The good news is fashion and style no longer comes with an unyielding set of do’s and don’ts.
The bad news is fashion and style no longer comes with an unyielding set of do’s and don’ts.
Never before have we been so free to create our ideal visual expression of self through what we choose to buy and wear.
As women, we are no longer bound by the out-dated and often insulting fashion mantras that generations of women before us were forced to navigate. (Never leave the house naked still applies. Just to be clear).
In the past two decades we’ve experienced a giant leap away from matching our shoes to our bag for example. And although that particular dictate appears to be creeping it’s way back in, this time around, it is *completely* optional.
Similarly, the suggestion that a woman should dress her age is officially antiquated. An objectifying and pre-historic binding that has well and truly been broken by some incredible 40 plus fashion mavens (my personal favourites # and #) who refuse to bow to the nonsensical ruling of the court of ‘who actually cares what they think anyway’. Ninety is quite literally the new 20.
And the rule breaking continues, including –
- athleisure as a permanent fashion fixture
- socks with open-toed shoes (admittedly not my favourite and probably best left to the street style set)
- sequins during the day; and
- navy mixed with black (which would have had our grandmothers clutching their pearls).
But with fashion freedom comes a potential tsunami of sartorial overwhelm (usually most keenly felt in the cramped, airless, neon-lit confines of a fitting room) that might have us longing for the days when rules ruled.
So how do you balance this welcome flex in fashion with the need to buy and wear outfits that effortlessly reflect your personality and lifestyle.
In other words, in the age of ‘almost anything goes’ how do you develop a style that doesn’t result in even more tidal waves of tears and frustration than before?
A good place to start is with my list of three over-arching style identity categories that most women fall into, served with a solid side of ‘bang* versus basic’ guidance.
*Bang – statement pieces of clothing that add something a little unexpected to your outfits. It might be the cut, the fabric, the pattern/colour, the details or all of the above that render this bang rather than basic.
Let me show you what I mean by this.
The three over-arching style identities are:
- Contemporary – the perfect balance of bang and basic
- Classic – a timeless blend of basic that in no way equates to boring
- Fashion forward – a symphony of bang and bang that screams style success as opposed to hot blithering mess.
While some stylish chameleons will enthusiastically straddle all three broad style identities, most women have a dominant style identity, perhaps with a secondary one depending on the day.
Reflecting on the categories above, which one speaks to you most strongly? This is your dominant style identity. #### and with the added extra of a simple outfit formula (eg., bang and basic, basic squared or bang squared).
Examples are always handy so here are a few to get you off the blocks. [Include photos or link to photos]
Contemporary
Classic check blazer
Denim jean
Fine knit hoodie – colourful
Trainer
Classic (tone on tone on tone – keep it monochrome or 3 colours max)
Stripe Tee/top
Taupe Pant
Classic flat
Black blazer
Fashion forward (print smash up – more smash, less clash – retain some continuity between the pieces, usually colour sometimes print size) (volume on volume also works well)
So next time you’re in that neon-lit box lamenting over modern style’ lack of rules, close your eyes, breath and think back to your style identity and the basic bang formula.
What do you need to add or take away to achieve a look that effortlessly reflects you?
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