Be a Fashion Plate — Not a Platter

~ humoringthegoddess

giphyFor all of you who are tired of making sure your blues are all the same blue and you wear only one pattern at a time:

This morning I complimented a girl on the color combinations of her outfit. She was wearing a purple t-shirt over a pink shell, with a bright green jacket. I didn’t notice her pants, because I’m sure they were the basic black/navy/dark brown. And that’s point number one.

I didn’t notice her pants because they were very basic.

Despite the fact that she was half my age and weight, she carried off the rainbow pretty well. And I told her so. (I like to give out compliments when I can.) That led to my second thought — if I were dressed like that, I’d look like I was heading off to the circus.

Tada dum. An instant putdown to a healthy thought.

Now, the outfit wasn’t offensive in any way. It wasn’t too short, too small, too tight, too sloppy. It was a play on colors I had not seen together. And — I liked it.

Yet I hide in my black-on-black and silver-and-black and pink-and-black. Summer may throw in some whites and greens, but it’s pretty much old lady old. Last year I wrote a blog called Old Lady BoHo (http://wp.me/p1pIBL-uu) where I was going to lighten up my wardrobe and wear flowy skirts and peasant tops and whatever felt good.

And here I am, writing this blog, dressed in black pants and a black-and-white mosaic shirt.

Woo hoo.

And I think — I can’t do this any more.

I know there are plenty of women who are perfectly happy in the monochromes of the world. But deep inside I am not. I think I’m so afraid of “stepping out of the (color) box” because I’m afraid of looking stupid, so I pass on a lot of fun, comfortable, ME things.

I’m not totally helpless yet — I do have tops with promise, and I have bought a few of those cotton dresses from India for summer evenings.  But I sure could use some advice — and a boost of confidence. I’m sure there are other readers out there who could use a boost in the wardrobe department, too. Or who have taken the plunge and never looked back.

I want to be that person.

I’m sure I’m not alone with this.

I know I can’t (nor do I want to) dress like I’m 20 or 30. I might have the legs for mini skirts, but my buttocks and stomach aren’t quite as accommodating — or forgiving. But there has to be fun colors and patterns out there I can put together and not look like the a haushalterin. But my color palate is like the image above and right. Always moving, always confusing

The first step is stepping over the conservative barrels your youth set out for us. Catholic schools are at one end of the horror spectrum, big city public schools the other. We have to shed this heavy coat of conservatism and find a middle ground.

And I really do want to start this today. I only have 20 or 25 years to get this right.

Better start sooner than later.

How about you?

 

Published by humoringthegoddess

I am a writer of fantasy fiction that often surrounds middle-aged women. I am a married mother of two and granny to three, a BoHo Chic kinda gal. I am recently retired and busier than when I worked 9-5. But writing and blogging is my main game.

15 thoughts on “Be a Fashion Plate — Not a Platter”

  3. I envy your bravery, Claudia. I have slipped into the life of dark monochromes. We joke around here that I wear a uniform consisting of a dark t-shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes. I thought I was doing great when I mixed it up this winter by throwing a red/black cardigan over it all. It’s still a boring uniform. Hope you’ll give us updates on your new style! … As for closet cleaning, I did that years ago and never replenished what I threw out. Hence, the uniform.

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  4. That’s exactly what I want to do! I’m not poo-pooing black and gray and navy..I am just tired of walking around like Im in a shadow. Mostly I don’t want to turn away from an outfit I really like just because the colors are bright or dizzy. For as you know, I AM bright and dizzy!

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  5. Claudia, why not start with a bright sweater that you can add to the blackish wardrobe? Maybe you could add a scarf to tie colors together? I find that a colorful top gives me lots of options.
    In the meantime, I started to cull right after I quit working. Problem is that I still am not sure of what my future needs will be. I’ve promised myself that I’d revisit the closet in six months to a year and be realistic. What will be left will be the things I love and enjoy wearing. Then again, I’ve always loved a little flash in my wardrobe, haven’t I?

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  6. You are my kind of girl! I, too, have things that I just can’t get rid of. But there were so many frumpy things just hanging there that weren’t ME that I know I need a cleaning out. Now, if I can just go the color route…

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  7. Claudia I love this post because I struggle with the same thing. Earlier this year I did a closet clean out and tried on everything. I purged a lot but there were some things that for the life of me I couldn’t let go. This post has given me food for thought. Thank you.

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  12. You go girl! I can’t tell you how many “maybes” I’ve bought, especially at Good Will. The great thing is that I can take them back if they’re not “ME” and for $3.99 find something else. So what am I waiting for?

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  13. I am a fan of monochrome too, but there’s something about brighter colors that I think makes me look younger. (ha!!) I think the problem is that I’m afraid to try. It’s one thing to try and fail, but heck — how do you know if you don’t try?

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  14. I’m a big fan of monochrome, neutral colors, too. I wear a lot of black, along with grays and beiges. I do have some blue sweaters as well as some maroon ones, but that seems to be as bold as I go.

    I cleared out my closet a couple years ago. Time to do it again. Not because I’ve bought many new clothes since then–I haven’t–but I didn’t get rid of stuff I should have the first time around! Why do we always think we’ll wear something when we haven’t worn it for years. I must get over that mindset.

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  15. I love this post, Claudia. And I love letting go of old fashion restrictions I heard when I was younger — mixing colors and patterns. Thanks for the tips for cleaning out my closet; I am definitely going to use those very soon!

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