Andrea Pflaumer's Blog, page 10

Hello Fashionistas,

I recently met fashion designer, Sudnya Shroff, at her Silicon Valley studio.

Sudnya is a force of nature! Born in India, where she studied Electrical Engineering, she did graduate work in Iowa, worked for Intel for 10 years, and had three great kids. But her “internal restlessness” drew her away from the world of tech to devote herself to the world of art. Her large, exuberant, colorful canvases line the walls of her spectacular home.

Two great designers

And now, she has teamed up with Josephine Tchang, San Francisco fashion designer of Purplemaroon, to translate those paintings into fashion. I was like a kid in a candy store trying on these fabulous clothes. Since I had access to the entire collection I didn’t get a store buyers “edit.” 

The construction is spectacular, I might even go so far as to say, couture-like.  The attached ties on her dresses, allow you to change the garment’s shape and line, making it work for almost any woman’s body.

What I bought

Here (above and to the right) is the divinely soft silk skirt and the top I purchased. I wore the top worn both front and backwards. Although the skirt has more saturated colors than I typically wear, I made the exception because it was just so beautiful. The green top is exactly in my color palette.

I also bought a pair of Josephine’s Purplemaroon “Hologram” print pants, (on the left) which might be the most comfortable pants I have ever worn. And I’m buying one of her delightful tee-shirts shown on the right. (It’s being made for me as we speak.)

I’m smitten.

They make very limited editions of their pieces, primarily via pre-orders.  This link is to the fall collection. If you’re interested I think they might have some of that inventory available. They are just joyous.

I’m going to feature more fashions for you when I find things I feel live up to this standard. They set a high bar!

Andrea

 

 

 

The post Fashion Addiction – Designer Sudnya Shroff appeared first on Shopping for the Real You.

Many of you now know that I am writing a sequel to my book, Shopping for the Real You, with “Dr. Colors,” John Kitchener. (That’s why you haven’t heard from me for a while.) I wanted to share a brief excerpt from our Chapter 1, Choosing Color Accurately. It describes the precision with which John and his trainees select color palettes for their clients. Check it out!

Chart 1.1

“Color selection is both an art, and an exact science. Artist Ron Sackman, who took over the color portion of the Personal Style Counselors training program in 1971, understood this. Sackman studied the Munsell [Chart 1.1] color system so thoroughly that he could look at any color and instantly describe the exact combinations of colors went into it. And, he could tell you which seasonal palette it fell into.

For example, in describing the reds for an archetypal Subtle Blended color palette (what most people call “summer”) Sackman would say, “If someone has Subtle Blended as their primary coloring, their reds would start at 10 red-purple and go to 2.5 red, but very rarely would they ever go into 5.0 red…if they have an Earthy Rich (autumn) secondary it would go into 5 red but would be more muted…”

I find this so fascinating. So stay tuned for more! And on this subject, John has just announced that Hella Tsaconas [on the left] who has had 27 years of experience with this work, will now be the PSC representative for the West Coast. Hella is already seeing color and style clients and can be reached at this link.

And, he is training Brook Mercer and Mariah Bishop, a wonderful mother/daughter team in Centerville, Utah (just outside of Salt Lake City) for the Mountain states. Sometime next year John will be heading out to Atlanta to offer his services to the South and East. I am thrilled about this because it tells me that the legacy of PSC will live on accurately and how it was intended. I feel privileged to be a part of preserving that legacy.

If you haven’t yet seen it, my first book, Shopping for the Real You is now available on Kindle! You can purchase it here.

Talk again very soon!

 

 

 

The post New (upcoming) Fashion Book appeared first on Shopping for the Real You.

Women Body Shapes

Finding clothes that fit and flatter your body shape is one of the most important parts and one of the biggest challenges in clothes shopping. In both of my books I describe and give styling suggestions for the body shapes that are considered standard for most women.

But we all know that just as we are combinations of color “harmonies” (seasonal color palettes) and “essences” (style archetypes) we also are often a combination of body shapes. Still, identifying  your dominant shape will give you clues about how to drape it in the most flattering manner.

Let’s look at what are considered the standard body shapes. (Thank you to Susan Tait Porcaro, who did all the following delightful illustrations for She’s Got Good Jeans.)

Flute: This is also called rectangular shaped. It describes a body in which the line from the shoulders to the waist to the hips is pretty much straight. This is a model’s body. It provides a perfect “hanger” for a garment to be the main attraction without distracting the eye too much. The good news is that this body type can wear almost anything and look chic. A flute-shaped person can add volume, if they like, with pleats, ruffles, ruching, belts,buttons, details, etc.

Pear: This is the body shape that carries most of its weight below the waist – hips and upper thighs. Pear-shaped women tend to have more sloping shoulders and delicate arms and hands. This is the kind of body you see a lot in classic paintings. To bring it into visual balance just emphasize everything above the waist: jackets or dress lines with broader shoulders, statement necklaces, horizontal lines (including patterns) – anything that creates upper body structure and emphasizes the “portrait” area. (The good news is that men love pear-shaped women. Honestly.)

Apple: Women with this body shape tend to gain weight in their midsection. (They also tend to have great legs.) That often makes them try to cover up or de-emphasize their waist entirely. It’s really not necessary. As with the Pear shaped body, Apples can emphasize the portrait area with styles that call attention there such as sweetheart necklines, wider collars, deeper v-necks, necklaces. But please, Apples, DO emphasize your waist regardless of its size. A peplum jacket or a blazer nipped in at the waist will instantly give you some curves. And don’t be afraid of belts for the same reason.

Hourglass: This is a shape that, as its name implies, is broad at the shoulders, narrow at the waist, and broad at the hips. It’s archetypically opposite in style to the Flute shape, in that ruffles, pleats and ruching can just be too much on this body. (Pleats will never hang right on an hourglass body anyway.) So go for what naturally flatters this shape: fitted and darted shirts and dresses, v-necks that emphasize your bust line, sheaths in drape-y fabrics that hug your curves gently, fitted bodices and flared skirts.

Inverted Triangle: This is very much like a Flute shape but with broader shoulders. They also often have a larger bust. So taking a cue from the Flutes, this type can wear much of what works for them too as long as the emphasis is on the lower body instead of the upper. An Inverted Triangle can look great in a halter or v-neck, can wear bolder patterns below the waist, and can balance out their broad shoulders with volume below the waist, e.g., palazzo pants, skirts with pleats or gathers, details and patterns on pants or skirts, color and details on shoes, etc.

I want to give a personal note of thanks to all of you who bought Shopping for the Real You. We sold out all 2,000 copies of the first edition and are now publishing the second edition through Amazon’s publishing wing, Create Space. Also, I’m currently working on the sequel with my mentor, John Kitchener of Personal Style Counselors. It’s going to be a big challenge to get all his brilliant knowledge into this second book, but I’m always up for a challenge! Onward!

The post Shopping for Your Body Shape appeared first on Shopping for the Real You.

After posting a photograph of and praise for Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith last year on my Facebook page, several of my readers commented (…well, that’s a bit of an understatement: the post got 18.5 million views, 126,000 shares  and 16,000 comments…the post has, for some inexplicable reason, gone viral again.)

Among those comments were many from across the “pond” in praise of these spectacular women for how they had remained so vital and beautiful over the years. And then, many women offered their ideas about how we can do so as well.

Here are some of those suggestions:

“Stay out of the sun”

“Don’t drink coffee”

“Speak in a low, non-skreechy voice” (love that one…)

“Take a walk in fresh air daily”

There were many about diet and lifestyle:

“Consume freshly bought food daily”

“More naturally grown/produced foods. Less GMO’d foods. Less ready made, processed, pre-made,     boxed/packaged foods. Not to mention, no fast food.”

“I also think some countries have a huge problem with fast food instead of cooking from scratch which is easier and healthier. Just a different way of life and looking at things and good genes of course.”

Presenting oneself in the best way possible was a common theme:

“Aging sucks

I got an email recently from the lovely folks at the LA fashion house called Covered Perfectly. They asked if I would try out a couple of their pieces and write a review. Since a number of my colleagues swore by their brand, I thought this could be fun.

The company was founded in 2013 by Pauline Durban, a British ex-pat. Durban had searched for simple, chic pieces for her wardrobe that would help her look pulled together but not overexposed. After hunting around unsuccessfully, she decided to take matters into her own hands. (She figured there had to be a lot of women out there with the same need.) So, as a single woman and at the age of 56 she invested her entire life savings and launched the brand.

Her fabric of choice is a 94% micro modal – a type of rayon made from the beech tree – with 6% spandex added for a little give and durability. It has a yummy feel and those of us with an extra pound here and there appreciate that little bit of spandex. It’s also one of the few wash-and-wear textiles that holds up well over time.

My outfit

I tried out the coral v-neck three-quarter sleeve top worn with their leopard print vest (can’t get enough leopard print.) Although I generally avoid synthetics – it’s 100% polyester – I find the vest to be an attractive and versatile addition. And since it’s not worn directly over my skin it doesn’t bother me at all. I think it would look great belted too. These vests come in four animal print patterns and one plain olive green. I’m wearing this combination to a dinner Thursday night: easy-peasy pulled together look.

What else they offer

In addition to v-necks, the tops also come in scooped, square, and surplice necklines. And their styles include fit-and-flare, a cascading ruffled v-neck with flutter sleeves, and on-trend “peekaboo” (cut outs on the sleeves or shoulders) styles. Very cute. They also have a tummy-covering cross-over top and some newer all cotton scoop necks. Except for their sleeveless tanks, (a nice layering piece) most are three-quarter or long-sleeved, true to the “covered perfectly” promise.  The color options span all four color harmonies with an emphasis on Striking, Lively Bright, and Earthy Rich.

The rest of their collection includes a couple of great classic LBDs in a nice dense ponte fabric and a few attractive pencil skirts.  And then there’s what they call a “leisure suit.” (I think that’s Durban’s sense of humor at work.) It’s actually a comfy combination of a tunic and capris in the micromodal fabric that could work equally well for running off the grocery store, heading out for a pedicure or lounging around the house.

I did the math and figured out that you could build a very attractive capsule wardrobe here for under 500 bucks (several of these are on a ridiculous sale right now): Five tops, one cascading vest, a pencil skirt, an LBD and a leisure suit.

I think Pauline Durban has a winner here and I can’t wait to see what she adds to the collection over time.

A special for SRY

And, our bonus!!! They have offered Shopping for the Real You readers a 20% discount on any two items when you use the discount code SRY20 at Covered Perfectly. Or you can take advantage of the “Buy 2 get your 3rd FREE” special. The special applies to any combination of items store-wide. When you add 3 items to your cart the discount will be applied automatically. (Only one of the discounts will work.) Happy shopping! And if you buy something, I’d love to see a photo of how you’ve worn and styled it. Email me at: [email protected]

The post My (brief) modeling career: Covered Perfectly appeared first on Shopping for the Real You.

Well, let’s just get one thing right on the table: almost every outfit just looks better when worn with high heels. They lengthen your legs, they make for better visual proportions, and they add an element of chic to anything they’re worn with. Personally, I know some women in their 70’s and 80’s who STILL rock stilettos (good for them!) But really, how many of you will still wear anything higher than a 2” heel? My own feet say “nevermore.”

For some foot conditions, a slight heel is actually preferably. If you have that burning or itchy sensation toward the heel end of your arch it could be a sign of plantar fasciitis. For this condition, elevating the heel slightly with a wedge – either one that you apply inside your shoes, like an orthotic or wearing a shoe with an actual slight wedge heel – will relieve the pull on your tendon. (Kirsten Borrink’s wonderful website, barkingdogshoes.com, devotes entire sections to review cute shoes for whatever ails you, foot-wise.)

Still, we don’t have to sacrifice fashion for comfort. With all of this in mind, let’s look at some hip, cute and chic alternatives to super high heels that will still add cache to your outfit.

We’ll start with that wedge I just mentioned. Wedge heeled shoes come in many styles from booties to sandals to espadrilles and the heights vary greatly as well. They go with almost any kind of outfit, but tend to be more casual than pumps or dressy flats. Think: jeans and casual dresses.

Right now, booties are all the rage. They serve many purposes (not the least of which is keeping your feet warm and dry) and can be worn with everything from dresses, jeans, tunics, pants, you name it. And, they come in flat, wedged and low heeled styles. Plus, they provide a more stable surface for balance than spike heels.

A lower-heeled pump goes with almost anything although it can be a little tame if your outfit is more fashion-forward than a classical style. Wearing pumps in a skin tone it will lengthen your legs in a very flattering way. Whether you go for a pointed toe or an almond shaped-toe should be determined by your comfort level.  (My own toes are almost all the same length, which means that I end up taking my pointed toe pumps to the shoe repair for stretching on a regular basis. I just like the look of a  pointed rather than rounded toe on my shoes. Silly me…)

Kitten heels are a great alternative for dressier occasions. But keep in mind that, visually, they are more insubstantial than a pump, wedge or sandal. So you want to make sure the volume of the rest of your outfit – coat, suit, dress – doesn’t overwhelm their delicacy. They work best with garments that have simple lines like a sheath dress, a (slight) boot cut trouser and lighter outwear. That means that a heavy wool or trench coat might look a bit odd with them.

Moving into warmer weather months, mid to low-heeled sandals are a lovely alternative, and frankly, they’re much more popular now than spike heels. I just bought something similar to these chunky heeled leopard sandals and they are surprisingly (almost shockingly) comfortable. And I feel very stable on my feet when wearing them.

Then there are the flats or at least flat-er heels: glittery, bejeweled, something with a d’orsay cut, or simply elegant classic styles can elevate your outfit, even if they don’t elevate your height. Ankle strap flats can add a little sexiness, but only if you don’t have short legs, in which case they can truncate your legs making them look even shorter and somewhat chunky.

Make sure you keep all your shoes in good condition. There’s a general rule that if your hair and your shoes look great everything in between looks good – whether you’re wearing ripped jeans, a suit, or a very simple LBD.

So, what kinds of shoes are you wearing these days, and how high a heel will you wear? Drop me a line and let me know. I love hearing how you reconcile fashion with comfort.

BTW: There are only 23 copies left of Shopping for the Real You at Amazon and they seem to be going pretty quickly. In the second printing the price will have to almost double (such is the way of publishing through Amazon) so if you need gift for a friend, or if you haven’t bought your own copy, now’s the time! And if you have bought it and love it (and I hope you do) I’d be extremely grateful if you would be willing to write a review on Amazon. Independent authors live for these reviews…Thank you! 

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For our final color archetype analysis we’re going to examine what Personal Style Counselors calls Earthy Rich – or autumn – coloring. Let’s review the general feeling of the other three archetypes to set the tone for this one. Winter is a stark time of year and the colors associated with it are strongly contrasting. Spring is Bright and buoyant. Summer is soft and subtle. And when we consider the foliage of the fall, the colors are deep, rich, and earthy. If you can apply those words – “Earthy” and “Rich” to your own palette chances are very good that you have warm skin tones, dark or hazel eyes, and some red or gold highlights to your hair.

These are pretty sophisticated colors. By that I mean they are not associated with Youthful [image error]fashion. ( And face it, 90% of fashion is designed for a young demographic.)  Earthy Rich is about angles, edges, and geometric shapes. It is the opposite of the flowing and changing qualities in the other color archetypes. These colors suggest layered texture and density – both of skin and hair. Earthy Rich types look terrific in clothes that have textural elements and in prints that have nature images such as camouflage, animal prints, paisleys, and safari-themes.

Let’s look at a few ER types. We start with the first image (above) of the divine Tina Turner. Tina has the depth to her skin tones and the kind of angular breadth to her face we associate with this color harmony. Kate Hepburn is another perfect example of the bone structure even down to the straight line of her hairline. Carole King has gone whitish-blonde, but her bone structure is a dead giveaway to her ER credentials. Like Tina Turner, she personifies the warmth and innate sensuality that is often a trademark of Earthy Rich type.

Julia Roberts is a Romantic Earthy Rich. Her brown/gold eye color is a typical feature of this color type. And although Keira Knightly is certainly a chameleon as an actress, she is fundamentally an ER color type.

You’ll see a variety of shades of red hair on these women, and a good example is Susan Sarandon (below left.) ERs tend not to be shy or unwilling to show a little leg (or in Tina Turner’s case a LOT of fabulous leg) or other skin.

Speaking of skin, it’s crucial that ER types wear some color near their face instead of a neutral or they risk look pale. But it’s often a challenge for them because their colors are harder to find season to season. (With my 70% Earthy Rich I know that I have to wear color near my face or I tend to simply disappear.

So that wraps up our mini analyses of the four basic color archetypes. Again, it would be difficult to find someone who is 100% of a particular archetype. But understanding the elements and qualities of each gives us clues about our own coloring and combinations.

How much Earthy Rich do you think you have, if any? Drop me a line and let me know.

NOTE: I want to give a huge thanks to my mentor, John Kitchener of Personal Style Counselors,  for sharing his knowledge and wisdom about all this material. If you haven’t heard, John will be re-locating to Atlanta in June after a month of consultations in Utah. He will continue to do in-person as well as Skype color and style analyses from Atlanta. But he has designated Hella Tsaconas, his most experienced student (and my own stylist), to take over duties for the San Francisco Bay Area and West Coast. I’m thrilled about this. I have long felt that this deep and profound knowledge MUST continue…and so it will!

[BTW – Amazon has just a very few copies left of Shopping for the Real You at only $15.95 each. The 2nd edition will be $24.95, as that’s what it will cost for them to print a book of this quality. So, check it out now!)

The post Color Harmony #4: Earthy Rich appeared first on Shopping for the Real You.

Grace Kelly

The colors in the palette of someone with Subtle Blended coloring reflect the softness and ease we associate with summer. That description “subtle blended” says it all. (Hat tip to artist Judy LaMar who came up with the name for this color Harmony.)

Nicole Kidman

The Subtle Blended palette colors are not “in-your-face.” They are gentle. But woe be the person who has it as their primary color Harmony. The fashion industry hardly recognizes you. (Sorry, but it must be said.)

That’s because they are the rarest of color types. The good news is that they are unique. The bad news is that they have to hunt around a bit to find things in their colors. Add to that the qualities of their ideal textiles (iridescent, opalescent, shimmering) and their style design lines  (cascading, draped, s-curved, ovals) and you’re looking at sheer clothes that work best in the summer and for more elegant occasions. Think: afternoon weddings.

I personally think that’s why a lot of Subtle Blended women in the entertainment industry dye their hair either platinum or black. Maybe it helps them to be cast beyond what the delicacy of their coloring would suggest. Still, you’ll find redheads, brunettes,and blondes among the summer color types.

Tilda Swinton

The terms John Kitchener uses to describe Subtle Blended types are glowing, fluid, and multi-faceted. It’s the most meditative of all the color harmonies. It lacks hard edges. That means you won’t find any strong contrast in these palettes. These colors seem to, well, blend together subtly. We’ve already described Tilda Swinton as an Angelic archetype. In coloring she is also subtle blended, regardless of whether her hair is platinum or its natural reddish.

Joan Cusack

One of my very favorite Subtle Bended types is Joan Cusack. I have loved her since she appeared in Working Girl wearing this wonderfully wild 80’s makeup and hair (on the right.) Her true persona clearly reflects the very iridescent and pearl-like qualities of a Subtle Blended (on the left). And she definitely can wear pearls well.

But don’t mistake the gentle looks of a Subtle Blended person for weakness. On the contrary, they tend to be very strong individuals. Case in point, Lady Gaga. Yes, Lady Gaga is a Subtle Blended. And the photo of her wearing this green leather jacket is a good demonstration of that. Colors that are grayed-down are best worn by Subtle Blendeds, as is this green. 

Lady Gaga

Gaga has the typical SB’s oval-shaped face. Although she has gone from brunette to platinum, you don’t get the sense that this is a “tough” person. Strong, yes, but not edgy in the way a Striking Contrast color type is. Although both are considered “cool” color types, SC colors are saturated; SB colors are, as we said, subtle and blended.

So – full disclosure. I have a bad case of “Subtle Blended envy.” I just find it such a refined and delicate palette (I have only 10%.) When I have made shopping mistakes it’s often because I was hypnotized into buying something in SB, which is my tertiary color harmony. I say that as a cautionary tale. We have to be careful to pay respect to our true, primary coloring, as it best reflects who we are. As one of my favorite memes goes: appreciating someone else’s beauty does not diminish our own.

How much Subtle Blended do you have? Write me at [email protected].

[Note: Amazon has only a few dozen copies of the beautifully-printed first edition of Shopping for the Real You. We won’t be doing another run at that quality. AND, they’re now discounted 20% – the next edition will, unfortunately have to be 20% more.  If you have been thinking of buying it for yourself or as a gift, I encourage you to do so quickly as the inventory is going pretty fast.]

The post Color Harmony #3: Subtle Blended (summer) appeared first on Shopping for the Real You.

Betty White

Lively and Bright – that says it all. When you think of the colors that nature displays in the spring, the terms, “lively” and “bright” are a pretty good description. The spring palette is filled with bright colors – as is the Striking Contrast palette – but Lively Bright colors are less saturated and are infused with some white. Still, they are what we consider “clear” colors. That means they are unadulterated with gray or brown as are the colors for summer and fall, respectively.

The giveaway for identifying someone with a high percentage of the Lively Bright palette is the roundness of their face and/or features. Whereas the elongated oval-shaped faces of the pure winter Striking Contrast type expressed some drama, the spring types are all about circles: round eyes, round cheeks, round face.

Norma Jean

Marilyn Monroe

There’s a common misconception that spring = blonde. Certainly there are a lot of spring types who are blonde and blue-eyed. But the coloring of a Lively Bright has more to do with the reflectiveness of their skin tone and the shape of their features.

Take a look at our cover girl here, the beautiful Norma Jean Mortenson, otherwise known as Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn was a lovely brunette in her youth, changed by Hollywood into the blonde bombshell she became. Although her eyes took on a sultry, half-closed look (a typical feature of someone with a lot of the Romantic style essence,) her cheeks and overall bone structure say “roundness.”

Vanessa Williams

Angela Lansbury

Angela Lansbury is another someone with a typical spring palette. There’s warmth to her skin tone but it’s more in the pink range than the yellow of an Earthy Rich. Vanessa Williams is a good example of someone with a mix of Lively Bright and  Earthy Rich. She doesn’t have the strong angular bone structure of someone who is primarily Earthy Rich coloring, and there’s a soft roundness to her face. And, of course, note the roundness in her eyes.

Betty White

Christina Hendricks

So you can see that Lively Brights come in all hair colors. It’s all about the roundness and brightness. And just to round out (pun intended) the group, here is a redhead (Christina Hendricks has a very high percentage of the Romantic style essence) and another brunette who are Lively Bright. Yes, that’s a very young Betty White on the left.

Joyce Devenny Elling

Lively Brights can wear many lively bright colors together. Most of the rest of us need to tone it down a bit or use them as an accent color only. In my own palette I have about 20% (70% Earthy Rich) which means I can at least find SOMETHING to buy in the spring. And I want to end with another celebrity you may not know, the wonderful Joyce Devenny Elling, one of my blog followers, who could be the poster girl for Lively Bright.

How much Lively Bright do you have? Check out the color fans in Shopping for the Real You.

The post Color Archetype #2: Lively Bright (Spring) appeared first on Shopping for the Real You.

Jessica Alba

Halle Berry

Scarlett Johanssen

I’ve noticed lately that a lot of the women who follow my fashion blog are slightly obsessed with finding a celebrity or prominent figure in the public eye that they resemble – their fashion style doppelgänger. They feel that when they find that person their fashion identity will be – finally – sealed and they can simply follow their lead. I totally understand this. It’s a belief that cuts across many areas in life, as well as in the realm of fashion. We all want to be reflected and validated. It gives us a sense of belonging.

Belonging makes us feel comfortable… and safe. We no longer have to make a lot of effort to think too independently or critically. And we no longer have to look at ourselves too carefully. Find a role model; copy; repeat. The downside, of course, is that there is rarely much originality created in groups.

In the area of fashion this has led to the overwhelming uniformity of…uniform, i.e. the minimalist movement in contemporary style. Large, body-hiding, unadorned, boxy, and proportion-defying clothes have taken over as the de jour silhouette in much of ready-to-wear. The message is clear: “we are all the same. I’m no better or different than you. I will not stand out if it makes you feel less than I am.” Well, certainly that’s true at the most fundamental level of our being. But what a great bore it is in the complex, fascinating fabric of life – and fashion.

I get it that it takes effort to unfold and develop one’s own style. Discovering our uniqueness and mustering the courage to fly that flag doesn’t come easily to everyone. Those who are born with it are admirable. They’re also cool. But they haven’t gotten that way by playing it safe. And the greatest lesson they can teach us by example is “don’t follow me.”

So where do we start? Well, here I admit to being a follower myself. I follow the approach set by a certain “group” of women: The French. I don’t do it to copy their style but to learn from their aesthetic. In fact, they have a kind of no-style style, as in “I don’t fit into a style description box.” They celebrate not only their unique attributes of body and facial features but the value of intelligence, wit and charm as a part of their overall attractiveness. And they value independence in thought and dress.

Designer Sonia Rykiel

That’s why you will see women of many types and all ages celebrated in their culture. They look at dressing as art. Does it border on costume? Yes, sometimes. But if “all the world’s a stage” anyway, why would you want to be the scenery when you can be the star?

So, the French fashion sense is cool because it is unexpected, unique, complex. Frankly, we are all complex. We are cross-overs of style, coloring, personality, thought, and culture. That’s what makes us interesting. Let’s not abandon that for the comfort of “belonging.”

Learn more about your unique style in Shopping for the Real You.

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