My MOST Controversial Opinions About Style

Don’t hate me because I’m opinionated.

I mean, it’s kind of why I do what I do. If I didn’t have strong feelings about things like shoes and lipstick, I probably shouldn’t be a stylist. And this would be a very short post.

Fortunately for you, I have opinions about allll the things. Usually, I don’t court controversy. I’m not a pot-stirrer or a trouble-maker.

But today is different. I know I’m going to ruffle some feathers with these, but I’m sticking to them.

That’s what I’m here for, after all. To share the truth with you, based on my decades of experience (man I sound old!), and to not hold back. The truth isn’t always fun, but it’s always essential.

You might not agree with me, and that’s fine.

We can still be friends.

Also, you’re wrong, but of course, you are entitled to your wrong and bad opinion. Just kidding. Kind of. 🙂

So, here they are. My most unpopular opinions.

I saved the worst for first.

If you keep reading/watching after that one, we were definitely meant to be fashion friends.

There. I said it before and I will say it again. If you don’t believe me, just check out the pictures below. Don’t let the model fool you. Just take a look at the real woman (me) in real capris.

I told you. Don’t let this happen to you. My pants could obviously be styled better, but the length and the details make them all wrong. And since I don’t want to take anything away without giving you an alternative, here are my choices for equally comfortable, but stylish, capri alternatives.

There. I feel better already.

Sure, there are occasions, like your wedding or as a mother of the bride/groom, when you’ll want to consider investing in a fancy dress that you will only wear once, but those are few and far between.

After you’ve checked the box for a classic and flattering formal and cocktail dress, and have one of each that you love in your wardrobe, stop buying formalwear and start renting.

Rent The Runway is affordable, practical, and so chic, and allows you to rent gorgeous clothes and gowns and send them back for cleaning. No hassle, and you can wear dresses that would have been out of your price range.

They are not cute. If you have very specific reasons why you MUST wear one, then make it a solid neutral and wear a big floppy hat. (Note: A neutral tankini that looks like a one-piece is fine). Otherwise, skip the swimdresses and tankinis and go for a chic one-piece with a matching coverup or a neutral and pretty coverup dress.

Hear me out. Not only does a solid dark neutral delineate your body and sometimes overemphasize certain features, but black as a color is not flattering on everyone. Maybe your best dark neutral is chocolate or charcoal or navy.

Yes, black is elegant, but only if it is your best dark neutral.

I like flowy clothes as much as the next woman, but shapeless shifts don’t do you any favors unless there is some balance to the look. Some skin has to show, or some body part has to be defined, for a baggy look to work. Very few women look good in head to toe baggy clothes, and even those women would look better with a fitted element.

Same with super skintight clothes.

The most flattering fit is always going to be one that skims your body without hugging.

I know I talk a lot about dressing over 40, but with few extreme exceptions (clothes that are very sexy or very babyish) there is no one-size-fits-all-answer to looking our best in our clothes at any age. The solution, then, is to dress for flattery first, taking your personal style and lifestyle into account.

The goal as we get older should be to appear current and fresh, and an awareness of trends helps with that. We can pick and choose only the trends that suit us, or skip them all, but knowing the silhouettes, styles, and colors that are current will inform all of your shopping and outfit choices and lead to a more modern appearance.

This ties back a little to baggy isn’t better. Clothes that conceal everything can have a blocky effect that isn’t flattering. Showing your wrists, or ankles, or neckline, can make all the difference.

The opposite is also true. Overexposure is rarely chic.

Choosing your hairstyle, length and color is complicated and personal to each of us. It’s based on our hair texture, our personal style and preferences, our stylist’s expert advice, our face shape, and how much money and time we are willing to devote to it.

One thing it is not based on, however, is your age.

Sometimes, the less said (and otherwise revealed) the better. In an age of oversharing and overexposure, a little mystery is a refreshing and elegant choice.

I said what I said. 🙂

Unless you currently spend $200+ on shoes, put your shoe money aside until you have enough for one fabulous high-quality pair. Same with bags. If you buy that pair on sale, you can get even more for your money.

For example, if you typically spend $50 on a pair of shoes, wait and save up $200 and buy one beautiful pair rather than 4 ho-humpairs.

Use your judgment here, of course. This doesn’t mean that you can never buy fun or trendy or inexpensive items, but when you are looking at a classic or a piece that you will get a lot of use out of, like a great pair of boots or pumps or a beautiful pair of flats, don’t be afraid to spend more to get great quality.

The right shoes and bag will elevate everything you wear.

Along the same lines as the previous point, this is a concept that French women understand from a young age. Everything looks better if you are wearing the right bra. You can elevate an inexpensive tee with a great fitting and supportive bra, or downgrade an entire outfit by wearing a saggy one.

Which of these unpopular opinions do you agree with? And which do you passionately disagree with? Let me know in the comments! Looking forward to a kind but colorful conversation. 🙂