Introverted or Extroverted? Six Outfits for Both Sides of My Personality
Last week, my husband told me my personality is a conundrum.
He’s not wrong. I am half introverted and half extroverted - a fact I didn’t truly understand until I took the Meyers-Briggs personality test. I’ve taken it multiple times now (you can, too, on 16personalities.com!) and every, single, time I’m either an INFP or an ENFP, but just barely. Usually, I’m 51% E (extroverted) and 49% I (introverted). (Once, on a particularly enthusiastic day, I was a whopping 54% extroverted.)
Prior to this, I assumed a person could be one or the other, but never both. But first, before we travel too far down this path, let’s clarify this terminology. Below are the definitions of Introvert and Extrovert, as defined by 16Personalities:
Introverted individuals prefer solitary activities and get exhausted by social interaction. They tend to be quite sensitive to external stimulation (e.g. sound, sight or smell) in general.
Extraverted individuals prefer group activities and get energized by social interaction. They tend to be more enthusiastic and more easily excited than Introverts.
If being both introverted and extroverted seems like a contradiction, it is! I have often felt like a walking paradox. With other actors, I feel too quiet or too reserved. With other bloggers, I usually feel like the walking stereotype of an actor, loud and talkative, demonstrative and overly enthusiastic.
Lately, I’ve found myself hovering around my introverted side. This realization, that I was catering to one side more than the other, gave me pause. I don’t think picking a team is a good idea. Though I often feel like an oddball, in most instances being a little of both is useful. I want to keep both sides healthy.
But, how? How does one go about strengthening their extroversion and introversion? For me, the answer was nearly instantly clear: a fashion challenge!
Here are the parameters of my challenge:
I’d create 6 outfits - 3 outfits would embrace my extroverted side, and the other 3 would celebrate my introversion.
I split the challenge into 3 rounds. Each round would have 1 extroverted and 1 introverted outfit.
Each round also had 1 common denominator. In the first two rounds, the common denominator was an item of clothing I always feel comfortable in. The final round was a challenge. The common denominator was pink, a color I struggle to feel comfortable in on any day.
Here’s how it all shook out.
Round 1: THE BLUE POLKA DOT DRESS
The EXTROVERT:
When I’m feeling extroverted, I’m more likely to embrace heels, multiple patterns, or bold eyeshadow. Here, I embraced all three!
The INTROVERT:
My introverted side feels safer in classic and utilitarian combinations. Here, that translates to pairing the polka dot dress with all black: a turtleneck (for warmth! How utilitarian!), tights, and velvet Mary Janes. (And a good book.)
Round 2: THE CHAMBRAY BUTTON UP
The EXTROVERT:
My extroverted side sees this basic (even boring!) chambray button up as a challenge. How can I make it more exciting? First, I added jeans. (I’m always amused by a Canadian tuxedo.) Next, a velvet blazer because it felt a little luxurious, and ooh! What about embroidered, heeled booties? AND A BERET! AH! FUN! OH, AND MY BRIGHTEST RED LIPSTICK, TOO!
(Sometimes, my extroverted side doesn’t know when to stop, or tastefully edit.)
The INTROVERT:
Like the outfit above, my introverted side prefers more tried-and-true, classic silhouettes. This particular silhouette, with it’s waist-defining midi skirt and knee-high boots, always keeps me feeling both flattered and stylish.
THE COLOR PINK
The EXTROVERT:
Pink often feels like a stretch, regardless of whether I’m in extroverted territory. In this outfit, I leaned all in. This pink is nearly phosphorescent. The dress itself is formfitting and covered in horizontal stripes. All three, the pink, the shape of the dress, and the direction of the stripes, are fashion rules I often struggle to break.
(That being said, I felt fabulous in this dress.)
The INTROVERT:
My introverted side feels like this pink jacket is enough of a statement. Best to keep everything else classic, with a collared tank, jeans, and flat, black, Chelsea boots.
(I’m still debating whether that trendy oversized hair clip was a bit too loud for when I’m feeling quiet.)
Last week, my husband told me my personality was a condundrum. He, then, elaborated. If I’d really leaned into my introverted tendencies, he said, I probably would have opened a book store, where I’d have some small shop animal (like a pig! or a mini horse!) and lots of activities for children. (Real talk, that sounds delightful.) Instead, I embraced my extroverted side and am an actor. An actor who, frequently, is uncomfortable being the center of attention. There’s the conundrum.
Though, I must say, I’m ok with being a walking contradiction. Sometimes it’s exhausting, but usually, I enjoy being unpredictable.
I’m also positive I am not alone. Are you an ambivert, too? Do you straddle extroversion and introversion? How do you express your personality in your clothing? Have you taken the 16Personalities quiz? What personality type are you? Let’s chat! I’m here (in the comments box below) or on social media. (If social is your jam, click here for Instagram, here for Facebook, or here for Twitter.)
I’ll be back on Sunday with a (very extroverted) announcement!
