I recently had a little ‘glow up’, and I thought I’d share that journey. It was fun and inexpensive, and I feel like I am finally expressing my true self to the world 100% of the time.
Dress Your Truth
It all started when I had the inclination to revisit Carol Tuttle’s website www.liveyourtruth.com. I had known about her energy profiling system for many years, but I had not applied her tips to my life. As a SAHM, my wardrobe had changed, and I wasn’t feeling as stunning or confident as I used to feel back when I was in the jewelry industry. I’m glad I remembered Dress Your Truth.
figuring out your personal style
Carol Tuttle offers a free quiz followed by a free tutorial to learn some basics about how to present yourself according to your energy type. There are four types of beauty for women, and I am a Type 4. In short time, I was able to learn about the ways I can dress, apply makeup, and do my hair to reflect my energy to the world. Type 4 women are bold, stunning, reflective, and interested in perfecting things.
In addition to learning about my own energy type, I learned about the other three. I was able to figure out the energy types of many loved ones, and it felt great to have a better understanding of their gifts and quirks. After mentioning energy profiling to a friend, she explored the system with great gusto! To my delight, she gifted me Carol’s bestselling book, It’s Just My Nature.
Let me just say that this was one of the most insightful and enjoyable books I’ve ever read. I had a new appreciation for specific people in my life of all different types. (Men also fall into one of these four energy types, and they have a similar system for dressing their truth.)
I realized that both of my parents were Type 4’s, and they lived their truth. Plus, I married a Type 4 man! At one time, I worked in an office setting full of Type 4’s. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why we were a good team – now I get it! All of us, including the guy, were very precise and perfect the way we went about things. Oh, and we were all very attractive, too, if I may say so! The ladies I worked with were bold and stunning in their personal style, including the sleek blonde hair, red lips, and black attire. It was fantastic to work with people who had the same nature and tendencies. It worked well for what we did. Our catalogues were perfectly polished, and so were our nails!
It’s Just My Nature gave me an opportunity to reflect on relationships and friendships of the other types, not just my own. If more people were aware of the four energy types, I believe there would be more harmony in families and communities!
It dawned on me that Type 1’s had a special place in my heart – I love how animated and fun they are, and always eager to make others smile! One of my brothers is a Type 1, and he brought a much-appreciated lightheartedness to the family. My beloved firstborn is a Type 1, and my heart just soars as she makes funny singsong quips and dances around randomly. I once worked with a lady who had obvious, bouncy, Type 1 energy. You would never know that she was pushing 60. She was more youthful and energetic than me, and she just made our tasks fun and enjoyable. I was rather sad when the shift was over!
an uplifting Type 1 woman
I have close friendships with Type 3’s, perhaps because I’m naturally drawn to their rich and dynamic energy and inclination to take swift action! These are powerhouse people who want to accomplish great things in the world. Hats off to them! Although they can come off as aggressive or edgy, I really have to appreciate their chutzpah and determination!
I also have a real fondness for the Type 2’s in my life. They are all heart, and they have a natural ability to soothe and comfort people. My adopted ‘Soul Mom’ is Type 2, and I have always loved her detailed messages recounting her days and events. Each time that I chat with her or read her emails, the world just feels right again. I can experience all of the fun she’s having watching live music or perusing the farmer’s market. I really love the dozens of photos she shares of her plants and her home – she shows me what really matters, in sharp contrast to the news and updates that have a lot of jarring noise!
soft and muted Type 2 wardrobe
thredUp
Once I had gotten a good grasp of how I could Dress My Truth, I assessed my wardrobe and sent 30+ things off to thredUp, the world’s largest online thrift shop. I enjoyed browsing the remarkable selection of gently used clothing, and I realized that filling in the gaps in my wardrobe would NOT cost a fortune. With the help of the Style Guide from the Dress Your Truth store, I trained my eye to spot the perfect tops and pants for my type.
Most of my finds have been less than $10, and many of them retail for $40-$100. My favorite pick is a gorgeous Kelly-green cardigan that is a staple for Type 4 ladies. It is a designer piece that retails for over $100, and I nabbed it for $2.13 plus free shipping after using some points I had earned during a flash sale. Not bad.
On a side note, you’d be amazed how eco-friendly it is to thrift. ThredUp is delighted to share the stats with you.
I now have a complete-ish wardrobe. I just don’t see myself spending nearly as much time and money on clothes as I used to. My pants, tops, and dresses are timeless. I never loved trends or fast fashion, and it feels good to have clothes that I will wear for many years. As crazy as it sounds, every outfit is now my favorite outfit. I don’t spend much time throwing something together in the morning. I know I’ll look just as great in the red plaid slacks as I’ll look in the houndstooth leggings, and everything else. That’s a great feeling! Time and money can be allocated to other things, and I can step into my day with more confidence than ever before.
The bottom line here is that dressing true to your type will do so much more than make you look your best. You will feel clear and happy. There is an innate knowing that you are signaling to the world that you are (pick one):
- Light and bouncy, adventurous and fun (air)
- Invested in gathering the details, calm and flowing gracefully (water)
- Loud and active, forward moving and completing checklists (fire)
- Bold, precise, logical, grounded in reality (earth)
If you feel inclined, take the free quiz! Warning: you may be in for a major glow up. You may be in for some validating feedback about your true nature!