Fashion Feng Shui

Water Wood Fire Earth Metal

Over the years that I've been writing this blog, I've tried different colour analysis and style workshops, had my colours "done" (with several different results!) and experimented with various fashion looks. You'd think that by now, as an over-60 year old woman, I'd know what really flatters me, but it's not that straightforward. I'll try colours and styles that other people claim look good on me, but somehow they don't feel right. They're not really me. Step forward Fashion Feng Shui!

Simply put, dressing the Fashion Feng Shui way means dressing not only to reflect the way you look, as colour and style analysis aims to do, but also dressing for your essence (who you are) and your intention (what you desire). Within Fashion Feng Shui there are five elements of water, wood, fire, earth and metal. Most of us have a dominant element as well as supporting ones, but the element that reflects the way we look may not necessarily be the element that expresses who we are deep inside.

In my case, Wood is my dominant element for many reasons. My body is rectangular, I like comfortable, sporty clothes and I enjoy being active. The colours that flatter me include green and blue, which are Wood colours. However my hair and eyes are dark, which is more typical of a Water element and I love creative writing, which is also Water, so that is another key element for me.  What about my pale skin? That is typical of Metal, although I am far from being perfect, which is one of Metal's key traits!

What is the one colour that I particularly love wearing and that gives me confidence? It's red, which is (not surprisingly)  Fire. I am wearing a red top and also a red lipstick in the photo below. As an Autumn (according to my latest colour analysis) earth tones of brown and yellow should also suit me. They do, and my wardrobe contains several pieces of clothing and a few accessories in earth tones, however Earth isn't an element that resonates with me. I'm not practical or traditional and I'm not exactly a homebody either. As I enjoy red so much, I guess that Fire is one of my influencing elements and therefore I must be a bit of a drama queen underneath!

Fire element - red

As an over-60 woman who has retired, I don't have to worry about having appropriate work wear and I can wear what I want. My lifestyle is casual so I'm able to wear the blues and greens that suit me as a Wood and my everyday attire is mainly casual, if not sporty clothing. To express my creative side I will wear abstract and ethnic patterns, sometimes in a scarf, or an unusual piece of jewellery. If I want to be noticed, or fancy some drama - you've guessed it! - I will wear something red

The following summary will give you some idea of which element you belong to in a physical sense, but if you want to become more creative, show off your fun side or are a bit of a perfectionist you will see how to express that side of you too.

The first element, Water, is also known as the Philosopher. Philosophers tend to have very dark hair, eyes or skin and their body is a soft triangle shape. Philosophers are free spirits, valuing freedom and personal expression. They are deep thinkers, introspective, sensitive and will think before they answer you. They need solitude and quiet time on their own to recharge. They enjoy wearing clothes that are dark, abstract, with flowing lines. One word to describe Philosophers: creative.

Wood is known as the Pioneer. Pioneers tend to be competitive, they move at speed, have several projects on the go and are always moving onto new things. They like nature, enjoy books and get involved in humanitarian causes. They avoid fussy, overly constructed clothes and usually look fresh, natural and casual. Physically, Pioneers are rectangles, they have blue/green based hair and eyes or olive skin. As a Wood I do wear blues and greens a lot, my outfits are often casual, comfortable and made of natural fabrics. Patterns, especially stripes, feature in my wardrobe. One word to describe Pioneers: sporty.

Fire is also known as the Pleasure seeker. Pleasure seekers are fun-loving and attract attention. They are charismatic, charming and enthusiastic. Pleasure seekers are social butterflies, talk quickly and smile a lot. They will have reddish hair, skin or eyes and their bodies are inverted triangles. They wear bright, bold and body-conscious outfits. They love reds and purples, and clothes in shiny, clingy fabrics. They are definitely not shrinking violets! One word to describe Pleasure seekers: dramatic.

Earth is known as the Peacemaker. They are homebodies, don't like change and love routine. They will put others' needs before their own.  Peacemakers like classic and comfortable clothes. They have golden or brown hair, eyes and skin. Their body is either square or rounded. Their clothes will be basic, in neutral colours and textured fabrics, often in plaids or checks. The word to describe Peacemakers is traditional.

Finally we have Metal, also known as Perfectionists. They like quality, refinement, and aspire to perfection. They love beautiful things and always look expensive. They have tidy homes - they definitely can't live in a messy house - so it's clear that I'm not a Metal! Perfectionists have very light hair, eyes and skin and hourglass figures. Their favourite colours are pastels, white and metallics. They like polished textures, round patterns and luxurious fabrics. Perfectionists, not surprisingly, can be described as elegant.

So there you have it. Do you recognise yourself in any of the descriptions above? Do you aspire to be more like one of the elements in particular? If you would like to find out more about Fashion Feng Shui, click on this link to buy the Kindle version of Fashion Feng Shui Shopping Wisdoms. (In case you're wondering, I don't get any commission if you decide to buy it!)

Revisiting Fashion Feng Shui

Having gone through my Autumn colour swatch from Style Yourself Confident, and having discovered that I loved most of the 33 colours it contained, I realised that I would need to be sensible and choose just a few of them for my Autumn wardrobe. However, how was I going to decide which ones were my best colours? I decided to revisit Fashion Feng Shui to see if that would help.

Click on the link above if you want to find out more about the five Feng Shui types: it's a post I wrote four years ago, as well as posts describing each type. Most of us are a mix of the different types, both in the way we look and in our personalities. In my case I have the rectangular shape of a Wood type, with the hair and eye colours of a Water and the skin colour of a Metal. What about the essential me though? I'm mainly a sporty, casual Wood, but I do like the creative elements of Water and occasionally I can be a dramatic Fire!

Floral and stripes are typical Wood patterns

Wardrobe for a Wood

As you can see above, blue and green are ideal colours for a Wood. Dark colours suit Water types, whereas light colours are best for Metals. You won't be surprised to hear that red is a good colour for Fires! As for those Earth types, yellows and browns in particular suit them.

By revisiting Fashion Feng Shui, I am hoping that my evolving wardrobe will not only contain clothes in Autumn colours that go well with my personal colouring, but also clothes that reflect my authentic self and my intention, as described in Feng Shui terms. Parisian chic anybody? 😉

Neutrals will form the basis of my Autumn wardrobe and I've gone for dark chocolate brown, olive, camel, autumn grey and marine navy. I have several greens and blues in my palette, but I particularly like the lime green and jade green as well as turquoise, teal blue and dark periwinkle blue. Finally, I am adding in bright orange red and dark tomato red for when I fancy a bit of drama, plus oyster and gold for a more elegant look!

My intention is first to shop my wardrobe, as I know that I have lots of clothes in Autumnal colours already. I've reduced the 33 colours to the 14 given above, which may still be too many. I intend working on my Autumn 33 over the next few days, so watch this space to discover which items of clothing I select and which of the 14 colours make the final cut!

Creating from scratch - The Peacemaker

Although this post is about creating a basic wardrobe from scratch for the Peacemakers (Earth types in Feng Shui Fashion), the guidelines are the same for all of us.  Start with a few key pieces in your best neutrals and make sure that your tops will go with most of your skirts and trousers to create a truly versatile wardrobe. You can add some contrast with your accessories if you wish, though they should also go well with your outfits.

In my original post describing the Peacemaker, I chose several garments on Polyvore  in the golden and brown shades that look so good on Earth types.  If you click on the link above it will take you to the Polyvore site where I created the set and where you will find details of all the items.

I have created the following set as a guide to creating a wardrobe from scratch for Peacemakers. You may already have similar pieces in your existing wardrobe in which case you can include them, ensuring that any new purchases go well with them. Click on this link to Polyvore for more information on the individual items.

I decided to include a dress this time as a change, however if you don't like dresses you can replace it with another skirt or pair of trousers.  This capsule will give you enough combinations to wear a different outfit every day of the month, which is the main advantage of creating a capsule wardrobe. Choosing the right colours and the right shapes are an essential part of the process. Peacemakers are usually apple shaped and look their best in boxy shapes, with textured fabrics and classic styles. They should avoid overly long skirts and narrow silhouettes and look better with shorter skirts and softly tailored trousers. Monochrome outfits are good for Earth types in varying shades of brown and gold to match their colouring.

I have thrown in a pale green scarf to break the monotony in case you don't want to stick to various shades of brown, though I suspect that most Earth types would be happy without it.  If you work in a formal office environment you may be worried that you won't be taken seriously unless you wear black, however dark brown can look just as professional and you will have the added confidence that what you are wearing is more flattering and reflects your style personality.

You might want to take another look at my original post on Peacemakers: Fashion Feng Shui: the Peacemaker for more ideas. Finally, I would love all you Peacemakers out there to leave your comments or questions on this post.  Please don't worry about being critical - I promise that I won't be offended!

Creating from scratch - The Pioneer

I am continuing with the idea of creating a capsule wardrobe from scratch, as inspired by The Vivienne Files, but combining this with your Fashion Feng Shui type to build a wardrobe that is consistent with your personal style. I now turn to The Pioneer or Wood type in Fashion Feng Shui. The Pioneer enjoys sporty, comfortable clothes, with the emphasis on blues, greens and florals.

If like me you have retired, you shouldn't have any problems with this wardrobe, however if you work in a formal workplace you may need to adapt the wardrobe to suit your work environment, although obviously it will be ideal for your leisure time!

If you click on the link above to The Vivienne Files, you will see that the first item that Janice selected was a pair of trousers, which definitely suits Pioneers, and I've included three pairs in this capsule. I have similar pairs in my own wardrobe and no doubt you have too. I must admit that I tend to buy striped tops rather than florals, partly because of my fear of appearing like a little old lady, though I do have several floral scarves. (Hopefully my children won't read this post and comment: "But you are a little old lady!")

Pioneers usually have cool colouring, often with blue or green eyes, and a rectangular shaped body. They enjoy casual or sporty clothing, with details such as zips and hoods plus sporty accessories. Pioneers look their best in slim trousers and jeans, with vertical lines and little waist definition.

Even if you're not a Pioneer, you may wish to include some Wood elements such as a floral scarf, a blue top or green accessories when you want to be more competitive or you need to take action to achieve something.

For more information about Pioneers, go to my original post: Fashion Feng Shui: The Pioneer

Creating from scratch - The Philosopher

Having introduced you to the concept of building a capsule wardrobe from scratch, hopefully incorporating some existing pieces, I thought it might be fun to extend this to a Feng Shui wardrobe. After all, the idea of having a capsule wardrobe is to include clothes that suit you, that you love wearing and that also capture the essence of you. This is what Fashion Feng Shui is all about.

I decided to start with The Philosopher, which is the Water element, and so (not surprisingly) flowing, asymmetrical dark clothes form the basis of this wardrobe.

The Philosopher likes creative touches so, if this resonates with you, you should add accessories that express your individuality. A word of warning if, like me, you are short and not exactly slim: if you are wearing wide legged trousers or a flowing skirt, combining it with a baggy top isn't the most flattering look! Either include a slightly fitted top or add some straight leg trousers or perhaps a slim asymmetrical skirt to wear with more flowing tops. If you are tall and slender of course you can ignore these limitations!

Physically, Philosophers tend to have very dark hair, skin or eyes and are pear-shaped, so you might want to wear lighter colours on your top half to balance things out.  If you're not a Philosopher but wish to enhance your creativity, you can use some of Water's dark colours, artistic or unique accessories, or maybe an asymmetric top to do so.

Click on the link to look at my previous post if you want more ideas about creating a Philosopher's wardrobe: Fashion Feng Shui - the Philosopher

Fashion Feng Shui: the verdict

What did you think about my series on the five Fashion Feng Shui types? Did you identify your Feng Shui element and type?

Briefly, the five different elemental types are: Water, the Philosopher, whose style is creative; Wood, the Pioneer, whose style is sporty, Fire, the Pleasure Seeker, whose style is dramatic; Earth, the Peacemaker, whose style is traditional and last (but definitely not least!) Metal, the Perfectionist, whose style is elegant.

It's possible to be one type in your appearance but feel that essentially it isn't really you.  Perhaps you have the golden colouring, soft, full features and apple shape of a Peacemaker, but deep down you have a creative personality. Or you may look and feel like a sporty Pioneer but work in a field where you are expected to wear the styles of a Peacemaker. This is where I like the idea of Feng Shui fashion, as it allows you to add touches of other elements to your wardrobe to express yourself more fully. Maybe you are forced to wear conservative styles in the office where you work, but that doesn't mean you can't wear bright red underwear to express your inner Pleasure Seeker!

If you want to explore the ideas of Fashion Feng Shui more fully, you might want to download a copy of the book shown above.  I won't receive any commission if you decide to buy it, by the way!

Alternatively, if you enjoy playing on Pinterest as I do, why not search for pictures of the different types there? This board in particular has lots of inspiring pins: Jane Rekas. I have also created my own Fashion Feng Shui board: click here.

The picture above immediately appealed to me as I do love a touch of red and purple in my wardrobe. Finally, I believe that fashion should be about wearing what you enjoy and whether you follow the guidelines of Dressing Your Truth, Seasonal Colour Analysis or Fashion Feng Shui, remember that they are only guidelines. Our aim should be to express ourselves and love what we're wearing.

Fashion Feng Shui: the Perfectionist

The fifth and final Feng Shui element is Metal, which represents the Perfectionist. Many of us aspire to be elegant and spend a lot of time and money trying to achieve it, however it comes naturally to the Perfectionists, who have been born with inherent good taste. Perfectionists find success in careers where good organisational and management skills are essential, such as analysts, editors, curators, organisers and statesmen. They enjoy upmarket refined places so you will find them in museums, concert halls, mansions and country clubs. Perfectionists, as you might guess, prefer quality over quantity.

Perfectionists have very light hair, eyes and skin, delicate features and hourglass bodies. They like wearing pale colours, polished textures and luxurious fabrics: you can expect to find cashmere, silk and designer accessories in their wardrobes.

If any Perfectionists are reading this post, I'm sure they will pick me up for the outfits shown above and declare that they are far from perfect! Apologies, as a Pioneer with Philosopher leanings, I know that I'm far from being a Perfectionist. I do have a lovely cashmere cardigan (though in the Wood's shade of green), so perhaps I need to wear it more often?

If you value quality and excellence, enjoy organising and have a cultivated spirit, then you're a Perfectionist in essence, even if you don't look like one. Similarly if you want more order or refinement in your life, or you have cultural goals, or you just want to look elegant, then add some Metal elements to your wardrobe.

Perfectionists wear perfectly fitted clothes, monochromatic outfits, either little or no pattern (polka dots, brocades or lace are best) and status or designer accessories. Other Metal element fashions include cashmere twin sets, polished or shimmering textures (such as the gold lamé dress above), pale colours such as white, powder pink and silver, a status gold watch, round-toed pumps and gemstone or metal jewellery.

As I've already admitted, I'm not a Perfectionist - and I don't have the necessary funds in my bank account to be one. If I need to add some Metal elements (apart from my cashmere cardigan), it will probably be with a pair of round-toed pumps, my (non-status!) gold watch or maybe some metallic jewellery.

Fashion Feng Shui: the Peacemaker

The fourth Feng Shui element is Earth, which is representative of the Peacemaker. I suspect that a lot of women will identify with this Feng Shui fashion type, but is this because essentially they are Peacemakers or because they are playing the role that society expects of them? Peacemakers are caring, helpful and sympathetic. They are good at details and completing tasks, but not so keen on change. Practical, traditional and at their happiest when helping other people, many Peacemakers are nurses, therapists, politicians and (not surprisingly) mothers. They enjoy gardening, knitting, cooking and volunteering.

If you've read the above and it sounds just like you, it means that essentially you are a Peacemaker, but do you look like one? In general, Earth elemental types have golden or brown colouring with topaz, hazel or brown eyes, also soft, full features. They can be described as sturdy, having a short, full body-shape otherwise known as an "apple" and their style is classic. If you don't look like a Peacemaker however you are searching for stability and security in your life, or perhaps you want to appear more traditional, or your goals are family or community focussed, then consider adding some Earth elements to your outfits.

I don't think there is anything in this picture to upset anyone - after all, we are talking about the Peacemakers here! If you want to add some Earth elements to your wardrobe but aren't a Peacemaker, then you may want to consider the following options: a tweed blazer, a plaid shirt or khaki chinos are possibilities or, depending on your colouring, think about yellow, brown or earth tones for your clothing. You could also consider cropped jackets or square-toed shoes,or something as small as a square-faced watch or ceramic beads. Today I am wearing a square-faced watch to add an Earth element to my outfit, which means I am quite happy to do the cooking tonight!

Fashion Feng Shui: the Pleasure Seeker

If you've read my previous posts, you will have realised by now that Feng Shui Fashion isn't just about your physical appearance, though obviously that is very important, but also includes your essence and your intention.  If you have been told that you are charismatic, you enjoy being with friends and value personal connections, then even if you have the colouring of a Philosopher you may essentially be a Pleasure Seeker.

What does the Pleasure Seeker look like? Being a Fire elemental type, not surprisingly they tend to have red hair, red tones to their skin, pointed features and sparkling red-brown or violet-blue eyes. They are an inverted triangle in shape, with a larger size top than bottom, and enjoy wearing dramatic style clothing.

The Pleasure Seekers, as their name suggests, like to have a good time and will describe activities that they enjoy as "fun". They love dancing, socialising, entertaining, performing and truly are the life and soul of any good party. Many Pleasure Seekers are actors, DJs, agents, entertainers and MCs.  If you want to be noticed, or have more excitement in your life, then add some Fire elements to your outfits.

Fire elements, as you can see from the picture above, include bright colours especially reds, animal prints, body conscious silhouettes, v-necks and short, slim skirts.  Pleasure Seekers like to wear silk blouses, satin gowns, stiletto heels, leather jackets, skin tight jeans and animal print scarves. You may also spot them in feathers, fur and sequins - though not necessarily at the same time!

When I want to add a touch of Fire to my outfits, I will add a red belt, animal print scarf  red bracelet or whatever will blend with the outfit that I am wearing.

If you haven't identified with any of the Fashion Feng Shui types shown so far, there are two more to come: the Peacemaker (Earth) and Perfectionist (Metal).

Fashion Feng Shui: The Pioneer

In Feng Shui Fashion we aren't just concerned with our physical appearance, although obviously it has a major role to play, but we are also thinking about our essence and our intention.  The Pioneer or Wood elemental type usually has cool colouring, with ash-toned hair, blue or green eyes and olive skin. They have strong brows and jawline, a rectangular-shaped body and wear sporty or casual clothing.

Pioneers are usually competitive, energetic people and don't like to sit still doing nothing.  They enjoy going to gyms, spas and parks and their hobbies include coaching, exercise, travel and hiking. Pioneers enjoy arguing and debating issues and are good ideas people and initiators, often leaving the detailed work for other people to follow up. You may be a Pioneer if you enjoy getting things done and need your daily exercise fix. Many Pioneers become lawyers, athletes, coaches. trainers or sales people.

What clothes should you wear if you are a Wood type? Your best colours are cool neutrals, sapphire, jade plus other blues and greens. Your style is sporty and casual, with athletic details like zips and hoods plus sporty accessories such as back-packs. You look your best in slim trousers and jeans, vertical lines and very little waist definition. Plant-based patterns such as florals are good and natural fabrics like linen and cotton suit you.

Even if you are not a Wood type, you may want to incorporate some Wood elements into your clothing when you need to take action to achieve your goals, especially if they are health and growth-oriented, or you would like to be more competitive.

If you don't look like a Pioneer physically but you are competitive, enjoy being busy and you value freedom of movement, then use Wood elements in your dress to express who you are. My appearance is more like a Pioneer than the other four Feng Shui Fashion types, which may explain why I am wearing a green t-shirt with stone coloured linen trousers today!

Fashion Feng Shui: the Philosopher

I will start with some guidelines to discover whether you are a Philosopher in appearance, but remember that there are two other aspects to consider in Feng Shui Fashion: your essence and your intention. Even if you don't look like a Philosopher, deep down you may feel like one and if so you may want to reflect some of that in the way you dress. Or perhaps you want to express your individuality, to feel tranquillity, or to reflect on how you can realise your goals.  Look to the Philosopher to help you with these intentions.

What are the physical features of the Philosopher or Water type? Water element bodies are usually tear-drop shaped or pear shaped, with large bones and dark skin tones. Their shoulders are narrower than their hips and thighs. They have high foreheads, very dark hair and dark eyes that are often shadowed and dreamy, giving them an exotic or mysterious appearance. Does this sound like you? If so, you may be a Philosopher.

Philosophers are sensitive, independent and they have to do their own thing. They enjoy solitude, value their freedom and like to travel. Many Philosophers are academics, writers, scientists, healers or artists.

What do Water type clothes look like? Not surprisingly they are fluid, sometimes asymmetric, and mainly dark colours.

Fabrics may be sheer or velvety and abstract patterns like paisley look good on Philosophers. They should wear lighter coloured semi-fitted tops with darker flowing skirts and trousers. Accessories will be artistic and unique, which fits in with their creative style personality.

The Philosopher supports you artistically, spiritually and intellectually. If you're not a water sign you can still choose one or two elements such as an asymmetric top or a fringed bag to help you with your intention or to reveal your creative side. Just make sure that they don't jar with your overall appearance and that they create balance.

Although I don't have a Water type body or skin tone, my hair is naturally very dark and I enjoy writing and the healing arts therefore I would like to bring some Water elements into the way I dress. I can do this by choosing black and other dark tones for shoes, handbags or outerwear, or by wearing unusual accessories.

Fashion Feng Shui: 5 types

Following on from my post about yin and yang, I thought it might be interesting to take a look at the Fashion Feng Shui types and see if you identify with any of them.

There are five types, relating to the five elements that are used within Feng Shui: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal. You may have read about the power of Feng Shui within your home or office environment and how each feng shui area relates to a different element, colour and life area, but did you know that it can also affect the way you look and the way you are perceived?

If your personal style is creative, then your element is Water and your type is the Philosopher. If you like comfortable clothes and your personal style is sporty, you are a Pioneer and your element is Wood. Are you a dramatic? If so, your element is Fire and you are a Pleasure Seeker. If you tend to be a bit conservative in the way you dress, then your personal style is traditional, your element is Earth and you are a Peacemaker. Finally, we have the Perfectionists whose style is elegant and whose element is Metal.

Many of us will identify with more than one type, except perhaps the Perfectionists who are perfect just the way they are! In my case I am definitely happiest wearing sporty, comfortable clothes, but I do like a few creative touches and at times I aspire to be elegant.

The power of Fashion Feng Shui though doesn't just lie in the way you look physically but also embraces your essence or authentic self and your intention or ideal self. Let's assume that you work in an office where your colleagues are very conservative and you are expected to dress in a traditional way, however your personal style is creative and essentially you are a bit dramatic.  If you spend all your working day dressed in a conservative way you won't be dressing true to yourself and you will probably feel a bit stifled. However if you choose to wear an asymmetrical top under your classic suit with maybe an animal print belt or scarf, you will feel more balanced and true to yourself, as you are expressing the other elements of your personality.

The book that I highly recommend if you are interested in reading more about Fashion Feng Shui is the book by Evana Maggiore. Most of the information in this series of posts is based on what I have learnt from Evana's book. Obviously I'm no expert, however I plan to explore the five types in the following posts, to help you identify your personal style and give you hints on how you can express your authentic self or work towards achieving your ideal self.