I love my people. You know that you have repeated yourself one too many times when the women in your community start quoting you. The idea for this video came about when one of the members of my Ageless Style Program, Carolyn, started a chat in the Facebook group to collect my quotes, expressions, and frequently shared tips.
That group has been buzzing with tips and advice I’ve shared over the months and years that these women have been in my community, and I love it. I decided to choose the first 10 tips from the chat and share them in this video.
Have you heard of the 5 to 7 rule? It says that on average we need to hear something 5 to 7 times before remembering it, so if you’ve heard a couple of these before, I hope that they land with you differently this time and that you hear something in this video that will stay with you and help make style easier, just like it has for the women who shared them.
So here, 10 of my top tips, according to the women in my Ageless Style Program.
“Don’t point where you don’t want someone to look.”
The details on your clothes draw the eye to that spot, so if you want to look and feel your best in your clothes, make sure those details hit at a flattering place. Hems, sleeves, and necklines can all point to the specific part of your body where they end. Also key is to save the fun, oversized and statement details for the parts of your body where you are longest, and keep it simple where you have less room. For example, since I have a short torso, I won’t do a huge belt but love to wear flowy pants on my relatively long legs.
“Dress your energy, not your age.”
This can often be misunderstood, but I am not talking about energy level here, I’m talking about personality and essence. There is a lot out there about style essences, but in this context I’m talking about spunk and personality, and whether you seem older or younger than you are. Dressing to match your personality and how you appear is much more important than dressing to match your age, which is a number that nobody sees.
“Replace, then remove.”
Don’t overpurge your closet! Before eliminating go-to pieces or frequently worn items, replace them with updated versions so that you’re not left missing a key item in your wardrobe. Often, we are tempted to overpurge, and then have to quickly replace items in a hurry with items you may not love, just because you needed something ASAP.
“Details date.”
The more money you are thinking of investing in an item, the simpler it should be. Details date an item more quickly, so keep the investment pieces as streamlined as possible.
“Tags stay on until it’s worn.”
Do you have items hanging in your closet right now with the tags on? Unless you just bought them, check the return policy on those items and take them back. If you haven’t reached for it yet, you don’t love it and won’t love it any more if you hold on to it for longer. Let it go.
“Fit is everything.”
The single biggest factor in how an item looks and feels is fit. If it fits you beautifully, even if the silhouette or other details are off, It’s the most important thing when it comes to flattery.
“It’s not you. It’s the clothes.”
Finding the perfect item on the rack is like finding a needle in a haystack. It’s almost impossible. Going into a shopping trip knowing that can help you manage your expectations and recognize that you are not alone.Clothes that are designed by someone who has never met you, and that have been mass produced, are often going to be wrong for you, and that is totally ok.
“Buy it when you find it, not when you need it.”
Nothing is worse for your wardrobe than shopping under duress. Rather than run to a store whenever a special even comes up, buy special occasion pieces, staples, and other must-haves when you find them. Doing this allows you to find the item you truly want at a reasonable price. Then, when the next occasion or opportunity comes up, you’ll be ready for it.
“Prints should be no bigger than the palm of your hand.”
Prints are tricky, and I hear it from you guys all the time, so the more simple strategies we can have for picking perfect prints, the better. Here’s an easy one. The motif on a print should be no bigger than the palm of your hand. Larger than that, and the scale will be off for your body.
“Every outfit can be improved by leopard shoes.”
Think of just one outfit that would not look cuter with leopard shoes. Take your time. I’ll wait. ;) Seriously, a statement shoe, like leopard, makes every outfit cuter. If you’re not a leopard lover, try python or zebra or truly another statement style.
Which of these tips was the most impactful for you? And what would you add to the list? Let’s discuss in the comments!
Nada Manley says
Thanks Sondra! It has happened to all of us. So glad you found it helpful!
Sondra J Thorson says
I love “Buy it when you see it, not when you need it”. My biggest fashion mistakes have occurred when I bought something for an event at the last moment.