Ooh! I love it! I have started a firestorm of comment!
First, thank you for all the lovely compliments. I did seem to be fishing and really wasn't..but I'll happily take 'em, as long as I get to give a special shout out to:
1. My mother - the first woman who insisted I try a pixie (at age 6) and who has always said it is my best hairstyle, despite my rebelliously ignoring her when I was a teen.
2. Angie - for encouraging me to go back to this cut.
3. The lovely women of YLF for cheering me on!
Now that's out of the way, let me address the other points. First, I agree that it's a bit confusing and difficult to understand how very many people have a 5.5 cm measurement from earlobe to bottom of chin. But that IS what it says, and that's what I was trying to measure - discovering that I am quite long. If I really tried to do it accurately, I wouldn't even want to hazard a guess as to HOW long!
However, I agree with you completely, Claudia, that several of Imogen's examples do not look to me as if they fit Frieda's guideline of 5.5 cm. Winona Ryder in particular. Yet she looks super in that cut.
Also, to be fair to Imogen, that measurement was really Frieda's, not hers, and she does mention other qualities to look for. Also I have read elsewhere just the opposite - that oval and longer faces look best with pixies vs. round faces which can end up looking child-like in the wrong way.
And it's possible that Frieda MEANT to the jaw line vs. the chin. That is a very interesting possibility. I should take that measurement, too. Because it occurs to me that it could be the SHAPE of the jaw as much as its length that would make for a masculine look. Why would a long chin necessarily look mannish? A squared off one, maybe. But not necessarily a long one.
In reality, I think someone with ANY face shape can do it, assuming other qualities are present. And I agree absolutely, Gaylene, that hair texture, height, shape, and features, all play an important role.
Merwoman, your compliment is especially touching because my best friend used to make fun of my big ears. I comfort myself with the knowledge that in China, large ears are considered a positive attribute, LOL!
Sylvie, you're right - a pixie brings attention to the face.
Mo - you look wonderful in your long locks! I would find it difficult to imagine a better style for you.
Vicki, I think you look great in short hair! You will look wonderful with Sharon Stone's messy style; I LOVE that and have worn my hair similar in the past. I think it still qualifies as a pixie, by the way. And YOU have the huge eyes that make the style work, for sure.
JR, thank you so much.
Heather - so great to hear from you and THANK you!
Shabbychic, it sounds as if your face shape might be heart shaped or diamond, rather than oval, but it depends on how wide those cheekbones are, I guess, relative to the rest. Imogen traces an oval on a transparency and places it over her face to show that her face is pretty much an oval. If her face wasn't encompassed by the oval (i.e. stuck out in places) her face would be a different shape. Anyway...it sounds as if you have a hairstyle you are happy with, which is great!
Ginny, you're right I think that personality also plays a role. Funny how we can get a sense of that even on this forum.
Diana, I beg to differ - you have GORGEOUS eyes and a stellar smile. And I won't hear otherwise! Having said that, I love your hair exactly as you wear it.
Janet, that goes for you, too. Your hair is a lovely complement to your look. I think if I were tall I would feel less comfortable in super-short hair.
Zap - thank you.Again, with your height, it probably does make more sense to have longer hair. It is true some very tall women look great in pixies, but I think they're the exception for sure.
Una, blushing!! Thank you!
