You can personalize your style by adding your yin/yang combo.
As a Type 2/3 woman, you want a style that feels comfortable and soothing with some sassy edgy undertones. How do you achieve this without letting your Type 3 secondary override too much? Could holding too closely to your Type 2 elements be bringing your style down?
Wearing the wrong yin/yang combination in your clothes will leave your style looking flat. Once you understand which aspects of your outfits are “yin” and which ones are “yang” (2:44), you’ll be able to look great and feel great in your clothes every day.
Dressing Your Truth Expert Anne has a yin-yin-yang-yang combination. Watch how just a few subtle adjustments (3:50) to your outfit can make you feel even more expressive and true to yourself.
Take Carol’s challenge. (with Style Kit in hand) Find an item in your closet that hasn’t felt right, apply what you learned in the yin/yang video and share your results in the comments.
I’m having a little trouble working out what is yin and what is yang in clothing. So far I think:
Yin= light colours; smooth textures; small, blended patterns; soft fabrics; flowing design lines.
Yang= dark colours; bumpy textures; big, contrasting patterns; rough or heavy fabrics; structured design lines.
I read your article on ‘your yin yang definition and why it matters’ but I couldn’t quite connect those with clothing.
Thanks for all you do, DYT! It has made getting dressed more fun, because I used to just throw on any old thing- jeans and t-shirt usually!
Hi Catherine, yes you are on the right track with your definitions you’ve listed here. I’m glad you’re having fun with DYT!
Thank you Anne, that has reassured me. I love the idea of yin/yang. I have quite a few clothes that *seem* perfectly type 4 but I can’t quite make them work. Now I have a clue why! I probably need more yin or yang pieces to wear with them!
Wow! I finally have the information I need to feel complete in my style. I have not been able to see how my double yin/double yang works. No wonder I have felt flat in some of my outfits. I have not been honoring my yang enough! Now to find pattern and texture pieces that work…. I may even have some in my closet!
You are welcome! I am so glad you found it helpful. It sounds like you know exactly what to do now that you’ve been given the missing details. I’m excited to hear about your progress in developing a style that is true to you!
Yay!!! So good to see this video and worth the wait. I’ve been waiting for this since December when Carol profiled me as a T2/3! Thank you!
I would add layering, substantial accessories, differing textures and volume in my hairstyle as the yang components to my look.
Thank you so much Anne! This was very helpful. So interesting that even with the s3 jacket the first outfit could still be improved. I like the idea of added yang in shoes to ground yourself. Maybe that is why I tend to gravitate to s3 in my shoes. I love the shoes you wore in this video!! One question, would a denim or even corduroy skirt be a good stand-in for jeans to add yang? I have a few pairs of jeans, but they really just aren’t my thing, I rarely wear them. I tend to wear more skirts than anything. Wondering if it would have the same effect. Love the texture cardigan—I have that one and love wearing it to add texture when an outfit is too smooth. I don’t think anything could be too soft for me, but too smooth can feel “off”.
Haha, Andrea! I posted before I read yours and I do the yang shoe thing too!
Haha! That is interesting! What is it about shoes that they just feel better with some yang?! I just love shoes that are sturdy and practical, yet also feminine. I could live in boots year round 😀
That’s a good way to differentiate it – soft vs. smooth. Soft is great, but too smooth is too yin! I think skirts are a definite possibility. You just want to focus on the movement and feel of the item and the overall look. The thing that gets tricky with skirts is that they have a natural flow in their design line, so just make sure to balance it with less flow in the overall outfit.
Thank you so much for this video, Anne and Carol! I’ve been WAITING for this, especially after my comment on the Lifestyle page where I mentioned feeling like I was in a rut and Carol asked if I’d tried looking at this yin/yang thing again. Anne, your style has changed quite a bit since the early days and it SO suits. I’ve been sort of doing this yin/yang thing most of my life but when you end up in the T2 world you almost feel obligated to be as yin as possible. Back in the day, I had a favorite floral dress but I would always wear it with combat boots. And I love wearing oxford shoes and loafers with skinnies too (I bought two pairs of those Natural Sole florals from Style Inspire because I loved them so much). Now I know why. I love grounding with an S3 shoe. I think this yin/yang concept is a real breakthrough for DYTers. Thanks, again!
What a great video, Anne and Carol! Like Isabel, I’ve very much been looking forward to it. I also need my secondary 3 acknowledged in my outfits, so this is an extremely helpful resource. Texture, weight, buckles, zippers, lace and corduroy have always called to me. Thank you so much!
Also, this video helps me understand why growing out my (wavy) hair a bit has been such a challenge! I don’t care for the downward yin of it. I need something edgier, yangier – especially as a short woman. Thank you!
I think your shorter style really suits you! I didn’t know you were growing it out. After watching this, what are you inspired to do?
Thank you, Anne! I appreciate that. I guess I’m inspired to quit thinking long hair might be better for me, now that I understand that short hair adds a bit of consistent yang to my look. I’ve had my eye on Jennifer Lawrence’s iconic short haircut for some time. This one. What do you think?https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7be71b47f9204d8b3f00d69152f42160a28d081e61eaf3bb90c3fc9d0369fddf.jpg
Oh I love that! Soft with a bit of texture. It looks like it would be really easy to style too. And it would really highlight your natural colors! I say go for it!
Thank you so much, Anne! I’ve been so unsure of which way to go, and your vote means a lot to me! Sadly, I missed the hair consultation with Nicole when it was available. But you also know such things! I appreciate you often. 🙂
Great video, so helpful. I have felt like Goldilocks going through DYT, nothing felt quite right yet I knew I had more yang than I was seeing expressed in T2 videos, but not enough for T3. Trips through T1 and T4 were interesting but not me. Now I know T2/S3 and this video will help me express my primary and secondary better for me. I’ve always gravitated towards contrasts in textures, Leather/lace, denim/silk, woven/shiny. This video was instructive on bringing in more yang without crossing over into T3 land. Sigh of relief finally!
A possible T2/3 look for Spring….Dainty, delicate and edgy. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/dc28c266e34a23a90ddd644dfcad3cd93d9d1423b9dd94a96f9d12e788d0bbb9.jpg