top of page
Writer's pictureEmma Ashton

The Fairytale System: Basics

Updated: May 9, 2021

Hello there! Welcome to The Fairytale System, my personal system that allows you to realize your style! This is a simple introduction to each essence, which will all be explored further in future posts!


This system is for those who...

- Feel their wardrobe isn't cohesive

- Feel their wardrobe doesn't reflect them

- Want to give a new style a try


The Fairytale System has 8 archetypes, with 4 sub-types within each, for a total of 32 types to inspire you!


Each archetype is based upon a fairytale trope, such as those you would see in Disney movies. The 8 archetypes are...

- Princesses (Girlish)

- Princes (Boyish)

- Children (Youthful)

- Heroes (Masculine)

- Queens (Regal)

- Witches (Mysterious)

- Fairies (Playful)

- Spirits (Ethereal)


The four sub-types are

- Dark (Edgy)

- Light (Elegant)

- Earthy (Natural)

- Bright (Exuberant)

 

Princesses (Girlish)

The princess is an adaptation of the "ingenue" and "romantic" style essences as introduced by John Kitchener.

The princess is youthful, but decidedly feminine.


The Vampire Princess

Girlish + Edgy

Natural habitat: An abandoned castle

Fairytale example: The Swan Princess


The Damsel

Girlish + Elegant

Natural habitat: A beautiful palace

Fairytale example: Rapunzel


The Maiden

Girlish + Natural

Natural habitat: A flower garden

Fairytale example: Sleeping Beauty


The Optimist

Girlish + Exuberant

Natural habitat: A palace art gallery

Fairytale example: Cinderella


 

Princes (Boyish)

The prince is an adaptation of the "gamine" style essence as introduced by David Kibbe.

The prince is youthful, but decidedly masculine.


The Vampire Prince

Boyish + Edgy

Natural habitat: An underground tunnel

Fairytale example: Jack and the Beanstalk


The Prince Charming

Boyish + Elegant

Natural habitat: A posh prep school

Fairytale example: I mean...any Prince Charming


The Lost Prince

Boyish + Natural

Natural habitat: A hidden pathway through the woods

Fairytale example: Kai (The Snow Queen)


The Artist

Boyish + Exuberant

Natural habitat: A modern art gallery

Fairytale example: The Frog Prince


 

Children (Youthful)

The child is an adaptation of the "gamine" AND "ingenue" style essence as introduced by David Kibbe and John Kitchener.

The child is youthful, and uses both masculine and feminine aspects.


The Lost Child

Youthful + Edgy

Natural habitat: A spooky forest

Fairytale example: Hansel & Gretel


The Innocent

Youthful + Elegant

Natural habitat: A dollhouse

Fairytale example: (Wendy Darling) Peter Pan


The Wild Child

Youthful + Natural

Natural habitat: A playground

Fairytale example: Peter Pan


The Dreamer

Youthful + Exuberant

Natural habitat: A candy store

Fairytale example: Alice in Wonderland


 

Heroes (Masculine)

The Hero is an adaptation of the "dramatic" style essence as introduced by David Kibbe.

She is masculine and confident.


The Rebel

Masculine + Edgy

Natural habitat: Riding a motorcycle

Fairytale example: Robin Hood


The Knight

Masculine + Elegant

Natural habitat: Wall Street

Fairytale example: Lancelot


The Wanderer

Masculine + Natural

Natural habitat: An off-road path through the forest

Fairytale Example: The Huntsman


The Adventurer

Masculine + Exuberant

Natural habitat: A graffiti mural

Fairytale example: Aladdin


 

Queens (Regal)

The Queen is an adaptation of the "dramatic" and "romantic" style essences as introduced by David Kibbe.

She is feminine and sophisticated.


The Evil Queen

Regal + Edgy

Natural habitat: A gothic castle

Fairytale example: Evil Queen (Snow White)


The Martyr

Regal + Elegant

Natural habitat: The halls of a palace

Fairytale example: Every princesses' dead, perfect mother


Mother Nature

Regal + Natural

Natural habitat: A romantic garden

Fairytale example: Mother Nature


The Empress

Regal + Exuberant

Natural habitat: A mystical kingdom

Fairytale example: The Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland)

 

Witches (Mysterious)

The Witch is an adaptation of the "dramatic" and "ethereal" style essences as introduced by David Kibbe and John Kitchener.

The witch has a mysterious air, and tends to lean more feminine. She can be modest or sensual.


The Sorceress

Mysterious + Edgy

Natural habitat: A gothic manor

Fairytale example: Mother Gothel (Rapunzel)


The Enchantress

Mysterious + Elegant

Natural habitat: A crystal shop

Fairytale example: The Enchantress (Beauty and the Beast)


The Wise Woman

Mysterious + Natural

Natural habitat: A classic witch's cottage

Fairytale example: The Witch (Hansel & Gretel)


The Wizard

Mysterious + Exuberant

Natural habitat: A colorful cottage

Fairytale example: Merlin


 

Fairies (Playful)

The Fairy is an adaptation of the "gamine", "ingenue", and "ethereal" style essences as introduced by David Kibbe and John Kitchener.

The fairy is primarily playful, and she can be both feminine and masculine. She also has an ethereal aspect which differentiates her from the child.


The Sprite

Playful + Edgy

Natural habitat: A rock concert

Fairytale example: Rusalkas


The Fairy Godmother

Playful + Elegant

Natural habitat: An antique store

Fairytale example: The Fairy Godmother (Cinderella)


The Flower Fairy

Playful + Natural

Natural habitat: An overgrown flower garden

Fairytale example: Titania (A Midsummer Night's Dream)


The Pixie

Playful + Exuberant

Natural habitat: A colors festival

Fairytale example: Tinkerbell (Peter Pan)


 

Spirits (Ethereal)

The Spirit is an adaptation of the "ethereal" and "romantic" style essences as introduced by David Kibbe and John Kitchener.

The spirit is also ethereal, but she is more sensual than youthful.


The Ghost

Ethereal + Edgy

Natural habitat: A haunted manor

Fairytale example: The Woman in Black


The Angel

Ethereal + Elegant

Natural habitat: Ummm...heaven?

Fairytale example: The Angel


The Dryad

Ethereal + Natural

Natural habitat: A misty forest

Fairytale example: Eurydice


The Nymph

Ethereal + Exuberant

Natural habitat: A misty lake

Fairytale example: Echo


Thanks to everyone who supports this blog! I appreciate you and your fantastical self.

7,536 views4 comments

Recent Posts

See All

The Queen

The Prince

The Princess

4 Comments


Donna R. Rowe
Donna R. Rowe
Oct 11, 2023

If you're Natural Romantic Gamine in Kitchener's system, where would you fit in? While Natural is a subtype, there doesn't seem to be a main type for either Kibbe's or Kitchener's Natural. (Natural is my dominant type in Kitchener's essences). I'm a Soft Gamine, i.e. Romantic Gamine, in Kibbe's system.

Like

melissa.a.n
Apr 07, 2022

This is wonderful. You have done a brilliant job of capturing such a range of essences. Thank you x

Like

Kyla
Kyla
Mar 12, 2021

I feel oddly drawn to the nymph but also really like the vampire princes, evil queen, and enchantress... not sure what that means yet

Like

nick (she/her)
nick (she/her)
Mar 07, 2021

I think I'm a mix of The Sprite and The Sorceress (maybe a little bit of Vampire Princess too). I really appreciate how much work you put into this!! It is so cool :)

Like
Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page