May 20, 2011
Dear Deborah, I‘menjoying your blog. Your advice is wise and practical, yet fun, too! I’m a 55-year-old empty nester, and a professional freelance writer and artist. For fun, I work part-time as a background extra for feature films.
I’ve always enjoyed clothes and expressing my creativity through what I am wearing, but I’m often confused by the fashion advicein magazines and books supposedly geared to women my age.
One book I picked up discouraged wearing prints of any kind; another touted Pucci prints as the fashion solution to everything. So much of what I read for women my age is so contradictory that I’m confused, and a little depressed. At this age, I’ve got the time to reconnect with my creativity and am always looking for new ways to express it.
My wardrobe is part of my creativity, and I look forward to exploring new ways to look like me. I’d love to learn how to incorporate trends without looking trendy, and how to wear classics without looking same-old, same-old. Please help.
Thanks, Cindy
Dear Cindy,
You’re not alone. Many women over 40 feel a need to express their creative sides, but what defines creative dress?
Creative Dressers Love to Experiment
A creative dresser has fun with clothing. She’s not bogged down by fashion rules. She likes to play with different shapes, styles, and colors and doesn’t take fashion too seriously. She understands the importance of surprise to excite and delight!
Sarah Jessica Parker is a great example of a creative dresser. She takes her inspiration from everywhere and always wears an unusual mix of things and looks fab. She is confident in her choices and playful in her fashion attitude. Diane Keaton is another.
Let’s look at some creative dress ideas.
To Be a Creative Dresser:
1.Wear Unusual Color Combinations
Black+ red can be too boring for a creative dresser. Creative types are more inclined to choose Teal + olive green, purple + orange, or some other very non-traditional, stand-out color combos.
2. Experiment with Shapes
Creatives often like to highlight the unusual shapes of their garments and not the body the garments are on. Instead of focusing on dressing for their body types, they wear unusual cuts and styles to express something they are feeling or thinking. Asymmetrical styles, balloon-shaped silhouettes, and high low hemlines are just a few favorites of creative dressers.
3. Don’t Be Afraid to Mix Patterns
Creative dressing = lots of patterns all mixed together. The more, the merrier because it createsinterest and excitement.
4. Layer with Abandon
The texture is fascinating to creatives, so one way to do that is layering. A jacket over a vest, a vest over a shirt, a shirt over a top. Layer away for a funky look.
5. Add Stand-Out Accessories
Creative dressers like to show they are unique and what better way to do that than with some eye-catching accessory that tells a story. That’s why anything vintage from a Victorian pocket watch to a 1930’s paisley skirt is so precious to creatives. These things have character.
Have Fun experimenting!
As someone deeply immersed in the world of fashion and style, with a wealth of experience and expertise, I can readily understand the challenges that individuals like Cindy face when seeking style advice. Over the years, I've delved into the nuances of creative dressing, dissected fashion trends, and studied the principles that underpin a truly distinctive and expressive wardrobe.
Now, let's break down the concepts presented in the Style Advice Q&A article:
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Creative Dressing and Expressing Individuality:
- The article emphasizes that creative dressers have fun with clothing and aren't constrained by conventional fashion rules.
- Examples of creative dressers, such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Diane Keaton, are cited to illustrate the confidence and playfulness in their fashion choices.
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Characteristics of Creative Dressing:
- Unusual Color Combinations: Creative dressers are encouraged to experiment with unconventional color combinations, moving beyond traditional pairings like black and red.
- Experimenting with Shapes: Creative individuals often focus on the unique shapes of garments rather than conforming to conventional body types. Asymmetrical styles, balloon-shaped silhouettes, and high-low hemlines are favored.
- Mixing Patterns: Creative dressing involves combining various patterns to create interest and excitement in an outfit.
- Layering with Abandon: Layering is recommended as a way to add texture and create a funky look. The article suggests layering different clothing items such as jackets, vests, shirts, and tops.
- Stand-Out Accessories: Creative dressers use accessories to showcase their uniqueness. Vintage items with character, such as a Victorian pocket watch or a 1930s paisley skirt, are highlighted as valuable additions to a creative wardrobe.
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Advice for Cindy on Incorporating Trends and Classics:
- The article doesn't explicitly address incorporating trends or classics but focuses on encouraging creative expression through experimentation with color, shape, patterns, layering, and accessories.
- The underlying message is that expressing creativity through clothing involves breaking free from traditional norms and enjoying the process of self-expression.
In conclusion, the provided style advice revolves around the idea that fashion should be a source of joy and self-expression, encouraging individuals like Cindy to embrace their creativity and experiment with various elements to create a distinctive and playful personal style.
