The idea of style essences has been around for 100 years, the original concept going back to a theory that every person possesses a certain amount of yin and/or yang in their body. Yin is soft and feminine, while Yang expresses power and action.
In the 1960’s, John Kitchener identified seven style essences on the spectrum of Yin and Yang.
Dramatic – On the far side of Yang; Bold, Striking and Intense
Natural – Effortless and Understated
Gamine – Yin/Yang opposites combined into one; Playful, Mischievous and Lively
Classic – Balance between Yin and Yang; Elegant and Refined
Romantic – Luxurious, Feminine and Expressive
Ingenue – On the far side of Yin; Youthful, Delicate and Soft
Angelic/Ethereal – Where Yin and Yang meet; Dreamy and Flowing
You will most likely find that you have features in several essences, but we’ll narrow it down to 1-3 primary essences for your unique style. This will be determined by, not only your body and facial features, but mannerisms as well. I will be using John Kitchener’s original guidelines for this assessment.
It is recommended that you use your essence(s) as a guide for all accessories as well as patterns within your body-type style lines. Essences can also play a role in makeup application to enhance the features of your face.
For more examples (and to find essence combinations), feel free to browse: https://www.pinterest.com/colorbyseasons/