From Suits to Sass: Redefining Style Over 50
What's Your Ageless Style Quiz?
Show Notes:
Summary:
In this episode of "Aging with Grace and Style," Valerie dives into the topic of expressing yourself through personal style, particularly for women over 50. Valerie shares her expertise as a certified image consultant and offers practical tips and inspiring stories for discovering and embracing one's unique style. She emphasizes the importance of reflecting on past wardrobe choices, understanding current preferences, gathering inspiration, and experimenting with new looks. Valerie also introduces a fun and quick personal style quiz to help listeners identify their dominant style type and discusses the creation of a versatile capsule wardrobe. Throughout the episode, Valerie encourages listeners to view personal style as a journey of self-expression that evolves over time.
Timestamps:
00:00 Valerie Hatcher's podcast for stylish women over 50.
05:53 Timeless pieces that define personal style.
08:56 Style is about feeling confident and happy.
13:46 Quantity becoming quality, reassessing my style evolution.
14:42 Diane von Furstenberg and Jane Fonda inspire style.
Key Takeaways:
- Personal style is your superpower. It's a way to express your unique personality and boost your confidence.
- Personal style is not about following trends, but about creating a wardrobe that feels authentically you.
- Reflect on different phases of your life and what elements from those periods still resonate with you to help discover your personal style.
- Build a capsule wardrobe with timeless pieces, accessorize to add a personal touch, and ensure your clothes are well-fitted.
- Take the personal style quiz linked in the show notes, and have fun experimenting with your wardrobe. Remember, personal style is a journey, not a race.
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Transcript
A
Speaker:you're new here, welcome. And if you're a regular listener, you
Speaker:know the deal. We're about to dive into something good.
Speaker:Last time we talked about body positivity
Speaker:and feeling amazing in your own skin.
Speaker:It was such a great conversation, and I loved hearing your
Speaker:feedback and personal stories. Today, we're
Speaker:going to extend that conversation into how
Speaker:we can express ourselves through personal style.
Speaker:Hey, friend. Ever feel like those old fashioned
Speaker:ideas about aging just don't fit you? If you're ready to
Speaker:own this incredible chapter with grace, style, and a touch of
Speaker:sass, this is your space. Welcome to the aging with
Speaker:grace and style podcast. I'm Valerie Hatcher, and I'm here
Speaker:with empowering tips, inspiring stories, and a whole lot of
Speaker:fun just for us, women over 50. So grab
Speaker:your favorite beverage, turn up the volume, and let's get
Speaker:started.
Speaker:Have I told you that I'm a certified image consultant?
Speaker:I was certified years a, and, at that time, I primarily
Speaker:focused on business or professional dress and image.
Speaker:I studied style, body type, color, etcetera,
Speaker:you know, everything that was necessary to become certified.
Speaker:At one point, I considered transitioning to becoming a stylist
Speaker:to dress people, and I shadowed a well
Speaker:renowned stylist in Dallas. And to this day, he is
Speaker:still my favorite in the industry. But
Speaker:I say all that to say, I've
Speaker:reached back into my memory, dusted some stuff off to
Speaker:ensure that it's relevant today, and
Speaker:pulled it all together for this episode.
Speaker:So what exactly is personal style?
Speaker:Well, it's more than the clothes that
Speaker:you wear. It's not about
Speaker:blindly following trends or copying someone else's look.
Speaker:It's about discovering what makes you feel confident and
Speaker:comfortable and totally authentic. It
Speaker:reflects your personality, your values, and the journey that
Speaker:you've been on. Think of it as
Speaker:your unique fashion fingerprint or your
Speaker:signature. It tells the world about who
Speaker:you are without you having to say a word.
Speaker:And when you nail it, it can boost your
Speaker:confidence, make getting dressed a breeze, and even
Speaker:spark conversations and connections. On
Speaker:social, I've seen some over 50 ladies
Speaker:who truly rock and embrace their style, and
Speaker:I absolutely love it.
Speaker:Now I know you might be thinking, but Valerie,
Speaker:I don't have a style. Well, trust me, you do.
Speaker:It's just waiting to be unearthed. And the cool thing
Speaker:is with doesn't have to be boxed in.
Speaker:You might be a mix of a couple Style. That's where
Speaker:I really am right now, but the good thing is
Speaker:there are no rules. So how do we
Speaker:go about finding our personal style, especially
Speaker:after 50? Well, it starts
Speaker:with a bit of reflection. Think about
Speaker:different phases that you've gone through in your life. For instance,
Speaker:you might have had a professional career phase where
Speaker:your wardrobe was filled with suits and business
Speaker:attire. Perhaps you had a phase of raising
Speaker:children where comfort and practicality took a.
Speaker:Or maybe you went through a period of self discovery where
Speaker:you tried out various styles and trends.
Speaker:Each of these phases leaves an imprint on your
Speaker:personal style. Reflect on what
Speaker:elements from these phases still resonate with you.
Speaker:Did you love the structured blazers from your professional days,
Speaker:or did you find joy in the casual, comfortable
Speaker:clothing from your time at home?
Speaker:Next, take a look into your
Speaker:wardrobe. Now here's a practical exercise.
Speaker:Go to your closet, pull out the items
Speaker:that you absolutely love.
Speaker:These are the pieces that you reach for time and time again because
Speaker:they make you feel good. Lay them out and look at
Speaker:them. What do they have in common? Is
Speaker:it the color palette? Maybe lots of
Speaker:neutrals or bold a. Or if you're like me, it
Speaker:could be a lot of black. Is it the fit,
Speaker:tailored, loose, or a mix? For
Speaker:me, if it's a dress, then it's
Speaker:likely going to be above the knee. And most who know me,
Speaker:though, know that I like wearing tastefully short
Speaker:dresses. I guess you could say that's really part of my
Speaker:personal style. Or when you're there and you've pulled
Speaker:out your your your things and you're looking to see what they have in common,
Speaker:is it the fabric? Do you prefer
Speaker:natural fabrics like cotton and linen, or
Speaker:do you like the feel of silk and satin?
Speaker:For example, you might pull out a
Speaker:well fitted pair of jeans, a
Speaker:soft cashmere sweater, and a bright
Speaker:patterned scarf. These items can tell a lot
Speaker:about your preferences. You like comfort,
Speaker:you like a touch of luxury with the cashmere,
Speaker:and you like a pop of color. Now
Speaker:you can move to gathering some inspiration.
Speaker:Dive into Pinterest or fashion blogs,
Speaker:magazines, social media, really Hatcher
Speaker:gets you excited and gets those creative juices flowing.
Speaker:Create a style mood board or a Pinterest
Speaker:board and add a collection of images,
Speaker:colors, and textures that just make your heart skip a
Speaker:beat. Now for the fun part of this exercise
Speaker:is try stepping outside of your
Speaker:comfort zone. Visit boutiques,
Speaker:try on different outfits, and see how they make you
Speaker:feel. You'll never know until you try.
Speaker:Try on those bold prints or that unexpected
Speaker:silhouette. If you're if you usually wear,
Speaker:let's say, an a line dress, then maybe try
Speaker:on something that's a bit more a. But that's
Speaker:only if you feel comfortable and if it's the right cut
Speaker:for your body. If you don't feel comfortable and confident, then ditch
Speaker:it. For you, it could be instead
Speaker:of always wearing solids, adding some
Speaker:print, such as a blouse or a sweater or a
Speaker:jacket. It could be adding color if you're usually
Speaker:somebody who wears neutral colors often.
Speaker:You might be surprised by what you discover.
Speaker:Remember, personal style, it's a journey. It's
Speaker:not a destination, and there are no rules. It's
Speaker:about what makes you feel confident and happy. And
Speaker:it's totally okay for it to
Speaker:evolve just as you do. So
Speaker:to make this journey even easier, I got a little secret
Speaker:weapon for you. It's a personal style quiz.
Speaker:I'll link it in the show notes, but it's a super fun and quick way
Speaker:to figure out your dominant style.
Speaker:There are so many ways that styles are
Speaker:classified out there, but I want it to be quick and
Speaker:simple. So my quiz focuses on casual
Speaker:and comfortable, trendy and fashionable,
Speaker:sporty and functional, and elegant and sophisticated.
Speaker:Knowing yours can help you curate a wardrobe that
Speaker:feels authentically you. But remember,
Speaker:these types, they're not rigid boxes. You
Speaker:actually might be a mix of a few. Here
Speaker:are brief a few brief descriptions of the ones that I
Speaker:mentioned. Now the quiz goes into more detail.
Speaker:Casual and comfortable. It's relaxed clothing
Speaker:that allows you to move freely and and at ease.
Speaker:Think comfortable jeans,
Speaker:trendy and fashionable, bold,
Speaker:vibrant, and always on point. Think
Speaker:bright colors and bold patterns.
Speaker:Sporty and functional. Kind of sporty and
Speaker:active. So think dress up or dress down, like some
Speaker:chic joggers. And then there's elegant and
Speaker:sophisticated, which is timeless Sass
Speaker:cuts and high quality fabrics. Think
Speaker:tailored pieces. Once you
Speaker:have a good grasp on your style type,
Speaker:we can talk about building a versatile wardrobe.
Speaker:The magic lies in a capsule wardrobe, which is a
Speaker:collection of essential pieces that can be mixed and matched
Speaker:to create a multitude of outfits. Think of
Speaker:it as a fashion puzzle where every
Speaker:piece fits perfectly together.
Speaker:Here are a few tips to get you started. Number 1,
Speaker:invest in key pieces. Think of
Speaker:timeless items that you can mix and Hatcher, a
Speaker:classic blazer, well fitted jeans,
Speaker:a versatile,
Speaker:neutral tops that will go with most things.
Speaker:These pieces, they can form the foundation of
Speaker:your wardrobe, and they can be dressed up or down depending on
Speaker:the occasion. Number 2 is to
Speaker:accessorize. So accessories can
Speaker:elevate an outfit and add a personal touch that's
Speaker:unique to you. So when I say unique to you,
Speaker:an example would be I'll use me. I'm not
Speaker:a person who likes big jewelry. I'm pretty simple in that
Speaker:area. And 9 out of 10 times, you're going to see me
Speaker:with a v initial necklace
Speaker:or a butterfly necklace. Now I might
Speaker:layer with another necklace, something longer, but it's still
Speaker:pretty much going to be simple. Scarves,
Speaker:jewelry, and handbags, they also are great ways to
Speaker:experiment with trends without having to overhaul
Speaker:your entire wardrobe. And 3 would be
Speaker:tailoring. Fit is crucial. A well
Speaker:fitted outfit can make a world of difference, so don't
Speaker:hesitate to take your clothes to a tailor. It's a small
Speaker:investment that can greatly enhance how your clothes look
Speaker:and feel on you. Sometimes just buying off the
Speaker:Grace doesn't work from a fit perspective.
Speaker:Maybe if you buy off the rack, may it could be
Speaker:fit right in the waist, but it may not
Speaker:fit right elsewhere. Or there are
Speaker:times when they may fit in the hips, but then the waist is too big,
Speaker:or a jacket may not hug your body the way it should.
Speaker:So taking your items to a tailor can make a big
Speaker:difference. And remember, quality
Speaker:over quantity is key. Invest in pieces
Speaker:that you truly love that will stand the test of
Speaker:time. Now when I talk about quantity,
Speaker:I do need to use my own or take my own advice. I
Speaker:have quantity in my
Speaker:closet. It is quality, and they are
Speaker:most of them pieces that I truly a. But I do
Speaker:need to do, an assessment a need to do the same thing.
Speaker:And I said, we go through phases, and Because Sass I said, we go through
Speaker:phases, and I think I'm in a different phase right now. So my style has
Speaker:changed, which will allow me the opportunity to get rid of some things that I
Speaker:need to get rid of. So let's talk about some
Speaker:inspirational figures who have nailed their personal style.
Speaker:Women like the late Iris Apfel, who was
Speaker:known for her bold, eclectic a,
Speaker:combining vibrant colors and patterns, and always had the
Speaker:coolest eyeglass frames. I loved to see
Speaker:her style on social. Then here's a blast from the
Speaker:past. Diane von Furstenberg, who exemplified,
Speaker:chic and sophisticated style with her iconic rap
Speaker:dress. And, of course, another blast from the past is
Speaker:Jane Fonda, who embraces this classic
Speaker:yet modern style that exudes confidence and
Speaker:grace. A, no, it's not just
Speaker:celebrities who can expire inspire us.
Speaker:I get a lot of inspiration from everyday
Speaker:people just like you and me. Actually, I would
Speaker:love to hear from you. Share your personal style stories with
Speaker:me. What pieces make you feel
Speaker:fabulous? How has your style evolved over
Speaker:the years? You know you can connect with me on social
Speaker:media at I am Valerie Hatcher.
Speaker:Okay. Before we end, it's time for a
Speaker:few key takeaways. Personal
Speaker:style is your superpower. It's a way to
Speaker:express your unique personality and boost your
Speaker:confidence. It's not about following
Speaker:trends, but about creating a wardrobe
Speaker:that feels authentically you. So
Speaker:here's your homework. Take that style quiz
Speaker:that I've linked in the show notes. And I can't wait to hear
Speaker:what you discover. Also, look at
Speaker:your wardrobe this week and find a that
Speaker:truly represent your style. And
Speaker:remember, personal style is a journey is not a
Speaker:race and embrace the process,
Speaker:have fun with it. And don't be afraid to experiment.
Speaker:Until next time, shine your bright light and
Speaker:rock that personal style with confidence. Remember,
Speaker:to keep your Aging your best life with grace,
Speaker:style, and a touch of Sass. And I say all that to
Speaker:say, girl, just stay stylish.
Speaker:Thanks for hanging out with me today. I hope you're feeling
Speaker:inspired and ready to own your awesomeness. I
Speaker:love sharing this space with you. And if you of today's
Speaker:episode, do me a favor, share it with a friend who
Speaker:could use some extra inspiration. A quick rating
Speaker:and review really helps too. Don't forget to
Speaker:subscribe so you never miss an episode. Let's
Speaker:keep this conversation going. Head over to
Speaker:pod.aging with grace and style.com to sign
Speaker:up for my newsletter. Until next time, keep shining
Speaker:with grace, style, and a whole lot of
Speaker:sass.
