Having the courage to play dress-up...

STYLE IDEAS: WINTER 2022

Are you stuck in a style rut? Pulling out the same stretched-out leggings and top to get dressed every day? Looking like you are going to an eighties-themed party? Not even trying to look good especially if you are working from home or retired? Do you have no clue about fashion trends or are you just not interested?

Why do you get dressed? Some people get dressed in the morning just because that is what you are supposed to do. (Some people do not even bother and walk around in pajamas all day, especially in winter. I think all of us are guilty of this one, but not every day.) Some people only “dress up” for an occasion and others whenever they leave the house.

I read somewhere that every day we live should be seen as an occasion and that we should dress up to celebrate life. I like that philosophy. According to Inez de la Fressange, French women dress for themselves, not to try and seduce a man. This is the reason why French women ooze self-confidence, they feel good and comfortable with their appearance, and it shows.

Some people think you need lots of money to have great style, but even rich people can look unstylish. Everyone needs to buy clothes, so why not make wise clothing decisions and only buy clothes that you really love? Like Marianne le Coeur says: “If it’s not a ”Wow”, it’s a “No”.

Great style does not mean dressed top to toe in designer clothes, not many can afford it anyway. Neither does it mean wearing every fashion trend on the market. You need to consider your style personality, body shape, lifestyle and of course, budget.

Creating a workable wardrobe takes time, needs continuous editing and updating to accommodate changes in our bodies, lifestyle and fashion trends. Being smart with your money means having good quality basics and adding the occasional fashion trend item, rather than buying lots of clothes.

Some tips from www.thewelldressedlife.com:

· Get rid of old, out-of-date clothes in your closet. If you have a designer piece you have acquired for yourself or vintage pieces you have inherited from your mom or granny, those pieces are the exception, not the norm.

· Define your personal style. It is difficult to build a pared-down, good-quality wardrobe if you dress classic one day and eccentric the next for example.

· Mix and match high-priced items with lower-priced ones to up-style your whole outfit. Avoid buying anything cheap though, nothing can make a cheap item look good.

· Good grooming is high impact and low cost because you can do it yourself. No dress or outfit will look good on an unkempt body.

· Create a cohesive look by matching your hardware. (Anything “extra” on an item like buckles, buttons, zippers and chains on bags.) This means for example that if you are wearing a blazer with gold buttons, don’t wear a shoe with a silver buckle.

Along with keeping your hardware the same, be careful of wearing too much as it can weigh down your look.

· Spend your money on your clothing workhorse pieces. Buy good quality basics, shoes and bags.

· You do not have to wear high heels to look stylish, but a cheap shoe can spoil your entire look. Good-quality shoes, on the other hand, can elevate your outfit.

When you look good, you feel good and it shows. Dressing for your own pleasure is worth the effort as it will lift your spirit and prepare you to take on any challenge life throws at you.

Here’s to playing dress-up all life long!

Till we chat again.

Shirley Rose

Images from Pinterest.