Comments Suggestions QuestionsHey, there,

OK. So did you raise your hand? Unless you’re in your teens, which I doubt you are, you don’t want to look older, right? But hey, the truth is…we are all getting older. Shocking I know, because we don’t really feel it, right? I think I can speak for you and everyone else reading.

Yes, maybe parts of our bodies ache and creak when we get up in the morning. Unfortunately sometimes our bodies lack the energy we once had too. But I’m not talking about pain or how we feel physically when I say we don’t really feel it. What I’m talking about is our emotions…our insides.

Even when I talk to my eldest clients who are in their 70’s, they tell me that when they catch a glance at themselves when they walk by a mirror or see their reflection in a department store window they think, “Who is that?!” The don’t recognize themselves. It can actually be quite shocking. They know they are older but inside they still feel like a kid. Do you relate to this?

I do even at my age and I am not even close to 70. Inside we all still feel young. We still get butterflies when we meet someone we’re attracted to. We still get nervous when we speak in front of a group of our peers. We all revert back to our high school days and ways when a reunion occurs between old friends.

For many years up into my late 30’s, when I saw myself in my mind’s eye, I was a “12-year-old.” Currently, the vision of myself has grown up a bit – she is now a “young woman,” not quite the age that I am but certainly much older than 12. I have no idea what this all means but I am certain Freud would have a field day with this one – that’s another post. 🙂

And as I age, I wonder if I’ll ever see myself in my mind’s eye at the age that I truly am. I know one thing for sure, my mother will always see me as her baby no matter how old I get. My mother still calls me a kid. It’s funny. According to society, I am not a kid nor even a young woman, unless you’re talking to someone over 80. 🙂

My mother still clips out articles from the local newspaper and gives them to me. When I read them I laugh because most of these articles are about night clubs and fun things to do in San Francisco, and the photos shown are filled mostly with twenty-somethings partying it up. Not that I don’t think I can be around such a young crowd because I know I can hang with the best of them and still have fun in the right atmosphere.

I just think it’s interesting how parents always think of their children as kids still, no matter how old they get. And no matter how old we get, no matter the physical challenges we encounter, inside we still feel young…like kids.

So how does this relate to style?

I guess what I am getting at is, how do we age gracefully in terms of how we present ourselves to the world through the language of our clothes, when our bodies are changing in odd places, our gray roots are showing up quicker, our memory is not like it used to be, yada yada yada…need I go on?!…and when we don’t necessarily look on the outside the way we feel on the inside?

I find that in the world of fashion, where every magazine is telling you what’s in and what’s out, where trends are changing constantly, it can be easy to become a fashion victim and get caught up in all of the chatter.

It is one of the reasons why when I work with my clients we come up with a 3-word mantra for their style. In this busy world where one can easily be swayed by society’s style expectations and bound by limitations, I find that more of my clients are choosing “Authentic” as one of the words in their Style Mantra.

I get it because I know how important it is to feel good in the skin you are in.

In my opinion, to “dress authentically” means honoring who you are. By honoring who you are, you honor all of you – How you look on the outside and how you feel on the inside.

Whether the word “Authentic” is part of your Style Mantra or not, I want for everyone to honor themselves and “dress authentically.”  Here are 5 tips to follow to ensure that you do:

  1. Honor your body, its shape, weight and condition, where you are at this exact moment. Not when you lose weight, not when you get in better shape. Right. now. Embrace the skin you are in, wrinkles, lumps, and all. (I know that’s a hard one 🙂 And cellulite too – Ugh. Yes, most of us have it.
  2. Give little importance to the ins and outs of trends. Instead honor your Body-Type by dressing in styles that flatter, compliment and give you confidence, or whatever else you are seeking to feel through the expression of your style.
  3. Express your uniqueness. Dress in colors and patterns that pay tribute to all parts of your personality, showcasing to the world your “creativity” to your “quirkiness.”
  4. Dress for yourself. Don’t dress for someone else unless the outfit you chose makes you feel good too. Enough said.
  5. Be mindful of how you feel when you put on an outfit. If it does not make you feel joy, confident, or some other positive feeling, change your outfit. It is amazing how an outfit that you don’t feel good in can affect your entire day. Just as an outfit can practically make your entire day wonderful just because of how you feel in it.

If you have a dress code for work sometimes it may be more challenging to “dress authentically.” Here are 3 tips that can help you bring your required wear closer to how you feel on the inside:

  1. You are employed by a company that requires you to wear a suit and suits are not your preferred way of dress. Find a suit that suits your personality. (No pun intended)
    1. Ladies: For example, if you are a “Charming Femme” kind of girl who loves to wear dresses, opt for a skirt suit that has a feminine flair such as a peplum jacket or skirt. Pair it with a pretty blouse and statement necklace.
    2. Gentlemen: If you are an edgier dresser find a suit that has a modern cut instead of something traditional. Mix up interesting color combos in shirts instead of the standard solid white or blue. Match your socks to your shirt and you’ll definitely stand out from the pack. But if you’re wearing a tie with that suit, make sure your socks match your tie.
  2. You are employed by a company that requires you to wear all black and black isn’t necessarily your best color. Believe it or not there are many shades of black. Find a shade of black that compliments your personal coloring. If you have more cool tones in your hair, skin, and eyes wear a black that has more blue in it. If you have more warm tones wear a black that has more brown or green in it. Play with texture, proportion, and shape. Make sure that you honor yourself by wearing flattering styles that suit your Body-Type and Personality, and make you feel amazing and confident.
  3. You are employed by a company that requires you to wear a uniform. Sometimes the best thing you can do if you have no choice or voice about your work attire, is to don your “brightest smile” and “authentic attitude.” Ladies, wearing your prettiest undergarments couldn’t hurt either. 🙂 You may be the only one at work who can appreciate what can’t be seen, but sometimes even if you can only “dress authentically” in the smallest way, it is enough to carry you through the day.

No, I did not expect you to raise your hand because you want to look older. 🙂 I certainly don’t. As much as I love the age I’m at, I’m just like any other girl out there, I want to look younger than I am. And, I want to look my best and feel amazing whatever my age.

If you’re like me, we may not age as gracefully as we would like, but one thing’s for certain, I will honor myself so that my fashion fits how I feel inside and out. And that is dressing as authentically as it can get. I hope you’ll do the same. In my opinion “dressing authentically” is always fashionable.

Now, it’s your turn. I’d love to hear from you.  How do you “Dress Authentically?” Your insights and inspiration are appreciated so please share your stories in the comments below.

Blog me.

Love,

~Michelle

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