Yes, you have really evolved this technique nicely. The toned/softened one places the model much nicer in the background. Though this could very well become your "trademark" technique, there is also the real possibility you will look at these years from now and scramble to find the RAW archives. This is the second one you've shown that is really a candadate for color. Not sure if it would look best with deep, vibrant color. Or muted desaturation. It is exactly this sort of evolving presentation that shows why postwork is not something to be sneered at.