Dear Friends,
You'd have to be living under a rock to avoid the news that Michelle Obama has become a style icon. She has a strong sense of her own style and the ability to pull it together in very true-to-herself and often cost-effective ways.
Interestingly enough, until just a couple of years ago we didn't know who she was, nor were we interested in what she wore. She's a bright, intelligent, accomplished woman in her own right. But we don't talk about that much these days. Mostly we are focused on her clothing choices. Is she spending too much on a dress? Why does she like J. Crew so much?
I find it fascinating that we are so hooked on how she dresses. She's attractive but not a fashion model, and she enjoys both high-end and off-the-rack clothes. She knows who she is and she dresses accordingly. She also realizes that self-care is really important. It's not an option. It's a responsibility. We cannot take good care of other people (and we all do a lot of that) until we take care of ourselves.
I like it when she wears the off-the-rack clothing. It feels like the way the rest of us live, trying to find our own personal style and not breaking the bank while doing it. I find this to be refreshing in a First Lady, especially in this day and age.
The most important thing we can learn from Michelle Obama is how to be a busy woman who knows herself and takes the time to reflect her true self in her everyday style choices. (Obviously, she has more help than we do in this area, but you know she's calling the shots.)
Getting the right look for you has less to do with what you spend and where you shop, and more to do with how well you know yourself and how much time you are willing to spend on yourself. As busy women, we rarely spend time on ourselves. Check in and make sure you are doing enough "selfish" things for yourself. It's vital to keep your identity and your sense of who you are, even when life gets hectic.
If you haven't spent much time lately thinking about your own style, I encourage you to take some time and explore it. Styles and the expression of style change over the years. Make sure that your style reflects the talented, classy and beautiful person that you are. If your look shows anything less than The Real You, make a commitment to change that today. How you present yourself does make a difference and you don't need to be famous to feel the confidence that comes with tapping into the right style for you.
|
Patricia Gorham
Inside/Out Style
|
Cool vs. Classy
|
 "When you are young, the be all and end all to life is to be cool. But once your twenties are behind you, unless you are gainfully employed as a rock musician, cool needs to give way to classy."
From Younger By the Day: 365 Ways to Rejuvenate Your Body and Revitalize Your Spirit by Victoria Moran
|
How to Look Young
|
 "Nothing ages you like... outfits that are too matchy-matchy... dressing head to toe in one designer... looking like you tried too hard... looking like you didn't try at all... clothes that are too young."
From How Not to Look Old: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look 10 Years Younger, 10 Pounds Lighter, 10 Times Better by Charla Krupp |
