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My style definition - thank you, Denise!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

You know how many YLF members defining their style and fashion personas and how much fun they have with this. MaryK Business Bombshell, Natalie Demure Bombshell, Una and Rae UWP...the list goes on.
Well I always felt slightly impaired reading these posts because I could not articulate my style if my life depended on it. At first I thought that I have no style to speak of and that`s why I cannot define it. However you guys are telling me that you like my style and even Angie mentioned that I am well honed in my style... Hmm, how can you be well honed in something you cannot even define...<br /> I tried to follow Angie`s posts and different exercises from the forum but nothing worked for me...until today!
Denise pointed me to this link in my yesterday WIW post:
http://seasonalcolor.yuku.com/.....AMPLE-TEST
and penny dropped instantly! I did the test and discovered that I am Soft Dramatic - and it makes perfect sense. It explains why I had so many self-image problems when I was a teenager and in my 20s: I wanted to be somebody I was not. In our culture a girl was supposed to be delicate and feminine and I was neither. I felt angular, huge and unattractive and you can only imagine how much damage it did to my self-esteem.
Now reading through this article everything just clicked into place: my body and facial type is a complete opposite of delicate and feminine and it is OK. It is predominantly dramatic with some softness through my lower body and some facial features (eyes and lips). This is exactly describes the style I am aspired to: dramatic in cut and color but with some softer elements thrown in, statement jewelery, structure and movement in the same time. It also explains why I look better in a short textured hairstyle when there is not much hair at and below my cheekbones.
In the article they nickname this style Diva Chic. I am not sure if this describes my style well but it is a start.
Here are some of the latest outfits I felt really fab in: they all have some drama about them (high contrast in forms or colors, sleek lines, architectural details, statement accessories...)but they are softened out with textures or drape or some fluidity of the items.
That also explains why I never feel good in t-shirts and jeans alone and why it is so hard for me to wear casual clothes - not enough drama for me!
Now I have something to build on and it is so exciting!
Thank you for listening to my epiphany: do you think it makes sense. I would appreciate any thoughts you have - and thank you Denise!

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74 replies

Latest reply was from Sveta

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sveta, "Diva Chic" sounds like a PERFECT encapsulation of your beautiful and so-unique style. And these outfits are great examples. You look wonderful and we are all the happy beneficiaries.

Running off to do the test!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

This is so awesome!! I must do these exercises myself. Just from a quick glance over it is really making sense to me. SO much more than preppy or rocker, etc.
I can feel the epiphany coming through your post and I love it!

Anonymous

Soft Dramatic is you to a T! Your features are very full and sensuous and your long legs enable you to wear volume and draping fabrics like nobody's business. There is a definite softness to you--not a brittle hardness. Now that you are all grown up I hope you can appreciate the unconventional beauty you posess. It's so hard to be a teen and not fit into the mold that everyone is going for. I'd rather bloom late that early though, wouldn't you? I was going through old pictures yesterday and I think I might look better now than when I was young! Well I understand my body and style better now, anyway, lol!

I forgot to click on the link in your earlier post, but I'm following Suz there now.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

WOW, yes, this is PERFECT for you (look, my e key is working! hooray!) I've gotta go read that article now because I feel exactly the same! These outfits are so, so incredibly perfect and I love your definition of your style...I totally see it and agree. What a great realization! Now you can hone it down and not keep wondering (like I tend to do) why you feel fab in some things but not others. I also have issues with casual wear, so I'm curious to read the article. (-:

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Suz and Mo, I hope you have fun with the test. I read all links and while I don`t agree with some clothing recommendations and limitations I really can relate to the general idea. You know, like you have all these pieces of the puzzle floating in front of you and suddenly they all come together.<br /> Claire, I feel exactly the same: I have never felt that great in my body in my 20s as I feel now in my 40s. Sure I did not have wrinkles and dark eye circles then but I also did not have that confidence and appreciation I have for my body now. It is like suddenly you see everything differently: not trying to be somebody else but being yourself.<br /> As for the blooming rather later than earlier - well, we do not have this choice anymore, don`t we but seriously I think you are right. It is like an old tale: do you prefer a happy youth or happy old age - and wise men select the old age...

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Oh my goodness Sveta - this makes PERFECT sense! Diva Chic...it's you. I think we're all heading off now to read the link and do the test. This is so exciting for you - I was feeling exactly the same way last week and became kind of disheartened by my lack of a definition. Soft dramatic...pure genius!

Meredith1953

Veteran

My word! You look like a goddess in all of these pictures!

rae

(website)

Veteran

How interesting that the style descriptor derives from facial features. I need to go read this article immediately.

I think Soft Dramatic is perfect for you - as you said, better than Diva Chic. I just don't see you as a "diva," and that term is often used in a negative way. But dramatic? Yes, you bring wonderful angles and drama to your outfits!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Jenava, yay for working e key - my question mark is not working either so all my questions are missing it
I think you definitely have the dramatic flare about you too and I hope the article will be useful. High five on the casual wear
You know what I like the best about this - that fashion allows you to understand yourself better - inside and out!

Anonymous

Ok, that is a great test, but I do not feel like I can answer the questions objectively. When I was looking at pictures yesterday, I came across one where I had a very short hair 'do and it was all brushed away from my face. I couldn't believe how long and narrow my face looked! I never noticed when looking in the mirror. (It has changed since I've gotton older--I had a lot more flesh on it when I was young). I would have to have a dozen other faces to compare myself to to be able to determine the size of my eyes and the width of my lips. Maybe I need to make a collage or something!

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Sveta, how exciting! The pictures you've selected here definitely resonate with your analysis. Ever since I first stumbled on to YLF, I have admired your flair for dramatic and feminine styles. It's nice to be able to articulate something, isn't it?

I just took the test after reading your enthusiastic post here and I believe my results show me to be "Theatrical Romantic," which strikes me as funny, because Angie has used both of those words to describe some of my outfits. I wouldn't have used those words initially, but I'm starting to feel there's something to them

DeclawedJaguar

Veteran

That must be a great feeling, Sveta! Since discovering YLF, I've been avidly following your posts, precisely because you *do* have a style, one that's unmistakable and palate-cleansing. You're a drama queen, in a good way.

P.S. As a fellow Eastern European (Russian, to be precise), I know exactly what you mean about not fitting into the stereotypical feminine beauty criteria. The results of this test are uncannily apt in everything, from hair style to handbag and jewelry recommendations. According to the test, I'm a Dramatic Classic.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Ooohhhh...I just did the test and I'm Soft Classic...interesting...

rae

(website)

Veteran

I just went back and did this test, coming out with Dramatic Classic. Now we know there won't be an UWP answer there, but I think that is a very good assessment based on body type and facial type. Thanks for posting this!

DeclawedJaguar

Veteran

Claire, how about having one of YLFers answer the questions for you? Do you think it'll be easier for somebody else to describe your features objectively?

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Shannon, I hope it will give you a good start too - good luck!
Rae, I think I have the same feeling for Diva...don<code>t mind Chic though Facial features as a part of the equation was really interesting for me too and makes perfect sense because one</code>s face plays such an important role in one`s style.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Well that was kind of annoying - There is no classification for me! I had 9 D answers and 4 C answers, with the leftovers being 2 B's and 1 possible A , maybe a B (for the nose).
Ah well, I am an enigma or enigMo ha ha.

DeclawedJaguar

Veteran

High five, fellow Dramatic Classic Rae!

rae

(website)

Veteran

DeclawedJaguar, I just saw yours - Very interesting because my dad is pure Lithuanian (Lithuania was in and out of the USSR). That part of the world must like drama, even if it is not they "pretty" kind. I used to think I was "ugly" since I was not "pretty" in the very soft sense and looked absurd in frilly things. Wish I'd taken this test at age 5!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Claire, which questions you were not able to answer. I felt the same way when i read them the first time but then I thought them through, looked at their image gallery and it helped. As DJ said we can help you out - this will be fun.
Amy, Theatrical Romantic fits you so well down t your love of vintage and retro!
DJ, how cool that you are Russian too! Well I am from Ukraine but Russian is my language. We grew in the same culture after all. Dramatic Classic...maybe it is our Russian love for the drama
Keep going girls, it is fun! Where is Denise, she should see what she has started!

DeclawedJaguar

Veteran

Rae, how curious! There's definitely lots of drama in our genes .

Diana

Veteran

Mo - I also got a result with no classification. I got 4 Bs, 4 Cs, 5 Ds, and 3 Es. Heh, I guess I'm just confused, which sort of goes with Whimsical and Eclectic, right?

Sveta - Soft Dramatic is a perfect descriptor for you! I'm not so sure about the Diva bit, just because Diva makes me think Bombshell.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Mo, I think it puts you in Soft Classic where Soft is stronger than Classic. I know it does not fit precisely but I think it fits.
Rae, I would never guessed you have Lithuanian ancestry but you definitely have drama Or how I can relate to not being a pretty kind! I think I was OK at age 5 but I could have used it at age 14

Jem

Veteran

I'm so happy for you that you could figure it out! I've tried that test before but had a hard time answering the questions, too. I even asked for the Kibbe book for Christmas. I haven't started reading it yet, though. I think yours suits you perfectly from what I can see. I'm really excited for you to have figured it out!!

Anonymous

Thanks Sveta, with hubby's help (feel free to correct me DJ or anyone else), we came up with all C's save for a lone, E, B and A. Also I could use some intrepretation. I wonder if the test has been translated from another language. What are "narrow" eyes? Narrow from top to bottom or side to side? What is "short" flesh on the upper arms and thighs?

I couldn't find an image gallery or any links on that page. Is there a main website for this somewhere?

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Claire, here is their image gallery:
http://seasonalcolor.yuku.com/.....y-Collages
It is mostly facial features though.
I think narrow means from top to bottom - kind of opposite to round. I think you can call Japanese or Chinese eyes the extreme of narrow.
Short flesh may mean it is not hanging too much

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Oh, my brain hurts now. I can see why I'm not classified. I look more like Sarah Jessica Parker meets Alanis Morissette. :/
That's okay - I was so happy that you found your proper description!

Anonymous

Thank you Sveta, I did try to troll around that site a bit but Greg and Angie have me SO SPOILED for the user-friendliness here!!! Thank you for the new link!

Anonymous

I found it, thank you. Unless anyone can see otherwise, I guess I'm a middle of the road classic. Which is fine, but I was hoping for some cool descriptors! I'm glad it all clicked for you Sveta. I loved looking at ALL the different collages. Such an interesting topic! I will have to study more tomorrow. Thank you so much for sharing all of this with us!

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