Fashionista at Forty: style

Showing posts with label style. Show all posts

Thursday, July 30, 2015

The Basics Rules of Style - from Nina Garcia - Rule 1

Nina Garcia is the Fashion Director of Elle Magazine and appears on Project Runway. She also published The Little Black Book of Style. This book is all about having the confidence to be your own stylist. I highly recommend this reading this book from cover to cover.

Nina Garcia outlines the 6 basic rules that every style icon already knows.

1. How to edit

Editing is all about cleaning out your closet, if you don't wear it, if it does not fit, or if it does not look good on you, or if it was a past trend that is clearly over, donate it to charity, give it away, sell it on eBay, or just throw it out.

Editing is difficult an maybe somewhat painful, but it needs to be done. You may have that prom dress that has sentimental value. It is only taking up valuable space in your closet. Consider cleaning out your closet like weeding a garden to make the beautiful flowers more visible.

I am going to go overall 6 basic style rules, but like a decadent dessert on cheat day, these tips are made to be savored not gulped down in 1 bite. More tips to follow.

As Yves Saint Laurent said "Fashions fade style is eternal"

Photo credits:
Nina Garcia - purist.com
80's Prom Dress - promfashionguide.com

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Fashions Fade but Syle is Eternal - Yves Saint Laurent

During an interview in 1975 with artist Andy Warhol, fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent is credited as saying "fashions fade style is eternal". Thank you Yves Saint Laurent, that statement is not only timeless, but a guideline for styling.

The problem is some people do not understand the difference between style and fashion. Style is knowing yourself, what works for you, what looks good on you, what makes you feel good, what is appropriate? Fashion, well, it changes on a whim. What was fashionable this year, may not be next year. (Think high-wasted pants.)

In 2010 I had posted 10 Commandments for Fashionistas.

1. Just because they make in your size, does not mean you should wear it.
2. There is a difference between tailored and tight. Recognize it.
3. Buy a full-length mirror and use it, daily.
4. Athletic shoes belong in the gym.
5. If you have not changed your hair style in the past 10 or 15 years, you hair is probably out of style.
6. If you hairstyle involves a Scrunchie, your hairstyle is probably out of style.
7. Bling shirt are out.
8. Nobody wants to see your bra straps.
9. The same goes for your thong.
10. A beautiful smile is your best accessory.

That blog post was intended to point out some basic styling rules, so you know what not to do. But what do you do? With that in mind I have decided to start a series of styling blogs, because it is one thing to point out what is wrong, but how do we replace it with what is right?

Your comments are always welcome.

Photo Credits:
Andy Warhol of Yves Saint Laurent
complex.com The 50 Best Artist Collaborations in Fashion