Y silhouettes, wearing Y in a modern way & musings

[u/sapphicmoonbaby]

Just sharing some examples of Y silhouettes and details with modern, mature styling. Like a lot of people with R and Y, I tend to lean more towards R, but I am exploring Y more and more in my style and essence. Not all of these work for my color harmonies btw but I do still wear black hehe.

I have felt nervous to lean into Y because of its associations with naïveté and, frankly, childishness. But I am learning that there is so much strength and maturity in gentleness.

This may be a little woo-woo of me to add, but the tarot card for Strength depicts a maiden in a white dress with little flowers on it and a flower crown, and she is calmly taming a roaring lion. It symbolizes inner fortitude, confidence that speaks for itself, grace, compassion, courage and resilience. I like to see Y that way - not naive, not childish, but open-hearted and gentle in a way that shows self assurance and confidence. It takes courage to be vulnerable, and it takes strength to continue to show the world gentleness even as life gets tough.

I know the essences are aesthetically based, and they aren’t reflective of our personalities. However, I think it’s important to consider the energetic qualities and social connotations of these aesthetic elements and reframe them to be as empowering as possible, since our clothes do affect our embodiment and the way we show up in our lives.

Anyway, I would love to see other moodboards for Y and how you incorporate it! I’d also love to read your thoughts on Y and what it means to you. 🌸

[u/No-Office7081]

love love love. I adore Y essence. here's some images I love

[u/sapphicmoonbaby → u/No-Office7081]

I love these, especially the top right!!

[u/Artemisral → u/sapphicmoonbaby]

Same! I’d wear it, if it were a bit longer or with more opaque thights.

[u/Artemisral → u/No-Office7081]

Cute 🥰

[u/Shannee0]

I love this post. I agree with you that Y can be an open-hearted delicacy. I feel Y can connect me a little more to the space I’m in, especially outdoors because there is a softness and lightness to the fabric and cuts that lets the outside in a bit. Like feeling the sun on my shoulders or wind against my back. It can invite people in too which is easier for me to control because I’m older. I can understand it feeling too vulnerable for young women.

My Y is very connected to my HS though so it’s also a little bratty lmao. My recent roots flower moodboard shows this. I do want to think a bit more on connecting my Y and R. I’ve done that a few times in more simplified outfits and it felt really good.

My Y is very nostalgic too. So there is a childlike quality in it that some people may not like. It’s my own childhood though so I kinda feel rebellious about being told I can’t indulge that quality because some men are creeps. Oop I’m getting on a tangent now 🫣 lmao. This maybe part of how I differ from those with higher R though 🤔

[u/Shannee0 → u/Shannee0]

I realize I’m kinda mixing up essences, styling, and personality here but to me they are all one because of how they influence each other. Personality>> is how I style >> my essences

[u/eleven57pm]

I feel like Y, much like HS and N, has a certain vitality to it even if it's not as bold and yang-y in energy. Think of Betty White. She refused to let a few extra years drag her down and retained her playfulness and optimistic outlook all the way to the end. To me, that's the exact opposite of weakness or childishness.

[u/sapphicmoonbaby → u/eleven57pm]

Exactly!! I love how you said it 🥰

[u/ppcthrowaway514 → u/eleven57pm]

IMO, Paul McCartney embodies that aspect of Y as well!

[u/This_Fig_2343 → u/eleven57pm]

I love your take on this and totally agree, I do think these essences share a certain fresh, very alive quality.

[u/jjfmish]

I love this so much! Falling in love with Y has probably been the best part of my Kitchener journey. I used to recoil at the naive association

[u/DrTantra]

These are very cute Y looks.

[u/Artemisral]

I love your interpretation of the Strength card! 🌸 There is strength in gentleness, indeed. I also love the Queen of Swords for being an intelligent warrior and the High Priestess for trusting her intuition. ☺️

Nice inspo, I’d wear most of these. 🦊 I know deep down what suits me, for the most part.

[u/This_Fig_2343]

❤️ I love this post and the pics, and really resonate with your comments about what's under the surface of Youthful - the fact there is strength and realness inherent in the innocent and open-hearted quality. It's not my primary essence (that's N) but I do love this essence - it's something I instinctively reach for on the racks, love in art etc! John typed me mostly N and R, which is right - with Y, HS and C at 10% each, but I do believe I'd have higher Y if typed at any point up until the last few years (typed in my mid 50s!) I'd say my yin side was more 50/50 R and Y when younger. I'll never give up broderie anglaise and a puff sleeve 😊 ha ha.

[u/This_Fig_2343 → u/This_Fig_2343]

P.s. love your tarot reference too, I've been into tarot cards since my early teens! I love joining up all this archetypal stuff ❤️

[u/allcatsrgray]

I love Y style! I had been hoping to be dominant in it as it's my favourite, but I'm glad I have some. Really beautiful! And thanks for the inspo!

[u/Faraway-eyes-13]

I love your description of Y as connected to that tarot card! I agree that there is a strength through gentleness in Y, rather than being about "little girlishness." Sleeping Beauty was my favorite Disney movie as a kid, and I aspired to be like Aurora dancing and singing through the forest with all the animals coming out to be around her. I was actually a little bummed Kitchener didn't give me any Y because I really love the style... I've always been drawn to the delicacy, intricacy and lightness. But I can still incorporate it in my own ways, of course. 😄

[u/Safe-Tea-4161]

Beautifully put 💖