I’ll cut right to the chase: The key to style at any age, in my opinion, is having a “look” that works together to amplify your personality – hair, clothes, accessories, makeup, all telling the same story. When it all works together it sends a message loud and clear – this is who I am today. Hopefully, there is good taste and a bit of restraint mixed into the look too.
Anyone can buy fashion. not everyone has style.
Style can be a weapon for social change
Great style is a weapon that a midlife woman can and, in my opinion, must use to convey their confidence and power as an individual. Our culture seeks to minimize midlife women’s power and value. A personal style done well says to the world “I know who I am. I’m proud of who I am. I have value. I belong here”. Combine style with upright posture, physical vitality, and an air of confidence and we as women have an effective toolset that we can use to communicate personal power and relevancy to a culture that seeks to make us invisible.
The important role of the image consultant and personal stylist
So many women at midlife still feel vital and they care about the way they look, but it can be confusing how to make clothes, accessories, hair etc work together for maximum effect. Often the result is that they look “nice” but not “wow”.
In my opinion, every woman over 50 should hire a personal stylist to help them navigate all the “rules” and update their style in a way that flatters their midlife figure changes. It is the best present you can give yourself for renewed confidence and conveying your personality to the max.
The top 5 mistakes midlife women make regarding fashion
- They buy trendy clothes that may not flatter their figure and then wear a hairstyle that has not been updated in years so “the look” send mixed messages.
- They haven’t changed their hairstyle in years, clinging to the haircut they’ve always had because it feels safe.
- They wear the wrong shape clothes that inadvertently emphasize their midlife tummy or thighs or make them look dowdy in an effort to hide it.
- Most of us don’t know what our style personality or body shape really is so we buy clothes that send a confused message.
- Most women think that they have to lose weight to hire a personal stylist or have a big budget to hire one.
Top 5 reasons why midlife women would benefit from the help of a personal stylist:
- Our bodies have likely changed shape at midlife. The types of clothes we used to wear don’t work anymore A stylist can steer us to clothes that make us look our best
- There are too many fashion rules to wade through and we are confused about what is right for our particular shape and lifestyle. They navigate all those rules for us and tell us which rules we can break without looking like a fool (YAY!)
- Stylists have a magical talent to analyze what will flatter your shape at any weight, your skin coloring, your hair coloring and more. They help you discover the fashion style that makes you feel most you and then bring you choices to try. The joy and confidence boost you feel when you look younger, more stylish and more you is the absolute best feeling..
- They can help you pull a whole new look together from hairstyle, glasses, clothes, bras that fit correctly, accessories etc that all work together so your personality shines out. You get compliments like “you look fantastic” instead of “I like your shirt” or your blouse.
- Normal women don’t have the talent to see themselves the way good stylists do. They amplify your best assets and minimize the others in a way that highlights your personality. They are worth every penny.
My stylist
I was styled for my blog photo shoot by the wonderful Sandra Veum of My Mariposa Style (www.mymariposastyle.com) in San Diego. She opened my eyes to all kinds of ways to mix and match fabrics and patterns that I never in a million years would have tried. For example, she suggested an outfit of camo pants paired with a t-shirt and a Chanel-like woven jacket. Who knew you could do that and make it look cool? I feel elegant, edgy and confident at the same time everytime I wear the looks she helped me find.
Sandra doesn’t think there is any color or style a midlife or older woman shouldn’t wear as long as the look is styled with taste. That’s where I turn to a professional because I like to push the boundaries of edgy and I don’t trust myself on knowing where to stop. She does.
Give yourself the best present of feeling “more you”
From personal experience, I cannot recommend using the services of a personal stylist more highly. In my opinion, the average well-intentioned, style-conscious woman (including myself) cannot do as great a job of defining and refining our unique fashion style as these trained professionals can.
We know ourselves better at midlife. We are not trying to be someone else. A fashion stylist can help us define who we have become so we can broadcast that beautiful energy to the world. It is a very rewarding feeling to be able to visually broadcast your unique personality to the world every day.
Can I get a high five for that?!!
Upcoming blog posts on style:
In an upcoming post, I’ll reveal a variety of ways to use styling services at various price points – from online styling “Skype-like” services to in-person consultations. There are a whole bunch of new options these days. It’s is very exciting.
In future posts I will also be featuring makeovers, before and after styling sessions with midlife women, interviews with stylists for their advice and tips, and more. Stay tuned to the blog for updates.
