Fashion Over Forty. Not Frumpy.
Here is a lesson that is challenging (if not impossible) to teach a teen: you shouldn’t want to look like everyone else. My parents tried to teach me about individual style way back when and I can report that they failed.
But. The sheer fun of developing your unique fashion statement is something I now very much appreciate. The fashion that makes you feel confident and that feels good on you. This is one of the many advantages of aging. Years of experimentation provide the knowledge of what looks best on your body. Embracing who you are as a person translates into embracing how your personality can be reflected in what you wear. As importantly, I don’t feel bad about me because an item of clothing is unflattering, I simply recognize that not every style is intended for every person. I don’t look for clothes that are in fashion magazines (I can’t even remember the last time I opened one), I look for clothes that are the sorts of things I prefer to wear.
What this all means is that I now see fashion as one of the many modes of expression available to us. For those of us who are creative on any level, fashion is a wonderful form of artistic expression. For the activitists among us, clothes can be a powerful political statement. For all of us, fashion can be great fun on some days and a source of great comfort on others (consider a flamboyant scarf versus our favorite flannel PJs for example). At 13, fashion is often about looking like them. At 53, fashion should be about looking like the best possible me. Or when I’m sad, maybe the most comforting me.
It is wonderful that there are many more blogs and websites today that cater to older women. But not because they show us how an older woman “should” dress, but rather because they can be a source of inspiration as each of us continues to develop our personal style. Many (although by no means all) reinforce the idea that getting older doesn’t mean frumpy fashion but instead means fun fashion. Because as we age, hopefully we also develop the confidence that allows us to take risks and to really not care if we look like anyone else.
At the end of the day, clothes are simply accessories. The grace and presence with which we wear them is what ultimately makes us beautiful. If you have seen interviews with the famous Jane Goodall, you understand exactly what I mean. Fashion icon? No. Absolutely, strikingly gorgeous? Yes.
I very much believe fashion is art. We are all artists every day as we create the vision of ourselves and our lives that makes us happy. As I have considered various ways to describe my mission for serenewhimsy, one description is this:
you created the bombshell you are today. you will create the masterpiece that you are tomorrow. serenewhimsy is the inspiration for your art.
I hope very much you will find inspiration in what you discover here.
As a final aside, if you are interested in the many roles fashion plays in our lives, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City has a wonderful (free!) video called Fashion As Design that covers everything from the pencil skirt to the hoodie. Great for fashion and history buffs alike. Is is available at https://www.coursera.org/learn/fashion-design.
