Expressing Your Natural Beauty - The Reality and REAL Steps to Keep Moving Forward (A Monologue)

[@cynthiasmith2334]

Since I haven't really be able to go shopping or dress up outside of the house during quarantine, I've just been obsessed with learning about style and gathering as much information as possible. When I do go out post pandemic, I'm going to look so good lol

[@sparkemotioned]

omg same hahaha, its felt like my major personal project of 2020!

[@beld.3408]

🙋‍♀️

[@sharonsvendsen6959]

I appreciated so much you said, but "be honest with yourself" was the hardest hurdle I had to get over.

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

I feel this deeply

[@lilyk527]

You're absolutely right that the personal style journey doesn't really "finish." Probably the biggest mistake I made in the beginning is repeatedly thinking I'd "solved it," when I actually had much more to learn and experiment with!

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

Yep, putting what we think we know aside and seeing where we can grow is part of the journey

[@nataliefbehler]

This resonated with me. To me, developing a personal style has been so much about finding my authentic self and taking control of how I present myself. "A journey is not always linear" could be the subtitle of the past few years for me!

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

Yes! It’s so hard to articulate these things without feeling like I’m speaking in platitudes lol But I’m glad you get it!

[@laraharding849]

As the founder of Cobra beer said, "Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment." This approach freed me to make "mistakes" and view them as experimentation. Having to fit myself into boxes might solve my problems... or it might just drive me crazy. I've come around to the idea that it's best to train my eye with style principles and then look at photos of myself in outfits, which helps me to be honest with myself, as you say.

[@burstangel]

Sewing has helped me be more ... objective about my body, especially when I made my own dress form in my own measurements! It was very therapeutic. I actually had some fun sewing me some clothes for 2020, and it helped me come to terms about how important fit and tailoring is if you have curves. Ladies, spandex suck, darts are better! I do have a problem with my personality not fitting to my body and vice versa, which I think is why I feel so disconnected with my body and my sense of self. But after year of going back to sewing, corsets vs wire bras, and fashion history, I feel more comfortable with an idea of my aesthetics, I'm still learning my body type, which is frustrating because i can't seem to pin it just right yet other than a rounded or romantic type.

[@username00009]

Any recommendations on transitioning to corsets in lieu of wired bras? I’ve looked a few times, but they’re so expensive and the choices are overwhelming.

[@leechun996]

You know what i love about yout videos? your choice of words is perfect. You dont talk redundant, endless things like most you tubers do. you also don't make your sentences unnatural complicated to impress. You have just a wonderful eay of expressing your self and you chose the most fitting word for saying these things 😍 your message comes across so perfect with that carefully chosen and natural wording. Unlike you, i am not sure what exact words to use in order to describe why I absolutely enjoy your soothing way of speaking.. But i hope you got the idea 😊❤️ I am at minute 1:50.just hat to stop and appreciate this fact. I am looking forward to watching the rest 👍

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to pause and give this wonderful feedback 💖💖💖

[@MJ_Solo]

Yes, she has this gift of what my mom calls, to “parler d’hor.” I go back an rewatch her videos over and over just to listen to her speak, it’s an amazing gift!

[@tanyaeve9498]

This is really interesting, my journey started when I had children. My old clothes didn't fit and didn't suit my lifestyle. I did go to an (excellent) image consultant who opened me up to this rabbit hole, I really felt I had rediscovered my style mojo. It is evolving, but I often come back to things that I have always liked, or a more current version of something I have always liked.

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

I love this.....a more current version of your preferences. This, to me, is the sweet spot! And I do the same.....there are certain things I’m attracted to and still love to thoughtfully include in my wardrobe.

[@stylespruce]

So well put, you're always so eloquent, I love the way you explain things!

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

Thank you!!!! As someone who overthinks things entirely way too much I really appreciate this feedback 💛

[@Ms.Mel.Creates]

This was really good to hear. I’m at the stage you were with “I’m a pure classic deep winter but also I take up space energetically so want smooth and sophisticated without patterns but structural details are ok and is this green more blue or more yellow? How deep does a green need to be to count as deep winter vs bright winter” 😵‍💫lol!!!!

[@PsychicKathleen]

I always get excited when I receive a notification that you've uploaded a new video :) I am such an unabashed fan. My "personal style" has indeed evolved over many decades being now in my 6th - my journey certainly intensified when for my 60th birthday my husband suggested a reclaiming of my early joy of sewing. I signed up for classes, bought a couple of machines, many patterns, fabrics and returned to a love that stimulated dreaming, imagining and creating on a whole new level. I leaped in with unbridled enthusiasm and made up a bunch of garments that honestly disappointed me :) I had much to learn (relearn) about technique and drafting and ultimately planning because much to my surprise I really didn't know what suited me! And when you make your own clothes from scratch - hours of work invested AND money - you really do want to like how it looks. This sent me down another path (aside from learning a plethora of technical skills) of figuring out what garments I SHOULD be making and wearing. You would think by 60 I should know but oh no. I had SOME ideas but honestly not nearly enough. Now 6 years in I have a MUCH better idea of what I should be wearing - colouring, silhouette, fit, layers etc. I couldn't recommend the process more highly. My brain is snappier than ever (and you hardly EVER meet a brain dead sewist at any age) and when I look in the mirror I'm happier than ever at the reflection smiling back at me :)

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

I love love love this little personal journey!!! How cool!! Making your own garments is such a labor of love, but SOOO worth it! Thanks for sharing this 💛

[@sarah_i_loenneberga]

You’ve got such a down-to-earth and “human-friendly” approach to style topics, it’s really helpful! Nice work; thank you! :) 🌸

[@Martina_E]

This is such a needed video and it is so relatable! I have been going through a style journey for a while now. I'm still finding what looks great on me. I want everything I wear to make me feel good, look good and be an "A" outfit. I know it it will be a process before I get there, but I will. The key that I am realizing is that actually might need a tailor. I have a hard time with my clothes fitting properly and feel like me when I put it on.

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

Oh yes! Custom tailoring our clothes is such a valuable tool!! And well-curated personal style definitely comes with time

[@sheilakosoff5806]

Your channel has helped refine my wardrobe and be more intentional about what I am wearing. You are so right about being honest. I had to be honest about why I dressed, and for whom. I had to be honest about my actual life vs the one on Pinterest. I had to be honest about how my body fruit shape or geometric shape was not represented on my saved Pinterest board, and also that I did not have to abandoned what I wanted but tweak the fabric for the same aesthetic I was into. What a revelation! I remember moments of nailing a look and not knowing why and so I would go buy what I thought was similar without paying attention to fabric and be frustrated by fashion fails. Your chic minimal aesthetic video helped me solidify my look when you said that as soft dramatic I should wear substantial sized accessories which is what I had discovered I loved with my simple outfits. Additionally I only like leopard or tiny prints on my blouses. I had bought some houndstooth prints that I never wore. I learned that I don’t like small prints with angles. Quite a discovery and I am still on a journey. Today I am ready to pack away all my skirts. Who knows what is next! Thanks for your channel and you really deserve more subscribers. You are fantastic!

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

Wow!!! I can’t thank you enough for sharing your experiences!!!! And thank you for all your support.....it’s deeply appreciated 💛

[@clementine1827]

The images I save on Pinterest are exact opposite of my style 😂 I realized I think I just like the way it’s photographed

[@kuroryuurin]

Very insightful video! Before coming across Kibbe and the Yin/Yang concept, crisp white shirts (and any colour really) would always look bad on me and I didn't know why. I kind of resigned myself to not wearing them. The 'romantic' version with lots of frills didn't work either. In the end the answer was that the material just needed to be extremely soft and flowy if I wanted to wear something 'constructed' like a shirt or blouse. In my case, I limit myself to only shopping second hand, so that's an extra level of difficulty finding the right clothing. But I found that picking a colour scheme and sticking to it was the absolute most important part. Then at the very least items can be combined. My current challenge is to find items that are practical for outdoor hiking (which is what I spend a majority of my time doing) and look good at the same time if I want to take a photo for my Instagram. Again, sticking to a small set of colours has helped. But then it's stuff like 'I want to have a slightly longer winter coat so my thighs are covered (and I managed to find one with just the right waist emphasis), but now I have to make sure that my bottoms and boots have the same colour, so my legs don't look super short.' 😂

[@AjaNile]

This really resonated with me. At this point, I've solidly found my "type", but not quite an essence. For a while, I hated my type and I still sometimes struggle with it. My personality is a bit brighter than my type as a soft classic and I'm still working on getting everything just right. I loved everything you spoke about.

[@nikkiheavner6521]

Wow, you speak beautifully. This topic isn't something I've been able to fully grasp but you've detailed it so well I think I have a much better understanding.

[@mangalab.r668]

Dear Elyssa, who ever thinks style and aesthetics as superficial factors, can go take a hike!! This video spoke directly to my heart, wow, just so eloquent and Soulful!! I could totally relate to every point you discussed here. Aesthetics, beauty, and style in my opinion are Anchors to our souls, it is a language and it is very deep, yes there are people who understand it and some who keep away, and that is okay too. But the larger issue here is how we get trapped and lose our way through seemingly innocent fashion collections that superimpose styles on us that may not be harmonious with us and our true authentic self. We end up being somebody we are not. Personal style journey for me is like solving a jigsaw puzzle, treasure hunt, and an exploration..basically a way back to yourself, your authentic self..it is very engaging..loved your content..you have a long way to go..girl..keep it up👌

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

Omg I’m nodding my head up and down through this entire comment!!! Yes yes yes 1000% And thank you so much for the extra dose of encouragement....I can’t even begin to tell you how much I appreciate it 💛💛💛💛

[@rebeccajordan4491]

Like you, I consider aesthetics to be of very high value and I put a lot of effort into creating a pleasing and positive aesthetic on and around me. So it’s so much fun and amusing when I discover whole new systems of understanding and evaluating myself and I get to peel the onion a bit more. I’m 50 now and I’ve been at this since I was 10! I feel like I’m finally getting to my true essence and style. I’m very grateful that I found your perspective at the same time I found other sources of Kibbe information, because it really helped me switch out of the dogma before I got too deep, and now I can play with the concepts you explain so beautifully. Thanks for the shortcut!!

[@martastanwick]

Thank you! You've hit the nail on the head on positively every point. I'm currently going through a major style switch because of lifestyle changes. I feel like everything I was trying to do style wise wasn't working for me anymore if I was being completely honest with myself. I'm taking a lot of time to delve into what I would like to change specifically etc. but the information overload and subsequent frustration while shopping is real! Thanks again for this encouraging video and reminder that curating a personal style is an ongoing process.

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

I feel grateful to be able to provide the encouragement

[@herfeminineflow]

I love the depth of this theory

[@sstg1801]

Great video! I especially like the part where you mentioned questioning why you care so much about finding and developing your personal style. For me I just research and experiment with it because it's fun!! I've only really gotten into fashion over the past 18 months (lockdown definitely sped up my learning curve) and as a 20 year old studying health science its such a wonderful creative outlet. I've gained so much confidence by experimenting with my outfits and beginning to wear what I personally like instead of trying to look like all of my peers. Thanks for making such great content Elyssa!!

[@lipasketch]

For the longest time I knew that most of the trends didn't look good on me... It was so frustrating, and honestly, it still kinda is... Now, I think all of you, who appreciate this type of content can relate with how mind blown I was when I understood why: these thorough body typing systems (kibbe or similar) really opened my eyes! It was tough at first. Like you, Elyssa, I felt the information overload and also some restriction. That's why this quote of yours at 14:46 really hit home! The garments themselves might not be perfect for our lines, colors, essence or budget, but the important thing is really if they can add value to our head to toe looks! The journey that these techniques made possible really helped me to accept myself!

[@taranelson22]

Thanks for sharing and offering practical tips! I also took time to consider if I was overthinking my personal style (which I have decided I was not because it is an extension of myself to your point!) and decided that I was ready to really objectively accept myself for my proportions, silhouettes, essence, etc. so I could begin to enjoy curating a timeless collection that I felt confident in. This led me to take advantage of your incredible services as you know! I’m excited to really be putting the focus on myself and sourcing pieces that fit me over time, rather than thinking how can I fit into trends/styles that work for others.

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

YEESSS! You’re going shave a great time taking back your authentic beauty 💛💛💛 Can’t wait until you see your analysis!!!

[@risanaomi4958]

Beautiful video! True beauty is when the inner outer are completely aligned to the point where ones divinity can be visually expressed.... great investigation, love your explorations!

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

Yes!!!.....Divine Expression!!! You’re speaking my language!

[@lh1053]

I love you! I feel like we’ve been working in this together. My journey has been interesting. My travels to Europe in the late 80s helped me understand that less was actually more, and that quality mattered more than quantity. Yet, after marriage etc...the capitalist consumerism American way took over. I mindlessly walked the aisles of TJMaxx like so many do! I had any color of tops, all sorts of jeans, you name it! The problem really hit when my hair started turning gray. I decided I didn’t want to color but my wardrobe needed to change. I started a more active, younger athletic look (way before it was a thing!) Fast forward, I’m starting to return to my original look of my 20s. It was so simple and Chic. It’s who I was and I guess I never did stop being. I’ve gone full circle and finding that balance. I’ve go e back to my colors and the newest and latest thing is that I stay on top of a current haircut and wearing makeup. You inspire me! I love to hear everything you have to say because it resonates with me. Happy journey!

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

Wow....what a journey you’ve had so far!!! Sometimes it’s nice to get back to who we are at our core.....which kind of makes the detours all the more fun in retrospect

[@eileenternullo8077]

Extremely good video. You are well spoken and very observant. I have been interested in personal style, color, body shape, and transformation for years, it fascinates me. This video is the best explanation I've come across so far! It is interesting to me that the current clothing styles, aren't always compatible on certain body shapes, like men's cut clothes on curvy bodies. As a seamstress, I have had the opportunity to sew what's not in stores, and that is enlightening. Good job!

[@eccc4315]

Thank you Elyssa, it's so clear that you genuinely want to help others come to experience the confidence, reward, and beauty of developing an aesthetic that captures who they are. You are a pleasure to watch, so eloquent, and absolutely informative! You ask about frustrations viewers have experienced in their style evolution and you hit on many of mine in your video. What's been especially frustrating for me is struggling to determine what actually looks good on my body rather than assuming something will look good because it is a hot and popular item/style. I also struggle with knowing whether a style is true to my aesthetic, or just physically comfortable and repeated so much that it's become my style. For example, leggings and a flowy top. Can't wait for more videos!

[@Hrnrzrnr]

I've been watching your videos back to back for the past few hours and I love how much you emphasize the inner work that feeds the outer self. Already sending your vids to friends.

[@KatieDevlin]

LOVED this - the rabbit hole we discussed is real! You are so eloquent, I could listen to you talk for so long and wish more people spoke like you. Thanks for your continued content delivery, you’re doing such great work!

[@somebody7070]

The more I watch u the more I like your view on beauty and how well spoken u are

[@lightgrey5365]

i really am amazed and admired. the mixture of precision and down to earth approach is fantastic

[@lou-fatimadeleon6476]

Wow! You've so beautiful articulated the very experience I've have with discovering my own personal style (which I've learnt is rather fluid between my favourite facets - kooky, chic, vintage and adventure barbie).

[@kgmcclintictock4399]

I love your approach! It's refreshing

[@violetmoon2283]

My primary struggles are budget and feeling like this whole endeavor is stupid anyway. Half of my family is very aesthetic conscious when it comes to personal presentation, the other half couldn't give less of a fuck. I'm not a frivolous person, but as much as I hate to admit it, I care what I look like. I care what people think when they look at me. It is surprisingly difficult for me to be okay with that fact.

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

I completely understand. I lean into practicality which gives me this push and pull relationship with the curation process. But I think of it I’m terms of items that I’ll have for a long time (especially when it comes to aesthetic home items).

[@penelopepringle1961]

Quiet deliberate steady guide to trying to extract and put into words/clothes, that "difficult-to-define" essence of one's personal style -

[@Marsolan]

You videos are full of wonderful wisdom!!!! But! I need to know how do you speak soooooo amazingly good!! Lol. Thank you for both!!

[@sherryedwards695]

I've been on a style journey since grade 1. I've always been interested on clothes and I'm still a work in progress. Currently I am working on less Boho and more Classic. However, I am in quarantine where I live in Canada so my current style is comfy cosy casual loungewear. I have become interested in The Myers-Briggs Personality Types. Also, did you check out John Kitchener style essence types? That system is very helpful. I also like Dressing Your Truth. David Zylar also has a good system. I have tried combining all of these systems. Just for fun I tried the Dressing Your Zodiac Sign. I don't know how well it works, however, for my friends and myself it seems right. Much success on your journey.

[@jackl6322]

Oh my gosh, you are speaking directly to me--thank you!!!

[@roseloren3555]

Really REALLY well put. All of it. This parallels my experience thus far, and I've recently reached the point where I now know that there isn't a final destination. Which is hard for me to stay honest about because I can get a little obsessed with "solving the puzzle" sometimes, and wanting that end goal of complete satisfaction with my wardrobe and personal style.

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

Oh I get it! But it’s nice to take a step back and enjoy the journey

[@AleCalcare]

Thank you for sharing this! I am startin my personal style journey and I am exactly at the point where I see pretty things on pinterest and think "I want that", but then they actually would never work for me. This got me inspired to keep going on with my journey, thank you so much!!

[@serenneceleste]

Really appreciated this video and how you articulate things! ❤️

[@leechun996]

Interesting question 🙂 I was so unhappy with my style,for years i was happy if i can find things that don't look horrible. i hated being in zhe middle of attention. When speaking in front of ppl i was so self conscious.. It was so horrible. I didn't know amd didn't have the hope for a "cure". Then accidently i read about kibbe. I did not first know that i was tr.. Because all said, a tr does not have long bones, long arma and legs.. And so i thought, i was no TR. Then Merriam from Merriam style said in a video that the xang undercurrent can come jn different shapes and forma.. For i.e.having seeminhly lomg ara and legs. And that was what i needrd. Only then i studied more about the linea and materials Before that i was buying body hugging thinhs.. But the material was kind of stiff. And it looked horrible.. When i bought things that were not body hugging, they looked untidy and too plain. So to me the biggest impact is the fact that i only buy lightweight materials.. Because even when the things are bigger, it's ok.. The lightness of zhe material makes it hug m body anyways.. And it looks ok. And when zhe lines are good and the print is not bad for TR (like geometrical big things) then its already enough to look quite good. This literally changed my life.

[@beld.3408]

Thank you for this lovely video, Elyssa! I was very happy to hear your closing argument about "Am I shallow/vain for caring so much about my personal style?". I have been asking myself this and I agree with you: it's personal and end of history. I've lost someone I love recently and curating my wardrobe became my daily therapy. Although I'm working from home, everyday I put on a different look and take a picture of myself. And it makes me feel good and gives me energy to survive this crazy isolation period. Thank you for helping me in this beautiful and fascinating journey 😍

[@jwashingmachine8307]

Definitely fell into the trap of ‘needing’ to own classic essentials like a black blazer, Briton stripe top, trench coat, white button up shirt, etc. It’s not that they weren’t versatile and timeless pieces, but I didn’t take the time to think about how they could be adapted to my body and lifestyle. It didn’t occur to me that those staples didn’t have to be generic, and could instead feel unique to my style with some more careful consideration. Another reason I would call this a trap is because those pieces laid the foundation for rebuilding my wardrobe, and it I didn’t realise that I was using a soulless and bland reference point. If I could go back in time with the research and tools I have at my disposal now, I would have used the unique and eccentric pieces in my wardrobe as a starting point for inspiration instead of the ‘classic essentials’. Because the unusual pieces I own better capture the essence of what I feel comfortable in, and what I feel represents my personality. But like you say, it’s a journey! 😅

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

I love this! Starting with the truly authentic pieces and working from there

[@jwashingmachine8307]

@@elyssa_aesthetic Thanks for the amazing content 🥰

[@dianeregan7937]

Thank you so much for another wonderful video ... I've learnt so much from you. The timing of this one was perfect in my own style journey. I'm way down the rabbit hole, and really need to stop and evaluate before moving on. Your video has helped me realise that I don't have to get it perfect on the first (or even 3rd attempt!!!! ) but rather baby steps with honest re-evaluation along the way. Looking forward to your next video.

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

SO glad this has helped! See you at the next video ✨

[@Keapix]

So well put, as always. I find I end up on this journey when phases of my life change, and a lot of it is tied into understanding what my identity is. I’ve made the Pinterest mistake, and also got lost in the rabbit holes of colour analysis and body typing. I’ve found myself getting so frustrated when I couldn’t add it all together. You’ve made me realise that I’m looking outside too much, and not really looking internally enough.

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

Yes yes yes....looking inward is key

[@kajsaeliasson7053]

You make manus important points here! Thank you from Sweden!

[@youzhenzhang8415]

Love this video. Thank you so much!

[@soffaerie]

Hi, Elyssa! I really like the way you talk about style, it makes me feel more motivated as a fashion student. Evolving my personal style has been really fun, but it became a lot harder after studying Kibbe, levels of contrast and skin undertone, since I dress in alternative. Slowly I am learning how to match my personal preferences to what looks flattering on myself. Thanks for the update!

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

It’s definitely a process 💛

[@nitzeart]

All of what you said is so valuable and true but also I can't stop thinking that if money weren't a limiting factor, no one would have style problems. (It also depends a lot on the country you live in and what shopping options are availible to you)

[@adrijamajumdar1856]

This was a very helpful video Elyssa; thank you for sharing your thoughts and personal journey with us!

[@morganfaye93]

Heart level relating to the first 10 minutes of this video lol! My journey exactly!

[@adrijamajumdar1856]

Also, I'm slightly obsessed with your refined and eloquent vocabulary, and in the most non creepy way, hearing you speak is honestly so soothing.

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

No worries....I get this feedback a lot✨

[@someareroses]

I love your videos and this one was brilliant as always. I am in the process of discovering myself in so many ways and what I wear is changing as a result. I didn't think it was possible to dress well for my body (I'm short and thin but I have very large breasts). The clothes I liked and the clothes I wore were worlds apart. I thought I'd wait to have a breast reduction before finally wearing clothes I love. For years I dressed in a way that made me look and feel terrible in an effort to not draw attention to my chest. I'm learning to buy and wear clothing that I find beautiful and comfortable. Although I still want the breast reduction, my relationship with my body is changing. That said, it's very difficult and I was actually starting to feel discouraged so this video is right on time. Thank you so much ❤

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

I relate to your experience so much. I’m a petite woman with large breasts. I desperately wanted to wear a type of French chic with effortless button up and delicate blouses but I always ended up looking sloppy and unrefined because of the size of my breasts. And all the looks I came across that had women with big breasts were either super provocative or were outdated in design. I, just like you, decided at one point that a breast reduction would solve my problem and I’d have to wait to revamp my wardrobe how I wanted to until then. I finally came around to accepting my proportions, but I’d be lying if I said that I no longer wish to wear certain garments. But today I understand that I have other attributes that I love and can work towards highlighting. But I completely understand....a petite body with big boobs can feel so awkward

[@louisedolloff836]

I only have personal style on my days off... My work wardrobe is jeans, tees, sneakers and scrub tops. Hair and makeup has to be minimal and able to withstand 8 hours of running halls all night long. By the time I get to my weekend, I am too tired to try for a personal style image for myself. So I enjoy looking at other people and their styles and I like learning about style because some day I might have time for style.... maybe when I am 70 and don't have to work....

[@johnroberts2012]

Providing the goods as always

[@elvillivle]

Wow, this channel is so underrated!

[@beld.3408]

Soooooo excited for this video!!!!

[@saanvit109]

Your videos are so good! Really glad I found your channel :)

[@lisaa.942]

I was stuck for years between Dramatic and Flamboyant Natural; turns out I'm Soft Dramatic according to a professional analysis. I'm so glad I did it because I was becoming obsessed. But it turns out there are no Soft Dramatic clothes at the local stores, but it turns out I have 12 dresses in my closet that are already SD. It's just hard to find tops.

[@youtimeful]

Loved this video beginning to end! I went on a journey ~4 years ago to relearn how to dress myself as I looked at myself and hated how I looked. It has been a fascinating journey and you so perfectly put words to the phases and issues one faces. After doing a few paid courses and reading so much I could write my own book from rehashed info out there, I have at least arrived at loving my body, understanding my lifestyle and how I need to dress for it, and knowing lots of tips and tricks I can employ to look my best and feel like me (not like some canned instagram photo where i like the coffee shop more than the actual outfit on a body type that is a 180 from who I am.). I still stumble, get distracted, long after the sleek looks of size 0 straight body type images, and have moments of “nothing to wear.” But now I can step back and give myself a reality check evolving as I see fit. Your words on “personal style is evolving” are so true. Also, your comment on the images have an “essence of what is inspiring” were perfect. So many times, it isn’t the leggings and drapey cardigans in muted colors I seek (which truly look horrific in me and drain my energy) while in a cute cafe along the Seine in Paris. It may be the desire for some comfort and having my eyes opened to beauty and lovely walk in a beautiful place. Please make this a series! You have a wonderful way with words and are now part of my style journey!

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

THIS!!!! This is exactly what I meant by capturing the essence of the images 💛💛💛💛

[@JessicaOrban3606]

Has anyone looked into the Dress Your Truth system? Curious if anyone has used it with their kibbe (related) journey. PS what you said about the fear of vanity really resonates with me. I am looking to create harmony within and without myself, and style is a large piece of that.

[@Maremare680]

Hi Elyssa, can you recommend a good book about the fundamentals of personal style? Thank you.

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

Definitely Harriet McJimsey’s Art and Fashion in Clothing Selection!

[@HeatherHasGame]

I love your personality so much. When you said you had to reflect on whether curating a personal style was vain... that's the kind of thought I have that the people around me don't ever understand. Maybe they're the weird ones. Like I can't get into Instagram or anything because I think it would be vain. However... I think putting work into the way you present yourself to the world as you just go about your normal life is something that everyone used to do. Style used to be important in society. It was something that people admired about each other, like a woman who dressed beautifully would be admired by men for her style and it would be seen as an asset. Men who dressed like gentlemen would be likewise admired. Now with plastic surgery and all kinds of makeup and weird style fads (like super revealing or sloppy clothing) all of that has gone out the window. Like, you could not change your physical body very much in past decades- you could only work with what you had, so clothing was very important. Now if you want to look hot, you are pretty much expected to get plastic surgery to "fix" yourself, and wear a lot of makeup. Hair extensions, eyelash extensions, fake fingernails, etc. None of this was a thing before. The sexualization of our culture also was not a thing before. Now a lot of people take OFF portions of their clothing or wear less clothing in order to feel attractive, when that would not have been socially acceptable in the past. It's really unfortunate because once one person starts dressing in a really revealing way, other people have to do the same thing or all the attention will be on the one person who has objectified themselves. ANYWAY- this was long- but I don't think you can be vain for wanting to contribute beauty to the world. It's coming from your soul to the surface. You're not using it to exploit other people the way many people are now. (Money from men, influencer careers, sex etc)

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

First, thank you so much for the kind compliment!!! Second, times have definitely changed and fashion/style is very emblematic of that. But luckily we can all go about dressing ourselves as we see fit. But yes, at the end of the day I know I’m not vain.....I just care about my appearance and accentuating my natural beauty ✨

[@HeatherHasGame]

@@elyssa_aesthetic yes! I really appreciate the way you focus on natural beauty. I wish others would do the same. That's more or less what I was trying to get at with my comment. Clothes are more important when you are using your NATURAL beauty than if people modify themselves physically.

[@masonfoster8163]

yooooo thank youuuuuuuuuuuu

[@viiusa2128]

And then there's me who even struggles with buying clothes in the right size because of my body dysmorphia

[@DonnaLHaney]

✨💖✨

[@dianeb.morris7845]

Hello Elyssa, I love your videos. I emailed you from your email address below, but your email address bounced back.

[@elyssa_aesthetic]

Oh so odd.....I just sent a test email and everything went through ok. Perhaps try again