What Are We Looking for?

This is something that has been on my mind lately, especially as I have been looking back at older posts. Why do some of us land on color and style analysis as an answer? And what question is it answering?

For me, I have always been interested in the idea that the perfect palette of colors for you exists, and that you could also fit some kind of archetype. And when I began looking at it seriously, it was because I was in my late 20s and working in my field, and I wanted to look less like a punk and more like someone that people would take seriously. I wanted to find my adult, sophisticated style.

But some people just want to find clothes that make them look better, or their best colors above all others. I think I have found the kinds of clothes that work best for me, and I have also learned where I can experiment and try something I might have felt like would be all wrong for me, if I didn’t have the knowledge I’ve gained from color and style analysis.

But on some points, my views have changed. I no longer believe in absolute truth on the color front, but an idea of what you want to look like; I know some people who tend to get a very narrow range of colors regardless of who they go to, but most people seem to get varying answers, depending on the analyst. That’s why I’ve gone with Type Four colors, because I feel the best in them and they make me the most happy when I look at my closet. I don’t think there is a color analyst around who would put me in those colors, but in the end, I’m the one getting dressed every day.

And that brings me to the main conclusion I’ve come to, which is that the purpose color and style analysis serves in my life is to help me be more myself, and to present myself to the world in that way. I always want to feel authentic in what I’m wearing, regardless of the occasion.

That’s why the next edition of the workbook is going to focus on that: creating a wardrobe that makes you happy and feels like you. To me, that is the end goal, not some kind of Ultimate Truth. What about you? What motivated you to seek out color and style analysis, and has that goal changed?

9 Comments on What Are We Looking for?

  1. Elizabeth Stewart
    December 19, 2019 at 6:01 am

    When you say you always want to feel authentic in what you’re wearing, regardless of the occasion, I think you’ve expressed what I’m also striving for in this colour and style quest, especially the style component. I wanted to find the colours that made the most of my own natural colouring, so that anything I wore would at least look good in that respect, and I think I’ve achieved this. But the style, yes, that has been a journey to find out who I really am in my inmost essence, and then to seek ways to show that in my appearance. I don’t want to give people a false impression of who I am. I agree with Rumi when he says “Be as you appear: Appear as you are”. And I feel most comfortable when I do exactly that. It’s not to show off my “good points” or hide the “bad bits”. Just a way of self-expression that makes me more comfortable in the world, and that gives other people some idea of who I am. At the same time, I don’t want to look actually outlandish. Finding a style that works in everyday life, and in different situations, without hiding the “real me “- that, for me, is the whole point of this quest.

    Reply
    • stylesyntax
      December 22, 2019 at 8:42 pm

      Yes! If I look great but don’t feel like myself, it means nothing to me.

      Reply
  2. Alexandra
    December 20, 2019 at 7:50 am

    I’ve always been curious about different systems because they are just everywhere and once you start researching style and color, you stumble upon them almost inevitably. In my opinion, the systems like the fruit system (e.g. pear, apple bdy shapes) are so popular because they attempt to give a simple answer to a much more complex question (finding one’s own style). The body shapes (e.g. hourglass, pear, etc) and face shapes (square, round, etc) – all of them have been discussed a thousand times over and over again. I’ve always had a problem with most of these systems because they are built on the idea of an ‘ideal’ and that everything that isn’t ‘ideal’ has to be reshaped in order to become closer to it (or simply fake it). My own perception of style is that it has to reflect my personality above all else. I think I’ve always strived to finding the intrinsical harmony between my personality and my appearance and I was always the only person I wanted to please. I think that for many people style and color analysis are truly smply for finding what works best on them in terms of fit. For me, this quest goes much deeper that that and I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I’d say that my own experience with style analysis is a part of my self-understanding and self-discovery journey. I hereby don’t mean that how we look like defines us, but what I do imply is that how I perceive myself and the things I choose to wear (and how I choose to look overall) are closely connected for me. You used the word ‘happy’ in your post and I can relate to that. Finding your own style and colors is a liberating feeling.

    Reply
    • stylesyntax
      December 22, 2019 at 8:40 pm

      Those systems were always so confusing to me because I have hourglass measurements, but they never addressed my own issues with fit at all. What they described would always look horrible on me.

      Reply
  3. Erin
    December 23, 2019 at 11:39 am

    I have been researching and reading for years. I only recently realized one reason why most clothes that look great on my friends look pretty awful on me – I have extremely high hips and a v shaped bottom. None of the types out there have answered my questions. I just found you today (through Kibbe). Still on a quest. Still don’t know what to even try. But that’s the reason I keep looking. I know I can find things and I’ll keep looking until something makes sense. Looking forward to your new workbook. Hoping that will help me. Thanks for what you do.

    Reply
    • stylesyntax
      December 23, 2019 at 5:42 pm

      Hmm I don’t even think of my body in terms like that anymore, thanks to Kibbe! I hope his work can help you. <3

      Reply
  4. Silverroxen
    December 23, 2019 at 6:46 pm

    I was a teenager when I came across style and color analysis, I just thought it was artistic and fun. Plus the idea of having set shapes/tones that works for you sounds easier than endless trial and error.

    Then it turned into figuring out what flattered my body type and skintone. However the results of hourglass and petite felt like it wasn’t the end of it, as its doesn’t portray me accurately. Glady I’m exploring this through Kibbe. 🙂

    In regards to my skin, I’m pretty sure that I’m a Dark Autumn in terms of season. I do like the term Deep Warm/Neutral in another system. I’ve found a few of the colors that suit me i.e. mustard, gold, peach, navy, etc. align with both.

    Now I think I’m looking for a style that expresses who I really am while accentuating my individual features.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Stewart
      December 24, 2019 at 7:56 am

      It’s a long but rewarding path, in my experience. I’ve gone from just wanting to look better by wearing my best colours and shapes, to wanting to express myself through the styles I choose. I want to communicate who I am through the way I dress and present myself, making due allowance for different situations, of course. Kibbe showed me that there is nothing “wrong” with my figure! And I like that you are are going from colour to style, which is what I did; there are several systems out there, including Sci/Art and Zyla, who link the two, but this has never worked for me. I could never see any connection between colouring and personality, as to me it seems that it’s more through the actual styles we choose that we express ourselves. I hope you find what you are looking for and enjoy the journey!

      Reply
      • Silverroxen
        December 27, 2019 at 4:13 pm

        I’ve seen Zyla and Sci-art mentioned a lot on here and other style blogs. I have seen Zyla on Pinterest, but I don’t think linking archetypes to color help me either. The Autumns seems to be either bohemian or luxurious and I’m neither.

        I forgot to mention that another reason why I got into style and color analysis is because I wanted to look my age. That’s how I know I’m definitely a Gamine.

        Thank you for responding! I enjoy reading about everyone’s experiences. Same to you!

        Reply

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