"I just don't know how to dress, how to put an outfit together for me," say so many women.  Men tell me this as well, just not as many.  There is so much clothing on the racks and many people just don't know where to start or what to choose for themselves.  Therein is part of the fear of fashion.  This is why so many people come to me in the first place -- they have never discovered who they are and how to reflect that inner self through their dress and grooming.

I'm generally hired to do for you what you can't yet do for yourself -- discover the specific traits or clues to your uniqueness, define the range of your personal style, and develop a plan for wardrobing and shopping.  In the process, I teach you how to do it for yourself and then with your family members.  Together we evaluate what you already own -- defining what works, what doesn't, and why; discarding what doesn't work for you; and developing direction for the future.

Midway through an initial interview session, I ask you to tell me what you do and don't like in your clothing.  You know, it's often difficult to find out your less favorite clothing styles, colors, fabrics, and patterns, but it's almost impossible to find out your favorites!  So many people have don't know exactly what style lines and shapes, colors, fabrics, or patterns they really do like, let alone love to wear.  So that's our job, to figure out these likes and dislikes, moving you closer to discovering your own personal style.  It's a place to start. 

My job is to take the complexity of personal style selection and simplify it so you can understand and deal with it on a daily basis, define yourself, and develop a wardrobe that truly works for you.  My job is to give you specific guidelines allowing you to proceed in an easy and logical manner.

In last summer's August 2010 issue of this image management newsletter, you received a good discussion of what personal style involves as well as the differences between a tailored or untailored personal style.  I just re-read it and I invite you to read it again here.  In this issue about personal style I want to expand on the information with two related terms, giving you the most simplistic approach to discovering your own personal style.  The terms are Yin and Yang.  They come from an ancient Chinese concept of opposing characteristics or traits present in nature. 

Specifically, Yin means gentleness and softness, the grace of the willow tree, and the delicacy of the moon.  Yang means strength and vigor, the sturdiness of the pine tree, and the force of the sun.  Bell Northrup, formerly at Columbia University, adapted the Yin-Yang concept to classify, define, describe, and compare a person's physical and psychological or personality traits, as well as design elements or clothing traits.  The work has been widely accepted, applied, and modified. 

Yin personality traits can be classified as more approachable, and clothing traits as untailored.  Yang personality traits can be classified as more authoritative, and clothing traits as tailored.  Now here's the point of this discussion.  The look of every piece of clothing, including accessories, can be classified as relatively more Yin or more Yang.  Look at the following clothing examples of Yin and Yang, then look in your closet. 

Photo c/o Woman's Day

If you learn no more than to recognize the difference between Yin and Yang clothing, you will get to the point where you can look at a garment or accessory and say, "This is too Yin for me," or This is too Yang for me," or "This is just right, it's me!"  On a continuum between Yin and Yang, there will be some degree of Yin or Yang clothing traits that work for you, that define you, that reflect or express who you are and what you are about.  Gradually you will come to recognize the Yin and/or Yang design details that reflect the truth of who you are. 

Over time, you can experiment with ways to put these pieces of clothing together -- your way, a way that works for you.  I've said it before, it's not only what you wear, but how you wear it!  With practice you will get the looks you like down pat, look and feel authentic, comfortable, confident, and secure in your clothes, better able to focus on what needs to be done during your day.

I love working with people and personal style in dress and image.  It's not only my job, it's my joy when my client or student says, "I get it!  I see what you're talking about.  This is so much fun!"  I firmly believe fashion can be fun when you recognize the truth of what works for you; when you are prepared with the looks in your closet you need for your lifestyle, roles, and goals; when you are then confident and secure in yourself. 

If you don't want to wait another year for another discussion about personal style, you may want to order Conselle's Wardrobe Strategy Book #8 Personal Style at $27.97. Order through Conselle's Store or call 801-224-1207 and order directly through Kathy or Sarah. 

Consumer's Corner

This mix doesn't work.

Personal style in dress and grooming is often easier to develop if you are living in a taller Yang body and have stronger Yang personality traits, or are living in a shorter Yin body with more receptive Yin personality traits.  But not everybody comes into this world so specific. 

Some people come with a Yin personality in a Yang body or a Yang personality in a Yin body.  That can be confusing to both you and others.  Looking one way but acting another sends mixed messages.  People may have trouble relating to you.  The Yin-Yang mix calls for a thoughtful compromise or mix of Yin and Yang clothing traits.  

Learning how to mix the Yin-Yang clothing traits will end confusion and open your options.  Do consider attending Conselle's next Image Enhancement Retreat, currently scheduled for November 7-12, 2011.  You'll learn all about your personal style as it relates to your personality, values, attitudes, body build and coloring, and much more. 

Pictured at right: Here is an example of a soft, flowing yin dress -- paired with yang cage shoes. This is an example of what doesn't work.  The mix is too extreme.  The Yang cage shoe appears too aggressive and too heavy for the delicacy of the soft, flowing dress.  The lines of the shoe attract too much attention to themselves and create a look of disharmony in the outfit. 

In contrast, here is an example from the recent Nygaard Collection, called the New Romantic, where they combined Yin and Yang traits in a relatively pleasing, harmonious way. 

If you have children to outfit for the upcoming school year, teach them to cluster their clothes according to their personal style. And don't forget to send them back wearing a shirt with a collar to lift attention upward and frame their face.

Remember, the straight lines and angular collar points communicate alertness and action, allowing the child to feel and appear more confident and capable.  It works!

Consultant's Corner

DKYN Roupas.

Almost no one is all Yin or all Yang, or the same all of the time.  What to wear where becomes a key factor in the degree of Yin or Yang we may choose to dress to.  This is where you've got to learn all of the design details in dress and what they communicate.  This is where you learn how to calculate your client's range of personal style on the Yin-Yang continuum.  This is where you evaluate all of your client's clothes as they relate to all of the places your client needs or wanrs to go.  This is where you teach your client's which clothes to wear to feel and appear appropriate for the occasion. 

Professional Attire

On business and leadership occasions we generally benefit by wearing relatively more Yang tailored or softly tailored design details, always within the client's range.  At-home and weekend occasions benefit by wearing relatively more Yin casual-tailored and untailored design details, again within the client's range.  More or less makes all the difference.  Evening occasions have appropriate looks that span the Yin-Yang continuum.  You've got your work cut out in defining the degree of dress appropriate for your client for the occasion.   

If you feel at all insecure in your knowledge and consulting tools, do consider advancing your image education and resource materials by attending Conselle's Educational-Training in Image Management.  Our next upcoming sessions are in September 2011 and February 2012. See details below or call Conselle at 801-224-1207 for more details.  

In Closing

Photo: From House to Home Blog

Personal style is a fascinating topic that never gets dull.  It's your job now to identify or make sure you recognize the elements of design that reflect you as an individual - the style lines and shapes, the colors, fabrics, and patterns.  As you think about it, make notes.  Look through fashion magazines and catalogs with a purpose.  Pull out every photo of clothes and accessories that picture what you'd like to wear and make yourself a personal style file.  Create a file folder for each type of garment and accessory.  Refine the file objectively.  Before you plan and shop for new wardrobe items, review your style file to help you fine-tune your authentic personal style as appropriate for your roles and goals.  It's never too late to become the person you want to be.

Sincerely,

  

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*If you would like to make arrangements to attend an Educational-Training sooner, please contact Conselle and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. 

Conselle "Fabulous Fit" Retreat

Women whose passion is fashion sewing to achieve a custom and fabulous fit are invited to an exceptional 6-Day hands-on retreat.  Spend high value, personalized time with our Master Fitters!  Each brings her own unique sphere of interest and expertise to the fitting and fashion makeover experience.  Learn revolutionary new methods in fitting and alteration, taking home custom-fitted bodice, shirt, and pant patterns that fit!  

Next "Fabulous Fit" Retreat   

October 24 - 29, 2011

For detailed information and testimonials go to Fit Retreat Information or call 801-224-1207 and talk to Kathy.