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

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

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" 

-- 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.