The Pros and Cons of Various Style Systems

Audrey Hepburn... DYT T4, Zyla Playful Winter, Kibbe Flamboyant Gamine (Source)

Audrey Hepburn… DYT T4, Zyla Playful Winter, Kibbe Flamboyant Gamine (Source)

I thought it would be helpful for people who are just starting to dip their toe into the style typing world if I shared my thoughts on the pluses and minuses of each of the systems I personally use or at least study. A system that works well for one person may not work at all for someone else.

DAVID KIBBE’S METAMORPHOSIS
Pros:
-Focused on self-acceptance and self-expression
-A wide variety of types
-A fully-integrated system with hair, makeup, color, etc. in addition to just clothing style
-The book is thorough and the kind that teaches you something new every time you read it
-More of an approach to dressing and life than just some instructions on how to wear what
Cons:
-Has been interpreted incorrectly over the years (there is a blog post coming up on this)
-David sees people in NYC only and the cost is that of a nice vacation
-The book recommendations are from the 80s
-Information on his color system is basically impossible to find for now, unless you go see him

DAVID ZYLA
Pros:
-Many people feel like he really “gets” them, color-and-style wise
-Travels frequently and charges <$1000 for both style and color, with several levels of sessions available to really help you hone your style -Has a book -Gives very concrete recommendations
Cons:
-You may not like what you get from him
-Since it’s so much about his vision, it’s basically impossible to DIY

DRESSING YOUR TRUTH
Pros:
-A good springboard to really thinking about your style
-The psychological aspects can be very helpful and healing
-Has a lot of extra online content
-Has an online store divided by type
-Now provides all four courses for what you used to pay for one
Cons:
-The styles may not be to your liking
-The palette for your energy type may not be the colors you find most flattering on you, or they may conflict with your Sci\ART season, etc.
-No longer does Skype sessions; seems to only do type confirmations for a select few and only in Utah now

FANTASTICAL BEAUTY
Pros:
-Offers a unique system unlike anything else
-Can be very easily integrated with other systems for self-expression purposes (i.e., Kibbe)
-Offers many different levels of services and all online
Cons:
-Is still really being developed, so sometimes the dots can be hard to connect

Sci\ART/12 BLUEPRINTS/12 TONES ETC.
Pros:
-12 beautiful palettes
-Popular; analysts in many places and easy to find lists of makeup colors etc.
-Can get enough materials (fans etc.) to reasonably figure it out at home
Cons:
-Schools of thought and analyst quality both vary–you may not be analyzed correctly
-You may not feel like you fit in any of the palettes perfectly

Systems I didn’t cover here are ones I either don’t like/recommend or don’t know enough about (Caygill). What do you think?

2 Comments on The Pros and Cons of Various Style Systems

  1. Beffyann
    November 10, 2016 at 12:41 am

    Then there is Beauty Valued, a one woman show near San Fran with customized palettes. And John Kitchener who does style and/or personalized custom palettes. Then House of Colour, London, which is just in the auSA in the past 10 years, and growing. Style and color from 16 seasons.

    I’ve personally had a (wrong) Sciart draping, skyped with John Kitchener, seen David, Zyla, talked with Rachel of truth is beauty, and had color, style and shopping with House of Colour. (It was my favorite).

    I think consultations are great.. They have helped me dress more authentic and flattering (instead of buying styles that look cute on others but not me) and I now have far fewer, but better, items of clothing, yet have *far* more to wear.

    I’m enjoying reading your blog! I just found it…

    Reply
    • stylesyntax
      November 11, 2016 at 11:30 am

      I love Kathy and her work, but I don’t know enough about her style recommendations or how she was trained, etc., so I didn’t include her. I think Beauty Valued is an excellent option for those who are frustrated with the limitations of Sci\ART, though!

      I purposely did not include John Kitchener, Truth of Beauty, or House of Colour, because these are not systems I personally recommend.

      Reply

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