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Myers-Briggs as it relates to your STYLE

Mac

Veteran

Maya started a fun post asking folks about their Myers Briggs type. And she also wrote a wonderful response in another thread, describing how her fashion sense is a very personal, internalized thing that she uses, as a shy person, to make external what she feels internally (Maya - hope you don't mind me paraphrasing you comments; if I didn't get it quite right then please feel free to correct me!)

Anyway, both of these led me to think about how my attitude to fashion relates to my Myers Briggs type (ENFP). I immediately realized that as an extrovert, I use my clothes as way to relate to others, eg. dressing in a certain way to show respect, rather than in maya's introverted way, which is more internally-directed.

How about you? Do you see any clear links between your "Type" and the way you approach your personal style?

General

40 replies

Latest reply was from Itari

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

This is a great question and I wrote a post about that too. The comments were especially interesting. I'm an ENFJ (I guess I like to plan more than you do!):

http://youlookfab.com/2009/03/.....ual-style/

On a totally different note Mac, do you watch Madmen?

Mac

Veteran

Oh... and not trying to influence your answers, but here's something i found on the internet; who knows if it's accurate or not:

NFs/Idealists: The iNtuitive in the idealist makes him less fixed on personal appearance. NFs are unconventional and at times even artsy, and wear clothing that communicates their values, which may lead them to appear more like hippies than court-ready lawyers. If a Judger, the NF will take more care of his appearance than if a Perceiver.

SJs/Guardians: dress neatly and conservatively but don't focus on current trends. They like clothes to show status.

SPs/Artisans: SPs tend to dress casually and in sporty apparel. As sensors, SPs are aware of the colors and textures of their clothes but sometimes may appear too casual. Some SPs love to feel good-looking and stylish, but still comfortable.

NTs/Rationals. This temperament often ignores rules of fashion, having more important things to concern themselves with, preferring function over all else.

Maya

Veteran

You got it, Mac

I'm at the pretty extreme end of introversion. That's probably not a good thing, but it is what it is. Only 13% of test takers for one of the tests I took scored higher on introversion than me. It is extremely important that I have an assortment of creative outlets to express myself, otherwise I probably wouldn't express myself at all. Not good. I guess that's why I find it so easy to communicate here too!

Mac

Veteran

Hah. sorry, angie... didn't see you already wrote a post about this; I thought I was being oh-so-original!

Yes, I watch Madmen. I actually love the visuals of it far more than they story line or character development. Everything from the interior design, colours and office equipment! Reminds me that style can be found absolutely everywhere, whether or not we realise it.

I think it's fantastic Joan - who'd be considered heavier than most current ideals, today - is shown as such a powerful and sexy character. The costumes they have her wear show such an understanding and appreciation of what suits a curvy woman, just as character Betty Draper's costumes show a slender figure to beautiful advantage. Just goes to show that no matter WHEN we live, there are ways to use current fashion to suit any of us.

And, of course, I also love Joan because it's always a fine thing when a redhead is depicted as super-hot : )

Mac

Veteran

Maya - I LOVE reading what you write here and poring over your photos. Maybe being an Extrovert is why I find it so hard to post photos here; because I think so much about how I look to others.

Itari

(website)

I'm an INTP. I haven't established my style yet, but I think I found some basics.

First of all, I'm a theoretical and logical person (or at least I think so). I'm also a picky perfectionist, which means that I need to find clear guidelines that would apply to every single part of my outfit. I love considering different views on fashion and personal style and finding the perfect explanation why some things look good and the other don't.

I view my appearance as a way of expressing myself, my moods and my independence. I don't usually pay attention to current trends, nor I'm obsessed with brand clothes. I prefer wearing something that looks outdated but feels right, than wearing the most fashionable outfit I don't really like.

I read somewhere that S people usually feel better in their bodies since they use their senses more than their imagination; N people, on the other hand, sometimes have trouble when trying to understand their bodies. Intuitive introverts are said to have the worst self-image, according to some poll (I'm trying to find the link!).

The worst thing for me is that my looks seem to clash with my personality. While I'm quite feminine in appearance (long hair, big eyes, curvy body), I don't have many traits that are commonly associated with females. I'm not warm, caring or very emotional; when I was a kid, I loved LEGO bricks and hated playing with dolls. I don't want to have kids either. I like watching football (soccer, for you Americans ;)) and hate romantic comedies.

aaand Mac - you wrote:

"NTs/Rationals. This temperament often ignores rules of fashion, having more important things to concern themselves with, preferring function over all else."
Not really true. It's somewhat stereotypical. I like my clothes comfortable, but I don't prefer function over all else. It's just that I have many different interests and fashion is not in the top 10.

marianne

I am also an extreme introvert (I really need a bath and some quiet time after any face-to-face interaction), and on the contrary, at least in the past, I always tried to dress so as not to draw attention to myself because I feel like I don't have the personality to support anything eye-catching
I also an NT, and the point about function is very important for me.

Patience

Veteran

As far as I can tell from one of the internet tests, I am an ISFJ. I had to respond just because I think I'm pretty far off the SJ description above. Considering the MB personality type, I would say similarly to Maya, I use my dress to express my internal self (I). I also dress a lot based on gut or feeling (F).

Mac

Veteran

Yeah, not sure how much what I pulled off the 'net is true, but it's especially fun to counter the stereotypes with our own unique selves. I'm score VERY strongly as an N and VERY slightly as an F, and I only fit some of the NF descriptions given above. It's true that I'm not very focused on outward appearances (my own or others') and it's true that I'm unconventional. However, there's nothing in the least bit hippie-ish about me - in fact, I hate anything even remotely boho on me - and although my spirit is a bit artsy, my clothing almost never is.

My own theory is that as a "P" (Perceiver), I probably care less about getting things quite right than trying to enjoying the process of style discovery.

Dawn

(website)

I'm an ENTP in some tests and ENFP in other tests- I guess I hover between them. Both have different aspects of my personality. The academic in me is the T while the social being in me is a F, I reckon. It's weird, I am extroverted around people I know but around people I don't actually know, I'm very shy and slightly awkward. I also score quite high as an extroverted intuitive person so I'm always putting myself out there to get a reaction from my clothes and appearance.

However, I think the Myers-Briggs test is very simple and the questions are very black and white. Every question, I felt like I'm somewhere in between both options, or display both choices in different scenarios.

Mac

Veteran

Dawn, i'm exactly the same type as you. I almost always come out as an ENFP but am BARELY a "feeler;" I have a lot of "Thinker" tendencies.

Unlike you, though, I'm not at all shy around strangers and never, ever try to get a reaction from my clothes or appearance.

Kate

Veteran

I think being an INFJ certainly explains quite a bit of my style, or particularly my lack of it for most of my life. When I was younger I hated anything fancy, and from elementary school through college my daily uniform was jeans, t-shirt, tennis shoes, silver stud earrings, and (depending on the weather) a fleece jacket or sweatshirt. I didn't want to draw attention to myself physically, I wanted my skills and hard work to be what made me stand out.

Even now, my style remains rather understated and I don't like to draw a lot of attention to myself based on what I'm wearing, though I certainly do get a lot more compliments based on my outfits than I used to. Both among academics and my friends I still would prefer to be known for what I do and say rather than what I wear. However, I also strive to present a polished and professional image that is as serious and dedicated as my personality, but also has some bits of fun thrown in.

Also, as a INFJ "champion of the oppressed and downtrodden", I'm very aware of how my appearance can set me apart. I try to look polished, but I also don't want it to look like clothing is a top priority or that I wear expensive or elite pieces or styles. I don't have a lot, but I am still very privileged compared to the majority of people in this world, and I am acutely aware of how simply my ability to have such a wide range of fashion choices sets me apart.

Wow, that was really good for me to think about. Thanks Mac!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sounds like you gals are having fun :0).

Mac, I thought you were a Madmen watcher because you have Joan as your profile picture. I adore the show for all sorts of reasons - but mainly because I am so over a style world that is only about casual comfort. I so much wish that people would dress up again. It makes my world a better one somehow. Anyway, that's a topic for another day :0)

I'm an NF but hardly a hippie!

Ele

(website)

This is really interesting- I'm enjoying the responses. I didn't comment on the last thread, but I've take numerous MB tests over the years (twice the full, official version and several shorter online ones). Like a lot of others here (which seems odd to me, given that it's meant to be the least-common type), I'm an INFJ. As I've gotten older I've been moving from N toward S, and now I'm pretty much on the cusp.

I liked reading your comment Kate, since we're the same type. It's funny that you align being an INFJ with your previous ambivalence about fashion, since I've been obsessed with it for most of my life. My guess is that there are so many other factors at play that it's difficult to accurately apply MB to something like style. Mac's types do say that J's will tend to put more importance on their appearance than P's, and I'm a VERY strong J, so that fits.

Like Maya, fashion is very internalized for me, and very much about expressing my mood/emotions to others.

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

I'm most interested in the difference between fashion and style. I have always ignored the one and felt the other was something that you just 'had' or 'didn't have' (I, needless to say, didn't have it).

YLF has allowed me to see that there are connections you can make (eg PPL giving you a LLL) which allows me to become more stylish and understand what works for me.

I think I'm an INTP and so that certainly has affected my clothes buying as I've felt I have more important things to concern myself with than fashion and prefer function over all else. As soon as I have some lovely rules (like PPL) then that fits in very well with my personality: clothes can be functional (PPL can give me a LLL) and end up being stylish and possibly even fashionable.

crwilson

Veteran

i'm an INFJ, and I definitely think that some of the description fits. I don't like to stand out, so in the past I've dressed to conceal my body and self as much as possible. This tendency battles with my love of color, dresses (which tend to draw attention), and drama in clothes. I'm just starting to give myself "permission" to dress in items that I love, and that fit, even if that means a little bit more attention.

Like Dawn mentioned, I tend to be extroverted around people I know, but I am really a strong introvert. Marianna - your comment about needing a hot bath after interacting with people face-to-face resonated with me. I don't always get that time alone, but I really need it to "recover."

shiny

Veteran

Interesting thread! I am an ENFP on the Keirsey temperament sorter, which I've studied to death for years. It's been my understanding that there are slight differences between the Meyers-Briggs and Keirsey scales: Meyers-Briggs will tell you more about how you present yourself at work, which can be different than in your personal life.

On Keirsey I am 100% ENFP across the board, making me a flamin' Champion. How does this affect the way I dress? I would say:

1) as an extrovert, I am comfortable drawing attention to myself, and I don't hesitate wearing bold clothing.

2) as a champion, I love talking with people about fashion and clothes and if I love a particular shoe or brand or other item, I will let the world know.

3) I am a creature of reinvention. Always striving for self-actualization. In fashion terms, this means constantly trying to dress more and more stylish, and adopting new trends.

4) Idealists also tend to be the "chameleons" of the four types. We are apt to change ourselves/bend ourselves according to those who are around us most. The way this translates in fashion is about trends but also about wanting to dress in a way that fits in with the occasion. This is very true for me - the first question I ask when going out somewhere with friends is "what are you wearing" and I get uncomfortable if I show up somewhere and I've missed the mark and overdressed or underdressed. (A little overdressed is always okay)

5) Idealists are all about authenticity. We strive to be authentic and when we are not, we get unbalanced and feel stressed. In fashion sense, there are numerous ways this translates. The first that comes to mind for me is that feeling of unease when a certain outfit just doesn't work for one reason or another. Those mornings when you rip apart the closet trying on one outfit after the next and nothing "feels" right. Or when I might like the idea of a trend in theory, but when I try it on, I get that "this just isn't ME" feeling.

6) as an idealist, I am quite skilled in sizing people up. I have great intuition about people. Mostly it's about picking up their microexpressions, but how one dresses can be a factor in this. Also I can be pretty good at picking out clothes that work for other people. When I go shopping with my mom, or teens, or friends, I always seem to be able to spot that one item that is perfect for them.

It does not surprise me that Angie is also an idealist. I suspect most fashion stylists are. Especially also because Idealists make the best diplomats!

cciele

Veteran

In previous MB tests I've taken, I've been ENTJ or INTJ (it's about 50/50 extrovert vs introvert). In the online one posted recently, I scored as ISTJ (but really weak on the S, so that could be an N).

Anyhow, I don't think either of those match how I dress, because I don't dress conservatively, nor do I value function above all else. Although function is high on my list of requirements, fun is also!

Sihaya

Veteran

I am ENTP. I go counter to P by choosing what I have to wear the night before. This is more a statement of my current extremely time crunched life style - I like to be well put together and if I leave it till the morning, I will default to my uniforms. As a P, I like variety and get bored easily.

I am extroverted and do like dramatic clothing. I too like to connect with others through clothing and can have some very different styles/affects depending on my audience of the day.

Functionality is important like it is for Marianne - I cannot wear something, no matter how attractive if I constantly have to fuss and adjust.

marianne

Cathy, I would have guessed you were an E for sure... but I know it can be deceiving.
Christine, I knew the fellow I people would understand. I don't get much time by myself, either, so I have to find other ways to cool down. I always wished I could be an E, it would make many things a lot simpler.

Maya

Veteran

I sympathize with those of you who need to retreat after a lot of social interaction. Like Dawn, I am reasonably outgoing with peole I know well, but many times it never even gets that far. I'm the only "I" at work now (at the studio) and it is pretty uncomfortable. I get the feeling that extraverts don't really get us. They think it's weird that we aren't more bubbly and outgoing. They take it personally or think something must be wrong. It makes it that much harder for me to feel at ease because I feel like I'm being judged.

Itari

(website)

Oh, I wish I were an E! I'm extremely introverted. I feel terrible when I see people, who are less smart than me (but I'm not a genius ;)) but more successful. Being a J would be better too, since I'm not organized enough.

AnneL

Aw, hugs, Itari! No harm in being introverted - just don't let 'em get to you!

I'm INTP/J - about 50/50 on the P/J distinction, depending on my mood. I admit to putting a high priority on practicality when it comes to (gasp) shoes - I have wide feet and refuse to suffer torture for the sake of fashion. On the plus side I don't have to dress "corporate" for work, so I can indulge my taste in funky German and Dutch shoes such as Wolky and Josef Siebel

rute

Veteran

I'm ESTJ, Extraverted Sensing Thinking Judging, the guardian.
My style is always changing according to the mood, sometimes more lady like, sometimes more casual, love to feel sexy and powerful, love good clothes, always choose good fabrics, not caring about the label.

cciele

Veteran

Marianne -- it is deceiving, because in certain situations I'm an E. I can go in a party and chat endlessly with people, and I like giving presentations to groups. I play and sing in a rock band! But in the end, I'm really a homebody and prefer cuddling up at home with a good book, my kids, and my husband instead of socializing with a crowd. I guess that's why it's about 50/50 E and I. I know what you mean about needing time to "recover."

Mac

Veteran

What a fabulous discussion. Itari, it makes me sad to see that you wish you were different than you are... even though I don't put too much faith in the Myers Briggs. I used to wish wish wish that I were a J instead of a P, too - I'm a bit untidy, a clutter-magnet, always losing my keys and always manage to stain whichever item of clothing I wear in a given day. I longed to be a well-ordered, understanding-of-social-hierarchy J.

With time, though, I learned to love my "type" - even if I don't think the Myers Briggs (or any other way of classifying personalities) is spot-on. Ps are often better at adapting than Js, superior brain-stormers, creative in different ways, more about understanding than about making judgements. This can be a beautiful thing.

As far as being an introvert, I sometimes wished I were MORE introverted. I'm always laughing, crying, opening my big mouth even when I shouldn't be... I have a VERY hard time hiding my emotions, even when I try. Introversion can have HEAPS of benefits and are often viewed as more intelligent, more discreet and more intellectual than their E counterparts.

I hope you learn to love your type, too : )

Anonymous

I'm a very introverted INFJ. I like wearing clothes to express myself since I have such a hard time actually tallking to people. So I probably dress more out-there than most introverts in general.

Itari

(website)

Thank you AnneL and Mac. It's not that much Myers-Briggs related, I just wish I were more outgoing and organized. I'm very glad I don't have to follow any dress code now and frankly, I hope I'll never have to.

Ele

(website)

There's a lot of talk about introverts/extroverts here, so Mac, forgive me while I completely ignore the point of your thread and go off on a tangent...

I think, with regards to how introverted/extroverted someone is, there are four types: the introverted introvert, the extroverted introvert, the introverted extrovert, and the extroverted extrovert. I'd say that the second word would be your "core" self, who you are inside, and maybe the first would be how you're perceived?

I'm definitely an introvert at heart, because I *need* to spend time by myself every day, or else I go insane. I like my own company and my own thoughts, and can quite happily entertain myself for hours or even days. Being alone revives me. BUT I love people, am very chatty, and am used to being described by words like "bubbly" and "outgoing". A lot of people who meet me wouldn't guess that I'm an introvert. So I think of myself as an "extroverted introvert", if that makes any sense.

Does anyone else think of their intro/extraversion as a mix?

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