Mature Fashion; " Its All About the Base"

Hello Mature Stylinistas and Fashionistas;

There are many articles, blogs, video's etc. about applying make-up out there on the internet; a few that are targeted toward the more mature women (most of them are not!). 

What makes this blog different is the application of cosmetics is geared to the styling of a fashion role; not the same makeup or hairstyle  for every role. I will contribute tips I have learned over the years, but there are so many good sources of "how to", I will probably direct you to sources that I find are beneficial.

As you know if you are a follower, I emphasize the  fact that each of us are playing various "roles" in a play called "my Lifestyle".  Just like in a play, actors have a specific wardrobe to accommodate the different roles; they also have a stylist who coordinates the hairstyle and cosmetics to the wardrobe, time, and period.

The very first cosmetic styling principle I am going to address is skin and hair care.  It is simply not possible to "Rock" your age and wardrobe style if you do not pay appropriate attention to maintaining the "base".  No amount of styling or cosmetics can overcome lack of attention to these areas.  The how and what is going to be personal and the degree of care will surely vary from person to person, but it will exist to some degree for all.

The only "rules" (there are many more rules in cosmetic application than in styling a wardrobe; there are chemical and artistic realities that are much stricter than for the clothing you wear) I am going to share with you today is about skin care and basic hairstyle.  

(1). NEVER. EVER,  go to bed without properly cleansing your face and moisturizing. Only you know if you keep to this rule:  If you do, we can explore improvements at a later post.  If you do not, begin now by purchasing an appropriate cleanser. You must also make sure you moisturize, moisturize, moisturize if your skin requires it.  There are tons of recommendations out there; you can buy good ones at almost any drug store.  You do not have to break the bank.

(2) Whatever your hairstyle, color, length, make sure is is appropriately trimmed and clean. This is one rule that must not be overlooked unless the hairstyle is absolutely intentional and gleaming (more on this later).  It is the rare mature woman who can wear messy non descript dull  hair and look anything but frumpy.  If you are in need of a trim, make an appointment today.  (I always try to wear a hat or turban type headband if I cannot).

This blog will be devoted to finding routines that are simple and will work for everyone no matter how busy their schedule.  

It is important to remember we must make time for ourselves to be the best we can be.  The rewards are well worth it, even if it is only the confidence and "feel good" we experience. You will be surprised with the unforeseen benefits.

The details of your features are an important part of the styling process..Happy styling....Geneva

Mature Fashion: Its All About the Rules

Hello Stylinistas

Today its not about looking Young; It is about looking Good!!

One of the reasons I began this blog was the barrage of "don'ts" that I read on the few articles that discussed mature fashion, but I found very little emphasis on what you can "do" to make oneself look great.  Many of the rules I did find I consider silly; "wearing season themed sweater or sweatshirts, don't wear elastic waist pants, don't wear comfort sandals, don't wear t-shirts with mottos, etc."  As in ALL art forms one has to use a little thought, inspiration, balance, proportion, creativity, and good judgement to bring out the best of your assets.   A well groomed woman (a flattering hair style in aflattering shade of color, craftily applied cosmetics, well fitted garments,-not just "neat and clean")  who knows what type and style of garments suit her best does not have to fear a rain deer motif on a sweatshirt!  She is going to look great no matter her age. 

Obviously, if the baggy (or too tight) sweatshirt is on the older lady with the baggy elastic waist pants, the comfort sandals with socks, etc., she is not going to look good unless she is possibly under 20 and has the slouchy teen attitude.  Most young women buy it because they LIKE it or it is the "style".  Fortunately, with their toned bodies, hours of perfect cosmetic application and innocent confidence, they look GOOD no matter what they wear.  It is the feeling of confidence, the sparking eyes, etc. that carry the day.

Almost all of the articles I mentioned that are written for older women focus on looking younger.  First of all, people who look "good", almost always look "youthFUL".  It is the attitude, the energy level, etc. to which people react.  One of the most outlandish articles dealt with the fact that smiling caused wrinkles; that may be (and is) probably true, however, do we wish to restrain ourselves from an honest smile to prevent a wrinkle?  

We have all known people who were "old" even though their years were not; we have also known many who were "young at heart" and we enjoyed them. Most of us envy the ones who look great no matter their age and fall into the latter category. Being young at heart also includes flexibility.  Many older women are still locked into "rules" of their youth, such as the mixing of prints and plaid or stripes like in my picture above. 

My goal for this blog is to interact with those who fall into the category of wanting to look "good" no matter her age and who has the initiative to not settle for less than being all she can be.  It is meant for sharing our knowledge, tips, and other information that seems to be lacking across all media.  There are few resources for our age group or for people who want to become their own stylist and learn to make the most of their older body. The few that are out there do not deal with the challenges of the average American woman 

One can buy great comfort shoes and elastic waist pants in any style and suitable for women of any age.  What one doeshave to know is how to make the most of the assets one has and how to minimize perceived defects.  This woman has to be willing to work a bit to make the best of herself and be confident that she is worth it.  I am amazed at the number of women I have known in my lifetime who feel they have time to steam clean a garbage can but do not feel they have time to steam their face. Obviously, I have chosen an extreme example but I am sure you get my point.  These are usually to women who have lost all interest in themselves as pertinent individuals; they have given up. 

Of course, I am not talking about the older woman who really does not care about her appearance (she probably did not when she was much younger).  This blog is about women who do; women who want to continue to feel confident about themselves, who strive to be the best they can be, and are searching for new ideas, strategies, assistance, and sharing of information. Women who want to continue to grow, make the most of assets, and look wonderful as long as they live.

Once again, let me share my opinion on rules: I do not believe in many generalized fashion rules. Do not confuse fashion rules with rules of perception common to art and architecture, etc.  Perspective, facts of illusion, etc. are concrete and must be accepted as truth.  I am speaking of point-in-time rules such as "never wear a yellow dress,  you cannot mix prints and plaids, never wear black and brown together, never wear navy and black together, never match shoes and handbag, always match shoes and handbag", blah, blah, blah...Almost every fresh fashion breaks a "rule" of another time. In the upper left hand corner, you may notice I have combined a printed scarf, a spotted blouse, and striped pants, worn with casual black canvas skimmers for my at home roles today.  I like the combination so much I have already worn it three times this fall.  I have a friend who does not like the combination "because she was taught that stripes did not go with prints".  That was a fashion rule of our youth arbitrarily decided during that fashion era.  Patterns, stripes, plaids have been mixed for centuries.  It is "how" they are mixed that may or may not be pleasing to either the wearer or the audience.  It is how the wearer "feels" in the styling and the generalized taste of a fashion era.

Having said all that, I believe every woman must compose a list of personal fashion rules, based on her likes and dislikes, her specific body, face, age, lifestyle, etc. Every person's features are unique. She should understand the existing "rules" to assure herself why the rule should not apply to her. (a specific body feature, specific fabric textures, patterns)

The definition of "good taste" is also fluid.  Almost everyone I have ever met believe they have "good taste".  Many with whom I agree; many I can't believe anything but a large ego could possibly lead to that conclusion. Lauren Hutton is reputed to have made the statement that "most person's who were renowned for good taste grew up with Old Master and Picasso paintings on the wall".  Of course, she meant they learned good taste from the exposure; they were not born with it.  The rule concerning elastic waists for older women is a case in point.  Most people know there are stylish elastic waist pants; they really mean the cheap knit materials many economy stores continually carry.  That is one of the main problems with high end designers making lines for low quality big box stores.  I see many designs that are wonderful, but the materials are shoddy at best.

It is my observation the older I am, the less I can afford to add too many trend elements to any fashion combination. I have a personal "rule" of not combining too many fashion elements in an ensemble.  I have found this is one of the most common mistakes mature women make when trying to obsessively follow fashion trends; i.e., they will wear the latest shoe fashion,the latest skirt or pant design elements, the latest jewelry fad, color combination, etc. etc.  Many of them all at once.  I edit carefully how many fashion "must haves" I wear at one time.  I never wish to appear I am imitating my grand-daughter or that we are 'twins".  I also make sure I am wearing the bulk of clothing and accessories in high quality items. I will allow only one or two items in the ensemble to be less expensive trendy items.  

I find that "less is more" the older I get (remember, this rule, too can be broken with exactly the right outfit, and on the right woman-I break some taboo almost every season and usually love the effect.  It is important to remember, however, that all persons do not appear to advantage in all things.  I wear more cosmetics now than when I was younger but less of each type, this works for me.  To thine own self be true; Let your mirror and "feel" be your guide)

Have you defined your own personal rules for looking your fashion best?  I would love to hear your personal "rules" and why you have them....Happy Styling...Geneva

Step 3: Planning and Designing the Costumes

Greetings, Stylinistas;

Now begins the fun part; creating the wardrobe and fashioning of the costumes (clothing and accessory articles) you will be wearing for the prevailing fashion season.  By now you should have some idea as to how many ensembles you need for each role in your lifestyle, and of what construction the garments must have.  The variety and number of each depend strictly upon how much time you spend in each role and how many costume changes you prefer. Some people never like to wear the same outfit twice; others want a uniform, something to just grab off the hanger and know it will coordinate with anything else in the closet.  There is no "right" way to choose and your choice can be as varied as your time and budget allow, but you do need to know which you prefer and plan accordingly. 

You must also determine the fashion aesthetic that best represents your taste.  Each season has a variety of fashion stories or points of view designed to project your fashion preferences.  There are basically a dozen different fashion personalities: glamorous, elegant, classic, creative, preppy, sporty, romantic, bohemian, rebel, futuristic, relaxed, and country.  Every stylist has different names, different boundaries, and different combinations for these definitions, but they all cover the same fashion dimensions.  You have only to choose the fashion point(s) of view you wish to project.(if you don't know yours, I will discuss the definitions and clarify in a later post). For now, all you need to do is buy a few fashion magazines, take pictures of store mannequins,  and make a picture file of styling combinations that you like. Analyze those against the garments and accessories you have in your closet, mix and match for inspiration, etc. You are sure to have several combinations in your closet already that will have the same look and feel as the pictures you chose. (If you do not, that is the time to give me a call!).

Continue to combine your clothing in different combinations to determine the looks you like; try something different you haven't worn before. Make notes of what you like,  what you absolutely love, what flatters you, makes you feel good, and projects the image you desire. (You notice I take pictures of the combinations so I can easily recreate the ensemble when it is time to wear it.)  When you have completed this task, it is time to determine what items you may wish to purchase to interpret the look you desire.  Then it is time to go shopping. The space in your closet and your budget are the boundaries of what you can or may wish to purchase.

In my usual manner, I will demonstrate these operations using my own lifestyle roles to illustrate my discussion. For the fall/winter fashion season, I will spend most of my time in at home activities, shopping or running errands.  The "costume" for the majority of this time is represented in the clothing combination represented by the picture in the upper left hand corner. I do not like to wear the same combination more than three or four times in any season.  For this season I will need approximately thirty different combinations (easy care, sturdy, flexible utility) of this uniform that gives me about 90 days of wear.  I will need approximately sixty casual but upscale combinations for my other roles. (sales position, social events, big city shopping and lunch dates, etc.) Of course, you may choose to have more or less combinations.  I enjoy the individuality and creativity in using the garments in new ways each time I wear them, but my lifestyle allows me this opportunity. (Believe me, I have also had to grab the first thing I find in the closet! I understand time constraints).

My favorite points of view tend toward elegant, classic, and creative which you will discover within the blog . (As a result of styling for this blog, I stepped outside my own comfort zone to create some "rocking" ensembles I am dying to wear.  As a result I expect to have a more varied wardrobe this season).  

I performed all the operations mentioned above.  I already have a style book accumulated during the previous season so I knew the looks I wanted to acheive before I did my seasonal "curating the closet".  Upon completion of the task, I realized  I had only styled costumes that represented my personal point of view.  I realized I had to display the remaining fashion divisions for the blog.  As a result I had to purchase the following fashion items: a long duster ($29.00 at Target), a fringed boho handbag,($2.00 at DSW-on sale and a discount) two pair of textured tights, ($15.00) and a floppy Indianna Jones hat ($12.00 at Target) to complete styling my fall/winter wardrobe. 

If the item I need is a fashion fad that I do not expect will outlast the season, I will go to inexpensive shops such as thrift stores, big box stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, etc. If the item is a trend that I expect to last or a classic item that has just come back into popularity, I will consider making a fashion investment and purchase a quality garment that may be a bit pricey. (I usually keep an eye out for these items all year long whether or not they are in style.)  

In the picture in the upper right hand corner, I selected an example of my Blogger and At Home uniforms.  I did not expect to leave the house today, except possibly to do a short errand to the hardware store (I didn't make it).  Last night before bed I checked the weather, selected the garments I would wear, changed my purse, and chose the shoes and jewelry I would wear based on my plans for today.  In the picture below that I am in my salesperson role.  We have recently moved and I knew I would likely have some chores to perform that would require a slightly upscale version of my at home roles (just better jewelry and shoes with a dressier but comfortable heel.Thank you, Munro!)

Along with the minimum cosmetic routine I apply for these roles, I was ready to encounter almost any situation and feel both comfortable and confident in my appearance. 

Dear stylinista, I hope this information or reminders of styling principles keep you feeling confident and aid in "rocking your lifestyle roles".  Remember to view "rockmyrunwaay.blogspot.com"  for many more styling combinations that you might like to try for yourself............................Happy styling.........Geneva

Step 2: Eliminate the Excess

Good Morning Stylinistas; 

In this post I will share with you the second step in selecting a wardrobe that will make an almost effortless, flattering, and comfortable daily "costume" for the role you will play on almost any occasion.  Today my roles are that of Blogger, Homemaker, and Fashion Artist.  I have my hair encased in a fuzzy headband because I'm conditioning my hair while I am writing the post and also will have to run an errand at a nearby store.  I have on my usual minimum cosmetics and jewelry, the same top I wore when launching the blog (I try to wear a garment again if I have worn it within the week (drought here) so I can then toss it in the wash-I don't like returning worn tops to my closet). I am also wearing a comfortable pair of Not Your Daughters Jeans appropriate for the activities performed today.

Let's move on to the next step in creating an effective wardrobe. Hopefully, you have already Defined and Quantified your wardrobe requirements for your different roles (Step 1 was in the last post-the act of defining what kind of clothes and how many you need). 

Almost all of us have items in the closet that are simply not wearable; if the garment is shoddy or outlived its usefulness, no matter how much you love it, remove it from your closet and get rid of it.  If a garment does not fit and cannot be easily or practically altered, get rid of it. If you really hate it and know you won't wear it, get rid of it.  Place these articles in bags, piles, whatever.  Just remove them from your closet as soon as possible. By now you will most likely have cleared some space in the closet.

Take another look at the items in the closet.  If you decided to keep an item because it needed alteration, remove it from the closet for further action..   If you do not really like it (you bought it because it was of high quality and it was a 'good buy', ), determine what you don't like about it; Is it fixable?  If the answer is "yes", place it on the alteration pile, but get it out of the closet.  If the answer is "no", say good bye to your good buy! If you no longer like a garment and you feel it cannot be re-imagined, simply get rid of it. (you know, the "what was I thinking?" garment..)  If you are like most of us, your closet has even more space. We have just set the cornerstone for building a award winning wardrobe.  

I organize the remaining items in my closet by clothing types; I put all the blouses together arranged by color and sleeve length, all the pants, skirts, dresses, etc.  Of course, you should choose whatever method you prefer.  Some people like to organize by type, some by color, and some by function.  Choose the method that works for you. 

It is now time for me to analyze what I really can use and what I need. I Looked at my blouses: I have five crisp white button down shirts. I really only need one, but I will keep one more for back-up (you know, the unplanned coffee stain).  Check your closet and assess.. Do you have several printed short sleeve cottons and no white blouses? Are all your skirts black?  All of this may be appropriate based on your lifestyle and the amount of time you spend in a single type of garment.  The task is to determine if these garments are suitable for the role you wish to project and do you have the correct (approximate) number.  Only you can make this determination.

I found I had five crisp white button down shirts, all of good quality, and a perfect fit, I will embellish or dye three of them because my roles do not require five of them.  For instance, I might trim the collar of one of them with black details; I might decide to dye two of them in flattering colors. Those items would go on the pile of garments to be altered.  I would continue to analyze the remaining categories, making any notes as to items I might have to buy because I needed more of them.  I would also make notes if I needed to soon replace a necessary garment.

You may note that never once do I discard a flattering, high quality garment just because I have not worn it for a season or two or three, etc.  I never recommend disposing of it for that reason.  Classic and "timeless" means just that, you can wear it for all time. Pencil skirts may be in vogue one year, A-line another, etc.  I know the garment will be useful to me in the future.  Even if the garment has a non classic cut and may be dated in its details, I will find a way to combine it appropriately during most of the appropriate seasons. As  long as it fits and flatters, it stays.  I will find a way to use it creatively. That is a big part of the art of styling-the unexpected but pleasing.

One final task in properly stocking our wardrobe: evaluating investment buying.  Are too many items in the closet trendy?  Do I have garments for the unexpected occasion that I can wear in an emergency? Do I have appropriate foundation garments, quality accessories, and basic jewelry to support any trend or fashion?  If these items are not in your wardrobe, you may need to add them to your "items to purchase notes."

By now you should have a group of clothing to be discarded (where and how, your choice), and a group to be altered. (make a timetable as soon as possible-this is critical, else you will still have a pile months later; been there, done that!), The remainder of the clothes in the closet now become your foundation wardrobe.

My last step (and the most fun) will be another form of analysis; combining a foundation wardrobe in fresh and flattering ways to "Rockmyages".  We will cover this step in detail in the next post.

I "Curate my Closet" every fashion season to eliminate the obsolete, determine what items to upgrade and any items I might want to add to my wardrobe.  ...Happy Styling......Geneva

Step 1: Quantifying and Defining the Wardrobe

Good Morning, Stylinistas and Fashionistas....

In my "Introduction to the  Wardrobe" I said the presentation of oneself was akin to performing a role in the "play" of one's life.  

To continue the theme of "All The World's A Stage", one has to determine the nature of the play that is to be presented, identify the different roles, then select the appropriate wardrobe suitable to those roles and within the budget allocated by the producer (you). Sounds pretty straight forward, doesn't it? Yet, choosing the appropriate and most effective wardrobe is a difficult chore for most of us.  Selecting the wardrobe and styling for the Play of Life is what this blog is all about; we are the producers, actresses,  and the costume designers; each in our own play, our own role(s), and our own closets.

How do I do this?  I learned from a professional stylist many years ago some of the procedures I still use, and some I had to use in the past. (most stylists do some form of these tasks).    

In order to choose appropriate wardrobes for the roles, we need to know how many roles we have to fill, how long each role will be on stage, and the form and function of the garments required for the role. We all perform in a different play; the number and nature of the roles will be different as well as the role itself.  

In my play, I have the roles of  (1) At home Blogger , (2)  Saleswoman,(3) Homemaker with pets (4) Babysitter (4) Intermittent instructor/volunteer (5) Social Group Member. (6) Fashion Artist.  The wardrobe requirements for the roles of Blogger, Homemaker, Babysitter,  are the same, so only one wardrobe is required for all three roles;  I only need to determine how much of my time during a month is spent in the combined roles.

It depends on the season how much time I spend as a Salesperson; I work part time at a high end full service patio furniture store in Silicon Valley, California.  Obviously, I work more in the spring/summer season (up to four days per week), and very little during the cooler fall/winter months, sometimes not at all, but rarely more than one day a week.  The clothing needs for the roles of Salesperson, Volunteer, Group Member are also interchangeable and one wardrobe will do for all three roles. 

There remains the role of Fashion Artist whose wardrobe requirements are dependent upon the task; if the task is performed at home, I use the same clothing I would use for at home roles; if the task in interacting outside the home, i. e., (styling a client's closet), I would wear the clothing I would wear in the Salesperson's role. In my particular situation I have an almost 50/50 percent expenditure of time between the two wardrobe requirements.  I then have the very few garments required for the occasional wedding, formal evening event, etc. 

We then need to discuss the weather; rarely can you use the same wardrobe in the summer and in the winter.  Depending upon where you reside, you must consider how long during a year will you wear the same clothing.  In Northern California (Bay Area) I use one wardrobe set for two thirds of a year; beginning early April until late October or early November. The fall/winter season is quite short.  The clothing in my closet reflects this requirement. In other words, my spring/summer wardrobe is larger than my fall/winter seasonal wardrobe.  You might say I have four different wardrobes in my closet; my role wardrobes (2) each divided into spring/summer and fall/winter.  Some people organize their closets in this manner.

Depending upon where you live and the roles in your life will depend upon how and what kind of clothing you need in your wardrobe.  Defining the roles and the amount of time spent in each is the first step in planning the appropriate wardrobe.  

If you want the most effective wardrobe, you, too must first go through this analysis of quantifying your wardrobe. In the next post, I will share with you my next step in defining a personal wardrobe. ........Happy styling..........,.Geneva

Introduction to the Wardrobe

Hello Stylinistas and Fashionistas;

Have you seen the ad where Jamie Lee Curtis portrays a woman preparing for her day by doing her morning exercise routine, visiting 'wardrobe', then eating her breakfast yogurt?  

I, apparently like Ms. Curtis, have always felt the art of a woman dressing for the day should be viewed as dressing for her stage or screen role. (Even Shakespeare said "All the world's a stage and each must play its part".) I dress at all times (i.e., as much as possible  for the possibility I may unexpectedly encounter someone. I also choose what I am going to wear with the understanding that how I am dressed will affect to some degree the interaction.

After all, we dress for an interview, a first date, meeting in-laws for the first time, etc., etc., always taking note that we want to make a good impression for that event. All too often I think we forget that everywhere and everytime we encounter people. We are making some sort of an impression on people who we teach, depend upon, or have social contact. This impression is important to some degree whether or not we know the person well, or are meeting them for the first time. I wholeheartedly believe that the effect is even greater on the mature woman over forty.

How confident we feel within this role depends a great deal upon how we perceive ourselves, and how we believe others perceive us.  Our appearance is all too often the only clue an observer has as to what we feel about ourselves. Whether this opinion is right or wrong, many psychological studies have revealed that an opinion of us is made in only a few seconds after one meets someone for the first time.  More significantly, an instant negative impression is often difficult to change. (for those interested, read the book "Blink," the Art of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell).

I begin my day in my pajamas.  I always wear either flannel or cotton pajama bottoms with a tee shirt.  I find this sleepwear is comfortable, convenient, practical, and suitable for all temperatures.  It also allows me to look presentable to anyone I meet (garbageman, next door neighbor, etc.) until I get dressed. immediately upon arising I usually slip on a bra and feet thongs, comb my hair, and a cotton cardigan sweater if it is chilly.  This is my "uniform" until I do early chores such as making my bed, caring for my animals, and breakfast preparation.  Only then do I don my wardrobe for my daily "role".

I usually will choose the clothing and accessories I will wear on the next day the night before. This allows me to plan effectively and forestalls any unplanned problem that may occur the next morning.  Of course, these choices are based on my perceived role for the next day and the activities I expect to perform.

In my next post, I will share with you one the tools I have learned to use to make this a very manageable chore.  No matter your age, your style, or your personal "stage", you can Rock your role.
If you are interested in exploring your styling opportunities, you may be interested in viewing "rockmyages.blogspot.com" and/or  "rockmyrunwaay.blogspot.com"...Have a great day, and happy stylinistas......Geneva