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 4 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?
- Kalista: Hair was my biggest challenge and learning curve. At that time, my hair was very long, several inches below my waist. I always got a lot of attention and compliments from it. To begin styling my hair in sleek styles, or pulling it all back into what felt like “severe” looks was uncomfortable and made me feel exposed. I didn’t really get the right cut for a couple of years. If I could go back, I would encourage myself to see that beauty was so much more than just hair; beauty was the me beneath my long locks.
- Sheryl: It wasn’t challenging for me. It was a breath of fresh air, and I instantly felt at home with Dressing Your Truth. I realize it’s not that way for everyone, so I suggest choosing your most Type 4 outfit and go as close to 100% as possible including hair, makeup, and accessories – and then wear it in a safe environment. See how it feels and then add one outfit/environment at a time.
- Deborah: The most difficult aspect of dressing true to my nature was building my new Type 4 wardrobe. I had a tight budget to work with, but of course I wanted everything to be perfect right from the beginning. I just didn’t feel right wearing items I knew weren’t Type 4. It took 1-2 years for me to get a good, working Type 4 wardrobe. If you’re able to completely replace your wardrobe right off, great! But most of us need to be patient and build at a practical pace. My advice would be to start with the basics, buy from the Dressing Your Truth Type 4 store, and use the StyleInspire.
2. What aspect of dressing true to your nature was most exciting or came most naturally?
- Kalista: I love the bold colors! I jumped in head first with gusto. It was so much fun to search out vividly colored patterns and prints. I have never looked back or “missed my brown.”
- Sheryl: Wearing clean lines. Ahhhhh. . .
- Deborah: It was so exciting for me to wear an item or a color that I had never worn before. There were times I actually gasped looking at myself in the mirror because I was surprised at how good I looked. It just confirmed that I was a Type 4 and how amazing Dressing Your Truth is!
3. What advice would you give to a Type 4 woman who is just getting started in her Dressing Your Truth journey?
- Kalista: Give yourself time to let it sink in and digest—but not too much time. Don’t overthink it. Trust the process. You too look amazing, just like the ladies that you see in the Transformations. Go for it, head to toe.
- Sheryl: Be open-minded to all aspects of the program. In other words, throw out all you thought you knew before such as, “I can’t wear green.” Breathe and give yourself a chance to explore the wonderful possibilities!
- Deborah: Enjoy and be patient with your journey! Take the course a couple of times to really grasp all the information. Expand your knowledge and get inspiration by joining Lifestyle and the Type 4 Facebook group.
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?
- Kalista: The personalization comes with getting in tune with your “Beauty Sixth Sense,” and also letting your Secondary Type flavor your style. Try new things; you never know until you try it!
- Sheryl: I like to watch the latest fashions, see what’s new, and then add Type 4 clothing or shoes to my collection. One example at the moment is chunky block heels. I love them! I like to change my accessories: handbags, shoes, jewelry, and scarves. To get out of a rut, I shop with others who give me suggestions of clothing within my Type that I wouldn’t normally try.
- Deborah: Learning how to appropriately bring in your Secondary helps you to fine tune your own look. Don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment. But remember: always wear the colors and metals for your primary Type. And continue with Lifestyle. After over seven years of Dressing Your Truth, I still learn from our Lifestyle content!
Extra resources to support your Dressing Your Truth journey:
I appreciate Kalista’s experience about the hair being the most challenging for her. I have had a similar experience. I have learned to be patient with my learning curve with how to care for and style short hair.
I also like Sheryl’s comment about following the fashion trends and applying them to T4 and Deborah’s advice to re-watch the course.
If you are new to DYT, give yourself lots of time to discover the system and grace to try a few types on before you settle.There is so much to learn. Its not just about the clothes. It’s the way you are wired- your natural self.
As you try a type or two keep the reject pile in a separate closet- you may return to it!
Don’t confuse compliments with confirmation of your type- you may just be a pretty girl with style!
I bought a lot of black as I was first transitioning my wardrobe. I love black on my lower half, but I love color near my face. That’s why I LOVE HalfTees. They give me a touch of black to “match” my lower half, but allow me to wear patterned-sleeveless tops. I never wore patterns before DYT. I didn’t know how to make them work. Understanding that simple patterns are “energy right” for me has made all the difference. I always LOVED stripes & polka dots. When I find such patterns in Type 4 colors, I rejoice!
I can empathize with the comment about hair being the biggest challenge for Kalista. Mine continues to be a challenge. I wore it the same way for years and years and then decided to grow it out and wear it straighter, etc.. I did a DYT Hair T4 consultation and loved two of the styles (some curl/waves/perms) that were presented as options. I am on the third hairdresser. First two – could not seem to get the style/cut.. I love the third hairdresser I am going to now and she gives me these really beautiful cuts and amazing styles but it lasts about 30 minutes before I am done flipping it off my face or trying to keep it away from my eyes. I can never get it to look like what she makes it look like and I just really don’t have time to spend on it (nor do I want to spend a lot of time on it). I can’t seem to get anyone to understand that I don’t like hair in my face, period. So, I end up putting it back into a barrette which does not really look so good. I don’t think the sleek, T4 styles look good on me. The current hairdresser also tells me that she doesn’t give perms (has never liked the results on her clients) but I feel like this is what I need to have to keep the hair easy, ready to go and out of my face. So I feel like I am in gridlock – and stuck moving forward. I think I have already offended a hairdresser by leaving her and didn’t really want to leave the current one but I just want something that works for me….
My biggest challenge was fully understanding the impact of my Secondary energy and trying to slow down in the process of transitioning my wardrobe. Kind of difficult for a T4/S3! I call it a combination of “All or Nothing,” and “Go Big or Go Home.” I have a tendency to be very decisive and a bit extravagant! I’d say I’ve almost replaced my wardrobe twice: Once in the transition to T4 colors, and once again in the transition to bringing in my Secondary T3.
At first I couldn’t understand why, if a garment was the correct color, I could still hate it! I have a horrified reaction to things like ruffles, lace, most floral prints, tie-back dresses, “flow-ey” tops, polka dots, dangling earrings, etc. it’s hilarious! My idea of sexy lingerie is a man’s white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up! Consequently to all of this I’ve purchase a lot of new clothing, and made MANY donations this year! Not necessarily a bad thing, but a bit pricey!
Next biggest challenge was hair! I have struggled with it all my life, and am finally “At home” with a VERY short cropped hairstyle. In the past, I couldn’t understand why I didn’t feel right with long hair. It’s supposed to be the feminine and beautiful ideal, and I felt ridiculous in it! Even tried lots of expensive wigs, and wound up donating them all! But that’s a story for another day!
The easiest part of this process for me, believe it or not, was identifying my Primary and Secondary energies. Within 2 weeks, I knew absolutely what I was dealing with here LOL! Learning to really work it takes some time though.
Subscribing to the Lifestyle content has been the very best decision I’ve made in this process, along with the inspiration and examples of great individual style provided by all of you beautiful ladies. I can’t wait to attend the September Love Your Life event this year!