Yin and Yang in Personal Style – Part 2

In my last post I described the elements of yin and yang in the color archetypes. Today we’ll look at the seven style archetypes in terms of yin and yang. The amount of yin and yang in our style gives us further clarity about what styles work for us. Again, keep in mind that the descriptions here are the pure archetypes, not their combinations, and we are all combinations.

Yang

Melania Trump

Frida Kahlo

Michelle Obama

Let’s start with the three yang archetypes. These style essences express dynamism, but each in a very different way. The first is the Dramatic archetype. Dramatic types can be kind of haughty. They are very visible people. That means they tend to be tall. Anyone who is tall, regardless of what their coloring and other style essences may be, has some amount of the Dramatic archetype. Their facial features tend to be exaggerated; strong eyebrows are one feature and their eyes tend to have a kind of “feline” look (as with both our former and current First Ladies.) They are at home on a very public stage.

 

Lauren Hutton

Edie Falco

Next is the Natural style archetype. As the name implies, these are people whose visual style is relaxed.

Ina Garten

They are very comfortable with loose hair doing what it will rather than forcing it into a particular shape. These tend to be real “people” people; they are very approachable. You can see that in the softness of their eyes. They also tend to be sturdy. That does not mean large. It means their bone structure tends to be solid. They appear solid. They make you feel comfortable in their presence. They might even bake you some cookies!

 

Rita Moreno

Rachael Ray

The last yang type is the one we call High Spirited. John Kitchener refers to this type as “compact drama.” They are also comfortable in the public eye, but are not tall and definitely not haughty. They are active people, much more so than Natural types, and have a lot of kinetic energy.

Reba McIntyre

You will see this in the way they walk and express themselves; they tend to express a lot with their hands. There is vibrancy to this type. Eighty-six-year-old Rita Moreno is a good example of how our style essence stays with us throughout our lives.

 

The Balance Point – Classic

Michelle Yeoh

Nicole Kidman

Meryl Streep

The style essence that ties the extremes of yang (active dynamism) and yin (quiet passivity) is Classic. That term implies conservatism and traditionalism, which means you aren’t going to find anything too extreme about their visual expression. These people have a reserved look about them. There is a lot of symmetry in their facial features. They have a kind of regal quality, as seen in Nicole Kidman. And their quiet consistency makes them appear pretty unflappable. And even though she can transform herself into almost anything or anyone, Meryl Streep’s fundamental stoic beauty is a perfect example of a Classic type.

Yin

Julia Roberts

Aishwarya Rai

The first yin archetype is called Romantic. When you see someone with

Elizabeth Taylor

very fleshy skin (not corpulent, but softly textural) they likely have a good amount of this style. Romantic style often shows up in the mouth, which tends to have a sensual appearance. They also have a tendency to have slightly parted lips, as if they are just about to say something. Their eyes tend to be very alluring; not piercing, but rather dreamy. They are simply alluring, as is former Miss World, actress Aishwayra Rai.

Emma Stone

Meg Ryan

Marilyn Monroe

The next yin type is very different. We call it Youthful. These are people whose expression is one of guilelessness. Their appearance is bright and wide-eyed; that’s just about the opposite of the smokiness of a Romantic. “Innocence” is the overall impression they convey. They tend to be on the short side and have rounded and more delicate features. Think “baby face.” And even though she worked hard to cultivate a Romantic persona, Marilyn Monroe was a typical Youthful. That essential vulnerability is what made her relatable.

Tilda Swinton

Vanessa Redgrave

Daryl Hannah

Our last archetype, and the rarest of all, is what we call Angelic. It’s unusual to find someone who has a very high percentage of this archetype on planet earth. In fact, if you told me they were actually from another planet I might believe you! That’s because they are the essence of what we think of as yin: the most delicate, passive, ethereal-looking and, often, androgynous of all the archetypes. Most of the ones we know have significant amount of the other archetypes, keeping them a bit grounded. They are identified by their somewhat hooded eyelids and elongated faces. There is something slightly other-worldly about those eyes, as if they see beyond what we do.

So there you have it: our yang and yin style essences. Combine those with your color type and you get a pretty good idea of what works for you, style-wise. In my book there is a questionnaire that can help you determine how much of each of these archetypes of style you might embody.

I just want to add a personal note about yin and yang in our color and style. One of the greatest values of looking at people through these lenses is that they help us remove judgement. They enable us to simply see who we all are as expressed through our DNA. They allow us to feel delight in observing our unique variations and combinations.

Andrea’s books and new video series:

 

 

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