Styling Your Wardrobe Based on Ellie Jean Royden’s Body and Style, Style Roots System
I really enjoy Ellie Jean Royden’s content. She has clearly put a lot of time into her content and developing her own systems. She has also created a lot of free content. Aside from her tik tok, youtube, pinterest and instagram, her website has 14 free quizes to help you figure out what clothes will bring out the best in your features. She generally steers away from the idea of an ideal female form, towards a system that honours the unique beauty in each person’s individual shape. The system is designed to complement and flatter features, rather than disguise or hide them.
Ellie Jean breaks down style into 8 style roots. These are: Sun, Earth, Stone, Mushroom, Flower, Fire, Mountain and Moon. The idea is that you figure out which 3 roots best represent your style and use that to guide your wardrobe decisions.
It’s important to note that the 8 style roots fit into a broader personal style system. The style roots focus on expressing your personality in the way you dress, which Ellie refers to as your essence. The other elements of her system include the body matrix, which focuses on complementing your figure through the cuts and shapes of the clothes that you wear and your colour season. She also creates content relating to the Kibbie Body Types.
The 8 Style Roots
The eight style roots are: moon, sun, earth, fire, mountain, stone, flower and mushroom.
Moon
The Moon style root is dark and rebellious. You have Moon as one of your style roots if you:
- Enjoy a bit of “bite” in your outfits—think chunky boots, silver chains
- Enjoy gothic-inspired silhouettes
- Prefer a dark, moody color palette (lots of black, charcoal, and deep jewel tones)
- Are drawn to edgy textures like leather, lace, or heavy hardware
In Ellie Jean Royden’s system, this root represents the mystery and the shadow. It’s for those who want their clothes to feel a bit moody, defiant, or alternative. Whether you lean toward Goth, Punk, Witchy, or E-girl aesthetics, the Moon root adds a cool, rebellious soul to your wardrobe.
Sun
The Sun style root is bright and creative. You have Sun as one of your style roots if you:
- Like to play with bold colors
- Gravitate towards quirky patterns
- Enjoy unexpected mixes—think vibrant pops of sunshine yellow alongside playful prints or eclectic textures that feel fresh and full of life.
In Ellie Jean Royden’s system, this root is for those who find a thrill in layering something unconventional or choosing a look that simply makes them smile. It’s a celebration of experimentation in a light-hearted way. Whether you lean toward maximalist vibes, retro flair, or artsy touches, the Sun root keeps your wardrobe optimistic and uniquely you.
Flower
The Flower style root is delicate and pretty. You have Flower as one of your style roots if you:
- Enjoy feminine silhouettes
- Like flowing fabrics
- Are drawn to floral prints
- Love soft, intricate details like ruffles, bows, and lace
- Gravitate towards a lighter, pastel color palette
In Ellie Jean Royden’s system, this root is the epitome of gentleness and femininity. It is for those who want to feel dainty and sweet in their clothes.
Whether your vibe is Girly, Cottagecore, or a Vintage Romantic, the Flower root keeps your style looking soft, approachable, and classic.
Fire
The Fire style root is sensual and luxurious. You have Fire as one of your style roots if you:
- Enjoy glamorous accents
- Are drawn to animal prints
- Like wearing red lip-stick, or high heels
- Lean into silhouettes that celebrate the body (body-con, silk slips, or plunging necklines)
- Love rich, tactile fabrics like silk, velvet, and satin
In Ellie Jean Royden’s system, this root is about confidence and allure. It is for those who want to feel powerful in their womanhood and embrace a “femme fatale” energy. Whether you lean toward French Sensual Chic or Glamour, the Fire root ensures your wardrobe feels expensive and alluring.
Earth
The Earth style root is natural and grounded. You have Earth as one of your style roots if you:
- Prefer raw, organic textures like linen, wool, and suede
- Gravitate towards a palette of forest greens, warm browns, and rust tones
- Enjoy a relaxed, unstudied feel—think chunky knits, layered jewelry, and practical footwear.
In Ellie Jean Royden’s system, this root is for those who feel most at home in nature. It celebrates a “lived-in” aesthetic that is effortless and warm. Whether you love Boho, Fisherman, or Gorpcore, the Earth root keeps your style feeling authentic and connected to the world around you.
Mushroom
The Mushroom style root is elegant and classic. You have Mushroom as one of your style roots if you:
- Stick to a “quiet” palette of beige, cream, navy, and gray
- Value high-quality basics and timeless tailoring over trends
- Enjoy a polished, put-together look—think crisp white shirts, trench coats, and simple loafers.
In Ellie Jean Royden’s system, this root represents sophistication and poise. It’s for those who want to look expensive without being “loud.” Whether your aesthetic is Old Money, Minimalist, or Preppy, the Mushroom root provides the sophisticated foundation for a timeless wardrobe.
Mountain
The Mountain style root is strong and powerful. You have Mountain as one of your style roots if you:
- Love structured silhouettes like sharp blazers, pointed shoes, and crisp collars
- Are drawn to “authoritative” details like strong shoulders or pinstripes
- Enjoy looking professional and formidable—think “Boss Femme” energy.
In Ellie Jean Royden’s system, this root is for those who use fashion as armor or a statement of status. It’s about taking up space and commanding respect. Whether you lean toward Executive Chic, Corporate Luxe, or 80s Power Dressing, the Mountain root ensures you look ready to take on the world.
Stone
The Stone style root is relaxed and urban. You have Stone as one of your style roots if you:
- Prioritize comfort and movement above all else
- Live in denim, sneakers, hoodies, and oversized tees
- Enjoy a practical, “on-the-go” vibe that feels modern and effortless.
In Ellie Jean Royden’s system, this root represents the ease of city life. It’s for those who want a low-maintenance, cool-girl aesthetic that doesn’t feel like they’ve tried too hard. Whether your style is Sporty, Streetwear, or Tomboy, the Stone root keeps your wardrobe functional and laid-back.
I really like her system and I can see how the names and symbolism of the roots could be very useful for those who find it easy to get their head around how “Mountain” represents “strong and powerful”. I just find the name a bit more confusing, as when I first heard of “Mountain” I imagined the clothes someone would wear in the mountains! In Ellie Jean’s style roots system, that aesthetic would be associated with “Earth”.
Because I am lazy (sorry Ellie!) I am going to include their more boring, literal descriptions to name them. Therefore, we have: Dark (Moon), Bright (Sun), Delicate (Flower), Sensual (Fire), Natural (Earth), Relaxed (Stone), Elegant (Mushroom) and Powerful (Mountain).
It may now have become apparent that some of these style roots are more complimentary to one another than others, whereas others are juxtaposed. For example, Sensuality is often associated with Dark aesthetics, whereas Dark and Delicate could be seen to contrast one another.
Traditionally, we have some common core styles that are categorised as: Boho, Preppy, Grunge, Punk, Casual, Street, Artsy, Sporty, Chic, Formal, Vintage, Classic, Old Money, Girly, Minimalist, Romantic, Retro and Tomboy.
So the question is: does conceptualizing style in this Style Roots system make it easier to create order out of chaos, with the infinite ways you can style your wardrobe?
In a way, the style roots can afford some flexibility in your outfit choices, as your style is a combination of three different roots.
So how do fashion styles fit into the 8 Style Roots system?
We can start to break down different styles and fashion subcultures into the different roots as follows:
- Dark and rebelious (Moon): Goth, Punk, Witchy and E-girl.
- Bright and experimental (Sun): Maximalist, Retro, Vintage and Arty.
- Delicate and pretty (Flower): Vintage, Girly, Cottagecore and Boho with a monochrome white or light palette.
- Sensual (Fire): Romantic, Femme Fatale, French Sensual Chic.
- Natural (Earth): Boho, Fisherman.
- Elegant (Mushroom): Preppy, Minimalist, Old Money and Old Hollywood.
- Powerful (Mountain): Executive Chic, Boss Femme, Corporate Luxe, 80s.
- Relaxed (Stone): Tomboy, Casual, Street, Sporty.
However, there are three small nuances to keep in mind regarding how these styles overlap:
1. The “Boho” Nuance (Earth vs. Flower)
Boho can be both Earth and Flower. In Ellie Jean’s system:
- Earth is the “Heavy” Boho: Fringes, suede, browns, and organic textures.
- Flower is the “Light” Boho: Floral prints, lace, and flowing white/pastel fabrics (often called “Cottagecore” or “Soft Boho”).
2. The “Vintage” Nuance (Sun vs. Flower vs. Mushroom)
“Vintage” is a broad term, and Ellie Jean usually splits it based on the vibe:
- Sun: 1960s/70s bright colors, mod prints, and “Arty” vintage.
- Flower: 1940s/50s tea dresses and delicate silhouettes.
- Mushroom: 1950s/60s “Grace Kelly” style—simple, tailored, and timeless.
3. The “Romantic” Nuance (Fire vs. Flower)
This is the most common point of confusion for beginners:
- Flower is “Girly Romantic”: Ruffles, light pinks, and modest, dainty details.
- Fire is “Sensual Romantic”: Body-skimming silk, red roses, and date-night vibes.
Combining 3 Roots to Find Your Style
Identifiying which 3 roots resonate with you is just the first step. You can find your own unique personal style by combining them to create your personal “Style Recipe.”
Ellie Jean prescibes a combination of three roots to hit the sweet spot for expressing your personality in your individual style.
Your primary root acts as the “base” of your look, while the second and third roots act as “seasoning” to add depth and nuance. For example, if you love the Mushroom root for its elegance but also feel a pull toward Sun, you might style a classic beige trench coat (Mushroom) with a bright, quirky patterned scarf (Sun). Adding a third root, like Stone, might mean finishing the look with a pair of clean, white leather sneakers for comfort.
| Combination | Vibe / Archetype |
By identifying your three roots, you can stop feeling overwhelmed by every new trend and start intentionally curating a wardrobe that feels like a true reflection of you. It creates a “filter” for your shopping: if an item is outside of all 3 of your style roots, it probably doesn’t belong in your forever wardrobe!
Ellie Jean’s Book
To Learn more about Ellie Jean Royden’s 8 Style Roots and her Body and Style system, she has a book titled “How to Dress Your Best”, which is available from Amazon.
Her book contains a detailed explanation of her Style Roots System, as well as her Body Matrix system.
You can see more sample pages of her book on Amazon.
Ellie Jean Royden Body and Style Worksheets
Core Style Elements List | Worksheet
Here you can access her free worksheet to help guide you towards the key elements of your style. This worksheet is designed to help you narrow down from the list of elements to curate your wardrobe.
For More Ellie Jean Royden Qizzes and Worksheets
You can visit the “Freebies” section of her website here.
Finding your personal style doesn’t have to feel like a guessing game. Whether you are a “Mushroom” looking for that perfect timeless blazer or a “Sun” searching for your next bold statement piece, Ellie Jean Royden’s Style Roots system offers a practical way to filter out the noise of fast fashion. By narrowing down your essence to three core roots, you can build a wardrobe that feels intentional, cohesive, and—most importantly—like you.
I hope this breakdown of the 8 roots (and my slightly more “literal” names for them!) helps you start curating a closet you truly love. If you’re still feeling stuck, I highly recommend checking out Ellie’s quizzes or grabbing her book to dive deeper into your own Body Matrix and color season. Happy styling!
