Does anyone know about hoc style types?

[applesandchairs]

I've just had a lightbulb moment and realised that short sleeved tshirts always look dreadful on me, especially with jeans. I can do skinny jeans with jumpers, or smarter tops, I look good in shorter or pencil skirts, cigarette trousers and jumpers or smarter tops. Definitely better with arms covered up, my style is very similar to that of Laura from the wit blog and all her winter clothes combinations. I just can't do a casual look, jeans, t shirt and boots looks awful, even if they are nice items and not cheap. I am 5'7" and a size 12. I've never realised the tshirt and casual clothes thing before, does this mean I'm a specific kind of style?

I wouldn't say you where any specific type just someone who knows what looks good on you,have you tried t-shirt with 3/4 sleeves ? that may be a solution for the summer months.

I've recently been to a short presentation by HOC and I don't think a preference for long/short sleeves would be enough to put you in one style category (and some people span two categories anyway).

Have you thought of going for a consultation? Some of it, I think, is a load of psychobabble, but I still think there's enough substance in it to make it worthwhile.

Thanks both, I wondered whether not being able to casual very well pointed to a certain style. Classic maybe?? I might look at doing the style day, I don't know anyone who's has it done so no one to tell me how good it is!
Yes I often wear a long sleeved shirt in the summer, or a long sleeved dress. Time to ditch the tshirts I think!

Well, I don't know much about it, as I've only done the quickie presentation so far, but it seemed to me that most of the styles (I can't offhand remember the names of all six) could have formal and less formal versions within them. I think I'm a classic/romantic hybrid, but I may change my mind once I've done the workshop!

Hmm, deliberating on whether it's worth doing, it's not cheap is it... But then neither is a wardrobe full of tshirts!

I have done it and did think it was worthwhile. It considers your body shape as well as your personality and will generally consist of two different style types although I do believe that, very rarely, someone will be purely one style type.

My friend has done a blog post about this which probably can explain it better than I can

inlovewithcolour.com/2014/03/04/what-is-a-clothing-personality-and-why-is-it-important/

Yes, I'm inclined to go for it. Over the years (as I'm middle aged) I have got much better at buying what works for me, but I think it's probably true that a consultation (which admittedly isn't cheap) will pay for itself in no longer buying stuff that seldom gets worn.

Apples I'd say that if you dress like Laura you've already found your style and further rules might only confuse you. I mean, how would the HOC ladies categorize Laura? Wouldn't it rather help to see how she approaches casual and then interpret it your way?

I didn't do casual too well and I went along for some time with the idea of being some version of classic but trying to categorize myself just cramped my style. You don't want to end up wearing workwear shift dresses at home

These days, I accept that I have different styles for work, home, being out in the country. If you try a more disciplined approach to casual, say Marant style, what does it feel like? I could never do tunics and leggings and gray marl but have now found a way of being casual that really works for me. I mix in a bit of menswear to add structure, it works well with my frame (tallish, slim, boyish - men's watch, loafers, desert boots, the occasional boy blazer). I wear a lot of neutral colors and go for slightly thicker materials to add structure. Sweatshirts are great if they are not too long and I love my olive green H&M Marant style sweatpants. But I can also wear a full-skirted ballgown and red lipstick or a Chanel type jacket, but these are not everyday choices.

Oh OP and I forgot to mention that I am exactly your size and never wear t shirts and many boots look like a joke on me, particularly ankle boots. But lots of different types of clothes seem to look good on me and fit well off the rack.
I'd say there is a core element of classic in you but you can take it into many different directions.

Hmm, I can't really work out why I can't wear tshirt, jeans and boots, when I can wear a denim shirt, skinny jeans and heeled courts. I think I can see what looks nice on me and on some ways I have found my style but I think it would be helpful to understand the why behind this. Maybe I will go for the style day. Thanks for your opinions, much appreciated

Sounds like you've got it sussed frugal. I have wardrobes full of clothes and I always look good at work where I wear smart casual. I don't need to do business dress so can get away with quite interesting things but it's my weekend wardrobe that I just haven't got sorted. Talking of wits Laura, she hardly ever wears boots, more often fancy shoes so maybe she struggles with boots too. I've literally never thought about it before but all if a sudden boots look so boring and drag anybody my outfits down whereas a smart pointy shoe seems to work much better. Not very practical though! Anyway, I'm just rambling now. Would be interested to know if anyone else has found the style day worthwhile?

apples I loved my style day but I know other people who didn't find it so helpful. I'm an ingenue natural which basically means that I like to dress for comfort but add in girly/youthful details.

I can't wear plain tees either as I'm better with some detsiling whether it's pintucks, embroidery or a Peter pan collar. I prefer blouses to tees nowadays. I struggle with shoes and boots too as I don't like anything too chunky or masculine. Again, I like a bit of detailing or texture like suede. I love summer when I can wear ballet flats and sandals.

It's all based on the hugely outdated system by Kibbe. Google that if you need the security of a style label.

Personally,I think the whole thing is a crock of shit.

I found the whole colour/ style thing really useful, but I used an independent consultant who I sort of knew and thought looked fab. She absolutely did not give me rules as such. For instance, black is too harsh on me but she showed me ways of softening it with other colours etc. so I could wear it.

I am a natural dramatic, which means I find too structured/classic things make me look a bit frumpy. I find summer and formal dressing harder as it is often too "pretty" or girly for me. I like loose t - shirts, though.

I did the style day and came out as romantic classic. I'm still getting my head around it really. I feel it has given me 'permission' to just go with my instincts rather then worrying too much about fashion. I feel more 'myself' in a flared skirt, silk t-shirt, cropped jacket and ballet flats for example than I do in jeans and a t-shirt but always felt that dressing in skirts at the weekend was a bit 'try-hard' (and not always practical with a small child).

also look much better with a collar (this would be the classic bit) - again previously I worried that I looked too dressed up wearing collared shirts all the time but I'm adapting for weekend by wearing a t-shirt but wearing a structured biker style collared cardi with them. I've also found that adding a statement necklace or pretty earrings and a nice belt can make a jeans and t-shirt combination better on me. And the classic bit means I just look better a bit tucked in and tidied up

I think, as with the colour analysis, people who have a very strong sense of personal style or who have a good eye for design would find it a waste of time but for people who don't naturally have a eye for these things having someone point it out can be helpful. And like anything once you know the rules you can then break them with confidence

That's interesting, thanks. In some ways I feel that it would be a waste of time as I have lots of clothes that I love and I know what looks good on me, but I'm increasingly frustrated with things like not being able to understand why boots don't work on me, it's just feet at the end of the day?? And why can't I crack casual?? I think if I understood this, I would find it easier to dress outside of work without looking too dressed up or try hard as someone mentioned up thread.

Apples give us a few basic pieces of info - what is your general body shape? Your best bits and worst bits? Your general coloring? Where do you buy your favorite work outfits? Whose style do you admire? What do you do during weekends and what would you like to wear in your time off?

I had for the longest time problems with casual outfits and I think that following the HOC style rules it will make you some sort of classic, but not sure I believe in their style categories. I mean, how would the HOC ladies categorize Isabel Marant or Phoebe Philo or Saint Laurent or Acne, and how would that help?

I'm a HoC Romantic Classic too and I just can't do casual, it just doesn't work for us. Other types can put on a t-shirt, jeans and sandals and look amazing but us RCs just can't. I look so much better in a jacket than a cardigan for example.

The only tshirt style tops I wear are all silk or viscose so look more expensive. That seems to do the trick when paired with jeans and flats.

That puts into some context sorrel, so there is a type that can't do jeans and tshirt.
Frugal, I've always thought of myself as pear shaped as I have quite wide hips but my shoulders are the same width as hips and I have a defined waist. If my boobs were bigger id be an hourglass I expect. I am 5'7", aged 35. I've never had my colours done but think I would be a winter, pale skin, dark hair, very much suit bright blue, emerald green, reds and burgundys, black grey and navy. White not cream. I buy from asos, hm, oasis, warehouse, tkmaxx and next mainly. Some whistles via ebay! Favourite work clothes at the moment are leather pencil skirt with fairly casual jumper and heels, cigarette trousers with denim shirt tucked in and heels again. Long sleeved tulip dresses with v necks. Round necks on jumpers look good, def better with long sleeves in general. Legs not perfect but I do like a mini skirt with black tights and black ankle boots and can wear it with compliments from people. I can for some reason do a more hippy casual look, like a peasant blouse, boyfriend jeans rolled up a bit, turquoise earrings and gladiator sandals. I just can't do the simple casual look with no extra bits like jeans, a tee and flip flops. Flat shoes and boots I have a real problem with unless I'm wearing 7/8 trousers or boyfriend jeans with turns ups. Otherwise heels all the way. I have a lot of cardigans but at the moment I don't seem to look right on any, either longer or shorter, a jumper is much better. I have young children so need to sort out some casual clothes! I can't wear a shirt and cigarette pants on a play date! I look better with bright lipstick and with earrings, seems to brighten my face but again, adds to the overdone look sometimes I think. Sorry for essay!

Interesting to compare notes Apples. You have a waist, I don't You should figure out a way to add waist definition to your clothes. What happens if you add a belt to an outfit?

And I guessed you would have some shoulders, that would explain the shirt thing. I totally cannot do cardigans, in my case it's longish face, long arms and long legs = too much verticality, the button line in cardigans emphasizes that. For me, getting the hem length of my tops right is crucial, the barely bum covering length looks awful but very long or a bit cropped is good. I try to get a 3:5 or 5:3 proportioning. Tulip and shift dresses are good on me too and I wear more casual versions of them in summer.

I'd approach your casual dressing problem by trying to find casual equivalents of the shapes that you love. I think boyfriend jeans would be a good casual staple for you, I wear them a lot and there are now lots of slim cropped boyfriends that are denim version of cigarrette pants. I wear them with leather high-tops (the dressier plainer ones, I don't do sportswear). If you need some heel try your black ankle boots, also block heel or wedges. Some items to try: a jersey blazer, a biker jacket, higher waisted jeans with the top tucked in. Have you tried a slightly cropped sweatshirt or a sweatshirt dress worn with a belt? What happens if you wear draped trousers? Yoga pants? Flares with a peasant top tucked in?

With your coloring, you should not do very distressed and washed out colors, I'd try the lightest or darkest wash to maximize contrast. An inherent problem is that many casual clothes are faded or crumpled in some way and that does not sound like you at all. And definitely continue wearing lipstick!

Anyone here who looks like Apples, what do you wear at home?

A quiz here and I really like their shape info, see neat hourglass and full hourglass, found it very helpful when I was figuring out what to wear!

Thanks frugal, I haven't got time for the quiz now but I'll do it later and feedback, thanks!

If you're still interested in the HoC/Kibbe side of it Apples, there are some good other links/quizzes here, here, here and here. I'm pretty rubbish at it all (and unconvinced/feel limited by my diagnosis of romantic classic, diagnosed on the same day as liberty!) but for what it's worth I don't think you're a Natural (they're the ones who can do tee and jeans and flip flops).

Sorrel your post struck a chord with me, thanks... I had started to think that I couldn't wear jeans, and wanted to move towards skirts at weekends, but it's really that I need heels with my jeans. And jackets v cardigans. Total lightbulb moment, thanks! :)

You're welcome .

I think the trick is to try and over dress a bit and then you sort of end up looking about as smart as everyone else. If we try and dress down we look look like small boys and/or a total scruff bag!

I agree with this. I'm a natural gamine and the opposite. If I try to overdress I feel like my mum. Never knowingly overdressed is my MO