There is a learning curve to Dressing Your Truth! The learning curve is not in understanding the basic program of the 5 elements of Dressing Your Truth; the curve is learning “your way” within DYT. How to listen to your beauty sixth sense and bring your style together in a way that truly expresses you, true to your Type.
To help you move through that learning curve with more grace and ease, I asked each of the Dressing Your Truth Experts to share “what they wish they knew when they started Dressing Your Truth.” Share in a comment what you wish you had known and what you loved learning from your Type 2 Experts. -Carol
1. When you started Dressing Your Truth, what aspect of dressing true to your nature was most challenging? Looking back, what kind of advice would you give to someone in the same situation?
- Anne: There weren’t many examples of the Type 2 look, and as a result, I defaulted to a lot of gray, flowers, and frills. That was a good start, but it didn’t feel quite me. My challenge was to create a personalized Type 2 style. It was a fun challenge, and I continue to “challenge” myself to further develop my personal style. My advice to anyone that isn’t feeling at home in the Type 2 look yet is to make it your own by trying new things. I have developed my style over the years by being willing to try new styles, colors, combinations, etc.
- Michelle: Trying to figure out which colors were really Type 2 was a little challenging at first. It finally clicked when I went to a thrift store that separated their items into colors. With all of the similar colors together, I could finally see what made something a Type 2 tone! It was exciting! I think now that the Lifestyle content is available, it is so much easier for women to figure out what colors are their type with all of the great color videos that the girls have done. I also forgot about incorporating ALL of the elements (design line, fabrication, etc.) and just focused on color, so make sure you don’t forget those!
2. What aspect of dressing true to your nature was most exciting or came most naturally?
- Anne: I was so excited to have a framework to work within. I felt so lost before Dressing Your Truth. My closet was a “grab bag” of colors and styles. Once I learned how to dress as a Type 2, I had clear direction and could easily create a more defined style.
- Michelle: I just felt so at home in the Type 2 colors, as opposed to the Type 1 and Type 4 colors I was wearing before, that I felt like I had finally come home! I loved knowing that I didn’t need to wear structured clothing, but that I could wear the comfortable, relaxed clothing that I felt so good in and was always so drawn to before.
3. What advice would you give to a Type 2 woman who is just getting started in her Dressing Your Truth journey?
- Anne: As a Type 2 woman you want to get it right, and you’ll fret or worry that you’re making a mistake. Get out of your head and trust yourself. 98% of the time, you are right on! The colors you have chosen work, the way you tied that scarf looks fabulous, and that necklace and earrings totally work together! Go easy on yourself and let the little doubts float on through without heeding them too much attention. Remember, it’s a process and you’re doing a great job where you are right now.
- Michelle: Don’t try to copy the way someone else dresses. I’ve learned that what works for one woman, won’t necessarily work for another of the same Type. Our secondary energy, body shape, and personal preferences come into play. Trust yourself and be you! I would also suggest remaining a Lifestyle member! Those videos can be SO helpful, even for a veteran like me.
4. What advice would you give to a woman who has been dressing her truth for a while now, 2+ years? How can she continue to develop and expand her style? What has helped you continue to develop your style over the years?
- Anne: Try new things! As a Lifestyle member, you get access to our best content with continual outfit inspiration. Try what you love and then try what you don’t think would work. You might be pleasantly surprised.
- Michelle: Don’t be afraid to try new things. And, it’s okay if your style preferences change from one year to the next. I think the biggest thing that has helped me is that I’ve stopped trying to copy other people’s style choices and started being more true to myself. For example, I thought I should wear my hair naturally curly (since I’ve got it) and tried to copy Anne since I absolutely love her hair. I could never get mine to look like hers, and I never really loved mine that much. I finally gave myself permission to do flat iron curls and I like it SO much better on me! (Although that could change and I may want to go back to wearing it naturally curly someday).
Extra resources to support your Dressing Your Truth journey:
The big challenge, for me, at first was letting go of my gold jewelry and wearing silver. I could see how the gold didn’t blend as nicely with the T2 colors and that helped me with the change. I had never worn gray, and that seemed to be a safe color choice (and navy) as I began to build my wardrobe. All my outfits in the beginning felt too still for me. Now, 4 years later, I have slowly incorporated my S1 into my style, with sweet prints and lightness. I wish I would have looked more in thrift stores because it’s my new fun way to add pieces to my basics. I found a lavender tiny print flowered top this week and wore it to church with a navy knit skirt from DYT store that had been just sitting in my closet for a couple years. Thought I would give it a try. It was so comfortable and all day I wondered why I hadn’t been wearing it.
Thank you Maggie for sharing your journey with us! We are happy that you are here.
The biggest challenge for me was learning to trust my beauty sixth sense. At first I bought a lot of Type 2 things and didn’t understand why I liked some so much better than others. All the information about our secondary energies really was helpful to me. Such an “aha” of “Oh, so that is why I don’t like that!” Also I had to learn to trust my color preferences. I would get something that was a type 2 color, but just not one I was drawn to and wonder why I didn’t like it. So, I am slowly settling in to what is “me” and I love it. I notice also that since dressing/living my truth, I don’t get sick as often. Who knew? :))))
The biggest challenge for me was developing my type 2 “style”. After receiving my type 2 card in the mail, I went to Target and bought anything that harmonized with the card and that passed the 5 elements of DYT (for type 2’s), regardless of what it looked like. My thought process was; well, it’s type 2 and passes all the elements, it will look great on me. And they did to a certain extent, but I realized that even though I had more type 2 items in my closet, I was still gravitating towards certain pieces. It then hit me that even though they are all type 2 pieces, I still have a style that I like and not all the pieces I bought were helping me to achieve my type 2 style. I suppose this is where my secondary comes in and why I am drawn to certain type 2 clothes and not to others.
The biggest challenge for me was to accept that what looks like a type 2 garment and sits well on someone else may not suite me. However, when I order things from the DYT store they are always a hit for me and very rarely a miss. I am so grateful to everyone who purchases things for DYT store.
I am still in the process of developing my own unique style. The biggest challenge that I need to overcome to complete my elegant Type 2 look is wearing make-up. I have not found the right mascara that is good for my eyes. All the ones I tried, thus far, irritate my eyes.
Thank you for sharing Maria. We are happy that we are able to support you with honoring your type 2 nature. Have you tried the mascara from our online store? If you have questions about it, please contact support@dressingyourtruth.com for more information. Thank you
Thank you for your thoughtful responses Anne and Michelle. There are so many things I love about dressing as a type 2, but I definitely still get stuck in the details as to whether what I have on, or what I want to buy is truly “type 2.” Reading your responses and hearing your thought processes in videos always helps validate my own thinking.
I’ve really enjoyed seeing how both Anne and Michelle (and all the other DYT experts) styles have changed over the years. I’m still figuring out my secondary, but I think it plays a pretty big role in helping me discern my tastes. Learning more about it and trying to focus less on the details and more on the “big picture” of an item/outfit is what has been helping me the most in listening to my beauty sixth sense. As well, trying to add a “connecting factor” always makes me feel more comfortable in an outfit. This is where I find shoes really make or break an outfit for me and it’s what I’m still lacking the most in my wardrobe. A shoe has to be verrrry comfortable for me before I purchase it. 🙂
I’ve been doing DYT for about 5 years, and I’m coming to a stage where I would like a subtle change. I’ve been trying some new things. I have had the same style for several years, and it’s nice to change it up. It feels fresh and new. Recently, I bought a faux-suede moto jacket, which is never something I would have worn 5 years ago. I’ve also been gravitating toward blouses instead of plain tees. I love plain tees to layer, but I’ve been feeling a lot more put together in a casual blouse or tunic. Another thing I’m wearing more of is bracelets. I used to go heavy on the earrings, but recently, I’ve been going minimalist with the earrings and trying some more bracelets. I love it!
Thanks for sharing Andrea! I’ve been trying new things more than ever the last 6 months. I mean it when I say it, just try it! It’s fun to try new things and be pleasantly surprised. 🙂 Post a pic of your jacket when you wear it next.
Love this, ladies!!! <3 I love blogs that support my questions and journey! I think I knew my colors, etc before DYT, but the rest of the elements was an eye-opener for me. Prints, design – it really answered why things sat in my closet unworn – afterall, they were all 'in my colors'. Like both Anne and Michelle, I had to figure out my own personal expression of T2. I'm a 2/1. I am not pear-shaped at all. I dove into lots of ruffles, long skirts, etc. in the beginning. Then I began to notice that I shortening the skirts a bit more, less ruffles. Always was a scarf person so that didn't change. I learned why I was dressing in a lot of T4 or T1 designs, if not colors and why they just weren't quite right. I think in the beginning I was trading the fashion industry's set of rules for another. Hadn't developed trust in my beauty sixth sense yet. After a year or so, I did. You know when something really feels like you – in a good and confident way, not a hiding way. I do have a natural curl/wave to my hair, but look and feel better in something smoother. I let my secondary T1 shorten the length of my skirts a bit, maybe even flip that collar once in a while, always roll up my sleeves lol. It's a process and a wonderful journey – and yep – sometimes a challenge, but a fun one. I love LifeStyle and heartily recommend it to everyone. I'll bet for those who feel they can't/shouldn't spend the small monthly fee, that if you look, you are already spending that same amount on something that doesn't really matter. And you do matter! I think DYT is the most satisfying and life-changing when you really jump in and commit to yourself. That's what you're doing. You're not committing to DYT. You're making a commitment to yourself. You're telling yourself that you do matter. Everyone does.
Could you include some insights from 2/4s as well? I love Anne and Michelle but feel like not having a 2/4 perspective misses something.
Hi Lizah, thanks for your comment, we welcome comments from our community. Are you a Type 2/4? If so, please share your experience. Also, the Type 2 private facebook group has a lot of support for every combo of Type 2.