You guys, I believe I may have mentioned that What Not To Wear is my favorite show of all damn time. Its so funny and informative and inspiring. Its incredible to watch women’s lives be transformed on all levels because they simply start to feel good about how they look.
This is when we realize that fashion and style are about so much more than vanity. As Sophia Amoruso said about fashion in her book #GIRLBOSS, fashion is about more than just clothes “What we were really doing was showing girls how to look and feel awesome before leaving the house.”
I don’t know about you but, I feel way more empowered when I think I look good.
Stacy and Clinton have also taught me:
“Everything you put on your body tells others how you expect to be treated.”
– Clinton
“Clothes should bring you joy and make you feel beautiful.”
– Stacy
“Clothes are not the reward for a good job or for losing 10 pounds. Clothes are the tools you use to get yourself to where you want to be.”
– Stacy
I just love them. Don’t you?
I’m sure you can imagine my sheer joy when, this past weekend, between Crop Tops & Kale jam sessions, I found that two new seasons of this magical program had been added to iTunes! Joel was out of town (he and Jackson don’t love WNTW as much as I do) so I had a bit of a marathon on the couch with some sushi and vino.
As the series heads towards it’s finale, they decided to do a special on the rules of fashion they’ve created over the past decade, just so we could all “take some notes”. I took this literally and took actual notes in my red Moleskin notebook for you.
Here they are. I hope you find them as helpful as I do. They kind of make me want to stop wearing all black everything, ya know?
9 RULES OF FASHION FROM A DECADE OF WHAT NOT TO WEAR
Rule #1 – Keep the girls locked and loaded.
They suggest that every woman get a professional bra fitting at least once a year or any time your weight fluctuates more than 5 lbs either way! This was crazy to me but, when I think a back in my life, its also very true. The right bra can make or break and outfit and our boob size does depend on our weight. We’re not talking about popping into Victoria’s Secret here though, they mean visiting a real lingerie store and having a propper fitting. I’m heading to La Petite Coquette soon to do mine! Wanna come with me?! Also, I have big boobs so this one really hit home.
Rule #2 – Dress your age.
If you’re older, don’t try to dress like a 20 year old. You won’t look 20, you’ll look older than you actually are. If you’re younger, don’t dress like your grandma or take outdated hand-me-downs. Dressing our age is what is going to make us look the most, chic, confident and put-together. I should probably get rid of the glorified denim underpants I wore to Newport Folk Festival a couple years ago (Aka, high waisted, denim short, shorts that I am fully aware are too tight. What am I thinking sometimes?)
Rule #3 – Your clothes have to fit.
Don’t try to dress for the body you want or the body you used to have, dress for the body you have right now. If you don’t like the number in the back of your jeans, cross it out with a sharpie. I know I have this issue sometimes. I want to buy the size 27 jeans because I want to be a size 27 in jeans. Sometimes the 28 looks way better though. Eh, who cares what size it is? If it looks amazing or shitty, it looks amazing or shitty. Am I right?
Rule #4 – Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
This one is tricky for me because I can’t necessarily dress for the job I want (full time writer/blogger/creative/who’s also really fashionable and minimalist) at the job I have (office manager in finance). Skinny boyfriend jeans just aren’t allowed. It’s just not going to be appropriate all the time but, I get it, we should use our wardrobe as a tool for advancement. How we dress matters in all things, including our careers.
Rule #5 – Color, texture, pattern and shine all create visual interest.
As I write this I am wearing black, business casual, man-pants and a navy blue sweater. I’m not exactly killing it. I actually asked Joel if he would nominate me 100 times to get me on the show. He said he didn’t think I dressed shitty enough to stand out, which I guess is nice but, I really want on that show. I mean, I don’t think Joel would be happy if I decided to spend $5,000 of our own money on a shopping spree in New York so, how else am I gonna do it? In the meantime, I would do well to remember this one. I find myself gravitating to blacks and whites, chambrays and neutrals only. I think I could add some of that visual interest they’re talking about. What do you think?
Rule #6 – You don’t have to show a lot of skin to be sexy.
They suggest to show off just one asset at a time if you’re feeling sexy. I 100% agree with this one and think I do a decent job of it. I’ve been told I don’t show my boobs off enough though, or like, ever (thanks, Molly and Joel) but I feel like they show themselves off just fine on their own. My favorite example of this idea at work is a crewneck, long sleeved, shorter than usual cocktail dress I have and have worn to a couple of weddings. Show off the stems, cover up on top.
Rule #7 – Jeans are supposed to make your butt look good.
This is the one job that jeans have. I have to say, I’m guilty of being more interested in my jeans being on trend and having the correct rise than I am in what they do to my butt. This is likely due to my abhorance of muffin top. I just I haven’t paid enough attention to what jeans are doing to my butt. I can’t wait to get home tonight to take butt selfies in all my jeans to see.
Rule #8 – Mom does not equal frump.
I have no idea what kind of mother I could potentially be. I have no idea if I will slide into the big frump once I procreate. It does make sense to me though, that a mom who is confident and feels good in her own skin would a. just be happier in general and b. be setting a good example for her kids to be confident in their own skin as well. Right? I don’t know…. I won’t pretend to know much about being a mom.
Rule #9 – You can show off your personality without looking crazy.
I guess what they mean here is that you should opt for infusing your personality into your wardrobe in a subtle way instead of going staight for the obvious. This could mean a brightly printed pencil skirt to say “I’m fun and different” rather than say a t-shirt that says “I’m fun and different” literally, written on it.
Note:
I never want you guys to think that I believe I am a fashion expert. Trust me, I know fashion peeps, (pictured middle) and I am fully aware that I am not.
But what I am, is a woman who has to get dressed every morning and would like that process to be easy and fun and leave me feeling fantastic. I’m just trying to make that happen on a more consistent basis. I think these rules could really help.
What do you think? Any of these hit home for you? Which ones do you KNOW you’re breaking on the reg? Tell us in the comments below!