Fashion and Style; then vs now, what happened?

What Can Young Women Learn From Those Who’ve Dressed and Lived A Few Years? I know it’s just a matter of opinion and for the record, I’m probably reliving what my mother went through when the Mini Skirt came on the scene. “Great legs but Your skirt is too short, That dress is not a dress, it’s a tunic”. In all fairness, she was right. But I thought I knew better and even though I would put patterns that seemed crazy together, I was dressing according to fashion trends and magazines as far as silhouettes were concerned. But then, I learned that what the magazines featured were not always the best looks for me, especially a young black woman. So my “self “expression began to flower and I liked what I saw in the mirror much better. I learned that I looked and felt so much more elegant in long skirts. My short dresses became tunic tops over pants. My tunics were made of leather or upholstery fabric and my pants were cotton twill, linen and denim before it was fashionable. Granted the tunic over pants wasn’t anything new, especially if you’ve traveled or lived in the East. But when you combine East and West culture with Class, you get a completely different look and expression in your wardrobe. What Can Young Women Learn From Those Who’ve Dressed and Lived A Few Years? Where do I begin? • Self Respect tops the list. Some skirts and dresses are so short you can see your tonsils when you sit down. How are you going to win the war if you show all of your weapons? Keep them guessing, Mystique always wins in the long run. • Fit would be next on the list. How well does the garment you’re wearing fit your body? Whether it’s too small or too large, it will not give you your best look. • Spandex! – Unless spandex is used to add a little give to cotton in a T-shirt, you should only wear it as underwear. There’s nothing worse than looking at a person in a spandex dress. Whether you’re a size 2 or 22 if the fit isn’t right, choose another fabric. For the record, anyone that comes close to being a size 2 should never wear a spandex dress and if you’re a size 22 and you insist, scale up one size and you’ll find that you’ll have better comfort and the fit will be much better. • Stiletto’s – It’s nice to step out in a great pair of heels, but when they are so high that they have you leaning forward trying to keep your balance, that’s the wrong pair of shoes. For health and safety lower your heel height. When your heels are too high, you run the risk of falling, twisting an ankle or getting caught in a grate or manhole cover. • Classic pieces and colors: 4 Jackets-different cuts, 4 basic skirts-long and short, white shirts/blouses/T-shirts, colorful accessories, a cashmere coat, 3 cashmere sweaters, a colorful and classic trench, a nice sandal (day and evening), a basic 2 inch pump (leather and suede) and 3 pair of boots (ankle, knee length and rain). A classic black dress (long and short). Yes this is a great beginning for a wardrobe and it will grow. As for colors: black, grey, navy and brown make great foundation colors. Accent colors of red, fuchsia, camel, purple and/or teal bring a spark of energy into your wardrobe. • Fabrics play an important role in how well your garment fits and drapes your body. Fabric will also give your wardrobe a look of quality or the lack there of. Real clothes consist of pieces made from wool, cotton, silk and linen. All of these fabrics come in different weights that will provide warmth and coolness and give you a multitude of looks. What I learned as a young woman from those who’d lived a few years longer than me … Learn and know the basic pieces of a great wardrobe. Keep your pieces classic and simple. Add drama with color and accessories. From one of my mentors: “Attitude plays an important role in how well you look and feel in your clothes. Hold you head up high and carry yourself like a Queen and if a person can’t accept you this way, they’re not worth having in your life.”