Yet we live in an era of casual fashion. What used to be called "sportswear" is the expected everyday clothing for most of us. Dramatic asks for stiffness and tailoring, but most of what's available in department stores is unconstructed and soft, and the stiff, tailored pieces are expensive! Dramatic asks for avant-garde pieces, but some women who are Dramatic blends aren't comfortable with those looks, or don't have access to those items. Dramatic asks for an aggressive energy, but some Dramatic types don't feel comfortable channeling aggression. So if you are a Dramatic blend Dramatic, what are your easy options for creating a Dramatic impression? You can buy pieces as a set... or you can create a visually unbroken line by simply matching your bottoms to your top. If the color is continuous, people will perceive the line as being elongated. The monochromatic look is also visually intense, which reads as Dramatic.
Women who are Dramatic blends: what are some quick tips and tricks you can share for implementing Dramatic in an everyday wardrobe?
Not sure of your Style ID? Try the Style ID Calculator, or consider a Virtual Analysis.
39 Comments
A
11/5/2018 01:07:21 pm
THANK YOU, Rachel! I'm primarily a Dramatic-Ingenue (with some Natural and Classic) about to go athleisure shopping today, and was dreading it. Incidentally, the very last image is almost exactly what my one good athletic outfit looks like.
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Megan
11/5/2018 05:59:01 pm
Cool insights! I'm a Dramatic blend and at one point was searching for a pair of leather leggings, and you've inspired me to keep searching!
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Megan
11/5/2018 06:46:12 pm
As a Dramatic blend, one thing I've been trying to do is to create an unbroken line but also add contrast in the colors by layering. So for example, this might mean wearing a black fitted jacket and black pants but wearing the jacket unzipped and a red shirt underneath. While I like monochromatic looks, I find that they don't provide enough contrast for my coloring, so the above strategy has been my workaround.
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Melina
11/6/2018 04:12:36 am
"What used to be called "sportswear" is the expected everyday clothing for most of us" - those don't actually work for most of us, not just Dramatics (or D blends)!! For example, anyone with R, I or E or C... Well, basically everyone that's not full-on N! So it's truly strange if sportswear indeed HAS become "expected everyday clothing" (same goes for jeans) - though where I live, it's not so much that for everyone, mostly just teens.
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Bruna
11/6/2018 09:21:57 am
I'm not Dramatic nor a Dramatic blend, but I loved this so much!
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Bruna
11/6/2018 09:24:09 am
Too many "for example" lol
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Melina
11/7/2018 04:00:19 am
I totally second wanting to see more about hairstyles or hair in general! :) I've got mine pretty well sorted out, but open to new ideas as well, plus the eternal issue about reconciling your inner-longhairedness with getting older, when the general society judges long hair "not appropriate"... Would be nice to have some ideas in advance for that.
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KC
11/10/2018 01:03:30 am
I'd like advice about curly hairstyles for people with masculine or Classic essences--and there are probably women out there who want to know how they can make their straight hair work for feminine essences. If our beauty philosophy is to embrace and enhance what nature gave us, then we should be able to accommodate curly-haired Dramatics and straight-haired Romantics, by golly! I certainly don't want to destroy my hair with straighteners just to flatter the Gamine and possible Natural in my appearance.
Melina
11/10/2018 04:42:49 am
KC, oh yes, that too - I have mostly feminine essences and naturally straight hair ;) I'm certainly not willing to destroy my hair (which any heated appliances will do) to suit my style ID, but I do use non-heat curlers quite a lot, I just like my hair more not-straight (I intuitively know it doesn't suit me that well, even without consciously thinking of style essences). But yeah, it would be nice to have some ideas how to make straight hair work, too! (Also as the current constantly rainy / drizzly weather here quite destroys my "style cred" as soon as I step out ;))
Agnes
11/6/2018 12:33:45 pm
It would be nice to see something like this about ethereals. I'm mostly ethereal, but neither about to go to the prom nor get married. Nothing showing would ever be wearable for me. I work professionally, go to grocery stores, and live in a small, rural town. I don't want to get myself shot as a space alien.
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Shawna
11/6/2018 07:12:07 pm
I agree Agnes. I've got a good dose of ethereal but am not really incorporating it successfully in part because I don't like irridescence, glitter, shimmer or galaxy prints, also because my colouring is warmer than the colours associated with it. If I were a bride I would probably go heavy on the ethereal but I don't find it easy to incorporate into a jeans and sweater with ankle boots sort of wardrobe. I also have a large dose of gamine which is rather opposite and I find that one much easier to employ.
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Lois Garnier
10/5/2020 04:03:40 am
Did you see the post on ethereal where Rachel shows how shapes os clothing can bring in the element. For example in jeans you are looking at the boot leg jean which is great for an ethereal type. Also remember that design can be ethereal too. So for instance, in a sweater you could maybe go for something with a cable type design in it such as an Aran jumper. Or maybe make your textures a little more ethereal, go for a slightly softer texture could read as more ethereal, particularly if you layer up a top and a long cardigan which would then give some busyness, as ethereal is high detail. Things with cut outs are ethereal. Lighter fabric shirts. Things that sit softly rather than constructed or formal. Colour can also bring the ethereal element into your wardrobe, ethereal colour is soft and low contrast. Ethereal styles and designs are ancient. So anything based on very ancient style such as a princess waist dress which is the same as old Grecian style dresses. Maybe really study the essence of ethereal to be able to bring it into your everyday life. Remember too that long lines are ethereal, so make your sweater, T-shirt’s, shirts and cardigans all longer rather than classic sit at the waist type. It takes a while but it is a very doable look. I also am mainly a stay at home with low income but I am bringing in more ethereal into my blended look. It is worthwhile persevering with as you will feel so much more comfortable with yourself.
W.
11/6/2018 01:40:22 pm
Fabulous post!! I LOVE this!! And the comments: also wonderful. Such great insights A. and Megan, and yes Agnes, I hear you about trying to get ethereal elements into a look without looking alien or like you got lost while filming a fantasy-drama.
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W.
11/6/2018 01:51:35 pm
...eye.
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Miranda
11/7/2018 03:42:29 am
I really like the tree analogy! I don't have any Natural, but I like it for Ethereal.
Jenn
11/7/2018 04:22:33 pm
Can I give this entire comment an “amen”?
A
11/6/2018 02:38:11 pm
GREAT point about what "classic" means to the fashion industry vs. what the Classic style archetype means. I got tricked into thinking I was a Classic due to this mix-up when, really, I look soooooo wrong and unharmonious in most of the "traditional," Grace Kelly sort of outfits that Kibbe/Rachel mean by "Classic." This post alone illustrates that so much of what I thought was "Classic" (minimal, stiff, high-fashion) is actually Dramatic. A lot of people describe me as "aristocratic," but I've realized they're referring to my Dramatic features. They don't mean "traditional," they mean "imposing."
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W.
11/6/2018 04:48:57 pm
That's interesting about the 'aristocratic' being confused for classic. I can totally see that. On a different tack, I got told I was 'a classic' all the time, but I'm becoming more and more convinced that 'classic' did not mean 'ladylike' or 'traditional' -- no one would ever describe my appearance that way. Like...ever.
KC
11/6/2018 08:40:23 pm
I love the visualizations and word associations that come up in these discussions! Dramatic as "aristocratic" and Natural style being like a tree trunk--<3. The tree trunk imagery is especially interesting considering that woody fragrances are usually Natural, from what I understand.
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ElizabethP
11/7/2018 07:49:30 am
You recommended that if you can’t wear something as Dramatic as your identity, go minimal. If I remember correctly, less is more is the defining characteristic of Classic. Can all types default to classic? I can definitely see that being the case for my Ethereal and Ingenue essences. It’s impractical for me to wear Ethereal dresses in my daily life, but I can wear a classic dresss with Ethereal accessories and look very harmonious.
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Megan
11/7/2018 12:15:23 pm
I think that if a person has to use an essence that isn't their own, Classic may be the best one to use, because its simple lines would possibly seem less unharmonious than would, say, trying to incorporate Dramatic or Ingenue lines if you don't have those essences.
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KarenH
11/7/2018 10:57:59 pm
Megan
KC
11/7/2018 10:42:34 pm
Using Classic to make your usual style ID more everyday appropriate definitely doesn’t work for everyone—Classic is easily the *worst* style on me! I’m likely an EGN, and my features are just too asymmetrical to pull off any Classic.
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Megan
11/8/2018 01:01:04 pm
Karen--as a Romantic Dramatic, I also find that Classic is incredibly boring on me. Lately I've noticed the same thing with the color gray--if I have a large block of it near my face, I look kind of dull and lifeless, even if it's in my color palette.
Melina
11/10/2018 04:52:16 am
I thought it was Natural that you needed to add to make your usual style ID more everyday appropriate, not Classic? Works for me at least, though I can't do purely N styles at all. ;)
Megan
11/7/2018 12:23:14 pm
Not sure if anyone has thought about this, but I've started wondering how common it is to have a 50-50 split for a Style ID. Using Rachel's calculator, I almost always get a 50-50 split between Romantic and Dramatic, and I suppose this basically reflects what looks good on me... I do need to have a good dose of both essences to look my best.
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Melina
11/8/2018 03:37:20 am
That's interesting - I've always got either 30% each of my 3 dominant essences, or then 25% each of 4 (depending on slight differences in my answers, both of which are possible for me). Never just 50-50! I guess I'm such a mix of many things ;)
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Megan
11/8/2018 01:06:19 pm
That's very cool that you're a mix--I bet it makes it really interesting to choose clothes when you have the possibility of combining three or four different essences! I sometimes wonder if I have a smidge of a third essence that I've missed.
Melina
11/9/2018 04:17:28 am
Yes, I seem to remember Rachel saying somewhere that most people are in fact mixes of 3 essences, so just one or two is in fact more of a rarity :) (But someone please correct me if my memory is totally wrong!)
Klausie
11/13/2018 09:38:17 am
Hi,
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Megan
11/14/2018 05:49:38 pm
Hi--I'm an RD, but I relate to a lot of what you said--I'm short (5'3'') with legs that are short for my body, and my legs are where I carry my weight. I've found that since trying to dress for my style type, I worry less about having short legs, probably mainly because I now wear a lot more dresses and high-waisted skirts and pants, which are very figure-flattering.
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Fifi
11/29/2018 03:41:56 am
How do you create an aggressive or intimidating vibe when you don’t have too much dramatic? I think I’m somewhat natural/romantic/classic instead.
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Lois Garnier
4/13/2021 03:21:34 am
Have just been reading about dramatic because I need to pull more of this into my NED look.
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Christy
12/1/2018 03:49:03 pm
So I am late to this discussion (been super busy), but this is a great post for me. Wanted to add that now that Fantastic Beasts Crimes of Grindlewald is out, the costumes are such a great inspiration. (So is Game of Thrones). Would love to see a discussion of Nagini as a Dramatic Ethereal.
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Mill Carter
12/1/2018 08:00:36 pm
Something I have not been able to find an answer for - I am definitely a light summer, and reasonably confident I am a dramatic something (gamine, perhaps). But dramatic lends itself to high contrast (especially a lot of black) and I fade away. But I look awful in natural/classic etc, which are more forgiving of moderate contrast. Any solutions?
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Christy
3/25/2020 03:18:05 pm
Have you tried “your black” which would be a grey shade? I think Ds can also go to their solid whites (mine is an off white shade as a DA) for a dramatic look. Works for me.
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Christy
3/25/2020 03:15:38 pm
I love seeing these posts again. I continue to evolve into my style ID (EDC, primarily D). The current quarantine has my hair past due for color. I know there was a discussion on another thread about Ds doing well with hair as a solid block of color, which is what I have been doing. My hair is coming in salt and pepper (tweed like), and it does NOT work. I think it creates too much visual texture or movement for me.
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Melina
4/5/2021 10:49:44 am
Aren't tailored vests very Dramatic? After all, they're originally masculine clothing (from suits), though you can nowadays find them in women's section, too. Those need not be expensive (easily found in thrift shops too), and yet are a very easy way to add D to any outfit, in my opinion! :) I've lately realized they suit me very well, though I'm mostly feminine blend, so it was surprising, though maybe not so much as they do hug your curves well too, so quite R Many of them items mentioned in this article don't suit me (like slicked back hair or pointy toes, no way, but then D is probably a minority essence for me, anyway, in a mostly feminine blend).
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Melina
11/27/2022 10:04:47 am
Re-reading this has just confirmed to me that I probably do have D as a minority essence - the sentence "A visual element that's very important for Dramatics is the impression of an unbroken vertical line" just hits the nerve, I've realized it's so important for me too. (Especially in winter-time, monochromatic black is basically all I do...) Even though I can't do pointy toes or slicked-back hair, I feel the first mentioned quality is most important here. I do best with solid colours, no patterns, and hair as solid block of colour, too, like mentioned above.
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