Mature Fashion: A Revisited Role

In 1994 I began a small sole proprietorship creating patterns for fashion dolls; I began that business because:

(1) I was annoyed at the shoddy quality of materials and the poor fit of the merchandise I saw on the shelves of the local toy store.  The prices were outrageous for what was being delivered.

(2) I was only a year or two away from eligibility of retirement.  I knew I wanted to keep doing some meaningful work, but not full time, nor at the pace which I was then working.  

(3) Fashion dolls are (for the most part) pleasing; they are usually lovely and offer an unlimited range for a stylist and designer to utilize his or her creativity to the fullest without all the fuss and bother of fashion design for humans.

I worked full time in an Information Systems job while I began pattern production for my company, Lord Perry Patterns.  I concentrated mostly on historical and specialized patterns such as wedding, holiday, and fantasy to create a unique brand, but I also wanted to eventually produce some couture patterns.

Unexpected life events got in the way making it necessary for me to put Lord Perry Patterns on hiatus for several years but I am once again reviving it.  Although it is a whole new world out there, both for us and the dolls, I am reviving the business, both for the additional (and helpful) potential retirement income and keeping my mind engaged in the business and fashion pursuit.  

I will be offering the patterns by mail order; each of the patterns contain at least two views of the subject pattern, and do not require any exceptional knowledge or hard to obtain materials.  Many designers of One Of A Kind fashion dolls have or are still using Lord Perry Patterns.  

I am proud to say that Lord Perry Patterns have a great reputation;  they are desired by many designers and are especially known for their superior fit, etc. (I now face a new challenge in the dolls that have entered the market recently with their new shapes and sizes, but I am eagerly awaiting tackling that challenge.).  New Lord Perry Patterns will be on the market after advent of the new year.

Hopefully, this re-visit of an old role will contribute to "Rocking My Age", as a hobby if not a profitable business...I believe in the old adage of not knowing if I don't try!!

I have a website at LordPerryPatterns.com where you can view all current Lord Perry Patterns; I also have LordPerryPattern.blogspot.com, a blog I have had for several years.  This blog primarily provides tips and up to date information on the art of designing One of a Kind dolls (OOAK).

Mature Fashion: Sending "Messages"

Heidi Klum is famous for her expression "I now know who you are" when a designer on Project Runway styles an original design on her popular fashion show.  Her meaning is instantly clear; just what a wise woman wants to do whatever her role. Whether planning a Charity event soliciting for funds, volunteering as a docent within your community, re-financing your home, dealing with family members,  applying for aid, you are instantly sending a message to your audience.  In any situation where the outcome is important, a wise woman will remember this important FACT.  Hillary Clinton in a red suit in debate with Donald Trump is NOT AN ACCIDENT. I am willing to bet that her professional advisors have her wardrobe projected to the nnth degree, and stategized based on the results on any previous encounters.  STYLE IS BOTH A TOOL AND WEAPON.  It does not matter if one wants to believe this, it has been proven repeatedly by credible scientific research.  The results are so conclusive that I believe that any man or woman is foolish who ignores the facts.  Attention to appearance and styling is NOT shallow when used appropriately.  Once again, it is a TOOL, not an indulgence.

Trade secret:  when I was nearing my 40's and employed in technical silicon Valley, CA, interviewing for a programming job (almost always considered a young person's venue). I wore the outfit in the upper left hand corner just before I had this picture taken with my family (studio portrait before the days of Selfies!!).  It was a planned outfit that I wore on many planned occasions-youthFUL (not young), strong, relaxed , and expensively casual. 

Certainly this "look" was strictly against the advice of ANY styling book that I saw, had, or read at the time.  I believe the cashmere sweater, the well cut matching red pleated wool skirt accomplished the put together look of the time, and worn with an expensive watch and gold casual coin contributed to my "fitting in" with the culture. Obviously, the red was for powerful credibility.  BTW, I got the job, and two years later another in the same field.  I believe that although my qualification were very good, the impression I made was in part responsible for the result.  This is also the time I discovered that every woman needed to make her own "rules" for what was best for her situation in life.

Yes, we need guidelines, but it is not hard and fast "rules".  It takes time to discover what works for each individual's roles in life.  The point here is I PLANNED a certain look to send a certain subliminal message.  The entire message of "Rock My Role" is that it is important to send the message you want for the task you want to accomplish, whether relaxation, professional employment within a certain audience, and most importantly, the confidence necessary within oneself to accomplish a goal.  Appropriate styling also makes most women feel they have life under control.  I find it makes all of my life much easier and helps me "RockMyAge".