Have you ever felt like, in an effort to decode your Style DNA, you’re collecting style systems the way some people collect shoes? Seasonal color analysis, Kibbe body types, style essences, color seasons… and somehow none of them quite feels like the complete picture of you? Today we’re going to explore why that happens and how tapping into your personal aesthetic through image analysis can finally bring you the style clarity you’ve been searching for.
To get started, download your free guide to Discover Your Essential Aesthetic, or jump right in and buy your Essential Signature Style Guide.
Your Style DNA vs. Style in a Box
When you use a style system created by someone else, it’s like baking a cake from a box.
You know, those neatly packaged systems where you answer a series of questions, get sorted into a category, and receive a set of guidelines.
- These systems try to figure out which of multiple predefined categories you are the most like
- They often contradict each other because they’re looking at different aspects of style
- They create an external authority that you have to consult rather than building your own style intuition
I’ve had clients come to me who have been typed as multiple different Kibbe types by different analysts. I’ve also had clients who, after working with me, were able to get off the hamster wheel of wonder, exit the style system facebook groups, and get on with creating a wardrobe that actually worked and had a point of view.
Here’s the thing: you are not a collection of categories. You’re a whole, integrated person with a unique Style DNA.
Your Style DNA is entirely your own. It’s the authentic pattern of your body’s design, your lifestyle requirements, and your inherent aesthetic sense.
Using your Style DNA to create your signature style is like baking a cake from scratch. And my favorite method for discovering your aesthetic is through analyzing images you’re naturally drawn to.
The Profound Power of Personal Aesthetic Images
I recently worked with a client, who I’m gonna call Emily, because I think that is the anonymous name I chose for Millennials. She is a business owner and mother of a two-year-old. She avoided the “crazy train” of multiple style systems by coming to me in her 30s, which is the time most women start thinking they should figure out their style and start building a grown-up wardrobe.
When we went through the image analysis process, something remarkable happened. As I reflected back the patterns I saw in her images—the flowing lines, the spiritual themes, the historical references—she said, “I feel so seen.”
- Images bypass your analytical mind and tap into what you truly respond to
- Unlike a questionnaire, images can’t be overthought or answered “incorrectly”
- Your aesthetic preferences reveal deeper values and aspects of your identity
- The patterns across multiple images show consistency in what resonates with you
This feeling of being truly seen is often more transformative than any practical style advice. Emily found that shopping and getting dressed became enjoyable because she finally had permission to trust her own instincts rather than wondering if she was missing some rule she didn’t know about.
How Your Images Reveal Your Style DNA
When I analyze a client’s collection of beautiful images, I’m looking for several key elements. You can start noticing these in your own images too:
- Recurring shapes and lines (curved, straight, angular, flowing)
- Texture patterns (smooth, rough, layered, contrasting)
- Color relationships (high contrast, tonal, bright, muted)
- Mood and emotional tone (serene, dramatic, playful, austere)
- Subject matter themes (nature, architecture, people, abstract)
These elements aren’t random—they’re echoes of your authentic self trying to be recognized. That’s why when your clothing reflects these same patterns, it feels right. It’s like your outer appearance is finally in harmony with your inner sense of self.
I had a client, “Jen” as in Gen X, who had alot of pictures of remote places, but always with a center piece of a town or a home. She, through her style, became the welcome her images depicted. She needed very cultivated and finished looks, but comfortable and grounded, not high-maintenance and fancy.
Putting It All Together: From Images to Wardrobe
The journey from collecting beautiful images to creating your signature style isn’t about literal translation—it’s not “I like pictures of the ocean so I should wear blue.” It’s much deeper and more nuanced.
Here are some things you can look for:
- Look for the emotional quality the images evoke—that’s what you want your clothing to evoke too
- Identify the visual patterns that appear consistently across different types of images
- Pay attention to the level of complexity or simplicity that appeals to you
Analyzing the patterns in images you love is the most direct path to discovering a signature style that truly feels like you. It avoids trying to fit into someone else’s system; it’s about recognizing and honoring who you are
Here’s something simple you can do this week to integrate these principles into your wardrobe: Start collecting images that deeply resonate with you. Not just “nice” images or “pretty” images, but ones that kinda stop you in your tracks and make you feel something. You are shooting for 10. Remember, these should not be clothes or things you just like for sentimental value—they can be landscapes, interiors, art, or anything that speaks to you on a deeper aesthetic level.
If you’re ready to go deeper with this process, the Essential Signature Style Guide includes a comprehensive analysis of your beautiful images, revealing the specific elements that make up your unique Style DNA. It’s the foundation of creating a wardrobe that truly feels like you.