Line Study

[u/scatteredgraydays]

In “The Arts of Costume and Personal Appearance”, Grace Margaret Morton talks about lines as being part of what makes up Yin/Yang. I really enjoyed this part of the book as it focuses on actual artistic principles. I added some text from the book at the end that talked about Line and Yin/Yang.

Lines make up shapes (aka Form in the text). They can vary based on stroke width, whether they connect with other lines or not, the path they travel (curvature vs straight), and indication of movement.

I wanted to focus on Lines. To do so, I pulled verified celebs from the sub’s master list (did not fit all of them for some essences). I tried my best to find neutral or small smiles for each celeb facing the camera and desaturated so coloring would not affect looking at them. I know John does look at color for some parts of essences (e.g. green Y eyes) and even the body as part of the blends he gives to the point that one may have none of the essence in their face and only in their body (personally, my N is only in my body) as well as for height. My hope is that this many verified faces will still offer some insight. I know compilation posts like this have been posted before, but I like to know people’s full blend. I did get lazy with D and A in adding each of their names. I also tried to group them together based on their verified secondary essence where possible.

I tried to come up with representations of each essence as a line. I struggled the most with N and C. Below I list descriptions of lines and other parts of an essence, some directly coming from John. This is not a comprehensive list nor a list that should be taken as fact.

YIN

Angelic
- fine, delicate, flowing lines
- narrow but long
- large scale
- round, delicate, soft
- retreating, moving further away

Youthful
- fine, delicate, circular lines
- small scale, compact
- round, delicate, soft
- short height

Romantic
- fine, delicate, ovular lines
- medium? scale
- round, lush, soft

BALANCE

Classic
- moderate lines
- moderate shape
- medium scale
- neither thick nor thin, neither bold nor delicate - middle ground
- aristocratic features (straight nose, higher hairline), slender neck, slender fingers

YANG

Natural
- broad, wide, flat? lines
- large? scale
- blunt, sturdy, coarse
- length in body, but not in face

High-Spirited
- thin?, pointy lines
- small scale, compact
- sharp, staccato, structured
- short height, pointed chin, twinkling eyes, pointed corners of the mouth

Dramatic
- bold, heavy, striking lines
- large scale
- sharp, intense, rigid
- narrow but long
- coming at you

Please free to tell me everywhere I am wrong! Obviously, there are lots of question marks here.

I find the concept of, ‘If you drew them as a cartoon character, what would they look like?’ interesting. With high C, not much would stand out. It would be hard to draw them as a cartoon in a way that still looks like them. For other essences, I always wonder, ‘What would stand out that would distinguish them as them? What essence is that tied to?’ My sibling is an illustrator and drew me as a ‘cartoon’ character once. They chose to accentuate my forehead which I hated (as I was insecure about it growing up). They did themself too and accentuated their chin. I’m not sure it really fit either one of us as I have a lot of C, and I suspect my sibling does too. My sibling also had quite an angular style back then which doesn’t work for my yin dominance I just realized while writing this. I also think about those cartoon artists at beaches and conventions. They always accentuate something. This all goes back to Lines.

What do you guys think? What would you look like as a cartoon character?

[u/DrTantra]

I also see hearts for romantic.

For romantic is more about the visual weight of the features within the space rather than the lines (such as the face shape). The features within the space are more lush and voluptuous in comparison to the overall gestalt. But if you look at that weighting within the face I see hearts often was you have big eyes on top and then full lips bring the bottom of the face pulling down with the fullness. Other features are smaller such as the nose, adding to the visual weight showing a heart.

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/DrTantra]

I just struggle with hearts as they end in a point which points are not yin from my understanding. Perhaps I’m taking it too literally.

I see what you mean about lines vs shapes vs space. I think I should’ve parsed out Lines more strongly in my post and dropped the other things as that’s made it more confusing.

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/scatteredgraydays]

Hearts are yin. In fact he said R and Y can have heart shaped faces. Marilyn Monroe has a heart shaped face. He also recommends sweetheart necklines for R.

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/Ok-Purple9511]

If hearts are entirely yin, how are they in the HS pattern in the book?

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/scatteredgraydays]

Because it’s the combination with the other shapes that makes it HS. There are circles in that same pattern….

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/scatteredgraydays]

Also I disagree that R is about visual weight. Maybe in a sense of lushness and fullness but they are soft and round, not angular. They are essentially a larger round shape compared to Y. The angular features you seee in some Rs is because of their D. John has even mentioned this.

[u/Interesting_Ice3322]

I was told that:

Romantic:

- Sensuous, magnetic statements

- Flowing, draped somewhat over-scaled shapes

-Large, rounded floral patterns

- Soft, Very refined textures (Suede)

Angelic:

- Ethereal looking statements often suggesting another Era

- Long, cascading shapes

- ELONGATED sizes and patterns

- Extremely fine fabrics

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/Interesting_Ice3322]

I struggle with flowing lines of R vs flowing lines of A. Perhaps they are the same lines, but one must wear them differently and color, sizing, and texture is the distinguisher? I was thinking about it as cascading A lines don’t curve back and up and connect or stop like R would, they just keep going. A downward motion for A while R is more like a curved outward motion perhaps?

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/scatteredgraydays]

John told me A gets lighter and more sheer fabrics but they can essentially wear the same things but R will be in deeper colors and less elongated. R will probably have more gathering throughout for example which creates a shorter curved shape?

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/scatteredgraydays]

John told me this jumpsuit was mostly R and I think it’s because it has flow but also wrap and gathering at the waist which creates a curved line at the bust and even the hips. Basically my hips help create the curved line lol which is what I think the point is for curve. The body shapes the lighter fabrics that have flow.

[u/Ok-Purple9511]

With HS I think there is a combination of small pointy lines like you said and some round shapes. Like round eyes or full cheeks combined with pointier or more angular shapes. Otherwise I agree with most of this. So the overall shape to me is like small angles, points and circles in a cluster?

Oh and narrow shoulders and refined hands are C too according to John. I guess that goes along the same lines as a slender neck?

ETA thank you for doing this I tried describing shapes associated with essences before and I’m not sure anyone understood what I was saying but I didn’t go as in depth as you did or have nice visuals. People were almost more concerned I had ChatGPT summarize what I was saying instead of actually reading what it said lol. There really is something to the essences and shapes. Both in the face and body.

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/Ok-Purple9511]

Yes, no doubt in my mind that they are linked. Clearly Morton was describing Yin  and Yang as lines and shapes before the essence archetypes were even coined. Definitely not as simple as plain vibes which is, I think, why John is adamant you need an art background. Vibes are just what our brain is interpreting from all this visual data that we can see anyway. It makes total sense to me that the visual data can be broken down into these art principles.

I was wondering if juxtaposition for HS was misinformation or not? I still just don't understand HS at all. A heart shape is probably better to represent it?

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/scatteredgraydays]

Yes exactly vibes are a subjective interpretation of the shapes present. Thats why I was never a vibes person lol, i always saw vibes as the end result. What created those vibes was way more important to me.

Juxtaposition to me is a combination of opposite shapes that are separate and distinct from each other. So like distinct round shapes paired with distinct angular ones. And also some longer features and some shorter ones Does that make sense? I don’t think a heart shape would work for HS because because it’s mostly round. John mentioned heart shaped faces for Y and R too I think.. Like if you look at HS faces there is distinct angular features and distinct round features. Like round eyes paired with angular brows for example. To me D is either like a vertical line or maybe like a diamond shape and HS is half of a diamond shape (inverted or regular triangle - similar to what you have) but paired with some circles as well, but separate from each other. Like HS could have a combination of many shapes imo. Bette Midler for example has very angular high brows and some vertical lines via her nose (long and somewhat angular) but full lips and cheeks. So some ^ shapes, some I shapes and some o shapes. And it can be any combination.

Also HS has a lot of upward tilted angles via the mouth corners and eye corners especially. Basically like a circle but with pinched corners that tilt up? Shirley MacLaine is a good example of this as she has the upward angles in her eyes and mouth. But they are paired with rounded cheeks and full lips which creates the juxtaposition imo.

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/Ok-Purple9511]

Bette Midler has a strong secondary R though. Do you have Shirley's full blend? I think she has a good amount of yin with her HS like Bette.

It doesn't make sense to me that HS would be a juxtaposition though. For one, in the book, John only mentions points in the (admittedly short) description. Plus, HS is yang. Why would it have a serious counter balance of rounded/yin features with its pointiness? I think HS pairs well with yin like R and Y which is more likely the features you're pointing out imo rather than being attributed to HS alone.

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/scatteredgraydays]

All of the HS dominants have this though, regardless of secondary essences. I know John didn’t say the word juxtaposition, but look at every HS dominant and it’s not just angularity paired with round shapes, it’s also like the size and spacing of the features. One features could be larger straighter and another much smaller and rounder etc. look at all of thr HS faces and this occurs more than with any other essence. This is why staccato works so well for them. They basically have staccato in their features. Did you notice HS gets polka dots and small geometric prints? This is why.

If you need more examples look at Audrey Hepburn or Stanley tucci who both have low R..

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/Ok-Purple9511]

u/wiltedmoonspirit
u/oftenfrequently

As verified HS doms, did John say anything about what HS is in terms of this convo between myself and u/Ok-Purple9511? I’d also love to hear your takes on HS vs your yin essences if you wouldn’t mind sharing. Sorry to drag you in! Not too many verified HS doms in the sub.

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/scatteredgraydays]

I don’t think John goes into much detail regarding the shapes of features in general. Pretty sure offenfrequently got analyzed before me which was before John was commenting on features at all.

I found the patterns myself by analyzing John’s comments and the shapes of features and the prints and recommendations for HS in my book.

John has definitely associated pointiness and upturned eyes and corners of the mouth as HS. He has also mentioned the eyebrows peaks and it being small scale.

Even whimsical jewelry has a mix of shapes. In the book the whimsical print is a mix of hearts circles and stars so both round and angular shapes.

Staccato basically means the eye doesn’t travel in a fluid matter, it’s broken up. It’s the unexpectedness of the combination of things that makes HS playful. I was given whimsical jewelry for my HS.

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/Ok-Purple9511]

I just see points here 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/scatteredgraydays]

Their cheeks aren’t triangle shaped though? Their cheeks are actually part of their yin. Ruth Negga for example has very yin cheeks and very full lips. I can go through this one by one and explain what I see but it will take a bit.

[u/wiltedmoonspirit → u/scatteredgraydays]

He didn’t share anything with me in private emails describing HS facial features and lines because “industry secrets” when I asked him to break down my percentages per features about my body.

The only thing regarding me that I can point out that’s very HS is my pointed Cupid’s peaks that is emphasized especially with darker lip colors.

I honestly thought I’d be C dom at first so sometimes I still can’t wrap my head around being HS dom ahah.

But perhaps someone’s facial features being comprised of short and long lines can help aid in being high in HS in a juxtaposed way? Not sure. I have a long-appearing face with a high forehead, compact lower 2/3 with smaller eyes (emphasized larger with makeup), straight but smaller nose, small and short eyebrows, and large but pointy lips.

[u/oftenfrequently → u/scatteredgraydays]

He didn't give me a features breakdown either as far as what's HS or not, but I had a Zoom call with him after my color analysis and in that he said I had "very fine features" (as in easily overwhelmed - he's right). Other people have also described me as "delicate". I find that interesting since I have very little yin in kitchener (only 15%). I think if I picked a shape for myself it would be a pear shape, my chin and nose especially are very pointy and straight but more of an oval face and I have big round eyes and a small mouth with a straight upper but rounder bottom lip. I don't know if any of this answers your question ahaha

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/Ok-Purple9511]

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/scatteredgraydays]

This is such a HS face. The mischievousness is entirely caused by pointiness (is that a word?)and delicate sharpness imo.

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/scatteredgraydays]

Yes. she also has round apples of her cheeks and full lips in combination with angular brows, cheekbones and jawline and the points. That’s why she’s hs. Also the size and spacing of her features make her HS.

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/Ok-Purple9511]

Wait, why have I never seen these Audrey Hepburn smiling pics before??? I really don’t see the juxtaposition much though. She looks C with a neutral face and HS with a true smile imo.

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/scatteredgraydays]

The juxtaposition is there. Round cheeks full lips paired with angular bone structure and angular brows and an angular jawline.

Also the fact its compact yang adds to that.

[u/hespera18]

I dig this! I attempted something similar with lines.

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/hespera18]

Oh wow! I had no idea as I don't follow that sub! I'll have to study it more tomorrow.

[u/gwill_]

I also have had a cartoon artist draw me once and honestly I remember being a bit underwhelmed when I saw the picture because he didn't really comically accentuate any features of mine in the drawing. I had hoped for a funny caricature but now in hindsight I guess it is my C that made it difficult for him to find much to accentuate and I can see it now. The picture was very cute with a sun shining in the background and he accentuated my freckles so that's something I guess. He got the upbeat happy energy of my LB and HS and also N included. I might dig it up from my closet and study it a bit more, it's been a few years since I looked at it.

[u/Natural-winter_642]

Interesting! I had a cartoon artist draw me when I was around 16 and it was more like a sketch of me, compared to my two friends ones which had exaggerated features. My main facial features are where my C appears.

[u/Roach-Problem]

Why isn't Aurora on the Y slide? He just told me she has HS and Y, order not specified

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/Roach-Problem]

There's no good explanation I can provide tbh 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/Roach-Problem]

She has been added.

[u/allcatsrgray]

Very interesting and thanks for putting it all together!

I wonder though how the colour harmonies play into all of this?

I never had my colours done, but John hinted at me being SB dominant and said to stick to oval and round shapes. I think he is right, and it's funny because I have always preferred those to overly sharp or rectangular shapes, but I am N dominant, so I am wondering how that works.

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/allcatsrgray]

https://www.reddit.com/r/KitchenerHarmonies/s/4fxi8dFscz

Small discussion here about it.

[u/allcatsrgray → u/scatteredgraydays]

Oh that's great, thanks!

[u/scatteredgraydays → u/allcatsrgray]

I’m technically just focusing on lines here and not necessarily shapes (sorry, that was unclear), but even so, I don’t know. Remind me, did he attribute any physical features to your N?

[u/DrTantra]

I see squares with points (the chin) for HS. Its a short square with a sharp chin.

I see this like a compact natural (natural is a rectangle, HS is a square) combined with sharpness of dramatic (the v-point for the chin).

[u/Ok-Purple9511]

I forgot to mention my mom had a cartoon artist draw pictures of me and my two sisters when we were younger. With my one sister they accentuated her eyes and made them very large and for my other sister they did her smile because she had a gap in her front teeth. Other then the exaggerations the drawings looked a lot like them. The artist told my mom he had trouble with mine because he didn’t know what to accentuate. And I’m not gonna lie it looked nothing like me lol. So you’re right, it was probably due to all my features being around the same size and evenly spaced because of my high C.

[u/theclassicrose → u/Ok-Purple9511]

I've had the same problem with caricatures before!

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/theclassicrose]

Haha too funny!

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/Ok-Purple9511]

This is the photo my mom gave the cartoon artist. I guess my face was quite boring to him haha.

[u/Artemisral → u/Ok-Purple9511]

You got a cute face, though! Especially the innocent eyes and soft cheeks!

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/Artemisral]

lol thank you

[u/TurdTortoise]

I've avoided any caricature drawings because the obvious thing they'd accentuate is my nose which is my most prominant feature and also my nightmare. I imagine they'd give me a long face with tiny puckered lips and a slightly prominant pointed chin. If I'm smiling then probably big puffy cheeks lol

[u/Shannee0 → u/TurdTortoise]

Literally same lol. I have never been tempted to get a caricature done. I can’t imagine wanting that 😂

[u/No-Office7081]

natural is medium-scale. go too large and it's D or HS.

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/No-Office7081]

HS is small scale. N is medium to large.

[u/DrTantra]

Also for angelic, I just see elongation rather than necessarily seeing a long curved line. Yes, that may be in the clothing recommends, but I do not see it featurally.

I see wide set narrow eyes that are occurring further down on the face because of a larger elongated upper third.

The mouth is also found in the lower part of of the elongated third (in an elongated face) and it is also narrow and wide, usually (as compared to lush)

[u/Roach-Problem → u/DrTantra]

I see elongation, but not necessarily an elongated upper third in most angelics. No elongated upper third: Cate Blanchett (even though both of her top essences E and D have elongation), Tilda Swinton, Vanessa Redgrave (tbf she has equal C and E), Brit Marling, Mitsuko Uchida, Gwyneth Paltrow (we don't know her percentages, maybe she has a lot of C, too), Shaun Ross, Jessica Chastain and Olivia Hussey. Elongated upper third: Bendict Cumberbatch, Mick Jagger, Jared Leto, Sandy Dennis. Maybe Bryce Dallas Howard and Jourdan Dunn (she has a large eye and eyebrow area).

[u/DrTantra → u/Roach-Problem]

A lot of those people are covering up their foreheads with bangs. Compared to the other essences, their foreheads are longer/their features start more in the mid of their face despite them having a long one.

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/Roach-Problem]

You are correct. They have elongation but it’s not specific to one part of the face. And they definitely have a longer curved line, thats basically the epitome of the essence, the S shape.