How Much do Personal Style Systems Factor into Your Own Style?

I was just curious to find out how much importance fabbers place on using the various personal style systems that are out there to help develop one's own personal style? By personal style systems, I'm referring to various methods like:

Analyzing Body Types, i.e.Kibbe, Fruit shapes (apple, pear) or other methods.
Colour Analysis, i.e. Seasonal colour analysis, the Vivenne Files, or even determining contrast levels
Style Essences, i.e. aligning style with a person's inner personality.
Style Monikers and Three Style Words, like here on YLF
The Smilovic Method, i.e. Amy Smilovic's Style Tips and Colour Rings

Those are just some of the personal style systems that come to mind.

When I consider my own personal style, I have definitely used colour analysis, Kibbe and the three style words method to help guide me in my wardrobe choices. I'm not super strict about it all but I did find that when I determined that I was basically a Kibbe Dramatic Classic, it just seemed to confirm to me why certain clothing styles worked so much better on me than others.

The seasonal color analysis too, was also quite beneficial in helping me narrow in on a colour palette that I generally find flattering and enjoy wearing. It also helped to curtail the closet orphans that were in rogue colours which didn't seem to suit me or work with anything else I owned. I was also surprised to learn about contrast levels and why I felt better with a certain level of contrast in my outfits.

My three style words of Relaxed, Refined and Cohesive have also been really helpful in deciding what I add to my wardrobe and how I like to style my outfits together.

Have you used some of these style systems or perhaps different ones? Did you find any of them to be important factors in developing your current personal style?

1 hour ago

LJP

Veteran

I’m aware of them all but use none in a conscious way . Colours and body type considerations are just organic and automatic at this point, and I’m not pedantic enough about the other stuff. I’m a big picture thinker , not a dig - down into the weeds person . Which of course means I don’t get it right all the time but it is what it is .

MsMary

Honestly? Not much at all. When I was working I leaned in to my "business bombshell" style moniker, but i haven't really settled on a new one. And the more elaborate systems leave me cold.

slim cat

Kibbe - for sure ( I go back to it frequently ) , some color analysis/ recommendations, some inner preferences - like a bit of rock and roll tendencies .
The menopause limitations - sensitivity to unnatural fabric and thermoregulation high and low from time to time - effect my choices.

Jenni NZ

I love them Dee. They have all helped me at different times. The seasonal palette systems I found out about late 1984 when the Carole Jackson 1980 book Color Me Beautiful was popular. I really enjoyed that book and have tried to buy plenty Spring colours until I actually got analysed 40 years later!
Kibbe I didn’t hear of until I was on the forum when Style Fan asked if I had heard of it, when she said I looked “elfin” in a photo and maybe was some sort of gamine. Ensue hours of pleasure down the rabbit hole.
And choosing my moniker still helps. I made my first clothing purchase of 2026 yesterday, some new pants where I immediately thought “sassy!”, my main style word.

Irina

I don’t use any. Finding style words is a fun exercise for me but I don’t really remember them
I tried them all - color analysis and Kibbe, out of curiosity. It is definitely useful to be aware of different style approaches but for me, it’s important to listen carefully how I feel in an outfit.

Sal

Interesting Dee. What a good question!!

I see myself as a Kibbe Natural type -probably Flamboyant. It’s not perfect but it fits in overall with what resonates with me.

I have had my colours analysed twice
- 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.
- I do use my three words and my moniker and have tweaked them over the years (currently Authentic Chic and Bold Elegant Unfussy).

I don’t use either of the other systems but also use nuggets of wisdom from Angie (regarding lengths, necklines, toppers etc)

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.

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