As someone who is tall, I am jealous of gamines for being able to pull off short dresses without it drawing too much attention or throwing off their proportions.

”We’re all trying to look like each other”

that's sooo funny. i did my colour and type consultation in a small women's group. when it came to body shape, one woman was told that she should wear loose tops because that suits her better with her body shape. she said she didn't want to wear potato sacks all the time and who in the group she envied for our narrow waists. she has a straight body shape. i then said to her that she had beautiful narrow legs and that i envied her for that and her beautifully delecate ankles and knees. she couldn't see the beauty because she was busy with her belly. i'm pear-shaped with short legs and always have problems with trousers. but i don't focus on that, i focus on my waist and wearing tighter fitting tops to emphasise that. It didn't used to be like that, yes I envy others for their legs, but I can't change it no matter how skinny i could be. and another funny story: after my analysis i gave all brown makeup away. my colleague asked me why i was so strict about it and i said “because i shouldn't wear brown, and should go for gray and black”. she said that she wouldn't let herself be restricted and that it is completely dictatorial. that was such a negative view. i then said that i trusted the stylist and her experience and that i saw that she was right. i love my color so i see the positive side, she sees the negative. it's so fascinating. i love the new given structure and system i have, so see tat as restricting... why?

When I first started following you years, I started to notice patterns in other people and seeing what made them beautiful, how well styled themselves or how they could style themselves to bring out that beauty. I don't want to be someone else but it's SO hard to see my own features with this compassionate and more objective lens. You typed me as mixed and I've noticed it leans towards beveled. My goal is to create a daily uniform that helps me draw out the feminine while still being comfortable enough to run around with my 3 y/o 😅 I love your work 💕

Merriam... sorry that this is off-topic...but will you be reviewing and doing a video on David Kibbe's new book, which is being released on January 15th? I hope so. I've ordered it myself and would love to hear your views on it. Thanks.

why is it wrong to want to be a different body type but its right to want to be a different gender?!

Maybe you could do a video series in which you talk about the different types and what makes each type ' the most beautiful type' as you mentioned in the video. That would be so jnteresting.🎉🎉🎉 love you ❤

I always felt too conservative or *mumsy* as a soft classic. Im also afraid of appearing too refined as in cold or distant. I definetly experienced some neglect because i appear to have it all together. Any one else who wants to be my type? I'm having a hard time reframing it for myself. ❤

Can I have a Theatrical Romantic body type with a Pure Romantic essence?

Honestly I struggle now a bit, cause due to medication I put on weight. From S-M my size became L-XL. I have so much beautiful clothes in S-M size, still don’t want to get rid of it snd buy a lot of my new size. I even don’t know anymore what fits my new body, so I just buy what is really necessary.

Beautiful video ❤ I've been on my soft dramatic journey for 7 years now. I felt easee learning that my big and bulky presence is a natural part of me. The biggest obstacle was thinking that I need to look sexy - which I wasnt on board with (I love gamine styles!!) Finding classical pieces in lines that are flattering my body shape was a biggest and most recent discovery, as it helped me ro embrace the overall SD vibe without pushing for sensuality. I would never think before that I would enjoy cream bulky wrap jumpers (I'm a colorful eclectic artist) but it just works!! I feel at ease in them. ❤ I love all the kibbe types equally, and my biggest eye opening was reall fully appriciating Dramatics beauty

My message to everyone: Be your own type of girl. Save Pinterest pins of girls who look like you. Think of your face as an aesthetic trend that will never go out of style. Be your own aesthetic. That’s what I do, and that’s why I love myself so much.

I am a flamboyant Garmin, I had always wanted to look like flamboyant natural, BUT, now I like my body type and love the way i look , acceptiing myself 😍

Knowing body types especially helpful for YOUNG people. Little to no info about this 30 years ago.

Theatrical romantic..grew up in a culture where most women had big voluptious chest i always felt like a kid with my small curves and delicate frame..felt less womanly..came across your videos years ago and realized i am cool and delicate with TR body type..changed my life..exposure to korean entertainment also made me realize u can be petite and very feminine..( it has its flaws too) ..the fact that u can be feminine without a visible heavy bustline was unknown to my teenage self..i remember my first night of marriage i almost apologized to my husband about my small breasts 😅..he was sooo confused like whaaaat

Can you look dainty as a very wide soft natural? It's hard to accept yourself when society wants women dainty looking.

I have a friend, she is dramatic, and she always complains she wants to be short and stuffed (fat), her words exactly.

Happy Holidays!

It sounds like the client who told you they didn't want to be a trophy wife was thinking about Sophia Vergara as her soft dramatic example (since she played a trophy wife in modern family). But there are so many other soft dramatics who look completely different. Adele is a SD and does not give off trophy wife at all. She's extremely elegant. Christina Hendricks is also SD and is extremely classy and fits the 50's esthetic due to her character on Mad Men. Being typed as something does not mean everyone in that type looks alike or has similar essences or characteristics. Being typed as something should only help you in your personal style journey, not make you feel like you only fit into one type of box.

I’m still honing in on my body type but throughout my life I have felt too petite/delicate to fit an athletic/natural look and yet not petite/delicate enough for more elegant looks. I’ve always felt too fat even when I wasn’t. And now I look back on old photos and wish I hadn’t been so self conscious. It’s so true that we want what we aren’t 🤷🏼‍♀️

What's been difficult is to see my own beauty upon hearing negative media coverage on "aging" and for those with medical diagnosis such as arthritis, ortho problems. How to adjust what I loved about me to the current times and attitudes? Or to what extent is it necessary or not? So much of fashion about the "timeless" many classify as "frumpy." Tips on doing customized classics without connecting it to periods of time would be helpful.

The book by Merriam I would love to read: "When you see your own beauty"

Great topic. There is a strong emotional/psychological effects in accepting beauty. Many doctors who do cosmetic surgery have noted the same thing. They therefore ask questions in their consults to figure out if plastic surgery is the "answer." to their problem. Maybe fashion is a desire to develop esteem without doing the inner work. Maybe you can build a component ( counseling) to your practice as so many image consultants don't go deeper. You seem to be compassionate and empathetic which makes you attract people who are willing to tell you what they feel. 💓

There is any social media like facebook group, telegram, discord, that we can share our style photos and have conversations about it? I would like it, and I love your content as well.

I'm finally 🙌 accepting my shape and coloring yay!!! I tried to be something else for a long time. At 63 yo now I know embracing what I have is great.

I'm definitely so guilty of this. I think because I'm half-Iranian and my Iranian cousins had such beautiful bold dramatic features, meanwhile my features, while having some dramatic essence, are really much softer and moderate, I thought I looked boring. I have always really admired really dramatic beauty like Angelina Jolie for example. I have an older cousin who I admired and who is so gorgeous with very large, deep set almond eyes and she has very dramatic-romantic-ethereal features and body type is soft natural I think. She would always wear this dark boho style and I was copying her for a while in my 20s but I realized that it actually really dragged me down to wear that. While she looked magical in those outfits, I really just looked unkempt and shapeless. After a while I started to embrace the softer, more moderate aspects of my features. I won't lie, there is still a part of me that wishes I were tall and dramatic (I get so happy when I see a really tall woman wear heels, they remind me of an gorgeous Amazon woman and I often wonder how it would feel) but I've come to a point of embracing what I look like (short and curvy) and as such I feel like I have the best style I've ever had, thanks in large part to channels like yours.

As a natural, I've just always wondered what it was like to be and feel dainty.

Me too

Thank you for this video! I love my short and sharp lines - I’m FG mixed taut. I used to hate being short and wished I was tall like a dramatic and only then I’d be beautiful. But now I love my size and I know how to dress so I can be elegant and powerful if I want to be, or fun and cute if I lean into that. You’ve helped me see how I can dress my body’s lines to suit my mood.

My consultation was the best thing I've ever bought. So, being an SD with Romantic essence helped me to hone in on certain patterns, fabrics and colors. I'm getting so much better at my choices and am able to discern between all the Soft body type clothing. I also find it helpful to be in Club. I refer to the videos over and over again; there is so much information. Sometimes I miss it and get it the second or third time. I think you're the best out there! Sorry other KZbinrs.

I love your voice. my fave on YT #teamquiet

once i understood im probably a soft natural, Im way more at ease about not being super thin and petite, and Im comfortable with being a more "broad" body than my friends and family. when im in full SN posture, with proper lines, im so effortlessly well dressed and thats so good. this journey has been very awarding

Yes, as a sharpened soft, I used to wish I was shorter and more petite. I’m thankful for Merriam helping me understand my lines and coloring to work with my own look. She has shifted my perspective from the mindset of camouflaging certain areas to working WITH my body to highlight its beauty. Sometimes the technique is the same but my mindset is different.

I have a collection of super long and flowy dresses in my closet that I never wear, because they look weird on me. I always thought something was strangely wrong with me, because the dresses were beyond beautiful, and I could not understand how they suddenly looked odd whenever I tried them on. After finding out that I'm soft gamine, with the help of Merriam, I understood that I NEED a high neckline and waist definition and that the dresses can't be too long. So now I'm shortening all my dresses by hand and ad some waist definition by sewing darts or adding a waistband of some kind. With some dresses, I just need to add buttons to create a higher neckline. Or I wear a short necklace. I'm so happy that I can finally wear the beautiful dresses that were collecting dust in my closet for way too long. Thank you, Merriam!

I've got a long torso and short legs. I think it's understandable for me to want longer legs.

I'm a Romantic, I envy how effortlessly Classics and Naturals can pull out a minimalist outfit. With the same pieces, they look regal and I look neglected... I have a better understanding of how it works now, so I know what element I need to put more thoughts into to make it works, mixing and matching simple pieces with more punchy elements.

Brilliant Miriam. Thanks n happy new year 🥰

Ladies- invest in you and get typed. It was the best money I've ever spent!

I'm looking for an outfit for a wedding as I'm listening to you. I'm Flamboyant Gamine. I just picked out a coat that's too classic, which I thought might be flattering, then realised I'm just going to disappear in it. It's really hard to 'dress down' without disappearing into nothingness visually. I've just found a sparkly striped dress and a teal fur cape - it's theatrical but I feel it is going to look quite laid back on me. I want to find a 'low key' look but I also want to look like I'm there.

I have long lines and a dramatic essence and have always wanted to look cute and petite. I am learning to love my low contrast although there was a time I really, really wanted to be a winter season as I find their high contrast so beautiful. I do really love my warm undertones though- thanks for your uplifting videos inspiring us all to appreciate our own beauty 😊

It was not until you body typed me that I accepted my height as a SG. I too always wanted to be taller like my sisters, but it made me to realize I am uniquely made by God. I am low contrast and as a fair skinned lady I used to always want to be darker. I quit trying in my mid 30's. I'm so glad I did as it has helped with the aging process now at 68. I am very content with who I am, just wish I felt that way when I was younger. Great video.

I am one of those who envy curvy hair. I find afro hair really beautiful and I am not even black.

Love what you said, “There is always someone who wants to look like YOU…” A very good thought to remember! We need to define our own individual standard of beauty for sure! ❤ I am a Flamboyant Gamine type, very petite. I love the recommended style, how edgy and eclectic we can be. Love my huge eyes and that I look best in short hair. Sometimes I do wish I was taller so I wouldn’t have to have clothes tailored! I love Dramatic Classic style, but I can work some of those elements too.

What helped me was just aging (I'm 30 now), realizing my lines and with trial and error my colors too. And therapy, of course. I also had bad shopping addiction and now I feel like it's under control and I really don't need much to achieve best results

Yes! The issue is that its easy for us to conflate lines with the image or 'core' we want to achieve. There are so many benefits in embracing what we have, let alone the fact that it can feel liberating. We need to start seeing ourselves objectively and holistically (not just seeing our percieved 'flaws') not only for the sake of our own confidence, but to really see the canvas we are expressing on.

This phenomenon you are talking about has something to do with the tendency many women seem to have, that is loving to play the victim. And thus avoid actually start creating yourself to match your beauty ideals.

This is so interesting and uplifting. Thank you. For years I've been studying and learning and trying to understand my body type, My lines, How to dress, How to spend less time getting ready and shopping. It's been a long journey. Sorting through so much advice. My measurements are traditional hourglass but as a married mother of teenagers I did not want to look sexy 24/7 and accentuate those curves. I was tired of wasting money on trendy clothes just to find out they're out of Style in no time. As a soft classic with a short waist and long legs, my proportions have been difficult to shop for and belts look ridiculous on me. I discovered that my style is classic and minimal with a hint of feminine. The final piece in the puzzle was my color analysis last year. I knew I looked better in cool tones but I didn't know if I was a winter or summer. I couldn't figure out why I was always having to use makeup to fix Wearing the wrong colors. Now I understand why because I'm a bright winter but wasn't wearing the saturated colors. Now I've curated my wardrobe and my makeup collection and it's been so freeing to always reach for colors that flatter. I'm overjoyed and I've gotten more compliments in the past year then I had in the entire past decade. My point is it's worth all the work to learn all of this, make the changes, and embrace our own natural beauty. I've become more confident in my own skin and as a result stopped wishing to look different.

This video is so important, Merriam! Your work is amazing.

David Kibbe did NOT verify Keira Knightly as a pure Dramatic. Most people type her as a DC since D is too extreme of yang for her. She looks best in classic lines.

This worked - I didn’t even need to try on the dresses, just see your examples!