Why Being Dramatic is Not Always a Bad Thing
I admit it. I am a dramatic
person. At 28 years old, I still call my mother when my stomach hurts and
loudly proclaim I am dying. I often swear to my friends that I am so bored that I just can't. I try to only take pictures in places that are pretty and offer an exciting
backdrop to my exciting (if sometimes imaginary) life. Above all, I strive to
never be considered ordinary because I believe that is synonymous with
mundane. As you can imagine, my dramatic tendencies can bleed over into the way
I dress and style myself. While I should probably work on those antics in other
areas of my life, apparel is one area where I think everyone could benefit from
being a little more expressive. In this post, I am going to share some of my
favorite strategies for upping the ante of your outfits.
According to the
thesaurus, dramatic can also mean powerful, impressive, thrilling, and
electrifying. In my opinion, these are all great things to be. (Have you
ever actually woken up and said I really, really wish to be boring? –
No, I’ll bet you haven’t.) Since I want to be perceived as special and a little
different, I make sure that I deliberately dress in a way that communicates
that. One way I try to spice up my wardrobe is by identifying and wearing
silhouettes that are not very common. For example in this post, my outerwear is
not a trench coat or a pea coat; it’s a two-toned cape. It’s just as warm as
any other option, but it is seen much less often. It is not likely to be
included as anyone’s recommendation for a piece in a capsule wardrobe or found on a “top
5 pieces you should own” list. For this reason, you are less likely to
duplicate someone else’s fashion choice and more likely to stand out with your
own fashion statement. Choose a special piece, not a staple piece.
Besides going for less trendy
silhouettes, I also gravitate towards accessories that are less common. Be it jewelry or a nice handbag, I look for things that are a little more limited in their production. I am
sure blog posts telling you about amazing second hand finds are a dime a dozen, but
thrifting really is a great way to go if you are looking for one of a kind items. You can see on my lapel, I have a cluster of vintage brooches and pins. Each
one is has a story, a unique style. I am not very likely to see any of them
staring back at me from upon a friend’s jacket. Some of you know that in my 9 to 5 I work as a buyer for Dillard's department store. In an office where most of us are shopping the same brands, we can tend to end up unwittingly purchasing the exact same outfits. Unique accessories are a good way to make sure each look has a little something different that is entirely my own.
My final tip on crafting a wearable, but dramatic, look is to combine pieces in surprising ways. You are probably thinking "could she be anymore vague". (Yes, I could.) Let me explain. When you look at my cape, you can probably tell that it is made of satin and velvet. The colors and the trimmings were designed to look rich and expensive. In contrast to that, I am wearing an unbuttoned chambray blouse and a black pencil skirt. This shirt by its' very definition is simple and the skirt is definitely a classic. These items and textures are not ones you would normal see together. By mixing pieces with varying degrees of formality, my outfit has highs and lows. This is what I mean by combining pieces in surprising ways. Think about your favorite street style icon or celebrity style crush. You probably like his or her looks because they involve risk. Don't be afraid to incorporate a little of that in your own life.
"My home
Is a girl who can't wait for time to tell
God only knows
We don't need history
When your family
Swinging from the branches of a tree
God only knows
We don't need ghost stories
God only knows
We don't need history
When your family
Swinging from the branches of a tree
God only knows
We don't need ghost stories
Ooh la la la la la
Let's live in the moment
Come back Sunday morning
A lie, oh well
When you're gone
Goodbye, so long, farewell
Let's live in the moment
Come back Sunday morning
A lie, oh well
When you're gone
Goodbye, so long, farewell
Ooh la la la la la
Let's live in the moment
Come back Sunday morning
With that soul to sell
When you're gone
Goodbye, so long, farewell"
Let's live in the moment
Come back Sunday morning
With that soul to sell
When you're gone
Goodbye, so long, farewell"
-- Live in the Moment, Portugal. The Man
Cape: Obsessions of a Fashion Nerd Original. Tank Top & Denim Button Up: Old Navy. Skirt & Heels: Vince Camuto, via Dillard's. Handbag: Marc by Marc Jacobs. Brooches: Creative South on Main.
Fabulous!!! We clearly are kindred spirits. I refer to my style as being "classic with a twist" - I love pairing uber formal with something that is unpredictable and glaringly informal. Loved your explanation! xo
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