I'm sorry to be so late to this thread but I definitely see what others do - and I think it's good to have narrowed down a sense of style this way, even if it's not quite what you expected. Pinterest is a huge visual help for me and has been very eye-opening this way.

FWIW, Sveta is a Soft Dramatic in the Kibbe categories. I was going to suggest that as another option as well...you might want to read both categories to see. There is a self-test on the site, too. http://seasonalcolor.yuku.com/.....NYRLaVh538

Wow, Beth Ann, your Pinterest board seems to resonate with a whole host of us. What is really fascinating me, however, is all the different interpretations that have been presented here. It seems that most of us bring a lot of ourselves to the interpretation, which, of course, makes sense. It makes me wonder if part of the appeal of your board is the myriad ways in which it can be interpreted by different people.

Maybe that is part of the difficulty when we try to translate a "style" into an actual wardrobe that fits our situation and body. That picture of Kate Hepburn might inspire both of us, but our interpretations could be radically different. So much is in the eye of the beholder.

Thanks, Una, for weighing in. I'm a person who lives in sound and words (part of being a musician). The pinterest boards, and the forum, helps me "see" and work in more visually creative ways. I enjoy your posts very much. You have a distinct sense of your style -- what works for you.

Suz: Thanks for the link. I'll do some more exploring. My famly would definitely say "dramatic!"

Gaylene: You make a good point. I actually think people viewing my board through their own lens is exactly what's best for me. I don't like rules or "boxes," but creativity can be its own curse --- and you can end of with a closet in which the items don't "play well together" and you end up looking like a hot mess!

In the new year, once we're all done recovering from the holidays, perhaps we should have a "Hepburn" or "Classics of Hollywood" challenge. It would be amazing to see all the interpretations!

What I know so far:

1. Classic seems to be the jumping off point for me. Perhaps it's time to appreciate its force as a "canvas" for my look. Perhaps I need to leave some more "white space," in my look, even though I have no intention of becoming minimalist.

2. Form and Flow, Energy with Ease has been my style mantra this year. This means that I want stretch or a little room in more of my clothes --- think of Kate Hepburn's trousers and blouse, Audrey Hepburn's full skirts in Roman Holiday. I also am craving jackets that are a little longer.

3. I need to invest in better tailoring, and, for less trendy garments, more quality.

4. I have no hope of being edgy, I'm not as "Georgia O'Keefe" arty as I thought. No need to try!

5. Color, texture and movement/drape of fabric are hugely enjoyable to me.

And that's just the short list!

Hi again Beth Ann --

You said:

>Claire/Vix: You are both observant in noticing that I have an interest in dramatic looks and I LOVE the draping and texture of fabrics, in addition to color. I do have the frame and temperament to pull it off, but my environment? Well, not so much. Let's put it this way -- I'm the only one with red jeans!

and that your family would definitely say you're dramatic.

As I said, I'm not particularly into the Kibbe typing because I'm generally trying to dress in ways that hit "mindful of body type and coloring + appropriate enough to setting + some relationship to personality + innately appealing" and that's enough to keep in play!

But I think Kibbe -- and the many other style typing gurus out there -- can provide some useful aha moments such as:

* why someone who feels best in more natural/sporty looks might want to avoid shiny and stick to matte clothing/accessories even in dress-up situations

* why a dramatic type needs a little boldness/sparkle/shine even at a casual picnic

Given what you mentioned about your environment, I went back through your inspiration photos and chose some of ones that (IMO, anyway!) are most casual and are farthest away from the prep/classic vibe.

The common threads:

* they all incorporate some softness and non-linearity -- there's structure in at least one element, but overall there's flow and drape

* the shape of the body is fairly defined and/or skin shows (the pale rose-brown shirt, the deep V of the all-cream outfit...both are also sheer enough that the outline of the body will show in sun)

* straightforward silhouettes are enlivened by a certain "moth to the flame" -- be it color, texture and/or a certain slinkiness

Casual remains the bane of my existence as most examples in the genre make me feel disconnected to my body shape and/or personality -- though I finally have some examples that feel "right enough" to me -- so it will be fun to watch you explore!

Thanks, Vix, for coming back to this thread. I almost missed your thoughtful comments because of some of the other helpful threads running today. A couple of things stand out to me:

1. One element of structure in each outfit, but more flow and drape. This works with my the phrase I've been using this year: Form with flow / Energy with Ease.

2. I don't know that I'm drawn to sheerer textures because they reveal the body as much as the fact that they move as I do, and I am seldom still. I'm also run warm, so lighter layering is interesting, flattering to my "more than a model" figure, and more comfortable.

3. I do always want a little "spark" if not sparkle --- even when I'm riding my bike! I'm going to a college basketball game next week, which I'll enjoy, even though I prefer concert or being active myself. Kansas Univ. has great colors: scarlet and cobalt. I recently purchased a simple blue pullover --- with a subtle silver lurex stripe. Not over the top, no big earrings, just a little sparkle. Cause that's how I roll!

Thanks so much for your thoughtful input. I'll be processing this thread for awhile, I'm sure!