Monica Colby is a character from the TV series Dynasty, which follows the lives of the fabulously wealthy Carrington and Colby clans. As a Colby, she is family oriented and has a very close bond with her brother. Monica is first introduced as the best friend since high school of Fallon Carrington and like Fallon, she is not only a socialite but the prestigious business owner of Club Colby and Co-Owner of Broken Glass Records. She is loyal, supportive, blunt, and good-natured to those around her from family and business to friends and loved ones.
To define her personality type and through this, we will be able to decode her own set of core emotions, fears, and beliefs that not only drive her actions but also her looks- I’ll be using the enneagram of personality test. The Enneagram is a system of personality typing that describes patterns in how people interpret the world and manage their emotions. The Enneagram describes nine different personality types and maps each of these types on a nine-pointed diagram which helps to illustrate how the types relate to one another.
Understanding a person’s Enneagram type helps us to see why they behave the way they do. Each Enneagram type has a set of core beliefs that will motivate them to take particular actions and guide them to make certain decisions.
Fashion is a tangible depiction of identity, concepts, and belief systems and displays the internal and external, so with an understanding of her personality and values, I’ll apply this to her wardrobe and explain how her looks convey her worldview and perspectives on experiences, which allow her to adapt and thrive in situations.
Monica is Enneagram 6w5 : The Six with a Five-Wing which can be summarized by 5 main basic points of character:
Try to think critically and work hard.
Seek help and advice.
Concern about potential instability
The tendency to externalize one’s emotions
Use your reasoning and analysis skills.
The Basic Desire of this personality type is that they seek out security but have a very logical approach, They value stability and hone relationships to be close-knit, which they tend to show by protecting themselves and those they are close to. Monica shows this time and time again as goes to great lengths to protect and family and also takes part in many of Fallon’s schemes.
Monica is a character foil to Fallon as she is from a Nouveau Riche background and relied on scholarships to attend the expensive school where they first became friends and appears more grounded and snarky towards Fallon’s elitist and entitled tendencies. She later on admits in the finale that she herself is materialistic but has a very different view on wealth than Fallon which is evident in her fashion.
Though at first glance, their style may seem to be very similar, the girls dress quite differently the same way they come from different backgrounds and hold distinct value systems.
The undertones of Fallon’s looks are very business savvy- projecting an image of a powerful woman as she has a very brash and attention-drawing look that aligns with her motives. Monica’s personal style is also bold but carries a very different undertone that aligns with her nature and goals. Fallon’s looks often assert wealth with very in-your-face branding and hardware while Monica’s looks are more understated, yet still very luxurious. The Colby’s wear high-end designer looks that are more avant-garde. This visually conveys a social spectrum of where they stand in terms of wealth, views, and values.
Monica wears very vibrant, sharp, and feminine pieces that are always very polished and have an underlying sophistication.
An example of an outfit that encapsulates her style is in 03×08 where Monica is wearing a Richard Quinn “Floral Velvet Turtleneck Top” a Jeffrey skirt, topped off with a Raina “Eternity Leather Belt”, Lulu Frost “Lexy Rainbow Drop Earrings”, Elizabeth and James “Cynnie Quilted Crossbody Bag, and YSL “Teddy Pumps.
She has an elegant nature that is composed, calm, and gracious yet is very fun, sweet, and open. This is depicted by how her outfits will show a subtle amount of skin. She often will sport mini skirts or opt for high peekaboo slits that flatter her legs. Monica can also often be seen in very pieces made of luxurious fabrics such as tweed blazers and cashmere coats. Though she has a soft beautiful look and nature, this does not mean that she is weak and cannot stand her own, she solves problems practically and efficiently.
For example, Monica opens her own club and puts forward her efforts into building a business. She is very evolved in how her club functions and pays great attention to the details in order to make her vision a reality. This is part of her strengths as an Enneagram 6w5 she has the ability to work independently, a passion for pursuing, and specifics and details.
This is mirrored in her looks, she often wears very intricate patterns featuring geometrics consisting of many lines overall or in concentrated amounts. She also wears softer organic repeated patterns such as florals or animal prints. She has many looks high in detail as this is a huge part of her personality that shapes not only her wardrobe but also her world. She also wears structural garments where the foundation of her look is formed by a statement piece from which the rest of the look is crafted. For instance the Retrofete “Sediah Dress for an extreme example and for subtle this velvet long sleeve bodysuit by Faith Connexion. Both are accessorized in balance with the number of staples vs statements made to create a cohesive look.
Monica creates balance through this and will also do so by often mixing patterns and prints with others, rather than clashing she combines, elevating the concept of the look into one that is more elaborate and complex, much like her demeanour like this look in 02×20 where she can be seen in a Veronica Beard “Mena Gathered Floral Puff-Sleeve Top” paired with a Beatrice B “Star Print Pleated Skirt” and Angela Mitchell “Itael” topped off with classic hoops and a belt to unify the look. In opposition to this styling technique, she will often wear many monochromatic outfits as well where this detail-oriented personality is found in the finer details.
Even in hard times, Monica’s views of the world remain the same and she becomes highly analytical. She is willing to help Jeff when he is trying to marry Fallon for his plan to bring down Blake. She is able to pretend to Fallon that they are still friends in an effort to enact the plan which shows her true feelings at the time that she wants to destroy the Carringtons for what they did to her father and family. Here she is able to create an image that caters to this through her clothing, hence a warm overall demeanor to conceal her withdrawn emotions towards her old friend whom he stood by time and time again.
She examines the world around her and remains loyal because type 6s generally prefer to build support networks through alliances with others, and type 5s are extremely self-reliant. They minimize their needs and take refuge in their inner worlds- meaning they are not dependent on these relationships but have held them very close to their heart.
This personality type defends themselves by projecting their own feelings onto others, which can often enhance their distrust of the world, but bring underlying factors often overlooked to the surface. She makes herself more available to those who are close and will appear more cold or disconnected to those who cross her. Monica has a wing 5 as she is very reserved and introverted. She seems more outwardly calm and uses her image as a shield in times when she needs to reflect. Her looks are more welcoming and much more soft in times when she reconnects with those that are an ally in her worldview which relies on composure and logic so inconsistency or rejection will cause her to turn to using clothing as a symbolic boundary between herself and others as she utilizes clothing as an identification tool.
She denotes power socially, emotionally, and strategically with her style as her personality type is one that tends to be highly intellectual, hard-working, and cautious in their behavior. They are independent, but are very loyal to those they support, usually being more serious and focused than others.
Monica is serious about business and still has a serious demeanor at parties as she understands that her image, business, and personal life are intertwined. She will often wear glamorous looks with golds, and sequins, and draped with jewelry. Her gowns often have an old Hollywood type look and her mini dresses are very vigorous making her look perfect for any party and potential business opportunity within the music industry. Flam fashion and music often go hand in hand, making her image one that works within this environment.
Monica’s sartorial style is one that is both functional and expressive that is eye-catching, classy, and modern. Her personality type is motivated by the search for clarity and safety through the process and pursuit of knowledge acquisition, her wardrobe provides a state of being that makes her open to evolving within her businesses and/or relationships while forming a state of security and composure that is glamorous, outspoken, and intellectual just as Monica is.
SOURCES: Enneagram 6W5- https://www.crystalknows.com/enneagram/type-6-wing-5 Enneagram Defintion and Personality Test- https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test Monica Colby Wiki- https://dynastytv.fandom.com/wiki/Monica_Colby TV and Enneagram- https://tvandenneagram.tumblr.com/post/629272347025735681/dynasty-2017-monica-colby-type-6w5
