https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:52:20 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style/page/2#post-2406762 Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:59:39 +0000 Dee 2406762@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks everyone, love hearing all about your various approaches to developing your own personal style. It looks like some form of colour analysis, and the three style words are the most commonly used personal style systems. However, it appears that many of you are also guided by your own intuition and feelings too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style/page/2#post-2406620 Wed, 18 Feb 2026 19:36:06 +0000 Lisa 2406620@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like the moniker and words approach from YLF. I've never done any of the other style systems. although I feel like color analysis is very popular. I'd be curious to try a color analysis but never looked into it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style/page/2#post-2406521 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:48:13 +0000 cat2 2406521@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dee, interesting. I got to the same place by doing the fruit, seasonal color and style quizzes and understanding how a lot of the content was for people with different coloring, body types or style goals. Then I went on a search for people to follow in business who have nailed dressing for that environment, as the other factor was a lot of assumptions that you were either the hot girlfriend or the mom on the go, without having any other role. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style/page/2#post-2406487 Sun, 15 Feb 2026 19:35:18 +0000 Jenni NZ 2406487@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love that you realised that last point Dee! It was indeed liberating for me too, that I don’t have a white shirt (I do have 2 white tops but they’re not classic) and don’t have any blue jeans and am perfectly fine without either! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style/page/2#post-2406486 Sun, 15 Feb 2026 18:08:00 +0000 Dee 2406486@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh thanks again ladies for adding more of your insightful thoughts to this discussion. </p> <p>Interesting that some of you see style words and monikers as more of a description of your wardrobe rather than a form of guidance. My own purpose for having style words was to finally bring some type of discipline and order to my wardrobe. I needed to understand where I was going with any new purchase. I guess I'd liken it to meal planning, because l like knowing specifically how to stock my pantry for the kind of recipes I want to make. </p> <p>I also see that plenty of you felt that for the most part these style systems were mostly beneficial in affirming what you already knew about your own personal style. </p> <p>JAIME- Interesting to learn that Kibbe and these related systems really shifted your perspective on how one could now dress themselves for their own benefit. I too, found it very enlightening and in many ways very liberating. It made me finally realize that many of the trends or any of the other so call "must have" essentials weren't always necessary or even ideal for everyone. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style/page/2#post-2406482 Sun, 15 Feb 2026 17:42:51 +0000 lyn67 2406482@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>All of these and none of these. I love reading about style and fashion mostly to understand my choices but not for guiding them as some of you already said. I know some colors will suit me better than others (and they are not constant due to so many&nbsp; factors&nbsp; influencing that) but&nbsp; know one can make do work them all if really wanted-it all depends on the serving (the textures, shapes and the colors used with around).&nbsp;</p> <p>I do also dress for various resons for impact or for comfort (depending on the occasion and the audience). I will give a nod to the classics even unconsciously&nbsp; but will feel happy for beeing able to join a fresh trend from times, to times.&nbsp;</p> <p>But a thing I cannot do without is my deep instinct to dress myself the most authentic way I can while not compromising on comfort. And authentic means so many things for me...that alone is a rabit hole for sure...:-). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406478 Sun, 15 Feb 2026 15:49:54 +0000 Irina 2406478@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I gave it more thought - learning about different style systems/rules sometimes helps me to understand my own choices. As an example - learning the color/season theory and finding my Soft Autumn season illustrated why I indeed don’t like bright colors on me. Good to understand. But I don’t follow it precisely and still like black more than recommended dark brown as my essential dark neutral. All these tests, systems, style words, quizzes help us to understand ourselves.&nbsp;<div><br /></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406475 Sun, 15 Feb 2026 14:48:26 +0000 LJP 2406475@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This thread came to mind yesterday again when I was pondering breaking up with barrel cut pants/jeans. &nbsp;As others have said, style monikers etc *describe* my style (whatever it is, lol) rather than guide it, but in this case (purchases of barrel cut pants) I should have let my aspirations/style words STOP me from buying so may pairs. &nbsp;Good food for thought here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406471 Sun, 15 Feb 2026 14:19:35 +0000 Carla 2406471@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Like <b>UmmLila </b>I find the quizzes, and some of the analysis fun. &nbsp;Sometimes they are informative/educational. &nbsp;However, &nbsp;the results are more about providing me with a vocabulary to describe my personal style - rather than something that directs it. &nbsp;The one that is most useful is perhaps the three words exercise.&nbsp;<div><br /></div><div><br /></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406469 Sun, 15 Feb 2026 13:11:19 +0000 UmmLila (Lisa) 2406469@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I adore quizzes and systems for fashion, style, personality type, astrology and the like. But I don’t actually follow any of it. Even when I come up with my own plan or system for a given season, I don’t hew to it properly if something strikes my magpie fancy.</p> <p>I do generally wear colors that I think are well matched to my own coloring, and I avoid items that are not suited to my body shape, but it’s usually more of an artistic endeavor on the fly than a grand scheme of personal presentation. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406465 Sun, 15 Feb 2026 06:42:29 +0000 Sloper 2406465@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Not really. Just a personality type thing I guess. Appeals to some and not others. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406456 Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:50:04 +0000 Jaime 2406456@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I always enjoy these discussions! The most important insight I gained from Kibbe and related systems is that different things work on different people based on their different selves. Seems obvious, but having grown up in the age where everyone was supposed to create an hourglass figure among other rules it was revelatory. It was more this aha understanding than any of the details of the system that really gave me a new perspective. Color systems are more after the fact for me because it was always pretty obvious which colors looked better or worse on me (the bad ones look very bad). I enjoy inducing rules/labels and style words but they describe rather lead as kkards and others just said. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406421 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 20:54:32 +0000 kkards 2406421@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love the idea of color analysis-but I’ve never actually gotten it done. The rest, not so much.<br /> I love Angie’s Style Monikers and Three Style Words, but honestly I felt like the words describe my style but don’t guide it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406417 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 20:44:22 +0000 Style Fan 2406417@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love reading about personal style systems.&nbsp; I have always worn warm earth tones, and in the early 80s, I read Colour Me Beautiful.&nbsp; I went to a Colour Analyst with two of my friends to be analyzed.&nbsp; She decided I was a Spring, but that didn't really work for me.&nbsp; I am somewhere between an Autumn and a Spring.&nbsp; A Muted Spring.&nbsp; When the expanded systems came out, I went to someone who analyzed me as a Warm Autumn.<br />I don't think about the colours that I add to my wardrobe.&nbsp; It is intuitive for me.&nbsp; I feel drawn to those colours.</p> <p>I like to think about style words, Kibbe, Body Matrix, etc., but again, it is more intuitive.&nbsp; I find Kibbe impossible to figure out.&nbsp; I don't really fit into any of the types.&nbsp; The Body Matrix makes sense, but I don't think about buying clothes based on it.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406408 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 19:04:58 +0000 karen23 2406408@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><div>I do use Color Me Beautiful, but loosely.&nbsp; I think I am probably some sort of Autumn.&nbsp; Anyway, those colors mostly seem to work for me, though I generally avoid camel and don't eliminate black.&nbsp; If someone is trying too hard to sell me something in an unflattering shade of pale bluish pink, I can say it's not one of my colors.</div><div>Kibbe is a mystery to me too.</div><div>Some of the other shape descriptions are helpful.</div><div>I haven't gotten into style words.&nbsp; Maybe some words will resonate with me, I don't know.</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406401 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:23:29 +0000 Carol 2406401@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like to read all about these, and mostly sift them back and forth through my mind without changing a whole lot.</p> <p>My favorite I have found so far, is great for people like me, who do not want to think too hard about it...or I guess, who love clothing but get decision fatigue headaches when thinking too hard about it. It is Bridget Fisher.&nbsp;</p> <p>She has just two questions: do you dress for comfort or impact? and do you dress more classic or more trends? Then there are 4 types--I am classic/comfort--Effortlessly Timeless.</p> <p>Notice it doesn't specify clothing items--I like that--it could be a great hoodie, or a great cashmere sweater.</p> <p>I had a lot of fun doing my style moniker last year: Quotidian Scenes from the Underground...but ended up not totally following through. It is still a part of me, though, as it pushes me towards Sixties classics. (The style is supposed to be based on the real clothing that artists and performers wore in the late 50s/early 60s).&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406394 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:20:26 +0000 Suntiger 2406394@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You all know I can nerd out on style systems all day- haha- and I've loosely adapted many. It's important for me to have guidelines in place so I don't buy random stuff and end up with closet chaos. I don't want to be constantly reinventing the wheel chasing fickle moods and trends, nor fussing over creating combinations. I can walk into a shop and instantly rule out 95% or more, which is a good thing!<br /> That said, there's only so perfect that it can be. Finding garments that perfectly align with every style system, every new season, and that work for all my life needs, is not an easy task. Believe me, I've tried!<br /> The one style system that's been game changing to me lately is Style Roots. I posted about it before, but it has absolutely been the missing piece for me.<br /> The other thing that's game changing is choosing One word that's essential for Everything I bring in (mine is streamlined). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406393 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:16:02 +0000 Roberta 2406393@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For many years, my so-called system was the color wheel. That was the element that was most interesting to me, having never been a neutral or all black girl. I started reading about Kibbe and other methods of analysis in the last decade, and was frankly, too lazy to spend much time with them. Focusing on color also gave me the freedom to buy whatever silhouette or style that I liked in the moment, with the caveat of understanding my body and what works on it and what doesn't. Like Lynne, I have found several books on expressing your personal style very helpful over the years. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406391 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 13:46:04 +0000 Lynne 2406391@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Its not a system per se, but the late Brenda Kinsel's lovely book, Brenda's Wardrobe Companion, has some great reflective/journalling prompts to think about being true to yourself and what she calls "dressing from the inside out". My copy is years old and I still enjoy it :). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406390 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 13:38:30 +0000 Lynne 2406390@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love a good guideline, or formula, or system, in all areas of life so its no surprise to me that I do consider my seasonal colour analysis (soft and cool), Kibbe type (soft classic), body type (full hourglass), and style adjectives (elegant, soft, interesting) in my choices. For me, it's a good way to make sense of why some things work for me and some are best for me to admire on others! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406386 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 12:55:48 +0000 Dee 2406386@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you all for a very interesting discussion, I'm enjoying all your wonderful thoughts on this topic and love learning about how you all go about bringing your own personal style together.</p> <p>Not surprisingly, most of you are aware of many these style systems, but it seems for many of you, they just don't factor all that much when it comes to your own personal style. Lots of you are working it more intuitively.</p> <p>Haha, yes, the Kibbe method can be rather confusing, and his recent update, didn't really add much clarity to it all either. However, for me there were some helpful aspects in this system which explains how to dress to accommodate your own body type based on your frame and bone structure. For those who enjoy doing a deeper dive into this kind of stuff, it can be a interesting or perhaps confusing (lol) rabbit hole to go down. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406370 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 05:52:22 +0000 Star (Lise) 2406370@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love digging into them sometimes but then hardly ever use them consciously. I love looking at the colour combinations on the Vivienne Files. There are two at the moment in the Start with a Scarf series that I want to put into practice when the weather is warmer, but if I actually do it is anyone's guess. I probably will make at least a few outfits with them in mind. I do notice if a piece I'm admiring while thrifting is not a good example of Grown up Tomgirl and may leave it behind, not always though. I can see which colours work for me and which don't. These change periodically with my hair colour. If it looks really blah I won't wear it. I'm very much a mood dresser and if my mood doesn't match my learned theories it doesn't matter, I will wear it anyway. Proportions and 'flattering to me' silhouettes are important, these have not been learnt but are instinctive. I do want to lean into a touch of Dramatic (confirmed by Kibbe a few months ago) in summer and will be using jewellery to do this. I have a ton that I have not worn for years and I think it appeals again. Dramatic cuffs, bold necklaces, etc. One piece at a time though (baby steps) :). I always have had a dramatic style streak but had not been feeling it for a few years. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406368 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 04:08:18 +0000 Suz 2406368@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oooh, <b>Brooklyn, </b>can't wait to see what you come up with! Films can be a great source of inspiration. I also recall your "Moroccan interiors" inspiration, and the desert tones, etc.&nbsp;</p> <p>Like many here, I'm quite intuitive in my choices at this point in my style evolution. I do find my moniker useful for keeping me on track or helping me identify the reason if I feel something is off in an outfit. Of all these systems, it's probably been the most helpful to me over the past decade. I have style words, too, but I find those less useful than the moniker for reasons I can't explain.&nbsp;</p> <p>But when I joined the forum, I enjoyed delving into some of these. I was already intuitively aware of my best colours but learning about the systems confirmed what I believed, and that gave me confidence. Narrowing my neutrals to just a few helped enormously in building a wardrobe from scratch.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>I knew my general body type already, too, but I have found <b>Angie</b>'s body type modifiers descriptions / suggestions and some analysis of vertical proportions super helpful. For instance -- knowing I have a long rise and am short waisted helps me understand why I need regular pants (not petite) and why, contrariwise, a petite jacket or cropped tops can often work. Knowing exact measurements is also key to getting a good fit. </p> <p>I have dabbled in Kibbe and while I find it confusing and hard to parse, I'm fairly confident I'm a flamboyant gamine by his system and most, though not all, of the recommendations for this type make sense to me, at least assuming I'm reading them right. ;)&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406364 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 03:20:37 +0000 Brooklyn 2406364@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I also find Kibbe a complete mystery.</p> <p>I know which colours look best on me, which is useful (especially for choosing face colours). And I do like reading about combining colours, because I find that interesting and useful. I like challenging myself to try new combinations.</p> <p>My style moniker can be helpful when I’m putting outfits together. It can help me identify a missing ingredient. Keep me on track.</p> <p>Any style system can have some useful nuggets, but I’m not wedded to any particular system. Mostly I just listen to my feelings, as Angie suggests. </p> <p>But I also get style ideas in odd ways. A week ago I saw the (old) movie Ryan’s Daughter and I’ve been developing an Autumn outfit formula based on the wardrobe of the titular character. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406358 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 01:37:14 +0000 kellygirl 2406358@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Probably close to zero but I don't consider myself especially stylish. I've read about some of them but don't have the patience to figure them out--especially Kibbe. I've considered monikers and adjectives which were helpful at one time but.I don't think I really stuck to any of them.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406352 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 01:28:31 +0000 Kate 2406352@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm aware of most of them, but use none. Kibbe confused the heck out of me too, Janet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406344 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 00:41:41 +0000 Janet 2406344@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’m aware of them, have read and watched some stuff about a few of them (I do like Alison Bornstein’s three word approach), and have taken bits and pieces of them over the years (color analysis confirmed what my eye already told me — which colors look good on me and which I’m better off avoiding). I don’t feel the need to go more deeply into those systems at this point in my life. I’m feeling more intuitive and am making more choices based on how they feel to me than how some system defines my physical aspect. Kibbe just confused the heck out of me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406343 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 23:50:05 +0000 cat2 2406343@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fruit, seasonal colors and doing a quiz to figure out what to call my style. I find Kibbe baffling, trying to figure out what color my veins are gross, and can’t stand listening to some influencer. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406339 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 23:37:16 +0000 Helena 2406339@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love style systems but I use them quite loosely ... Colour analysis I mostly just stick to cool tones, for example, and body shape guidelines I will occasionally use for troubleshooting but that's about it. My style words describe my natural stile tendencies more than they proscribe anything. But I can talk and learn about the various systems forever! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-much-do-personal-style-systems-factor-into-your-own-style#post-2406335 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 20:05:24 +0000 Sal 2406335@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting Dee. What a good question!!</p> <p>I see myself as a Kibbe Natural type -probably Flamboyant. It’s not perfect but it fits in overall with what resonates with me.</p> <p>I have had my colours analysed twice<br /> - once as a teenager when there were four types - as a Spring - and more recently as a Bright Spring. I do use this but am not prescriptive about it. It gives me a good idea of what to avoid - pale, cool, muddy, or cold intense colours.<br /> - I do use my three words and my moniker and have tweaked them over the years (currently Authentic Chic and Bold Elegant Unfussy). </p> <p>I don’t use either of the other systems but also use nuggets of wisdom from Angie (regarding lengths, necklines, toppers etc)</p> <p>I am also open to trying different things and not always getting it right. I experimented with vintage looks for a while and sometimes leaned into a more boho style. 1970s usually appeals. It’s fun and the stakes are low! Why not. </p>