Expressing Essence - Curate an Authentic Wardrobe 

I absolutely ENVY your ability to be so incredibly articulate and accurate in your verbal expression of something so intangible and intuitive as essence in the English human language. EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beautiful analysis on the black and white headshots. I immediately felt their presence in each picture so great choices. I love this

That is so true! No matter how well you try to fit into flowy feminine dresses, you won't if the essence is telling otherwise. Even if they fit right, your confidence, self-perception in them will just be off, and as a result you will feel like at a costume party.

I am ethereal...and look ridiculous in modern clothes. I have modeled for schools art classes for years.....I look best in long skirts and semi classic boho blouses. It can be quite the challenge.🌷 Having three ft long hair helps put the look on point. Thankyou also for pointing out the appropriate fabric and the visual weight. Brilliant.

Absolutely phenomenal exploration. This is such top tier production girl thank you so much

I love this so much. I got so lost in Kibbe’s lines and rules, and forgot that essence is important! I’m pretty sure I don’t have mine nailed, as people always tell me that I’m not what they expected.

This makes so much sense! My sister looks beautiful in florals, long skirts, and jumpers whereas I look better in a-line dresses, jeans and cardigans, and blazers with leggings. Kind of a classic, timeless look. I look awful in anything too trendy or overly frilly.

What if your face and look does not match your essence. Over the years people have often made assumptions about my personality based on how I look which they then find is not how I am.

Okay... this is amazing 😶✨I love how intuitive this is! So ahead of the curve. I can totally remember myself dressing up in a soft natural look, very womanly, relaxed and kind of boho and thinking 'okay... that don't feel right'. I've always struggled with that part in finding my personal style, I just loove dramatic, serious and very yang lines of clothing but when I put something like that Its just feels like I am in a disguise. At the same time when I put Ingénue lines it matches my body lines and face but not so much some aspects of my personality. Now I can totally see something in the middle and adjust accordingly to my essence. Thank you for these explained videos btw ... it really helps the way you show us why you're choosing that type of line for the body and not just saying 'the gamine type should use this'. That way we can be more free to interpret our own lines. Keep doing this type of content please... 🤩✨

I found it so helpful to see the comparison between the celebs in the outfits that flattered them vs not quite right style. All of them look so gorgeous when they're in the style that's right for them.

I think i am a soft natural. I have a very down to earth essence and can blend in with pretty much any crowd. I’m definitely not delicate but i love love wearing dresses. I struggle because i’m more plus size and curvy than straight size and i cannot figure out how to dress more natural without feeling like a box and wider than i am. Maybe a plus size video in the future?

You articulate this so very eloquently.

This is literally the perfect approach to style. I love it. Kibbe hivemind, I have a request. I will take any and all aesthetic concepts in which Winona Ryder played Bella Swan. This is the style I desire.

Something that might be cool is tying in Myers-Briggs or Enneagram types. Both are personality typing mechanisms and might add to the essence conversation. For example I’m an ENTJ (The Commander) and a type 8w7 (The Maverick), interestingly these two correspond to each other really well. I gravitate towards leadership and can be intense and “powerful” (their words lol). That would undoubtedly affect my essence.

Your video has appeared to me as if done on purpose, I wish I could allow your help... I am going to turn 30 and I have never known how to feel self-confident, nor be clear about my aesthetics. It is something that I have been after since I can remember. I do not have many clothes, my wardrobe is rather "scarce " btw.... I don't like to take risks with changes and I always end up falling into a style that I call "teenage skater/rocker" in which I also can't feel satisfied. In short, as I have said, your channel has appeared in one of the most frustrating moments of my life in terms of searching for what you call "essence". I don't know if I'll get to anything but the least I can do is watch your videos! By the way, you have a wonderful voice, have a nice day! :)

This is so amazing. I’m so confused about my own essence because I feel conflicted about my style and energy. I am heading to your website now as I think it’s time I reached out to a professional to help me out. I buy clothes I love and then hate them on me, or I just stick to very oversized items to hide myself because I don’t know what suits me. Help!😂

Somehow I find that these essences are really visible in wedding dresses. When I watch 'say yes to the dress' I can totally feel when the dress is not in line with the eccence of that person! But maybe also because the styles of wedding dresses are more extreme, so you can compare essences much more easily than with 'normal clothes'.

I am very fascinated by Princess Diana, she was a Flamboyant Natural but she comes off as so delicate and graceful in her face expressions, her gaze, voice, mannerisms, even the way she walks and carries herself. I wonder if she has Ethereal essence along with Classic and Romantic. That makes for a very graceful and feminine combination, I think Cate Blanchett has the same essences (probably without romantic though).

Man. The more I delve into uncovering my own natural fashion sense, the more I'm accidentally soul searching lol. So far for my essence I think I am warm and... spacey? Dreamy? Comfortable. I have no idea what this all means yet, but I'm excited to figure it out!

This is a very thoughtful commentary on style that goes beyond body lines and fashion to touching the central issue of identity brought alive by aesthetic choices. Look forward to more of your videos!

This video is a work of art! 🙌🏽 Thanks so much for sharing it with the world, beautiful lady Xx

This is so amazing and fun. I didn't know that learning about fashion also involves learning more about one's "true" self

You're honestly so good at this stuff! Learning about essence and body types has really helped me home in on my style! I'm an ingenue gamine, but have been wearing all of the wrong things for 36 years! I finally understand why so many styles feel off on me!

I felt like I learned a lot. Loved the celebrity analysis of the three women! I love the idea of looking at all the parts separately and then see how they come together as a whole. Looking forward to more of these! I can relate to being attracted to certain styles, but not pulling them off, like the rocker-chic with skinny jeans and biker jackets (since I'm short, broad and curvy, that style just makes me look boxy and stumpy). Hopefully I can learn to re-interpret and integrate these elements to fit with my body type.

I loved this. I was first introduced to you via Audrey Coyne when you did her analysis. I felt like I was taking a class, which is a feeling that brings me joy. Thank you!

Wow, Elyssa. This video is mind-blowing! Thank you for diving deep into this topic. It has always been my favorite.

I really enjoyed this, thank you. All your diligent hard work and thoughtful communication are greatly appreciated.

Wow. I’m so glad the RU-vid algorithm brought me to you! What a well-defined analysis of essence - especially taking movement into consideration. I’ve been trying to figure this out for myself, and I feel like now I finally have the language to do so. Thank you!

I don’t know if you’ll see this this far after posting, but thanks for this video. It made me realize I have a transformative balance that is actually similar to Mila’s. My Kibbe type is TR, and I definitely need something like a wardrobe compromise between the frills and the drama. I look younger than I am & I am definitely physically yin in many ways, but I have a serious and assertive personality that goes with my physically sharper yang elements. If I wear something too frilly, I look like I’m cosplaying a child. Too severe and I look like my own grandmother. The balance is not easy to find, and I often gravitate toward things that come off as “boring” on me, I think because I want to express my seriousness that underlies the softer elements of my physicality. The problem is, I can go far too plain & severe because I’m less comfortable with expressing the yin. This video definitely helped me understand what is happening. Thank you.

Really helpful analysis, I think this makes me feel less restricted than just using your physical lines and more excited to explore and mix up different elements. After watching this, a photo I put on a curly girl group was described as ethereal - this is not the first time I have been described as this, but I wouldn't really have used it of myself, but can understand as I am very pale with silver hair!

Thank you for the very detailed lesson on essence. I'm going to seriously ponder your suggestions to pin point my personal essence.

Aaah! Elyssa, you're SO incredibly good at this. A real professional explanation.

I love this video. This is the first time I’m hearing about all of this so I don’t fully know what you are talking about but I sat through the whole thing because it’s very well done and interesting. I subscribed to your channel to learn more about it.

This is the most integral analysis. I just loved it. We´re complex and unique and I love this complete INDIVIDUAL analysis !

omg you have a gift for perceiving and articulating these concepts in such a nuanced and comprehensive way. amazing.

what an incredible video, so interesting and well explained! I ended up here casually and I'm hooked on your channel now. you're just amazing!

I happen to have a black and white headshot and never thought about analyzing it for my essence! Amazing! ✨

Elyssa, this is all I have to add: 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

I think I *finally* understand why people so often compare me to Mila Kunis, and it goes beyond our similar hair, eye, and skin colour. Even though our body types are different (I’m more angular and sharp) we definitely have a very similar essence. Sultry, a bit dramatic, and slightly youthful. Even our voices and movements seem similar. I often have people tell me I have an edgy vibe, and I very frequently have people asking me what my ethnicity is, even though I’m just Scottish and Irish. It’s starting to make sense now

I love your channel. Thank you. I did Rachel's style guide and got 4 (I know it's usually only 3) But they fit for me. Classic Gamine Romantic Ethereal. I am a soft gamine primarily. But the ethereal was a real eye-opener for me. I have that quality for sure. I felt Classic Gamine or Soft Gamine is more personality and Romantic Ethereal or just Ethereal is more soul. Love it.

This was so informative and beautifully done, thank you! Would very much LOVE to see more like this. Question: What do you think would be the difference in styling recommendations between a natural classic and a classic natural? I’ve been toying with this question for awhile, and would love to hear your take on it.

This is incredible. Honestly, all of your videos feel like a university lecture and I love it! You are so thorough and professional. 🙂

Love everything about this video!! Amazing detail 😍 I would love to see a video describing different essences and giving examples!! Your amazing!

What a great video, really good explanations! I tend to get obsessed with other people's and character's aesthetics as well and it just doesn't work on me, but one day I realized I can just channel those aesthetics into interior decor and it's a lot more rewarding. Sometimes I forget that my body isn't the only thing I can decorate.

Such helpful examples & expert analysis! Happy to have come across your channel. This video just changed a lot for how I am going to shop for myself & my loved ones in the future!

Wow this video was seriously amazing and a real eye opener! So well thought out and communicated. You were really bang on with your observations and I loved this approach of considering not only someone's yin/yang balance and lines but also how this interacts with their essence. I've been a silent viewer for a little while now and have loved your content but this channel just keeps getting better!

I love everything about you and your videos, so informative yet easy to understand. 💕

Amazing video! The editing, the words that you chose, it didn’t feel like 31 minutes at all! Your videos always have a calming vibe, I think it’s because of your voice 💞

8 mins in and just gave to tell you this is stunning. You articulate things so we'll. Beautiful. Wonderful.

I love your videos! It's so interesting! But what I love the most is the way you explain it. I'm curious about more Classic examples just like Grace Kelly. I never see people talking about a more moderate Yin Yang body type and essence like hers.

I have recently learned about the kibbe system and the whole personal style thing and I must say: it takes a lot of careful observation and sensibility to do what you do, Elyssa. Congratulations on the amazing work

Thank you! It was super informative, I am so grateful... I can’t wait to practice capturing the essence through pics and videos. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. Thank you agsin

Amazing video! I can totally relate with Mila, so this video was very helpful and straight to the point!

I loved this video Elyssa! 😍 Could you do more videos with different celebrities and their essence expression? For example Jenna Coleman, Selena Gomez... 😊

I adore your approach on beauty you explain everything so eloquently. You seriously need your own ted talk one day! ❤ Your idea of "essence" has helped me so much on my fashion journey. I used to dress like a bombshell and it looked so costume-like on me I know now it's because it clashed with my essence. I have a playful, ditzy, and mousey essence and have found that more modest geek-chic clothing suits me much better! 🥰❤

It must be so cool to see people through your perspective. I bet you find everyone so interesting, because you are so good at stepping back and picking up on all of the little quirks and unique traits that build a person and their whole vibe. That must be so cool! Watching your videos makes me truly appreciate how special we all are. I wonder how this all falls in with astrology too. I definitely fall into the ethereal category with maybe a little bit of natural thrown in. I’ve been told I look like Uma Thurman several times. But I am also a Pisces, which fits ethereal to an absolute T. Such interesting stuff!

I love what you said about aesthetic taste. It's really hard to tell when my mood board shows my authentic personal taste vs. social influence. I'll see how characters in movies react to other characters, and it's hard to tell if that influenced why I like their style. Or I'll notice people in real life admiring certain looks or talking down others, and no doubt that commentary seeps in too. P.S. thanks for the trip down the Nashville memory lane. I forgot all about that show! Scarlett's style was so glowy and soft ❤

I love you energy and how you speak and your tone. I immediately clicked subscribe.

Unrelated but you have the most pleasant and relaxing voice and diction. And you explained this very well! I wonder if essence changes according to the things one experiences in life. Imagine a little child that was naturally happy and spontaneous but grew up in such a cruel and abusive environment that you actually see in the photos over the years all the joy and spark being replaced with sadness and abandonment... surely that means there was a massive change in their essence? But then again, a person simply trying to fit into a style that doesn't match their essence often doesn't work. Maybe it only happens if the catalyst for the change is so traumatic that the individual's own personality changes?

I started off with the Dressing Your Truth system. I like what you add to my understanding of physical characteristics, body type, etc. I never understood who I truly was until I went through that system. I realized I'd been trying to fit into a mold that just wasn't made for me my whole life. Even after DYT, I was still dressing wrong for my body type. Right colors, fabrication, materials, etc. Wrong fits. I was completely covering up my curves for most of my life. I'm a type 1 secondary 2 in the DYT system. Marilyn Monroe was a Type 1 Secondary 2, as well. When I really looked at myself, I was shocked. My hair was all wrong, too. Changing it up and putting on the right fit of clothes completely transformed me. I always knew I was an hourglass figure, and now I have all of the information I need to put together a look that is right for me. As a 1/2, I'm bright, bubbly, and animated. Romantic fits both aspects of who I am with my primary and secondary types. DYT does go into the yin/yang energies, too. I think having a good understanding of the systems can help us all really discover more about who we are.

I'm so happy that you covered this topic. And so amazingly well too. I think it's crucial to give the bigger picture, especially when there is an attitude going around that body typing is the one and only tool needed. Any system is more than just the sum of it's parts and thus has emergent properties. We are more than our physical bodies. We are also unique as individuals with our distinctive combinations and I think that should always be honoured.

Your attention to detail, expansive vocabulary mixed with your soft voice, Im obsessed! Love you work , thank you :)

Thank you. If we are talking about the Kitchner essences, there is a list of physical traits due to which the essence is determined.

I do see myself as pretty masculine and it shocked me when some of my friends called me 'dainty' (internalized misogyny I knoww) I guess I will never know what my essence is because I dont think I can ever see myself objectively

Your presentation is so interesting and your voice tone is so captivating!

I have loved this type of content! 👍💖

These could almost be 2 videos. Your take and explanation on Paris are very true.

This is fantastic and I love your insights and your ability to explain them. I have taken a few headshots of myself and edited them to black and white so that I can attempt this but one thing that immediately comes to mind is that this removes what a person's natural colouring adds to essence. I'm saving my money for an analysis from you, an early birthday gift to myself in the spring. I love that you make the point about liking certain aesthetics which might not be authentic to who we are. Being obsessed with a certain tv or movie character or celebrity is a good example of this and we might be identifying with a character trait which makes it confusing. I really enjoy your grasp of the psychology involved and your ability to take it all apart and explain.

Another wonderful video Elyssa!

I've been watching your videos from the beginning and it's so beautiful seeing you find your own way. This essence video is so interesting and it made me reflect more and accept myself. I think I'm a Kibbe soft classic but I don't see this regal aura in me that usually classic have, I'm very soft spoken and quiet in new environments and when I try to be more open it comes out as clumsy and not natural. Same with clothes like leather jackets and long boots, I like them because they are easy to style but I see there is something off when I wear them. People say my feature remembers them of a doll (although I don't have big eyes or a small nose) or a Botticelli painting. I guess I pretty similar to Amanda through less ethereal and ingenue. Having such a style is difficult in cold winters. I wonder how many essences are there? I guess there isn't really a limit since everyone has unique qualities.

Stellar content Elyssa! I’ve been binging since I discovered you through Audrey Coyne 🥰

Wow seeing the pictures of Paris really illustrated your point. She SHINED in the second looks and looked very off in the edgy ones

Thank you, such a helpful video and very professionally done!

That was a straight up college lecture. Well done 👏 thank you!

Wonderfully presented video. So thoughtful and observant. This sort of content is helping me understand my personality and style (wardrobe, decor, art...) and design clients and projects more. I'd love to have a session one day with you! Part of how I experience your essence (or maybe this gets more into personal values?) is a respectful observance and encouraging empowerment of other people's beauty, like there's a deep care behind that!

This is such a helpful video. I've made and collected so many clothes (based on liking the look of certain aesthetics) but never "feel" like wearing them. Like putting on a costume or not feeling like I'm being myself, even though I love the style when I see it on somebody else. After trying to dress mostly "edgy and dramatic" for so long, I now see "deep and sensitive" when I look at my black and white photos, which feels much more true. Guess it's time to find a way to express that in what I wear :) I also just found this to be quite psychologically therapeutic, so a big thank you for your great ideas on this video :)

This was very helpful. Thank you!

This was absolutely mindblowing! I tried to find my personal style via Kibbe Typologie, Ethereal Typologie, Color anaylsis with both four and twelve seasons and NOTHING really worked. Now, after watching this amazing video I used photos of myself and the stuff people said about my qualities to determine my personal essence. In Kibbe, I Type TR (Theatrical Romantic) but I always had the feeling of being more on the Gamine side and I am very tall (182cm). I also typed soft autumn in colouring and it kind of made sense, but wearing the Color’s and the guidelines for both TR and Gamine did not work at all. Ethereal Typologie by Olga Brylinska was the closest I got to feeling good in my clothes but I just did not see the most important thing about myself until I saw this video. I always had this kind of dreamy and feminine side to my way of being but what people kept saying about me and what the pictures I took of my face and myself wearing different clothes was more of a no-bullshit kind of way and a cold aura that did not get matches wearing the lofty warm colour palette of soft autumn. Taking pictures of my face the main two things I found were a kind of softness in my overall skin perception but also a very harsh contrast to my gaze that was very very deep but had nothing to do with my eyes and eyecolor but with my stare and pupils (which are, of course, BLACK!). Now I tried some of my dark clothes and black and white (harsh white absolutely does not work on me so I only had like off white colored items for tops) and matches them with black and white checkered pants and when I took a photo of myself I found that my overall essence was matched so much better then wearing warm Colors or wearing TR lines. I look best wearing something that is a casual and minimalistic kind of Mermaid Ethereal (look at Olga Brylinskas side if you want to see more about that, it is kind of lightweight, dreamy and romantic) and something that is straight, comfortable and linear. I also found my perfect Color palette in the French Ethereal. So I think I am not so much a TR but a kind of Romantic with an overall Gamine-like essence and a minimalistic, harsh, no bullshit kind of attitude that apparently does show A LOT in my essence and is perceived first and foremost by other people. The soft side is also there and it kind of is important and I think I will implement it secondary and in my make up and hair.

Finally a perspective that is complex enough to capture people's distinctiveness and contradictions.... which I am full of personally! I have been viewed as intense and sharp (when I'm insecure), but also bubbly and perky and warm (with people I like, when I'm feeling myself). I can come across as a little cold to outsiders (in dramatic and harsh lines), and FG shapes (shorter, extreme silhouettes of narrow and frilly outfits) express my bubbliness, and make me feel more positive. I've tried to dress more casually /classically /softly, but it comes off bland (and people have expressed concern).

Thank you Elyssa!

Great video you made, you explain in detail the differences in the style of the characters and their essences, I would love to see a video with examples of gamine with different essences

Wow, great video, as always! 😊😊💗

Excellent analysis! Thanks.

Fantastic video, great work!

Very great video! I like the idea of essence with aesthetic. 😊

I feel very Emma. I love this vídeo :) The missing piece of the puzzle.

Wow! Love what you said about plastic surgery. Subbed! Thank you for your insights!

This was absokutely fantastic, thank you!

Wow! I did not expect to watch the whole video.

This video is very helpful and so in depth and informative. I would love to see a version of this with women who are not as conventionally attractive as the three featured here. My goodness, their beauty is apparent! I'm wondering, in a not so balanced and attractive face, how to pin point some of these details. Thank you so much for this video! Happily subscribed and watching and liking more videos!

I have ADHD and truly have a hard time being consistent in my energy and how I show up. Partly because after years of therapy I’ve had to learn to emotionally regulate and adopt social norms that were putting a damper on relationships (like being mindful, not oversharing or interrupting, etc.). Others have informed me I have a high spirit essence even though I’m tall, which checks out but I’m also having a hard time dressing like this and being taken seriously and as if I’ve “done the work”. Sometimes, I’m very into meditation and spirituality and feel very a peaceful can calm confident when I’m trying but it does take effort unless I’m really good at consistent practice. I have been told I have “far off” ethereal blue grey eyes. I have a classic body type - strong shoulders and a long torso with a bit of curve (minimally defined waist). I’m a hard worker who feels strong in put together office wear - pantsuits, blazers, dress pants and maybe a softer blouse. In high school my friends called me “the sexy librarian” or a “cheesewheel” but my style mantra was “sleek, sophisticated, and sexy”. I have a strongly square and short jawline and high cheekbones but also some roundness with fleshy cheeks and a bum chin. Some people have said they see a bit of youthful in me. My nose is average sized and straight and forehead a bit tall. Trying to put all this together is difficult. Particularly being authentic in a way that I am still respected.

This was very helpful. Thank you.

Your content has been giving me life, Elyssa! I think finding our essence is crucial for self-expression that is also harmonious to our lines. I would love an analysis video on Doona Bae. I think she dresses so, so well according to her lines and essence (also she reminded me of Audrey Tautou, what do you think?). Cheers! ♡

Incredible analysis

I just found your videos, I love how direct and descriptive you are! My essences are gamine, ingenue, natural, I feel like it's a weird and contradictory blend. I'm embarking on the quest to learn how to better describe and implement my unique essence blend. ❤️

fuu i love your voice so much... SO calming!

I love everything you’re doing with this and other related videos. Just a small suggestion/request: when you’re doing the multiple outfit comparisons, it would be so nice to have each image shown on its own in addition to the collage. Watching the video on my phone makes it very hard to see the details that you’re describing so beautifully. 🙏

Very informative. Thank you so much ♥️♥️♥️

Oh I LOVE this!!!

The one thing I know for sure is that I have a very youthful essence. It's the body typing part that I don't understand yet. Can't tell if I'm a soft natural, romantic or soft gamine. Or maybe something else altogether. I tried asking some friends and family for a different perspective, but they just confused me more LOL. I might have to look into your services in the near future. I lost a lot of weight over the last 4 years too, so the different body shape is throwing me off 🙈