Ballet Influenced Style Challenge for the 9 Fantastical Beauty Types

Now that you're warmed up with the black dress challenge, I offer for you the Ballet Street Style challenge. To make it harder, I'm overriding the color guidelines in favor of pinks and greys and sticking with skirts and tops/bodysuits. To flesh each of these looks out into wearable fantasy, re-imagine them in their appropriate color schemes for your coloring, preference pull-on boots and ballet flat styles as best your type allows, and look for wrap sweaters in the fabrics, lines, and colors for your type. 

To up the excitement, whoever comments with the correct answers first, wins one of the existing guides of their choice. You may only comment one set of guesses. Check back in the comments to see if you are the winner, so you can email me your guide prize choice.

UPDATE: A winner has been announced and the answers are posted below. Click and drag below this text to reveal the answer key. 

1.fae 2.seer 3. magic queen 4. dragon princess 5. maenad 6. nymph 7. valkyrie 8. angel 9. mermaid

 

Here are possibilities for ballet inspiration. I would love to hear additional suggestions.

V    Sylvia
F    Les Sylphides
MQ    Anastasia
Ma    Bacchus et Ariadne
N    The Enchanted Forest
A    Swan Lake
DP    The Rite of Spring
Me    Ondine
S    Giselle

 

How to Get Away With Never Wearing Heels Again Pt. 3 Midi dresses and skirts

Whew, we got through the mini skirts and dresses, which in my opinion is the hardest to do with flats. Midis are more in my purview. We are continuing to pair flats to fit the mood of the outfit, as a way to illustrate that there is a flat for every outfit that will look fabulous.

From left to right:

1. This knit, sleeveless, sheath midi is a bit sporty and a bit casual, but could be dressed up some as well. Everything but the sweetest or most formal of shoes will work, which leaves a lot of room. I chose textured loafers with metallic toe caps to push it in a funky direction. I think it would look great with a pair of sneakers. The shoes in the left column as well as the bottom row would all work. A dressy sandal would be pretty. Flatform slides are another good option. It would work well for some Maenads, and probably some Nymphs as well.

2. Cocktail bodycon dresses remain the most difficult challenge for flats, but these work well because they're closed toe, pointed toe, and have some blingy detailing. Adding a very small heel would drastically increase the dressiness. It's great for Maenads, possibly for some Valkyrie, possible for some Seers, and maybe even a few Magic Queens with the right jacket.

3. This one is too easy, right? Very Audrey Hepburn. The combination of the floral print, the fitted higher neck bodice, and the full skirt require a shoe that is also rounded and fairly dressy. There is a world of ballet flats that would pair perfectly, as well as simple (not too detailed or ornate or flashy) peep-toe flats. This could work for the right Magic Queen or Angel.

4. A really plain t-shirt midi calls for a flat with personality. This flat has color, straps, and a print. Most flats would work with this dress. I would avoid rounded toes (too sweet) and shiny fabrics (too dressy). This would really take the right person and accessories to be a good look. Possibly Fae or Valkyrie.

5. This is another really versatile look- the dress is a solid color, fitted but not clingy, with enough detailing to not be boring but still have lots of room to add personality in accessories. It could be personalized to work for any type. The point on the shoe wouldn't be best for everyone, but I imagine there is someone in each type for whom it would work. The dress and shoe are both fairly plain and need personality through accessories. 

6. This dress and shoe are both full of personality, and thus limited in terms of type. The pointed white brogues with silver metal bars I chose to emphasize a funky kind of cool. The dress is funky in print and detailing but the a-line adds some sweetness. The brogue pushes against that sweetness and this juxtaposition creates energy. Most styles of flats could work with it, and the best flat will be one that adds up to your authentic beauty. As-is, I imagine this outfit for Mermaids.

7. A plain black midi skirt could be pushed in any direction depending on the top and shoes chosen. I really like the way plain knit midi skirts look when pushed in a sporty direction, and so chose sneakers. The top could be a tee half tucked in, or a sweatshirt with a print or design on it. You could just as easily do a list blouse and a ballet flat. The skirt could be paired with any of the other eight shoes in this set, depending on the look you're going for. 

8. A floral bodycon midi needs a shoe with a bit of flirtyness- no black ballet flats here, please. The tropical feel to the print makes a colored sandal a great choice. Sneakers, brogues, loafers, and boots would look out of place on the whole. 

9. Closed toe flats- ballet or pointed, slingbacks, and dressy sandals are all nice choices. A glossy tall black boot would be an unexpected sexy twist. A sneaker or saddle shoe would be playful. 

What types do you see for 7, 8, and 9 as they are?

The post series on How To Get Away With Never Wearing Heels Again has concluded and you can find it all here:

Part One: Mini Dresses

Part Two: Mini Skirts

Part Three: Midi Dresses

Part Four: Maxi Dresses

Part Five: Pants

Part Six: Jeans

Summary and Type Specifics

How to Get Away with Never Wearing Heels Again pt. 2

We continue our series with three more outfits, finishing up our exploration of mini-lengths; and again, the trick is to match the flat to the mood of the outfit. Which shoes you choose can shift the mood of the outfit, taking it from funky to sexy to more casual; but rarely can it completely change the mood of an outfit, and so we try to stay in-range with what the outfit is saying.

The left is cute-cozy/casual-flirty. Choosing oxfords continues casual-flirty, the sandals casual, the slides casual with a funkier element given the print, and the rainboot would be really cute and a bit flirty. This is a potential outfit for spring-autumn Maenads, Angels, and Seers.

The middle outfit is edgy, and any variation on a moto-boot will pair. I especially like the first boot with cutouts because it helps continue the line of the leg/exposed skin while still having the feeling of a boot. If you do a solid boot with a mini length, it segments the leg in a way that can be harsh- anything with scalloping or cutouts will help blend the line, as would dark tights or leggings. This is a potential outfit for winter Nymphs, Maenads, Fae. 

The third outfit is sensual-cozy, and I really like the simple peep toes or sandals as an echo. The closed toe slingback is cozy. If you wanted more sensual-dressy, you could choose peep toes with sparkles or bow detailing. This outfit has potential for Angels and Mermaids. 

The post series on How To Get Away With Never Wearing Heels Again has concluded and you can find it all here:

Part One: Mini Dresses

Part Two: Mini Skirts

Part Three: Midi Dresses

Part Four: Maxi Dresses

Part Five: Pants

Part Six: Jeans

Summary and Type Specifics