July 31, 2023

STYLE OVER FASHION?

There’s something about nailing a style that no-one else is wearing!  That’s one of the key benefits of choosing style over fashion, we can procure and develop our own look.  Style feels more comfortable for us, more aligned with our personality and understanding what works for our body shape is a great way to invest in ourselves.

STYLE OVER FASHION

Our personal style is something quite different and more unique to the individual.  Whereas fashion directs us to collective and even global trends at a given period in time.  The fashionistas among us will closely follow the trends and feel compelled to stay up to date.  Often, whether the style flatters or not.   Fashion is readily available to us all but the turnover is sadly now unsustainably fast unless we choose wisely and less frequently.

Choose your pieces more carefully

Choose your pieces more carefully

CHOOSE YOUR PIECES MORE CAREFULLY

I put my hand up here that like many of us, I have been equally guilty of panic buying but then relegating the garment to the back of my wardrobe.  Perhaps it doesn’t fit so well, it doesn’t flatter our shape or maybe the colour is wrong for us.  There are lots of elements at play here.

Creating our own style, helps us to avoid these impulse purchases. That’s what I love most about style over fashion - the way we can develop our sense of self, a feeling of comfort and authenticity.  Dressing for who we are now, in the moment, is always a good strategy.

STYLE IS AN INVESTMENT IN OURSELVES

As a child of the 60’s and through play I learnt at an early age that our clothes have the power to support us and as a vehicle, can elevate us to aim higher.  You’ve heard the expression, dress for the job you want?  It means that our clothes are part of the vision of where we see ourselves in the future.  Our image and the clothes we wear are one of the key methods of communication and can help us set intentions for the future.

CELEBRATE YOUR INDIVIDUALITY

Many of you reading this will have at some point copied the look styled on a mannequin, shown in a magazine, or even copied from a friend.  The likelihood is that this way of dressing is very rarely going to work for us.  Our body shapes and proportions will vary as will our personal preferences.  For example, I love to see women wearing linen and a bohemian style but does it work for me?  Absolutely not, I enjoy a more structured look and don’t enjoy being creased!  Creases make me feel uncomfortable.  Finding those key elements that make us feel good helps us to feel more confident.

EMBRACE YOUR STYLE PERSONALITY

Style above fashion

Dig deep into your individual style personality

Whether you select new or pre-loved, choosing only what resonates with you and your values ensures that you will be happier to care for and wear your clothes for longer.  Understanding more about your style personality will help you define a more comfortable style for you.

Consider what really resonates with you.  Do you prefer clean lines over feminine detailing perhaps or neutral colours vs a bold print.  or maybe you like your clothing to make a statement or are you happy to blend in?

Answering some of these questions and carefully assessing your wardrobe may provide some clues.  Or give me a call and we can find out together.

Sale above Fashion

Investing in pre-loved apparel creates the opportunity for individuality

CONSIDER THE SUSTAINABLE ELEMENT

One key point here is that fashion has become too disposable.  Instead of the historic two clothing seasons annually, we are subjected to more regular turnover of collections.  Often in the fast-fashion chains, this can be as regular as twice weekly.  

This is a shocking pace and our planet with its natural resources and associated garment workers will pay the price.

Investing in pre-loved apparel creates the opportunity to explore hidden gems and a wider range of styles above the current trends.  I love to visit York Designer Dress Agency for my pre-loved shopping.

 

However I believe that our clothes go so much deeper. I have been considering the subject of style over fashion a lot since the release of the Barbie movie - the most iconic fashion forward doll.   The movie nostalgically took me back to my childhood.  Barbie inspired me to dream and to imagine my future self.  I found Barbie to be a positive force and subsequently that playing dress-up in any form can be the catalyst to other elements of positive change.

Of the many things that I loved about it, my biggest takeaway was the fact that the film celebrated individuality.  Our own personal style allows us to do just that.

See your wardrobe as a positive way to express yourself and as a vehicle to enjoy many of life’s joys.   

For me?  Style over fashion at every turn!

May 31, 2022

FASHION IS FOR EVERYONE

You’ve heard me say before that fashion is for everyone?  I am passionate about the way our clothes matter and have the power to transcend boundaries so let’s talk fashion!

There are a whole host of reasons why I strongly believe this.

Fashion connects people together

After a break of two years,  I was delighted in April 2022  to see the return of York Fashion Week.   Not a moment too soon in my book.

For many it meant reconnecting with a vibrant community.  A group of talented and creative people all supporting and championing one another.  It’s a powerful way to collaborate, learn more about the industry in our region and a way to support local talent.

Of special note this year was the incredible variety of businesses involved, particularly those designers shining a light on sustainability.  For example,  recycled clothing (Ketchup Clothing), clothing designed to ease those undergoing medical treatment (Warpaint), a new jewellery collection created from ocean plastics (Half the Ocean) and Dressing Gowns made from stunning vintage fabrics (Spitting Feathers) to name but a few.

Bringing these people together creates the opportunity for dialogue between those taking part and those it serves to inspire.

Fashion is for everyone

Lovely 83 yr old model on The Revival Runway
Photo credit Olivia Brabbs

Fashion is for everyone

During YFW alone, I was excited to see the age range and wonderful diversity of those involved.  At one show, models on the ‘runway’ aged between 3 and 83 were happily taking part.  They were empowered wearing the clothes that visibly transported the wearer to a place of confidence.

Our clothes have the power to elevate, to express our individuality and tell the world who we are.  Adopting just one trend piece can make us feel current and relevent.

I saw new friendships blossom and could appreciate all over again how fashion enables positive connections.

Fashion inspires our own choices

Recycled clothing by Ketchup Clothes
Image Credit Olivia Brabbs

I liken fashion to the style of food we choose, we don’t all like everything but we’ve still gotta eat, right?

There is no wonder that we see the International designers flexing their creative muscles!

We witness zany and outrageous designs but I equally applaud the work involved in bringing an event and ‘catwalk’ together.  A whole host of creatives pulling together behind the scenes.

For many of us, the latest trends can be overwhelming.  Let's welcome the amazing creativity, the visual extravagance and use what we see to stimulate our own self-expression.

Fashion is for everyone

Ethical brand Hope Fashion during York Fashion Week. Image credit Olivia Brabbs

Fashion can be a force for good

Thinking back upon it now, I realise that in a relatively short space of time how things have changed. I was never a Fashionista but boy back in the ‘90’s how I loved to feast on Carrie Bradshaw’s closet (Sex in the City). I may also have been guilty of consuming fashion simply because it was on trend….rarely because it looked great.

Wind on forty years and my purchases are more wisely considered and well chosen.  My clothes will stand the test of time, will mix and match and reflect how I wish to feel in my clothes. It really is a powerful thing!

I shudder to think how much money I wasted in my 20’s and 30’s on clothes and I dare say many of us still do. I wonder if we all thought about the monetary value alone of our unworn clothes?

Change it must for our planet and for those employed in the garment industry.  We can ALL help and initiate a change in behaviour by making more sustainable and ethical clothing choices.  What if we select pre-loved clothing, get creative with our existing wardrobe or be more insistent on buying from brands with visibly ethical credentials.

Did you see that the next series of Love Island has partnered with eBay to encourage a less disposable attitude to fashion?  Contestants are expected to re-wear and repeat their outfits.  Hoorah!  This sort of exposure will highlight how pre-loved fashion can be celebrated.

Fashion makes us feel good

If for you, fashion seems to be frivolous, understanding what works for our body shape, our lifestyle and personality is a good strategy.  I can naturally help you with this.

This can lead us to more discerning choices, we begin to dress to our own beat but use fashion selectively and in a more mindful way.  A knowledge that helps us better select a range of flexible and well-chosen clothes that deserve a place to hang in our wardrobe for longer.

As an advocate for clothing that feels good for us, I am hooked on the power that our clothes have on our well-being and confidence.  Fashion is for everyone!

 

To the creative team behind the prestigious marketing company, NIMA that helped to shape and bring us York Fashion Week, I applaud their vision that means fashion is for everyone.

Image credit OliviaBrabbs for York Fashion Week.

COLOURS • CLOTHES • CONFIDENCE

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York, North Yorkshire