You’re wearing all the soft fabrications you’ve always loved.
When you started Dressing Your Truth, did you quickly bag up your structured blazers (aka straightjackets), stiff pants, scratchy sweaters, and revel in the comfort of your newly discovered Type 2 wardrobe?
When a Type 2 woman starts dressing her truth, it’s so freeing to settle into the plush comfort she has longed for but perhaps hasn’t let herself enjoy.
One of our main Type 2 keywords in Dressing Your Truth is “flowing,” but have you ever felt a little lost in all the fluid, flowing lines?
What’s the right balance?
I like to use the phrase “Slow the Flow” to help me create the right balance of flow in my outfits. At first it might sound contrary to what you’ve learned about Type 2 clothing, but remember: moderation in all things!
Too much flow in an outfit can make you feel heavy, drab, or dragged down. The right amount will make you feel beautiful, romantic, comfortable, and inviting.
When determining what amount of flow is right for you consider the following tips:
1. Choose an area to focus the flow.
Usually on top or bottom. Make sure you have a fitted item to balance the flow. Fitted doesn’t mean skin-tight or uncomfortable. Fitted means the garment lies closer to the body; it will still feel comfortable on your body!
2. Take a step back and look at the outfit.
Use a full-body mirror (or better yet, take a selfie on your camera) and assess the final look. Does the flow appear balanced? Or do you seem lost in it? Seeing the outfit in the mirror or in a photo can offer a better perspective.
3. How do you feel in the final outfit?
Do you feel heavy and weighed down? Or “at ease,” comfortable and settled? If you feel heavy or weighed down consider taking the level of flow down a notch.
Pay attention to how you feel. We are good at tuning in to our feelings — don’t discount them. Your feelings can tell you more than the mirror can!
Let’s take a look so you can see these steps in action…
In this first outfit I’m wearing too much flow!
You can see the design lines in the cardigan, maxi skirt, and the longer necklace. There’s no stop to the flow in this combination and I felt a little lost in this outfit.
The cardigan and skirt drip down my body, offering no support or slimming effect. It feels messy and weighed down.
To create the right balance, choose a focused point of flow and then pair it with more fitted items.
Here’s my second outfit:
Before 
After
This time I focused the flow to just one area.
It’s on the bottom with the maxi skirt — I switched out the flowing cardigan for a more fitted one.
I also shortened the necklace to mid-chest so it wasn’t dragging down into my belly. I felt more grounded in this outfit.
I really enjoyed the skirt’s comfortable, flowing lines rather than feeling dragged down by it like I did in the first outfit.
And here’s my last outfit:
Before 
After
This time I focused the flow on the top with the flowing cardigan.
I switched out the maxi skirt for some slim-fitting colored jeans.
I kept the necklace shorter in this outfit as well (I usually choose to wear my necklaces no longer than just below the bust line). The flowing lines in this cardigan add beautiful detail to my outfit.
When paired with the maxi skirt, this cardigan felt messy and “in the way.” When paired with fitted pants I can fully appreciate it!
Flow is created by more than skirts and cardigans.
Our hair can add a touch of flow, as well as jewelry and accessories. Scarves are great to add flow to an outfit, but sometimes they add too much!
BONUS: 3 ideas for balancing the flow of scarves:
1. Pair scarves with fitted tops.
In the second photo, I could’ve swapped out the fitted cardigan for a scarf. The scarf creates flowing lines and so does the maxi skirt, but the patterned top would be the balance between the two flowing items.
2. Pull your hair up when you wear scarves.
If I added a scarf to that outfit, I would probably pull my hair up or loosely back to “slow the flow” and add definition around my face.
3. Choose a slimmer scarf if the shirt has flow to it.
Unless it was a slimmer one, I wouldn’t choose to wear a scarf with the outfit in the third photo. Adding a scarf against the flowing lines of the cardigan would feel heavy and messy.
Play along!
Create an outfit that has too much flow then “slow the flow” by creating an outfit that has the perfect balance of flow.
Share your pictures with our Type 2 community!
I’m excited to see what you share.
Great points!
If i choose my top to feature the flow, but i want to wear a skirt as vs. pants, what types of cuts or styles of skirts would be good to balance the flow but not add to the flow?
If I’m wearing more flow on top, I like to wear straight/pencil skirts with simple clean lines. I have one in grey and one in denim, and those two items get worn more than anything else in my wardrobe.
Aren’t those uncomfortable for a type 2?
Also, i don’t especially like form fitting skirts..
Anne, are either the Ruffling Around skirt or Pleated Perfection skirt in wine from the type 2 shop considered skirts that stop the flow?
Since I started dressing my truth, I don’t find slimmer cuts uncomfortable because I’m looking for the other t2 elements such as softer fabrication, stretchy, etc. In the video on pattern mixing, Anne shows an example of a skirt that is “grounding” an outfit that has more flow on top. That was a really helpful visual for me.
Great points, Elizabeth. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Hi M B, great questions! To create balance with a skirt I would recommend a more fitted skirt – aka pencil skirt. This doesn’t mean it will be uncomfortable though. Rather than choosing tight knit polyester skirts choose a cotton/poly/spandex blend that is stretchy and fluid in it’s fabrication. These are my favorite kinds of skirts, as I usually prefer a more fitted garment on the bottom, whether it’s a skirt or pants.
With the 2 skirts you mentioned from the DYT store, I would suggest trying them out in an outfit to see how the flow works together. The overall shape of those skirts is more slimming, but the added ruffles add some extra flow (less on the Pleated Perfection skirt), so you’d just have to play around and see what works, but they definitely could be a great option. Another option that has even less flow is the Knit Comfort Skirt, which is super stretchy and comfy.
Thanks for asking your questions. I hope my reply is helpful!
For years French fashion espoused the “less is more” fashion principle that relates to the “slow the flow” and “focus the flow” concepts that Anne discusses here. Example: a few simple pieces (blouse, slacks, sling-back shoes) in neutral shades provide the backdrop to one fabulous, eye-catching accessory (belt, scarf, bag, hat) Focused attention multiplies the effect, whereas a broad sameness dulls and diffuses it.
Hi Anne! I really appreciate this article on balancing the flow. I actually only wear long skirts for religious reasons and I really love ruffled tops. Do you think a straighter maxi skirt or a-line skirt would work with a ruffled tank with a fitted structured cardigan over top or is that still too much flow? Is it okay to wear a-line skirts as a T2? I think this is one reason I am struggling with outfits, having too much flow. I need to find a good balance and probably a few more straighter skirts vs maxi skirts!
Thanks!