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Easy Ways to Do Dramatic Style

11/5/2018

Of the seven basic style archetypes, Dramatic perhaps feels the most formal.

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?

A visual element that's very important for Dramatics is the impression of an unbroken vertical line.

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.

If it's practical, choose the heel-length or floor-length option of a skirt or pants, and tops with overly long sleeves.

Tall, narrow heels are good for Dramatics, because they increase the impression of length. But heels are uncomfortable and often impractical. You can skip heels, and instead just make sure your flats are tapered or pointed in the toe.

If you have long hair, a bun or a slicked-back low ponytail is a very quick Dramatic hairstyle. Show off those striking features! If you have very short hair, slick it back with gel. (This actually looks great for long hair too.)

Blocks of black and white read as Dramatic, and you can create this effect even if you're a Light or Soft season; just combine your versions of black and white, and it will read as Dramatic.

If you're not comfortable coming across as intimidating, focus instead on projecting a silent intensity with your ensemble.

If you don't have access to avant-garde garments, you can do sleek, simple minimalism in your clothes, and then bring the avant-garde energy with one or two very edgy, minimalist, sharp-edged, oversized accessories you find online.

If your garments aren't constructed, at least keep your silhouette narrow.

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.

35 Comments

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.

I work from home, so I sadly don't get the chance to explore my full visual potential on an everyday basis without impeding my attempts to exercise when I'm not working! I've found pairing an outfit like the last image with a very tailored, stiff, structured coat (I like to have a "vampiric" collar too, that I bring up around my neck) brings that high-fashion, intimidating element that is so lacking from contemporary casual fashion. I prefer to wear combat boots or hiking boots with a D finish (shiny leather, patent, something futuristic) instead of sneakers, too. Any heel that makes noise as you walk! (Summer, yes, is really challenging. I usually just opt for "minimal," or explore my Ingenue side, and try to bring Dramatic in with slicked-back hair and accessories/makeup. I do the opposite for the winter, when my wardrobe can be very D – I have graphic blunt bangs and very long, blunt hair, that I leave a bit tousled to evoke the Ingenue and touch of Natural.)

I also highly recommend leather or leather-finish leggings. I wear my leather leggings (found by chance in a consignment shop) so often in the autumn/winter that the seam ripped and I have to get them repaired. They go with everything for a D blend. I can wear them to travel with an oversized dark sweater (monochrome), then throw on heels and I'm ready for dinner. They are as comfortable as sweatpants. And, if you're a D or D blend, people will not blink if you wear leather pants, even if you're not in a very fashionable area. They will not look like "too much," trust me.

Keeping in mind that maintaining a healthy body image is the most important thing (I didn't realize how Dramatic I was for years because I was comparing my tall, thin body and strong features to images of the tallest, thinnest, most extreme people in the world), "model off duty" looks are great inspiration for Dramatics. The Hadid sisters' athleisure looks are good everyday options.

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!

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.

I think a monochromatic outfit paired with lipstick and/or shoes in a contrasting color might be another way to achieve an "unbroken line" while still adding contrast.

Another thing I've learned lately is that I need to be careful about not going TOO dramatic with an outfit. I think I'm about 50% Dramatic, and when my outfit is mostly Dramatic--particularly when the elements around my face are mostly/totally Dramatic--it overwhelms me and looks too harsh.

A non-clothing related tip is to have a monochromatic haircolor--I recently went from having ombre style hair to one pure tone, and the single tone is much more harmonious with my overall look.

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.

Bruna

11/6/2018 09:21:57 am

I'm not Dramatic nor a Dramatic blend, but I loved this so much!
Hope it becomes a series for every archetype :)

In the future I really would like to see more posts about hairstyles or hair in general (like the one you already made), for example, to know how to adapt some hairstyles and updos to each archetype, for example, what would a natural or romantic bun look like, which types of braids or braided updos look are better suited for each archetype etc, things like that!

11/6/2018 09:24:09 am

Too many "for example" lol
Sorry, it was an accident

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

So, at the risk of saying "This was a great post! - Um.... could you do it for all the style types?" .... Well, I'll just say it: Oh my word, that was such a great post, could you do it for all the style types?? Your shopping and visual guides (and perfume guides and all guides) are fantastic! They're like a full refrigerator full of food. But this little snippet - sort of 'here's how to make a meal of this with stuff you have on hand' - this is really, really helpful. Insanely helpful, seriously, thank you.

I think a lot of the style IDs are like the 12 seasons - you really have to Drape to see the effect. For example, I think of dramatic/ethereal as the dark autumn/dark winter of style ID -- they're hard to tell apart at a glance. Like, is that gamine or ingenue detail? Is that a light summer pink or a light spring coral? At a glance and through a computer screen, it can be hard to say. In person, however, it might be totally glaringly obvious.

And in that way, this post really was a light bulb moment for me. I kept wondering if I had some Dramatic, as I'm tall and narrow and masculine-inspired clothing often works well for me. But then I'm going down this like a checklist and realizing how none of it works for me: pointy toes? hoo boy, I look ridiculous in those. Monochrome? eh, maybe, but only in light, softened colors, and tone-on-tone with a TON of texture is better than a perfect match. high contrast? nope. just nope. slicked back hair? er... pass. -- Like, these are such GORGEOUS style tips - and I can imagine them looking fabulous on so many women -- but for me, these would not look right. So that right there was SO helpful as a self-drape test.

And I imagine this would be so helpful in the other style IDs as well! Even... and I know this ID is often seen as the 'easy' one - but also in Natural.

See, I'm beginning to think that I may be mostly - perhaps ALL - Natural. I think any ethereal/dramatic/other element is due to unusually pale coloring. I finally got frustrated with women's sizing and went shopping in the men's dept. the other day - hallelujah and light bulb moment: the men's clothes looked SO much better and more flattering than women's clothing -- even just the t-shirts fit my proportions better and made my face look balanced. So again: draping. Definitely needed to drape.

But as I'm trying to lean into Natural, I find I get confused. The concept of "Natural" is very muddy in my mind - even after reading all your posts about it - and Kibbe's stuff, as well. Yet I still find it one of the harder categories to understand because it ends up being 'the catch-all category' or, as one blogger put it, 'the lumpen peasant' category. It's hard to think about a style ID that's defined by being 'the norm.' It's also hard when so many explanations of it seem neutral at best, often outright negative at worst. Descriptors like 'rugged' or 'handsome' or 'free' help, but again, I find I'm having to really reorganize my thinking on this category. Further, I think a lot of the fashion world uses the word 'classic' to refer to 'whatever I find most expected in clothing and style' -- which in much of the States - esp. the West Coast -- means Natural. Meanwhile, what stylists mean as 'classic' is traditional or ladylike or something FAR different than what get's called a 'modern classic' or whatever.

And I also think that part of the confusion is the *price* of Natural clothing nowadays. After all, 'casual' no longer means 'cheap.' In an era when synthetic fibers and mass production are cheaper than ever before, all-natural fabrics, artisan crafting, etc. all are markers of expensive clothing. Natural has gone high end. I think of Eileen Fisher - one of the most Natural brands out there - and to me, that's expensive stuff. My most flattering coat - one I get a million compliments on - is a very Natural shaped men's overcoat made from cruelty-free wool - and it took me forever to save up for it. I find pure Natural pieces are often investment pieces these days -- and it's rarer to find 100% natural fibers, handcrafting, etc. So Natural can - at least in my experience - seem deceptively avant garde or unusual simply because I have trouble finding these crafted pieces in big box stores.

Lastly, I think Natural can be easy to overlook because it's just so... unassuming. It's easy for Natural to be subsumed by other elements that get added on. I keep having to pull my hand away from things that I *think* are Natural because they look cozy or casual or easy -- because they often have elements that aren't Natural -- romantic detail, gamine playfulness, etc. While maybe some folks can identify Pure Natural (TM) at the drop of a hat, I am really having to train my

11/6/2018 01:51:35 pm

...eye.

I'm having to train my eye. And I think I wrote too much and got cut off. XD

Well anyhow: Natural. As you said, Rachel in the comments on your Natural Post: "I see it over and over in my analyses: a strongly Natural woman is "meh" in almost everything, then I suddenly drape her in Natural clothes and she instantly becomes gorgeous. It's a striking change."

^ This is what I'm finding -- well, maybe not 'gorgeous,' but at least not desperately uncomfortable. And along those lines, even if Natural IS the 'average' or 'expected' category, I know that I for one could always use any more insight about it. It's so very easy to feel the need to spice things up, and sometimes keeping things unabashedly simple and rugged is a challenge for those of us who are not used to seeing ourselves in this light.

Short version: Thank you. This is a great post. I have thoughts about Natural (lots of them!) and I always look forward to seeing your insights on style. It has been unbelievably helpful as I've been building a usable wardrobe that makes me feel good, but doesn't take up all my money and time and mental space. Thank you!

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.
Thirding (or more) the hope that there are posts like this for the other basic essences ^.^

Jenn

11/7/2018 04:22:33 pm

Can I give this entire comment an “amen”?

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."

I would also love some clarification on Natural. Rachel's Natural seems to differ from Kibbe's quite a lot. I can't do most of Rachel's Natural, the sort of extreme Eileen Fisher, totally unconstructed and textured looks, but some of Kibbe's Natural works better for me. (Ali MacGraw in Love Story has been one of my style touchstones for years.) I think Rachel has offered a great explanation of Natural that really expands on the incompleteness of Kibbe's system, but not all comfy, easy clothing is Natural. A lot of contemporary sportswear actually is not – it's not unconstructed, it's not textured, it's not wide.

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.

It's interesting your point about Natural being 'wide.' I see that in the TIB pinterest boards, and there it looked really extreme and baggy to me -- but in practice, I find there's an edge of 'good baggy' vs. 'I am now a pile of fabric.' In one of the guides I got - shopping, I think - it points out that the Natural silhouette is long and narrow. It's not *skinny*, but narrow. I think Natural is maybe supposed to be like a tree trunk: overall narrow, but a little bit thick - solid, rather - and highly textured. So translating that to clothing, you've got a body of solid bone and muscle (or a face that looks like solid bone and muscle) - and the body fills out the simple, texture clothing to similar narrow, solid effect of a tree. I dunno, that's what I've been thinking of. Then you've got ethereal which takes the trunk into the willow-tree direction, which I can do a little bit.

Hm... not sure if that makes sense. Either way, I appear to be taking my style cues from trees. :)

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.

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.

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.

However, I don't know if defaulting to Classic works on everyone. For instance, I think a Dramatic Ethereal might look totally wrong in Classic, because the fantasy element of that Style ID is so absent from the traditionalism of Classic... but I think for other types, it might be more workable?

KarenH

11/7/2018 10:57:59 pm

Megan
I’m a Romantic/Ethereal/Dramatic and Classic styles don’t look wrong on me, just incredibly boring. That said it’s really easy to add dramatic elements to an otherwise classic ensemble and make it work really well. My favorite trick is to wear really blingy dramatic jewelry and shoes in my bright winter high contrast colors. Add some dramatic lipstick color and nobody even notices the classic cut of the clothes. If I’m in a situation wear I can’t go too dramatic with my makeup and accessories, then I focus on going high color contrast with the different pieces of my clothes. This is what I do when I’m forced to wear extremely casual clothes, also. If I’m stuck wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers, then I go for the brightest, most high contrast clolors that I can find. I also try to find casual clothes that are either narrow or have an ethereal flowyness to them. The irony of being a very formal style blend is that you look your most unnatural the more relaxed the event is.

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.

Also, it’s worth noting that Naturals and Dramatics are also flattered by minimal detail. From what I understand, Classic lacks any extreme elements by definition, and minimalism seems to range from extremely sleek, angular, and avant-garde to extremely unconstructed and casual. Guess there’s different kinds of “minimal” :). Maybe Rachel can do a post someday on how the lack of detail translates differently for Classics, Dramatics, and Naturals.

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.

KC--I really like the idea of a post about the different types of minimalism! For Dramatic in particular, I do think extreme minimalism can look good, but I also think that the right type of details--if they're very large and angular--can look good? It definitely seems to be a different type of minimal than Natural, and both seem distinct from Classic.

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. ;)

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.

But lately I've been kind of dissatisfied with the 50-50 because it feels like one of the essences MUST be at least a bit stronger than the other. What are the chances that I would have exactly the same amount of Romantic and Dramatic in my features, you know?

I guess maybe the difference is too nelgible to be picked up by the style ID calculator (and by my eye) but I still find it interesting whether lots of people are about 50-50 of two IDs or whether it's more common to have a dominant essence with one or two less important essences.

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 ;)

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.

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,

I'm a DC, but it's my face and body that's elongated, not my arms and legs. The dramatic leanness doesn't extend to my arms and legs, which are soft and where I carry body fat. My legs can feel disproportionately short when dressed wrong. I"m 5'6" and about 125 lbs, so not too thin, or heavy.

I love long jackets, very well fitting high waisted pants are fabulous, as are lean silhouettes, fitted sheath dresses, unbroken lines of color especially when wearing pants and a top, and pointy shoes, even flats. I keep it dark on my lower half always.

It's been difficult letting go of all of the rules for dressing short legs, thinking "oh, that won't work for me," and trust the recommendations for DC and just try them! A few shorter legged celebrities are Jessica Alba, Kiera Knightly and even Alessandra Ambrosio, which I mention just for reference. I don't know their style identity.

I've finally been able to try an ankle baring hem on slim pants and jeans and I like it, even with a high vamp brogue style shoe. I've taken photos in a mirror just to be sure and I think it looks great! I don't believe it's a DC recommendation but it's current and brings a freshness to my outfits. I love that it's neat and tidy.

The one thing I haven't been able to believe look good yet are long shirts left untucked, like in the athletic wear picture above. While long lean tops are amazing for my upper body, I fear that it actually highlights my short legs. It feels like I need a small front tuck to to raise the hem line of the shirt to make my legs appear longer. Is this residue from body hang ups of the past, or possibly a real thing? I know it's impossible to know without seeing me, but I thought I'd throw this out there anyway.

Wearing the leather leggings look above, as cool as it is, would feel doubly wrong for me because of where the long top (as mentioned above) hits (right where my length ends, leaving only shortish legs), as well as the loose fit. So I don't wear leggings really because paired with a lean, shorter top doesn't feel right either. Fortunately, ensembles like this only see the light of day when I work out in my own home!

Are there any other DCs built like me? Do you still wonder about how to dress shorter legs or have the DC recommendations worked regardless of that body quirk? What are some of the things that feel right for you? Thanks!

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.

I think a long top over pants could work on a person with shorter legs if paired with a bit of a heel? If I'm going to wear a longer top and/or lower-rise bottoms, I often wear heels, and I think that makes me look pretty proportional.

I've also realized that if I dress in a way that flatters my face, the fact of whether my body looks highly "proportional" becomes less important. As Rachel has said elsewhere, people spend most of the time focusing on your face, not your body.

I think I"m going to experiment more with wearing things that aren't necessarily conventionally figure flattering for me but do fit my style ID, and see how it works out!

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Same was true when I tried highlights, and going to a “gentle” blonder shade (the colored part of my hair is close to black) does not work, either. Too light and always skews too red.

So it will be back to coloring It dark until my hair is truly white.

Thought this could help other Ds who may be struggling.

Truth is Beauty

Easy Ways to Do Dramatic Style

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