👀 Should you dress for your body type... or what you like?
The pure suggestion that you should ignore what you love and dress for your body in 2024 is controversial at best, but is there something to be said for ignoring whims and following your features
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In today’s newsletter…
😍 The two routes to creating your visual identity
👉 Should you dress for your essence or your style roots?
☁️ Q&A: how do you move away from a style that no longer works for you?
👟 Lookbook: making “moon” items look “not moon”
Should you dress for your features or what you love?
Many of you feel this constant push and pull between what you really like to wear and what actually works. But does there need to be so much conflict?
I see style systems as tools in a toolbox that I can pull out for different scenarios, and so you might use different tools for different occasions. Celebrities, for example, need to put a much higher weight on what looks good for their features, as how good you look on the red carpet can make or break a career. As much as I enjoy looking my best, there’s much lower stakes for me sitting in the garden with my boyfriend. On the other hand, if I were to go to a job interview I would want to know my best looks are in my back pocket: my visual identity.
I think about two routes to crafting a “visual identity” (this is your personal brand that you curate through your clothing). Both begin with body type; there is no sacrifice when it comes to dressing for fit, comfort and harmony with your frame. If you want to craft a strong visual identity, dressing with your body type in mind must come first in order to make a look feel intentional. This doesn’t mean you can’t break a few rules now and again, but that’s a different conversation for another day.
The second element is deciding between essence or style roots as your details. I see your body type as the “structure” of a look: the architectural foundation of an outfit. Your details are the “theme(s)”. Your details can come from either your essence (your facial features and the vibe they give off) OR your style roots (your three style influences which are based on personality and the elements you authentically are drawn to) .
I don’t encourage people to try and fit both their style roots and their essence into any given outfit - managing three (four including colour) elements is simply too complicated for most of us on a day to day basis.
So how you know which route to go? Style Roots or essence?
You can view this as a lifelong decision if you like, to abandon one or the other to create a very strong visual identity. This might be important to you if you are an actress or have a similar career where your features play an important role, such as a barrister for example which is public-facing, public speaking, politics, psychologist. These roles involve creating a sense of trust and conveying competence - as such, displaying an innate comprehension of what you look like and how they might see you is psychologically quite comforting. You might also choose this route if you don’t know what you like, don’t have any particular artistic drive, and just want to wear what suits you.
If you are asking the question “but how do I wear what I love” style roots is probably the route for you. If you are an artist who wants to convey your creativity, you might lean on your sun root. If you want to explore your deep, dark feelings and inspirations you would play with the moon root. If you appreciate quaint, delicate trinkets you might want to incorporate that inspiration into your style to carry it around with you. Style Roots is the better option for those of us who want to use style as self expression and to explore our own personalities.
As such, you might pick and choose from each, here are some scenarios below where you might choose to borrow from each depending on whether your priority is impact or vulnerability:
Essence
presentation
first date
networking event
audition
taking headshots
wedding day
Style Roots
relaxing at home
visiting family
dinner with friends
third date
If you love your essences, it’s a good sign that they align with one of your style roots, in which case you can incorporate those influences. For example, Ruby Granger is someone who doubles down on her ingenue essence as it aligns with her flower style root
How do you choose between your essence and your style roots? Let me know in the chat:
WEEKLY CURATION
💔 YouTube - The Scariest Video I have Ever Made by UnJaded Jade | This is one of the most vulnerable and beautiful videos I have ever seen a creator make. Jade opens up about her decision to end a long term relationship and how she is coping with her choices.
🛋️ YouTube - How to make your small space feel LUXURIOUS by Caroline Winkler | Caroline is an absolute master of making interior design accessible to ordinary people like ourselves. This video shows you luxury is about making your home an experience of comfort, accessibility and honouring the little moments.
🎀 TikTok - you’re at the thrift when the micro trend final boss walks in by @notsophiesilva | This short clip reminded me how easy it is to get blinded by trends and not be able to see yourself clearly! An important reminder that style should always come first, even when its not “cool”.
👛 Product - Turquoise bag by Oliver Bonas * | I struggled to wear this bag for a while after I bought it for the races last year. this week I paired it with bright pinks and blues and found a whole new colour palette that this bag works with; I realised that I can view it as a colour on the brink between summer and winter colour seasons and that I can pair it with the softer jewel tones I own.
New Uploads:
👕 YouTube - Find Your 9 Essential Pieces | Basics Every Woman Needs | I put Allison Bornstein’s theory on the 9 essential pieces for any woman’s wardrobe into practise using my own wardrobe
✨ Reel - How to dress for your essence and your body type | I break down how I think about body type as structure and essence as theme
🐆 Reel - The core style elements method | Instead of dressing thematically, you should consider dressing for your core style elements - I explain the method here
🧚 Instagram - My favourite soft cosplay looks | I love to take inspiration from where I’m going, something I have watched, or an era I love without making into a costume. These are some of my favourites
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