Finding Style Inspiration Where You Least Expect It
Marian commented on last week’s Inspired by: Lizzy Hadfield of Shot From the Street post “….I see where you find inspiration – like I don’t think I would have ever thought of emulating the style of 20-something Korean guys. Even Lizzy Hadfield….I realized that if I had seen her on my own, I would have admired her taste but I would have immediately dismissed her because she’s so young and slim and I’m turning 60 and I don’t have that figure anymore….”
Her comments reminded me of some things I’ve been thinking about re looking for and finding inspiration.
I know I talk about inspiration a lot! But it is such a significant element of “fashioning.” I am not naturally all that originally creative. But I can see something – an entire outfit, a book cover, wallpaper, a garden – and it will send my mind into “how can I emulate that from my own wardrobe” mode, One thing can spark many ideas. And I’m grateful for those things that strike me as OOH I LIKE THAT.
But the interesting thing is I don’t necessarily find outfit/style inspo where you’d think I’d find it. I never THINK “I’d like to create some different outfits, let me google “20-something-year-old Korean men” OR “young, slim British bloggers.” You’d THINK I’d be perusing the plus-size blogs…or even looking to see what the over-50 (oh, alright, over-SIXTY) crowd is wearing.
But for the most part (with a few exceptions), I do not share the plus-size bloggers’ taste in clothing. I’m not putting anyone down, we’re just different. I see a lot of body-con, bold colors, ultra-feminine looks. I do NOT see much minimal style among plus-size bloggers. On Instagram there was a handful of plus-size German bloggers…but I don’t speak German. And there are few bloggers I can stick with based on pictures alone. And if you google “plus size minimal style,” there is very little. Most of those clothing sites are $$$. $$$.
But once I opened my mind up to realizing I could take inspiration from anyone…not just those at my age, stage in life, body size, etc…but anyone, I was SO much more inspired! I was finally seeing outfits I really LOVED, instead of just those that were “suitable” or “appropriate” for my age, size, etc.
And yes, the vast majority of those who consistently inspire me are YOUNG. I keep expecting to hear a “you should dress your age” comment. Here’s the thing. I’m not trying to “look young.” I’m trying to dress the way my mind feels…and my mind FEELS like I’m…25? Ha. There’s also the feeling of wanting to dress more like a boy than a girl. I don’t see many women my age dressing in a more gender-neutral way (not sure that’s the appropriate term? but I think maybe? forgive me if I’m missing the mark)…or plus size women. Or men!
So I need to look outside my own identity to find style inspiration. Does that sentence make sense? I’m struggling a bit at getting my thoughts out in a way that others will understand.
Use a LARGE net when first looking for inspiration. Look at EVERYTHING. Be open to everything. Try everything. Try everything you want. Don’t start out putting restrictions on yourself, “I’m too old,” “I’m too fat,” “I’m too shy,” whatever. You’re not. You’re not “too” anything. Whatever you are is just right for you. If it’s ever not…you’ll change.
The older I get the more I want my theme (motto?) to be “no closed doors.” This goes for a lot of things, but…style, definitely.
Am I going to look like Lizzy or Taehyung if I wear similar clothes to them? Ha. Of course not. I’m going to look like ME. And that’s just how I should look.
Remember, it’s not about copying outfits word for word (well, I mean, if you want to, knock yourself out), it’s about taking the concepts and applying them to your wardrobe. There’s a quote by Austin Kleone: “Don’t just steal the style, steal the thinking behind the style. You don’t want to look like your heroes, you want to see like your heroes.”
What I’m Wearing
Button-down: Anthropologie, 2x. 2021
Jeans: Gloria Vanderbilt Amanda jeans, 20 short. 2021
Sneakers: Oh how I wish I had lilac Converse!
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Deborah Stinedurf
Inspiration is literally EVERYWHERE…you just have to keep your eyes & your mind open to ALL the things. And you my friend are the master of unearthing inspiration! And the really cool thing? You’re someone else’s inspiration…it’s like paying it forward. xo
Debbie
http://www.yourstyledstory.com
bettyewp
Aww, thanks, Debbie!
Marian
It was funny to read your post today that started with my name and my comment!
I love today’s post. You said it so well.
I think it boils down to seeing *something* and thinking “I want to wear that!” The something can be a color, a piece of art, a pattern, and of course, clothing on other people.
Then come the voices of doubt. This is regardless of one’s body.
Will it make me look too ___ [fill in the blank]
You asked in last week’s post: where do you find fashion inspiration? And that is why I said: from bloggers like you. You open my eyes to new possibilities – and how to get there!
When it comes to decorating my house or preparing a meal with whatever I have left in the fridge, or doing a new project, I am much braver about experimenting. I do the research, get inspired and then figure out how to make it work for me given my budget, time and abilities.
It’s different with clothes. Maybe because I know that people will judge me and I still care what people think. I think I dress mostly for me, but maybe not as much as I should. I think many women discovered that during the pandemic. We truly dress for ourselves when we’re not going out, day after day. Then one day we have to go somewhere and the effort and the doubts come back.
The short version: Your point is well taken. Take a new view on where to get fashion inspiration and then go make it work with the budget, time and abilities.
Sally in St Paul
With plus size bloggers, I’m ecstatic if I can find one who doesn’t wear a million body-con dresses and heels with everything (which is not me at any age or size). And forget plus size over age 40, I’m thrilled if she’s over age 30. While I 100% agree that we can find inspiration anywhere, I do wish there were more visible plus size, not super-young bloggers to follow. But it seems like you can be fat or you can be old, but you can’t be both. Perhaps that cynical, but it’s what the lack of representation says to me.
withinaworldofmyown.com
bettyewp
Well, I’m here to say YOU CAN BE FAT *AND* OLD! And FABULOUS (that sounds like a blog post title, for sure). Ha. Yes, there are Very Few plus-size, over 40 bloggers. I certainly know those PEOPLE exist, cuz I see them out in the world. Not sure why there is so little representation online or even in print, and certainly in retail. There’s already relatively little available in plus size, but when you try to narrow it to “plus size + over 40 + young at heart not ready for the nursing home yet” there’s hardly anything.
I do find places like Old Navy, J Crew, Nordstrom/N Rack do offer basic, modern items in all sizes, in a wide range of age – oh gosh, I don’t want to use the word “appropriateness,” but you know what I mean.
I do think part of it is that bloggers in general, just do skew young. And IG and TikTok probably even younger, on average.
Anyway, the point was that since I don’t see people “like me,” I’ve learned that I can still get inspiration from others NOT like me.
Mary MOFFAT
I Hear you! I am always looking for inspo- I have found that since following some ‘ahem” slightly younger bloggers it has pushed my style- I love a lot of european bloggers too- I follow a few on IG. So glad I found you!
bettyewp
Glad you found the blog! Yeah I definitely think you can dress “youthful in spirit” without looking like you’re trying to dress to look younger, if that makes sense.
saree
Awesome collections of sneakers you got. I loved almost all of them
With Love
http://sareechennai.com
bettyewp
Ha ha, ALMOST all of them? I think I have two pairs of sneakers 🙂 I’m on the (frustrating) hunt for a new pair of white ones, but, yeah.