing Skinny Jeans Today: Fashion Tips and Combinations). But things overloaded with details, excessive severity or, conversely, excessive negligence and baggy should be avoided. Another feature of the "gamin" - they are ideally suited for short haircuts "for a boy" (which can be clearly seen by reading the famous representatives of the type).
Star Representatives: Audrey Tautou, Twiggy.
PS:
Having studied your own type, you can easily form a wardrobe and choose accessories that emphasize your advantages. As Kibby said: "Each of you is unique." And if you still have not decided on your own appearance, take the test to determine the type or read his book "Metamorphoses". It will change your life!
About the expert:
Ekaterina Velichkina
Photo: Getty Images
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