Article written by Ann Reinten AICI CIP, creator of the My Private Stylist program: Changing Lives One Wardrobe At A Time
The term ‘fashion victim’ was coined by Oscar de la Renta to describe someone who is unable to identify commonly recognised boundaries of style. Gianni Versace referred to it as “When a woman alters her look too much from season to season.
I’d be the first to put my hand up and say I LOVE fashion and with it comes the potential for me to fall into the fashion victim category. I love constantly being presented with new and interesting looks that allow me to evolve my personal style while expanding and experimenting with my wardrobe choices.
But becoming a fashion victim is not something that will happen to me. For starters, I know who I am, I take from fashion only what suits my personality and figure and I wear things my way.
So in the spirit of being fashionably fabulous, here’s my take on what’s important to know:
To Thine Self Be True
Possessing a great look is first and foremost about feeling great when you look in the mirror. If you’ve ever had a friend cajole you into into wearing something that wasn’t ‘you’, you’d have experienced the discomfort it brings. Even if it looked great on your body, if the style did not gel with who you are (your style personality) it felt awkward and disconnected. In fact wearing any thing that isn’t you literally drains you of energy.
So, regardless if an item is the hottest must-have ever, if it’s not ‘you’ pass on it. There are always plenty of other trends to choose items from.
Also, Your Personal Style is ever evolving and as you explore and discover your authentic style you’ll discover what an awesome journey it is, and the more original, fresh and happy you’ll be in your clothes.
Dodge Fashion Time Warps
It may have been ‘totally you’ and it’s served you well over the years, having paid for itself many times over but it’s now 15 years. Now when you wear it, you and the garment look outdated. “But it’s retro – that’s in” I hear you say. That may be true, but retro on the young looks cool. However on those who have lived through the era it often looks dowdy and outdated. A style mantra to remember is ‘if you were young enough to wear it the first time you’re probably too old to wear it the second time round.
Strive to always wear clothes that are current. They will show you are current and have a love of today.
Nail the Basics
These are the building blocks that create a stylish wardrobe and presence that will create the image you wish to portray to the world. If you skip over building a solid foundation, then your presence will be all flash and no substance.
Your foundation pieces are the real work horses of your wardrobe. So much so, that if you lost them it would severely debilitate your ability to create outfits that fit your lifestyle and aesthetic ideals. Foundation garments are primarily classic in nature and simply in design. Nailing these means ensuring you have the right quantity, in the best style for your figure and in the best quality you can afford.
Focus on Style, Not Price
Regardless of the designer name on the label, the price you paid or how ‘in’ the item is, if the style does not suit or fit, or the colour is unflattering don’t go there. Fashion victims snap up the latest trends and wear them proudly, showing everyone that they know what’s in style. Meanwhile, those around them are thinking, “So you know what’s in style. But do you have a mirror?”
Conspicuous consumption isn’t stylish either, and raises questions regarding your sensibilities of what’s important. It shows social insecurity and turns more people off than it impresses. By focusing on what suits your personal style, figure, colouring and lifestyle you’ll be streets ahead in the style stakes.
Fight Fashion Frenzy
Wearing too much of anything is never a good idea, no matter what it is, but especially when it comes to fashion. Keep statement or trend pieces to one or two per outfit lest you be seen as a try-hard. Likewise buying garments that don’t go with anything just because they are ‘in’ begs the question why? You can get into a vicious circle of throwing good money after bad trying to make a bad purchase or an orphan item work.
Avoid Pinch, Pull, Tug
There’s nothing worse than knickers up your butt. It’s irritating, distracting and looks bad.
Your undergarments affect your overall appearance, and wearing the correct size will give you the level support and coverage you need. Badly fitting underwear causes unsightly bulges and the embarrassment of being caught in the act of liberating your knickers out of your butt . So throw away anything that is stretched or too tight, and have regular bra fittings. Unlike clothing, that is often vanity sized, lingerie is usually correctly sized and as a result will need to be larger than you expect. If the size on the label distresses you cut it off – I won’t tell.
Be Mindful of Your Age Limitations
You may still have a great body, but what age does your face say you are? A well dressed woman wears clothes that match her face. There are many trends that can easily be adapted to many ages and then there are some that should be left to the young. Thirtysomething designer Veronica Swanson Beard has got it right when she says “Dressing your age means feeling comfortable in your own skin and working with what you’ve got.” Working with what you’ve got, not what you had – is the key. ->
Obviously age inappropriate clothes worn by mature age women proclaim to the world that they are not coping well with aging, are gullible or lack self awareness. Dress too old and you may be mistaken for an old maid or door mouse.
You’re Not Toothpaste
So don’t go squeezing yourself into, or out of anything that’s too small for you. Sizes were invented for the sole reason of identifying and fitting various body sizes, not as an ego boost so you can prove to yourself you’re still a size 10.
The simple truth is, if you wear clothes that are too small for you, you’ll end up looking heavier than you actually are, and that’s not stylish, attractive or comfortable. You’ll look much slimmer and appealing if you wear the right size for your figure.
Blessed is Shapewear
If your body is not as firm as it was but you wish to wear fitted garments, shapewear is the only way to go. Without it the sight is one of shake, wobble and roll.
Long gone are the days of iron and whalebone corsets or latex girdles. Today’s body shapers are comfortable, effective, and give a natural-looking shape and if you need any more convincing, know that over 80% of female celebrities wear them.
Article written by Ann Reinten AICI CIP, creator of the My Private Stylist program: Changing Lives One Wardrobe At A Time
© 2013 Image Innovators Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission
So how about you? Are you a fashion victim or fashion fabulous?
Feature image by Andrea
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Phew you have given me food for thought here. I have never considered myself a fashion victim, but I am not your stereotypical over 50. My daughters have always encouraged me to be,slightly trendy, even though I am a plus size. I have tried not to compromise my look and always like to have plenty of room in my clothes. For this very reason, I go for loose tops. But I also like colour. Very rarely you will find me in all black or sombre colours. Maybe I do try to fall into some kind of fashion trap, or maybe I am a kid in a sweetshop when I look at fashion pictures and catalogues. Without youngish daughters and granddaughters I might have been very frumpy. Now I love to dress up to date… with no apologies. This proves to me that I can try anything.
It sounds like you are having fun with fashion Pat, which, in the end, is the most important!
Good, thought provoking article.
I am not a fashion victim (quite possibly I am a late adopter!) but I try to look contemporary while wearing clothes that suit my shape. To me a fashion victim is someone who is wearing everything that’s ‘in fashion’ all at the same time.
Yes, that is a good description also.
I think the original, simple point is valid. If you feel the need to dump your wardrobe regularly because it’s ‘last year’s’ or not ‘on trend’ that’s kind of silly. To me, that’s a victim of fashion. Of course, it benefits people that are less than fabulously wealthy because we get to pick up the stuff in consignment shops. If something looks good on my wife, it stays. Who cares if it’s last year’s? It’s creating a personal style that’s right for you over the long term that’s important.
We are huge fans of vintage/consignment/ebay. Thrift shops, not so much. If you have a minute, I just put up some photos I took of my wife with some finds from the Manhattan Vintage show.
http://www.pbase.com/dentontay/mv
Also, I’ve encouraged her to start a vintage blog, but she’s been bad at keeping it up.
http://www.vintageteresa.com/
Lovely pieces and wonderful photos Denton on both sites. I love it when your wife smiles on the pictures. The last one on your site with the hands in her pocket is just beautiful!
Totally agree with Sylvia. I had a peep too. She has a daring style. Love it.
I agree that we are as a society are so obsessed with sizing. I am so guilty of it. I am trying to better to focus on cut and fit rather the size. I don’t agree about dressing for your age but rather dress for what makes you happy. I think if you can pull it off than go for it!
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Size has never bothered me so I have never understood why others care so much about it. It’s just a number and it’s different for every designer. Fit is so much more important!
What a wonderful post, with such good advice !!! there were a few points there that made me cringe cause I am guilty or I know someone who is guilty. eek perhaps I’m a slight fashion victim…
Love the term “style personality” – Its so true that what you wear has to fit in with your style personality otherwise you will feel wrong .
paul
Style personality is so important. Once you know that and know what fits your body, your style will evolve. There are lots more articles on that topic. Just search for style personality and you will find them.
I did laugh over “Without body shape wear the sight is one of shake, wobble and roll.” Very funny. Rest of my opinion: too strict and sometimes true. I mean if you buy something that does not suit you but it is in fashion,… bad idea.
True, it’s very strict, but I thought there were some interesting points in there which were worth thinking about…
Well it would appear that I am a fashion victim.
Personally I view someone that “dresses their age” as someone that has given up. We all have these old fashioned ideas of how our grandmother’s dressed and quite frankly it was awful, non-descript, so that basically they faded out of view and no one ever saw them.
My #1 goal when dressing is to be remembered. Obviously I pay attention to fit and my what looks good on my body type, but I don’t agree that our face needs to match our clothes. Otherwise we would have no fabulous ladies like we saw in the Fabulous Fashionistas film where creativity and boldness are still a valid way of expressing ourselves as we age. Everyone would be going around in tailored, dull, but classic styles. B-O-R-I-N-G is all I can say about that.
I also wear lots of vintage. I used to believe in that old mantra “if you lived it the first time you shouldn’t be wearing it again,” but now I just go with what I feel good in. If it makes me happy when I look in the mirror I’m in.
Maybe in 20 years I’ll look back and think, “What was I thinking?” Or maybe in 20 years I’ll look back and say, “Damn I looked good!”
For now I’m comfortable being a fashion victim as defined by you.
bisous
Suzanne
I knew you were going to say this Suzanne. As soon as I read: ‘if you were young enough to wear it the first time you’re probably too old to wear it the second time round’.
And I agree with you. You look awesome all the time, so I say Having No Problem with your approach.
Greetje
I’m just the opposite. I nodded my head in agreement when I saw “if you were young enough to wear it the first time, you’re too old to wear it the second time.” But maybe it’s just me. I cannot pull off vintage. I have great thrift stores in my area and I have tried, believe me. No matter what I always seem to look like I am a guest at the local homeless shelter, not somebody who is on the cutting edge of fashion. And yet on other people the same look is fabulous.
I don’t hear “dressing my age” as being told to look like my grandmother. Certainly, there is a sweet spot between hunting down the latest craze and looking like a dowdy old frump. I think that’s what this article is trying to get at.
I wish Sylvia would do a post on how to wear vintage because all of these classic timeless pieces that you build a wardrobe from…guess what? They are vintage designs. They have been done years ago, with higher quality fabric and sewn together to last. I guess it like anything else in life, you need to learn how to pick the right piece for your body type and personality. The eras I’m drawn to are the 1950’s and 1960’s. I was born at the end of the 60’s, so maybe that is why I love them so much. In reality though if you look at the lines and tailoring during that time as well as the 40’s they are just simple and gorgeous and highly flattering for all body types. Fit and flare works on every woman.
Also it must be noted that I don’t like care for fashion rules on the whole. Without diversity life would be boring. That sweet spot you refer to is different for each individual.
I don’t feel you are a fashion victim at all Suzanne since you stay true to your personality and your style. When it comes to vintage, it’s tough. It often works but you need to have a good eye. Although I don’t believe strictly in that ‘rule’ you mentioned which is written in the article, I also think that things change. Even though a particular styles comes back, it’s usually slightly different. Even the classics change a bit.
Yes, I should write an article about vintage, but wouldn’t you want to write it for me since you are more of an expert in that area? Perhaps you can share your best tips how, in your opinion, you can do vintage the right way? And how you love wearing it?
Ha! I walked straight into that one didn’t I? : )
I would be happy to try my best. I don’t consider myself an expert by any means, just someone that enjoys mixing it up with thrifted, vintage and new. I will be sure to point out the difference between vintage and thrifted, since there is a big difference between the two.
I’ll work on that and let you know when I have it ready. Let me know your schedule.
Also I need to change what I first wrote since I now see that the article was written by someone else and not you.
bisous
Suzanne
I would be honoured to host your article Suzanne. I think it’s great that someone writes it who is passionate about the topic. Schedule is flexible, so just send it to me whenever it’s ready. Include as many images as you wish. Images should ideally be 600px wide or you can create a collage of that width. Thanks so much!
I agree with Suzanne, designers take inspiration from vintage for nearly every collection they put out. And even large chain stores like JCrew use vintage styles to create their jewelry line. The fabrics were higher quality in the past and vintage clothes are a great way to invest in high quality pieces at low prices. As a freelance writer, I’m a lover of wearable, modern vintage and am passionate about helping women find their unique personal style.
Thank you Sylvia for pointing out on your blog how important silhouette is to expressing your personal style.
http://www.beastofstyle.com