Ok, so my friends that know me think I'm stylish, trendy. Although I tend to agree (and goodness knows I have my fashion obsessions) I feel weird taking credit for that because I, my friends, am a biter.
I don't bite hard, but any fashionista worth their salt knows a few fashion rules (not an inclusive list, but a decent opener):
- There's nothing new under the sun. For inspiration, know ya history (in other words, interpretively bite).
- Style doesn't have a pricetag. Kudos to Michelle O's hi-lows, but the rest of us have BEEN mixing Target and Saks. We thought YOU knew?
- FIT is EVERYTHING. And we have the number of a good tailor on speed-dial.
- Style has no size (and a size ain't nothing but a number). Stylistas buy clothes that FIT.
- Yes, fashion rules are made to be broken. Have you ever noticed how AVERAGE the fashion police dress?
- Classic style is timeless. Oh yes, sure - be "on trend". The rest of us SET trends.
And on that note, let me share a couple of the women I find inspiring. My fashion muses. First there's Ellen Barkin.
This picture (click to enlarge) barely does her justice, so you really have to watch Ocean's 13 to get the full effect. But in every scene, Ellen's wearing a variaion on this red dress. And not just any red dress, but a form fitting (yes, you have to have the form), knee skimming pencil skirted, low cut cleavage baring red dress. This is not a red dress worn by the faint of heart, or low of spirit. This is a dress that only the inherently fierce could pull off. It's of little consequence that she attempts makes it slightly demure, with various cardigans, blazers or other coverups. The RED DRESS and the body wearing the hell out if it, supercedes all. It even outshines the younger, more sparkly, trendier dresses in the room, by the force of its sheer REDNESS.
I gush, I know. But I've been a fan of Ellen's style for a while. Check her fashion do's/don'ts (click to enlarge) for the over 50 set:
No miniskirts over a certain age you say? Minimize your accesories? avoid strapless?
Although these rules may seem restrictive - I applaud that she's given it some thought. So many of us just surf through life unthinkingly - and next thing you know we're at a club in a minidress, with our untaught upper thighs/butt just sliiiiiiiding below the hem of the dress, wondering why we feel both breezy and un-fierce at the same time. I dig Ellen.
Another muse is Diane Keaton, who I <3'd their styling in Mad Money, Something's Got to Give, and The Ex-Wive's Club(click to enlarge):
She's always been a style icon, but in these movies - her styling is very sharp, there's a lot of white, they embraced her hair highlights (it has a hint of high-lowlights that resemble platinum/gray hair) - and she's so classically styled, yet youthful. LOVE that.
It may be that I'm a "woman of a certain age" (thank you, Wendy Williams), but I can really appreciate a woman over 40 who is in touch with who she is, and knows what makes her look good.
Honorable mentions here: Taraji Henson who is hitting her stride I think, and will be fierce after she crosses the big 4-0, and Tasha Smith. Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada (wow!). Oh yes, and my girl crush - Kerri Washington. Love women who can be sexy without displaying ALL their goodies.
How could I forget - Dame Helen Mirren in Shadowboxing (click to enlarge) - what a sexxy b*tch she is? You betta work!
apparently I'm colorblind, that dress is PINK, and I'm tripping.
...but I stand by everything else I said. And I want that red dress. LOL.