My Fashion Sense

I have a closet stuffed with clothes. Totally stuffed. And most days I walk into that closet look around, decide I hate everything in it and stay in my pajamas for the day.

And why do I have that reaction? Because so few of the clothes I have are “me.” Most of them were bought at one deep clearance sale or another just because they were cheap and they fit. I often just needed another shirt I could wear out of the house, so I put my own standards aside. Then there are clothes I bought because they fit the culture, but aren’t anything I really like for myself. Preppy clothes from our time in New England, lots of capris or casual pants from our time in San Diego. Things I bought because they were what all the other women my age were wearing regardless of how I felt about them.

Then there’s the whole age thing. As I’ve written before, once you cross 30, dressing takes a little more thought. If you just buy what’s in the department stores you’ll either look too young or too matronly. It takes creativity to combine the two in a personal way.

So I’ve started using Pinterest to keep track of outfits I really love and would love to wear. The findings were surprising. I really don’t like casual clothes very much. Which is not what you would guess if you saw my closet. The clothes I really love are slightly formal, clean and bold, and very womanly.

I’ve narrowed it down to three fashion icons I plan on using as inspiration.

Kate Middleton

So far I have wanted every single outfit I have ever seen her wear. There’s a simple, classic style to the clothes she wears, but she never appears fussy or mannered. Just elegant.

Dita Von Teese

Dita is far more openly sexual than I am comfortable being, but when she dresses conservatively she rocks an old school style like none other. I love her nipped in waists, her commitment to glamour, her vintage femininity that comes across like steel.

Christina Hendricks as Joan Holloway

Oh Christina, the hero of every large breasted woman everywhere. If I didn’t love vintage inspired fashions before, Joan Holloway would make me. Dressing my curves has always been my biggest challenge and seeing her walk around the offices of SCDP with her shoulders thrown back has helped me embrace the curves God gave me. So maybe I can’t really wear a button front shirt without threat of exposure. It hasn’t slowed Joan down.

Already I’m finding myself more often heading to the side of my closet that has the skirts and dresses, and leaving the jeans alone. Jeans were great in my twenties, but in my thirties I’m feeling like it’s time to embrace my womanhood and strive for classic, timeless, elegance. I don’t think yoga pants fit that description.

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