I teased this on the Facebook page months ago, and I have been silent ever since. There are several reasons for this. Some are logistical, since I moved across the country and started grad school. But I think also there is just a lot to reveal, and how much this shift has changed my perspective on what I do here and how I am present in life.
One thing that has not changed: my perspective on my Kibbe Image ID. I still believe that my yin/yang balance is Flamboyant Gamine, and it is the best description of my physicality and my “star quality.”
But there is another piece of how I identify that has been nearly as stable over the years that I have now decided was wrong. For many years, I have seen myself as a 3/4 in Dressing Your Truth. But I have never even really come close to dressing that way. It was always too heavy, too much. And when I joined the Facebook group, I could never shake the feeling that I just didn’t look like the people in the group. But I simply didn’t know where else I could fit.
I got my license at the end of June, and as I was looking at my photo, it was as if I were seeing my face for the first time. Suddenly I could see symmetry and parallel lines. And I realized that I was a Type Four with a Secondary One.
This is a common mistyping–it’s stillness with a push behind it. And it is not uncommon for Type 4s to not see themselves as “perfect enough” to be T4. I thought I wasn’t graceful enough; I thought that my nose was all wrong. But once I saw it, there it was.
This does, of course, render Dark Autumn, and Autumn in general, no longer relevant, if I really want to stick with DYT. I have enjoyed bringing black back into my wardrobe, and going for bold, saturated colors. Would I drape into these colors? Probably not. Do I feel like they express me better than something I may drape into? Yes.
I do feel like it is a relief to not have to think about how I would fit what I loved into T3. I can see that the way I have been dressing is 4/1 lines, just in T3 colors. And I can see that living my truth has been good for me, especially since I discovered it right before I started a brand new chapter in my life.
I could go on and on about this, but really, just look at this site! It is so T4 🙂
I am not looking for opinions, but if you have questions about my process, I will answer them here and on Facebook.
Jonna
October 16, 2018 at 4:06 pmCan’t see a link to the T4 site. Thanks
stylesyntax
October 16, 2018 at 4:35 pmSorry, I don’t understand.
Jonna
October 16, 2018 at 5:54 pm“I could go on and on about this, but really, just look at this site! It is so T4 ?” I’m probably misunderstanding, what site are you referring to? Thanks
Jonna
October 16, 2018 at 5:56 pmOh good grief, got it. Sorry!
Doubleletterlady
October 17, 2018 at 6:44 pmCongratulations! I always suspected you might be a T4, but I am not one to tell someone who they are. The way that you write is very much T4, your sentence structure, even when you are conveying confusion, you write in a very clear, grounded manner. Your blog posts are very well organized, each idea compartmentalized. Even the font choice is type 4. I wish I could have my epiphany moment and just stick to one type.
stylesyntax
October 18, 2018 at 1:19 pmI have heard that from a few people—it seems laughably obvious now! I think your epiphany moment will come, too.
Doubleletterlady
October 18, 2018 at 1:55 pm🙂 thanks! I hope so.
Cristina
October 17, 2018 at 8:08 pmYou’re inspiring me to revisit DYT. I’ve always assumed 4/2 but occasionally wonder if 4/1 or even 2/1 are where I’d fit. Basically, I only know I’m not a 3 ?
stylesyntax
October 19, 2018 at 2:49 pmCome rejoin us!
Chana
October 22, 2018 at 10:26 amI suspect that resolving DYT types for myself would make my Zyla type clear.
I’m some blend of 1 with 4 or 2. It’s hard for me to sort out… Lately I’m wondering if maybe I lean to 1/2 because I’m holding myself back from 1/4.
In animal familiars I’m very sure I’m Ermine, and I’m sure I’m Kibbe Soft Classic. Maybe the soft feeling I have is an effect from the dyt 1 being light and open rather than from 2 being soft and subtle. Maybe it’s my interpretation of the words…
stylesyntax
October 23, 2018 at 3:22 pmZyla can see someone very differently, though, and they don’t really line up. I know people who are Springs in Zyla and T4s in DYT, and people who are Autumns in Zyla and T2s in DYT.
Chana
October 23, 2018 at 8:10 pmI have heard that, and it’s actually helpful to me to remember.
The first several times I read through the Zyla archetypes, I was guessing on my own. Then I was draped Light Spring in Sci/Art, but I have never been able to settle into any of the Zyla springs.
Now I’m feeling like I’m looking for resonance between what I feel confident about and the systems where I’ve had a hard time identifying myself. So I’m back to not limiting myself to spring archetypes for Zyla. I’m also considering that I may be DYT 1/4 even though I’m definitely INFJ. As Carol says, it’s about energy and movement.
I feel like I’m developing better filters for understanding the different systems, at least for myself.
Annie
October 23, 2018 at 8:19 amWas that the whole “I have some shocking news to share”… about you being a T4??
Do you really think people care that much about which type you are? LOL
stylesyntax
October 23, 2018 at 3:20 pmThis is a blog that is partly about my personal experiences with style systems. I’m confused as to why someone would follow my Facebook page and then not be interested in what I have to say. I would also be confused by someone who took the time to comment just to tell me they don’t care. LOL.
Doubleletterlady
October 23, 2018 at 10:56 pmUmmm…. yeah, I care. That would be the reason I’m reading this. I care very much what this blogger’s journey is like because I am on the same path. Annie I’m sorry to tell you this, but you are stupid. Not that you look stupid, or come off as stupid, you are actually stupid. Everyone reading this blog cares. If they didn’t care they would be doing something else. There are so many things to do on the internet – and in the real world – but you are here, trolling, like a stupid idiot. If you don’t care then go do something else.
Doubleletterlady
October 23, 2018 at 11:36 pmI find it odd that all the reasons you are giving for not seeing your 4-ness are similar to the reasons I give for not being a type 4. I was immediately attracted to type 4 when I first saw the dyt videos. Most of the guesses on the Guess That Type facebook group were four. I found a picture of myself from before I knew anything about Color Me Beautiful and all the style systems and I was dressed, head to toe, in all type 4, even my hair was t4, despite being blonde. Everything should point to me being type 4, but I don’t see it in my physical self.
It is very interesting to me that you have what I would call non traditional type 4 coloring. Most of the type 4s at dyt are some sort of winter. That is the main problem I have with the dyt recommendations – the colors. (even though those are the colors that make me happy.) I know that I wouldn’t drape in the type 4 colors either. My coloring is very low contrast and my custom palette lines up with type 2 colors beautifully. So it is confusing. I want all the systems to line up exactly, but they don’t.
I would really love to exclaim oh! Yes, I am a type 4! But I am still held back by the same issues that you mention. I’m not perfect enough. My nose is too big. My eyes are asymmetrical.
One thing I did enjoy while experimenting with Type 4: instant respect. I might have never received a compliment, but people got out of my way (for once in my life) and I got exactly what I asked for, every time I made a request. Have you experienced this?
Doubleletterlady
October 23, 2018 at 11:38 pmsorry, this was meant to go to another blog post!
Hanna
October 29, 2018 at 10:40 amDo you find that knowing this has changed your perspective on their content?
stylesyntax
October 29, 2018 at 5:08 pmNot really. I have always enjoyed the content!