Finding Your Method to Style – Tips, Inspiration & Encouragement
Style tips aren’t just about how to pair a cute top and bottom together….it’s a much bigger picture. It might seem like alot right now; but as you read through the reasons WHY certain things matter, HOW they are interpreted in your look, and WHAT fits and flatters you best, that’s going to make you unstoppable.
Let me start with the fact that I am NO seamstress. In Junior High, the Home Economics Class had us sew an apron, a decorative cushion and a sweater. My mother, still to this day has the apron, my grandmother STILL has that decorative cushion on her bed; but that sweater is long gone. But …
20’s, 30’s, 40’s…..what age category do you land? I know…it’s such a huge range and, if you are like me, you have a hard time believing where you really land on that spectrum!
But it’s really important to know, that as you leave each decade, some of your wardrobe needs to be left behind also. Dressing like you did in your 20’s is not something you should be trying to pull off in your late 30’s or  40’s. It’s not that you CAN’T fit into that dress, or you don’t look totally, incredibly, kick ass AHHH-MAZING at 40; but I feel very certain on this one…it’s not the way to go.
That’s not to say you won’t have a few great pieces that may stand the test of time and trends; but it is not often that a piece of clothing is designed to be worn for 20 years. OF COURSE there are amazing finds in Vintage shops, and who wouldn’t covet some classic Chanel….whoa baby, that would be GOLD. I still own some very classic pieces from my former life working in an office; but they rarely make an appearance. Things like a great pair of black pants or a blazer. Camel colored trench coat or a great suit; but anything else may have seen it’s share of airtime. Hems will drop for the last time, seams will start to unravel and actually, no, it doesn’t fit anymore. It’s kind of like when your child leaves infancy and graduates to toddler, then to big kid, and on an on. You’d love to hang on to it for JUST a little longer but life is telling otherwise.
I found my professional sense of style around 27. I finally had a little extra money to get some quality pieces. Things that would coordinate with other items I had or bought, and just knowing my style and color preference. I’m primary colors and classic style with a great set of heels! Skirts changed from mid thigh to just above the knee. MAN a great pencil skirt, freshly ironed shirt tucked in and a pair of heels…..pretty sure I felt like I could do anything in that outfit. There’s a special feeling that comes over you when you look at yourself as you walk out the door and say, “NAILED IT!”
One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE articles in InStyle Magazine is where they show you how a particular look should be translated for someone in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. I could appreciate how the outfit changed with each decade. All look very on trend, professional, casual, sexy…whatever the look they were going for was, just in an incredibly appropriate way. What a coincidence with the warmer weather on its way, they have this awesome article to reiterate what I’m talking about — InStyle Magazine Celebrities In Shorts
This past decade has been a lot of fun style wise for me. I’ve been really intentional with my Method to Style and feel a transformation has happened. Nothing gigantic but a tweek here and there and I know it will always evolve. THAT is the beauty of fashion over the decades….not that you transform completely (well, some of you might!); but you alter it slightly as you mature into the woman (or man) you are becoming. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to create a polished or finished look. There are price point levels at ALL department stores to give you choices. BUT, I will say…if you are still shopping in the Juniors Section because you still wear that size in your late 20’s and 30’s…I can promise you…the styles in that department aren’t meant for a young professional….time to LEVEL UP.
So while you may maintain those killer legs over the years…..just because you have them, doesn’t necessarily mean you have to show ALL of them….don’t worry. As women, we see, and we give you the sisterhood nod to a rockin’ bod under your fabulous style 😉
xoxo Taryn
I love mixing pieces that look like they just belong together, even though they are opposites, like coral and turquoise. I like my turquoise to be a little bit understated so this bracelet, with the vintage finish on the gold, layered with the latte double wrap strap for my Icon Watch and a super Spring-y …
All through my life, I’ve just really liked clothes. Any kind really. I grew up a farm girl so we had “town / school clothes”, “play clothes”, “church clothes” and so on. This does not mean we had ALOT of clothes, just very specific categories! So I guess you could say my mother taught me …
Undergarments. They are absolutely necessary and a very important part of every outfit. Why? Well, it’s because it not only holds everything in place and supports good hygiene ;), it allows the fabric to flow and lay against you seamlessly, if done correctly. Wouldn’t you know it, I’ve got some thoughts on a Style Method to choosing which ones to wear.Yes….those undies do can do all of that. Why else would we shove ourselves into Spanx to look two sizes smaller, inhibit our breathing but still expect it to come off as natural and effortless?! ha!
Some of my favorite tips learned over the years are:
BRAS
BOTTOMS
We ALL have those underwear categories…don’t lie! We have some that we should have thrown away long ago, the ones for special occasions, and everything in between. But it does matter which ones we wear with each outfit because the eye stops at the line….panty line that is. I know it isn’t something we can avoid every single day, Good GRIEF it’s a lot of work to think about whether that is showing when we are busy momming, working, feeding, changing, nursing, cooking, cleaning and everything in between! BUT, on those special occasions, maybe we have an extra minute 😉
So that’s it….my thoughts on underwear. And I want to make sure I drive this point home as well….I share my Method to Style here in its entirety. That means talking about the little things that sometimes we just don’t have time for or care about. I know how it is! I have a business from home, two kids, a husband, a dog and a busy life; BUT what I AM saying is that when we spend a few minutes being intentional about how we want to style ourselves the little things matter! I certainly spent time making sure things like this were thought of when I worked at an office and wore office attire, and I just think of it a bit differently now that I get to wear whatever I want every day. Take from this post what you will; but deep down I think your inner fashionista agrees with at least some of those points ;D
xoxo Taryn