Is fashion FUN?

image via Shopbop

In my opinion, it’s like everything – it depends on your perspective.  With the transition into fall, I seem to be having conversations everywhere about clothes and style.  There are the rules, thoughts about what’s in, worries about what’s out, statement pieces, basics, mom jeans, skinnies, flares, age appropriate or not…….it can all be like a giant sucker of all the fun.

What about self-expression?

What about feeling pretty?

What about wanting to look tough or comfy?

With online shopping we can all search through hundreds of images from dozens of different stores and they’ll all tell you what you should be wearing NOW.  Well, what if you don’t wanna or what if all the trends they are pushing right now feel ridiculous to you?!

I’ll focus on the moms out there because in my opinion having children come into your life can cause a pretty big change in style…..and about 1,000 other things.

Here’s what I know, it is important to define your style, below are a couple tips:

• If anyone out there is really starting from square one this is a pretty timeless list for basics that work in every kind of closet for every age.

• It helps to know the rules if only so you can choose to break them.  You need patience here because I’m not talking about White after Labor Day kind of rules (btw white jeans are fine all year round).  I have a loose/tight rule, if my bottoms are tight, my top is looser or vice versa.  I also have a quality over quantity rule, a closet stuffed with clothes doesn’t necessarily give you more options.  I have a three ways rule – my clothes work hard, they have to be versatile.
• It helps to look at clothes that fit your style on “real” people.  This could be a movie character, a celebrity, your aunt, you get the point.  Buffy the Vampire Slayer has been one of my style inspiration peeps for years (I’m not saying how many) – I find her feminine/tough/functional mix highly practical for moi.
• It helps to take pictures of yourself in the clothes you like best and the ones you receive compliments when wearing, these will be the building blocks from which change can happen.
• Don’t forget the fun – wear non-matching socks under your boots if that helps support your wackiness, wear something that makes you feel good even if it’s unexpected.  Like Bea working barefoot in her red strapless dress.

image via Zero Waste Home

Here is a blog that has fun with mom style, the authors are also of pretty different style aesthetics, so there’s a bit of range:

Ain’t No Mom Jeans

image via Ain’t No Mom Jeans

These ladies are having fun with clothes and it’s really nice to see a few fall trends on someone who is NOT 6 feet tall, 95 lbs and 14 years old – ya feel me?

Happy fall, hope you are having fun!