What goes around, comes around!

All of us women "of a certain age" know that fashion trends reappear in life.

The mini skirts we wore in the 1960's had returned again in the 2011's.  The same happened with platform shoes from the Disco era to reappear this past year.

           

 1970 Disco shoes
 Today's platform styles

However, there is a fashion guideline that says if you've worn something in your youth, you shouldn't wear it in your later fashion style.  I do agree with that...to a point.

But there are some items that go-around again that may warrant a chance to wear them once again but updated. Recently, I have fallen in love with "granny shoes" -- those spectator lace up black shoes that our grandmothers wore. While lunching with a friend, I saw a very stylish woman in a black dress wearing granny shoes in patent leather and I couldn't stop staring at them. I remember hating them on my grandmother. Heck, Aunt Bea wore them on "The Andy Griffith Show"!  But now, I think they are something fun and different. I bought a pair of Franco Sarto granny booties and wore them this week at a temp job.  They do look great and will be even better with black tights -- just like an Italian grandmother wore!



Or the military jackets that hippies wore in the 1960's have resurfaced as a great way to impact frilly, feminine clothes into an edgier look. And they're perfect for Florida's cool weather.


  

Denim, of course, never goes out of style but the specific cut and finish of the denim outfit does change and you need to make sure you aren't still wearing an out-of-date denim outfit.



The last two are examples of the dreaded "mom jeans" - a horrible look!

There are some fashions that shouldn't ever have occurred, in my opinion, such as tie dye shirts (don't wear them now!)


Or  
overall dresses      

Or belly shirts

   I don't think I need to say more!

Even if you have a great butt, you need to be cautious about short shorts now.
  

And please don't wear sandals if you have gnarly toes or don't keep your pedicure up. It isn't fair to subject innocent strangers to that!



(By the way three of those pair of feet are celebritys' feet!)

And braless looks are NOT attractive on women "of a certain age" - this is a look for young, flatter chested women.



  

It is all about preserving your dignity, while dressing with fashion and trends.  When you're out shopping, ask a stranger - not the sales person.  Those women you don't know who are also shopping will be more honest than a sales person who is supposed to encourage the sale of items.  You can always take a friend you trust to be straight forward or, if you dare, take a teenage girl.  Be prepared though - they can be brutal.

  

So keep in mind what you want to express through your clothes and accessories. Remember to "dress your age" without being frumpy, dumpy and dull.  And take some risks that are acceptable, fun and stylish. I think this quote from an English actress is appropriate for today's post....

You don't need to follow trends to be stylish.
Naomie Harris 

So until next week, I remain,

Stylistically yours,

Sooz