When I first started calling myself a fashion creator, it felt almost funny. I wasn’t a professional model. And I certainly didn’t live in any of the fashion capitals.
Yet, here I was as a retired dentist, experimenting with outfits and sharing my style (with my crew at times) with the world.
Quote of the day: “Every now and then a man’s mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions.” Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr
It’s been over 12 years since I’ve been playing Fashion Creator. Along the way, I’ve been exposed to all the trends and new generations taking an interest in style.
It’s been eye-opening to say the least, and the lessons I’ve learned don’t JUST apply to women in my age group or women who look like me.
Even now, I admit, that it is still hard to call myself a “stylist” because I don’t have a degree in fashion. Yet, the most important key for any career or even hobby is the ability to be open and to learn.
Unfortunately, some of the older stylists I see get stuck in the rules from when they learned their craft, and as we all know, everything evolves.
This one is big. So many style guides out there push tips on how to “elongate the legs,” “slim the hips,” or “draw the eye up.” Guess what? You don’t have to look taller. You don’t have to look slimmer.
You get to look like you.
Once I stopped dressing to appear like something I wasn’t, I opened the door to clothes that made me smile instead of clothes that “were right”.
Maybe, cropped pants “shorten” my legs, but they also show off fabulous shoes. And once you meet me in person, you’re never going to think I’m tall anyway.
Insider tip: Sure, some outfit combinations look better than others, but it’s not because you look thinner or taller. It’s just that sometimes, tweaks, alterations, or different combinations may seem better to your eye.
It’s wonderful to have style inspiration, but trying to replicate someone else’s exact look never works. Why? Because our bodies, coloring, lifestyles, and personalities are different.
I used to look at chic street-style photos and think, “Why doesn’t that outfit look the same on me?” Now I realize that it’s not supposed to.
Taking bits of inspiration and making them your own is much more rewarding than a copy-and-paste fashion.
Pro tip: This is why many times you think all of the “young” generation looks the same. Because they all have the same hairstyle and wear the same athlesuirewear when they go out. It’s no different in my Retirement community. There is an “old lady” look that most women fall into.
We all have something we’ve tried to hide. For me, it’s been my pale legs and my cleft lip scar. Heck, there are still days that I struggle with my natural curly hair and curse at it. I know (and hear) women who continue to belittle themselves because of ________.
We are our own worst critics. None of your friends even considers the personal traits that consume you.
SO STOP EVEN THINKING ABOUT YOUR “FLAWS.”
When you embrace those so-called imperfections and stop worrying about how to cover them or change your shape, then your style is allowed to be playful or fun.
Ah, black. The “universally chic” color. I wore so much of it when I was younger because I thought it was slimming, sophisticated, and appropriate.
But when I started exploring color (and I mean really exploring it), my mood and happiness factor changed.
Color lifts your energy. It makes you memorable. It tells a story before you even say a word.
Now I encourage women to step away from the sea of black and discover how vibrant hues can make you look alive, not just dressed.
If you need help with this idea, we showcased 4 ways to break the black habit.
In reality, there are certain colors that are going to look better with your complexion. But please, don’t obsess over those either. Anyone can wear any color on their bottom half, or figure out hacks to make “bad” colors look good for you.
If I could go back and shake my younger self, I’d say: “Stop buying another grey cardigan and get a statement necklace!” Accessories are where personal style shines.
A scarf can make a plain white tee chic. A hat can transform an outfit into art.
And jewelry? It’s the sprinkles on top of the sundae.
Pro tip: Many women are afraid of hats and will comment that they don’t look good in them. Hogwash. It takes us time to get used to seeing ourselves wearing a hat. Practice, practice, practice.
Need a beginner’s guide to wearing hats? I’ve written about that.
Accessories let you experiment without commitment, and they’re usually easier on the wallet than a new wardrobe.
For the longest time, I thought comfort was at odds with style. Either you wear cute shoes and suffer, or you wear comfy shoes and look frumpy. That’s what we were taught, right?
Thankfully, that’s outdated thinking. Today’s brands (especially ones I Love reviewing) are proving you can have both. Stretch fabrics, cushioned soles, elastic waists, and creative cuts mean you can look fabulous without wincing in pain.
It’s no different with our clothing. So many of the newer materials are made to feel better and/or stretch.
Style should feel good on your body, not just look good in the mirror.
Life is too short to let clothes collect dust. That sparkly top? Wear it for an everyday outing (just like my mom who wore hers with cargo pants).
I’ve learned (especially through COVID) that if we don’t take the effort to look good for ourselves, we feel crummy.
Insider tip: Most times, it’s not much extra effort to wear the special clothes. It takes the same amount of time to put on a boring t-shirt as it does to put on a sequin top. But you get a much bigger boost from the fun items.
Being a fashion creator has taught me that every day is worth dressing up for. Your future self will thank you for enjoying the outfit now, not later.
True story: At first, when I’d come out in the morning, my husband would say, “Why are you all dressed up?” and my reply was, “I have cute clothes, I might as well wear them.”
Being extra is a different level than being basic.
If you never play, you’ll never discover what truly works for you. Some of my favorite outfits have come from accidents. Many times it’s when two items are next to each other on the laundry rack, and I realize how good they’d look together.
People call me creative all the time. But I will say it’s only because I play. I play in my closet and try things that are considered strange or even wrong.
I also take inspiration from every woman, no matter their age group or size.
Pro tip: Those days you are staying home and doing nothing? Put together a fun and different outfit. It’s good practice for when you do have an event. Otherwise, when the event comes, you’ll be in a time crunch and end up choosing the same ole, same ole that you always wear.
The so-called “fails” are just part of the process. I believe in sharing those, too, because real style is never perfect.
Or the term I love and have written about is “Perfectly Imperfect.”
Experimentation keeps fashion fresh, no matter your age.
This one’s simple: the fashion rules that you grew up with aren’t really real. Even this rule is meant to be broken.
“No white after Labor Day.” Not anymore.
“Don’t mix patterns.” Why not?
“Dress your age.” You’ve never been this age before, so what does that mean?
Breaking fashion “rules” is how we make style personal. The women I admire most are the ones who play with fashion, not the ones who follow a dress code written decades ago.
Insider tip: If you ever catch yourself judging other women, step back and ask yourself why. I hope that we start acknowledging that style looks different on everyone.
Yours may not be right for me, and my style is definitely not comfortable for many others.
But let’s all embrace that we are different and thus should LOOK different.
If there’s only one thing you take away from this list, let it be this. Fashion is supposed to be fun.
It’s not a test. It’s not about fitting into a box. Instead, it needs to be thought of as a tool to feel like the best version of yourself.
We all want a magic pill or an easy recipe. And while I’ve shared a color recipe that you can use, much of our “style” is a habit (and I don’t mean the nun kind).
What makes an outfit perfect? The magic that happens when it feels good on you. And you’ll only discover it when you practice, practice, practice.
Fashion is personal. It’s fluid. And it gets better with age because (hopefully) you finally realize that you’re dressing for yourself, not the crowd.
I’ve been sharing more thought-provoking ideas like this recently, so if you want to read more, check out:
–Ditch the age dress code
–Style is a tool
–Rethink the term flattering
–Unicorn styling
If I had learned these “rules” sooner, I wouldn’t have wasted a lot of time worrying about looking taller, slimmer, or “appropriate.”
Yet that’s the best thing about collecting birthdays… You gain experience.
So here’s my encouragement to you–be a kid.
Meaning–go play in your closet and try combining items that you have never worn before.
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The post 50+ Fashion Creator: 10 Great “Rules” I Wish I Learned Sooner appeared first on Jodie’s Touch of Style.
