I absolutely cannot stand the age limit rule. I am in my 70s and I have many things that some people might think I am too old for, but look good on me. I'm still thin, but have a larger bust than I did when I was younger. I'm not about to go purchase any mini skirts or reveal too much skin, but I think it's important to wear clothes that suit your style and personality and not get hung up about age.
Yes, same here. Am 75, enjoying my life and lifestyle. Never felt better, as I'm single now and can do what I want to do, dress, how I want to dress etc
The one-year rule!!! Off with its head! This year, with a little tailoring, I have revived two real leather trenchcoats (black, tan), leather pants, a leather maxi coat and two leather jackets from the late 80s -- early 2000s. I am so glad I have hung on to them. Other pieces that are seeing the light of day again include designer dresses, an alpaca wrap coat, block-heeled tall boots, and more. If you buy quality -- and have a good seamstress or tailor -- you will have a wonderful wardrobe that is so much fun to play with.
Without fail. The INSTANT I get rid of that item I haven’t worn in a year (or two) I find an outfit that NEEDS that very item I just discarded! This has happened more than once! Keep your stuff!
I declutter my closet as an emotional response to powerlessness and overwhelm, it works to sooth me, but I sure have to be careful about not following arbitrary rules and really following my heart!
OMG! Thank you so much for sharing your views on the one year rule. I have so many pieces that I've had for quite some time and find that I may not use them every year but enjoy them as they go in and out of style. I find that sometimes certain pieces fit my body better some years than others. I also have some fabulous pieces that my mom wore in the 80s and 90s and go in and out of style but I absolutely love them no matter what. Personal style is about wearing what makes you feel beautiful.
So true. I only sort out clothes that make me feel bad over a while, like a dress that always reminds me that my boobs have started to go south. Or a blouse that I wore and bought for a job I hated, even if it's still pretty, but all I think is about the shouty boss when I see it.
The throw things out if you haven’t worn it for a year has bitten me in the butt! I moved quite often for a few years and tossed older stuff I thought I wasn’t going to “need” in my new climate, but then moved again and crap, needed those warmer clothes and long pants. Did hang on to some expensive stuff like leather knee boots, whew! Leoni thanks for standing up and saying that fashion rules are “over” and we need to dress to please ourselves.
Love your final 'rule' to break. I am also hoping that more folks break the 'black makes you look slimmer, everyone needs a lbd' etc theme. Wearing black may not make you look thinner; you may just be making yourself less visible. Black is a color, not all colors, be they tints, tones, shades or clear colors look good on everyone. Wear your favorites. If black makes you shine, go for it. If it drains your beauty, remove it or bring another color around your face to revive your glowing looks. Don't just fall back on neutrals, or black. Create outfits and wear colors that bring out your beauty. You deserve that. Figure out 2 or 3 outfits that make you feel like a queen or goddess. Fall back on those when you need that pick me up or confidence. (Maybe even have a duplicate of a super outfit in case one piece is dirty or in the wash etc.) There are so many colors and textures, silhouettes, explore the options. It is a wide world out there, don't hide in your basement. Years ago, I travelled to a few countries in Europe. All I saw were women in black. My eyes rejoiced to see colors when I returned home. That opened my eyes to color and being yourself. I could not remember 1 woman as they all blended together with their uniform black. But this is just my opinion. You do you the best you can.
I live in Sicily, where many women wear black even to wedding! And they always tell me "because black is always elegant"! Which is so not true. It can look shabby. It shows all stains including sweat. And it's so depressing to see folk dressed as It for a funeral. By the way I live in a city, not a small village
I so agree! I mostly avoided buying black because of my TV News career. Black was not good on camera. I did wear it out at night, to various formal events etc. (Here in Toronto, there's a NYC aesthetic, lotta black!) But now I am soooo happy, at age 71, I have some classics/basics in colours, including my favorite BROWN! Now, with my faded complexion and light blonde hair, I just don't buy it anymore. Not even for evenings.
Love all of these! I absolutely loathe fashion rules. I always wonder who came up with them, and what their goal was. This is why I cringe at all the "dressing over 40" videos on RU-vid. I'm a few years into my 40s, and it wasn't like the second I turned 40 I woke up with a completely different sense of style, and the desire to wear twin sets and cut my hair into a bob!! Dressing should be ageless, and people should be able to wear what makes them happy.
Ohhhhh, and I thought of another. My mom was very much a minimalist concerning jewelry. She used to let me play with some of her less expensive pieces. I’d have it all on at once. She came in the room one time and realized I left a purple crystal necklace in the box. She simply said, “You forgot one!” She put it over my head with the others, as I headed for the tv room to watch Dark Shadows. She knew our styles were different way back then!
I wish I could share this video with other fashion influencers,cough cough , Shea Whitney, and others. Thank you,I love suggestions and then reimagine them for me. I wear an oversized sweater with leggings and sneakers because that suggestion worked for me at 69 years of age.😊
Comparison is the thief of joy ! What a fantastic quote. All this content was really informative ❤ loved this so much. Yes rules can definitely be broken !!
The one year rule is so out of date, we spent 2020 & 21 not going out, working from home etc etc, it’s only in 2022 that we’ve started to live our lives again the way we had before COVID. To start getting rid of clothes now because we haven’t worn them for 12 mths is madness
I love what you said about not being quick to discard clothes. I’ve gotten rid of so many things prematurely and it’s hard to find some of the things again 😩😩
Thank you for sharing and thank you for not including text in your images for which rule(s) each image was breaking. I think I'm better off not knowing. I have one style rule that I just can't seem to quit. I cannot wear white shoes unless they are trainers. I have tried a few times over the years with 🩴, 👠 and 👢, but I found myself changing my shoes just before leaving home bc I felt weird in them. I no longer waste my money on white footwear. It's my own rule, and I'm keeping it. 😅 Easiest personal style definition = anything goes, except white shoes
The age rule goes the other way too. I remember people telling me that what I wanted to wear was "Grandma Style" in my early twenties, and it inhibited me, even though I still think I looked best in it, looking at pictures. And is still the things I like the most, because in reality they were classics (and perhaps a bunch of florals.😃)
Thank you!! Especially like breaking the one year unworn rule...seems so fast fashion and wasteful to purge wardrobe every year. I subscribe more to the Carla Rockmore ethos which understands that you should keep items you love as they come back in fashion. Although I prefer stylish rather than fashionable...if it hits the mark on both then that's a bonus 😉
When I went through menopause, I couldn’t wear merino wool, cashmere, even chenille knits. I couldn’t stand knitted muffler and beanies. I do have a collection of these items. So glad I didn’t sell them because now I can wear wool items without getting too heated.
Thank goodness I have not lived by the rule: I have not worn it in 2 decades! I am going to be so in style/on trend with my structured, preppy look AGAIN!😂
I definitely do not agree with the one year rule. I have things in my wardrobe that I've had for several years and just couldn't give up. Some of those items have actually come back in style! I also have some things that I paid a lot for and just don't want to part with. I also have many items that I sell and have given away, too,
I could not agree more with you on everything in this video. Dressing is so much more fun if you wear what you like and what looks good on you, suits your mood, makes a personal statement about you, etc.rather than trying to not break fashion rules. If no one ever broke the rules, we would never have any innovative style shifts or fashion rebels that make us rethink our own clothes. Thank you for this video and message!!
💟 Totally agree with you Leonie...making ourselves fit into the mold of the "latest trending fashions" can be so grueling. Cannot fit a round peg into a square hole....making oneself something you're just not uncomfortable with just because it's a current hot trend!!! However, if it suits your personality & comfort level, than by all means go for it & wear whatever the current trend is that you love! I hung on to older purchases & lately pulling them out, refreshing my outfits as though I just shopped for new clothes...so much fun! Happy New Year! 💟💜💟
Great post. Thanks for giving a few things to chew on beyond actual fashion. What I heard you say was, "Don't be afraid, either of what you really want or what other people choose. Allow yourself to be yourself, and give others that same grace." Thank you, and happy new year.
I can’t agree more about get red of the clothes if you have space, I really get back to something I own even after 3 years if they’re in good quality materials and in good shape
Great advice 👍 thanks for reminding me to follow my own rules that suit me. I'm in my 70s and love ❤ fashion and certainly intend to keep enjoying it for years to come x
The opposite of courage is not cowardice it is conformity. Now I need to go out and dress like I want to in this small, very conservative town. Only time I miss living in a city. Love the message of this video!
All of this! Thank you, this is so true. I’m in my 60’s and still wear all of the do not wear things…crop tops, shorts, short skirts, etc. We should wear what we feel fabulous in; nothing less.
I love gold metallics, but the fashion powers have apparently decided that only silver is this year’s metallic. It’s the same with navy blue, it’s all “dark navy” this year, which I hate. I finally found a true-navy quilted jacket that I’ve been looking for, at Amazon, in a less-expensive but very cute version. My go-to brand Ralph Lauren lost this sale because they only have that awful dark navy, which doesn’t work as either black or navy, it just looks wrong with everything. They did this in the 90s, too! I realize that not every color can be offered all the time, but navy, isn’t that a basic? I’ve been looking for navy trousers for two years, haven’t found a single pair. It’s the same with white, everything is ivory, which I just don’t want!
I love matching footwear, bag and belt, in the same basic hue anyway. I wouldn’t take it farther than that, and matching only two of these is good, too. If I’m wearing something more complicated or eye-catching, like a bold print, I sometimes want my accessories to fade into the background, and matching is a great way to do this, to tone them down. I feel that forcing them not to match at all is too fussy.
@@kimberlyperrotis8962 Haha, I'm totally opposite - I love the dark navy because it's better for my complexion than black; ditto ivory/cream over true whites - but I'm not finding much in my preferred shades though. e.g., I'd love to find some nice dark navy trousers and a good quality ivory t-shirt. My go-to retailer for quality t-shirts is LL Bean but they've only got pure white, which doesn't work for my complexion. Like you, I'd like to see more ranges of shades (and silhouettes tbh) as we're the perfect demonstration that sticking with one colour palette or silhouette just winds up leaving a lot of women out. PS Brooks Brothers has a more true navy trouser -- or did in the end of season sale when I last checked. While pricey at full-retail, their quality is pretty tip-top, and they have a lot of good sales.
Great way to jump start 2023. Fashion is art and creation. So what's in the eyes of the beholder could become gorgeous and beautiful. Thank you for your motivation. Happy 2023 to you and family.
I love your sweater. It looks like cashmere and comfy. I have never followed rules. And I live with my worst critic. My husband judges what I wear constantly. I don’t really pay attention to him. He’s not a fan of leggings. But I wear them anyway. He doesn’t realize how comfortable they are. I always wear tunics with them. No parts are showing. But he still judges.
His mother was a tiny lady. And she wore leggings everyday. She wore some wild clothes. And think I might try to dress like her. But that isn’t going to happen.
One of the age rule problems is in not seeing things with fresh eyes. For example, I grew up when sweats were shapeless, styleless, poorly made and suitable only for sweating at Gold's Gym. It wasn't until I was shopping with the granddaughters that I fell in love with gorgeous sweats and hoodies that were better made and less expensive than many pants and sweaters!
I agree. with all you mentioned .Wear everything what doesn't make you look ridiculous. The problem is when we don't know what looks ridiculous. The border line is very thin. For me, it is , show your best, hide your worst parts and consult the mirror. I have one question. You had great video where you talked about tweed jackets and bags and I can't find it. Can you give me a link? It was evergreen style. I think that - stick to good quality fabric means having pieces for life. 🥰
I was criticized by a relative for being too old to wear a miniskirt and a ponytail in my late 20s! Now I’m 62, but my slender legs look just like they did at 18, skin and all (it’s genetic, it was the same for my Mom and Grandma in their 80s). My sister is telling me to wear shorter skirts to show off my legs, and I would love to, I really miss wearing them, I know they look great on me. I don’t really look older than early 50s, but I’m afraid of criticism. I always made sure my midis were at least mid-thigh or longer, even when really young, it’s easy because I’m short, most midis end about 3” above my knees. What does everyone think, is it ok or not? I really want to wear them, but haven’t dared to go shorter than just above the knee length. (Those 4” long belt/skirts are not under consideration!)
I buy a lot of men's shoes and sandals as I have extremely wide feet. Most women's shoes are far too narrow for me. Also looking more to men's wear when it comes to jackets. I've always adored colour, the brighter the better, but still wear black, just not head to toe.
I bought a long cardigan in a store called Warehouse when I was still single, wore it a lot and kept it because I always loved it and it's still in excellent condition. Two winters ago I took it out and started wearing it again, and I always get compliments on it. I was married 27 years this past October.. 🤣
Hi Leonie! You're back from California! Breaking rules. I got a navy print skirt and a brown print top. People in the thrift told me they don't go together. I can't wait to wear it. Usually when I wear something I get better idea how I feel about it.
Thanks Leonie, I love your list!! In particular ditching the one year rule. I have a collared sweater my mother knitted for me from the 80's, a Covers dress (remember them?) From the 90's and several Y2K pieces including an oversized leather blazer that I would totally have kicked myself if I had removed it from my wardrobe. I wore that blazer to dinner a couple of months ago and the young server complemented me on it
I’m certainly ignoring that one-year rule. Who wore everything they had during the lockdowns? I didn’t, but that doesn’t mean I’m not wearing them now!
Gender neutral dressing is fine with me, but high heels are soooooo uncomfortable, why would a man choose to wear them? Now that women no longer need to wear them as part of their standard dress/work wear, they aren't even wearing them that much anymore. Maybe that's the point, the high heel makers need a new audience to buy them.
My favorite is the last one! I’m a cis-gender, heterosexual woman. However, I prefer to wear what I like that’s still professional (I work in a medical group on a military base). A typical outfit is a button front shirt or “peasant top” with a cardigan or blazer with jeans that are any color or the rainbow 🌈 with comfortable footwear. My outfits can be described as gender neutral. I get plenty of compliments.
Love , love ,love, 👍👍👍 absolutely correct, always have fun with clothes , 👗👚👖fashion is fun. Be confident and fabulous thank you , a great video best wishes to all.💐
I appreciate these tips, as most of us feel bound to some sort of norm! I do think, however, there is value in a mindfulness about age appropriate dressing for many reasons.
Glad to see you made it back from America safely and I can't wait to see what you got and hear about your adventures here in the states while getting everything settle here. I am virtually high fiving you to everything mention on your list of restrictions to ignore, because you know me by now when it comes to fashion don't fence me in. I love this slogan and it so relevant in life: COMPARISON IS THE THIEF OF JOY! I attended a friend that threw a pre pre pre New Year eve girl get together at her house (I am the oldest at 60 (61 on January 8) in the group), I wore a black/white sequin mini skirt mid-thigh length with a man's tuxedo oversize white shirt a little longer than the skirt but I left the bottom half unbutton so the skirt could be seen and a men's black blazer the same to thigh length every last pieced thrifted and I threw on my calf high black Dr Martens (not thrifted). Everyone else had on jeans or leggings sweatshirts/tees (hostess had on black smock summer dress knee length) and when I came in, they started on me on 1 that my outfit was oversized and 2 why I was so dressed up and this is what I said I am 60 and covid19 among other things has shown us and, in my lifestyle at 60, actual special occasions are rare, so I'm not going to save things in hope of an event worthy situation, I am going to take the opportunity if I want to put together a look that makes me feel good. It not a special event more or less unless you make it one, I will wear this to the grocery store if I choose. It was weird silence afterward as they all hung onto my words and realized the truth in them started to look at each other and nod (it was just 6 of us in attendance and the range of age started at 50 and went up to 58 excluding myself at 60 looking at the photo taken you would not know the age differences). And then I stamped it with "Don't save things for special occasions that might never come". My motto for 2023 is that platform continued of I will not dress like my grandmother or my mom, and I will try to find joy in every little thing, at least one thing that day. Thanks for sharing and blessings to you and all in the new year.
What a great video, thank you. You made me think of Glennon Doyle's "Untamed." I have been on a personal journey of setting myself free to be as loud, bright and authentic as I genuinely am without being confined by the social norms.
I watched this just to hear what the ‘rules might be’. I never follow rules. I have one purse and I wear it with everything. I have never matched my shoes, bag, belt, etc. I’m 57 and enjoy my age. I dress comfortable and nice. I was taught to look nice when I left the house. Sometimes I wear things a little extreme. Have fun with your clothes.
My wedding rings are two toned so that I could always have them match. Thankfully I have a neutral undertone so this works for me. Also I looooove to wear white/cream in the winter.
I love this video and your messages! And I was always wondering, if you change the pictures on the wall in the background - now in this videl 8:33 I finally found the answer to my question, that the left one is a screen with changing pictures ;) Looks good!
Well, isn't it weird how we mentally limit ourselves sometimes? I have a tendency to think that I have to hide my body because I am so skinny. My husband says I should show it instead. So I have started to listen to him. I want to dress young and not like 52, I think most people my own age look old because of how they dress. I feel like 30😊
Hi Leonie: Non conformity is a very Aquarian thing. 😄 Anyhow, I gave up on the "one year look" years ago when I realized I had given away some garments I wish I had now.
In my way od thinking there od one rule I would follow: women 50+ shouldn't wear vintage clothes. I can't explain it clearly as my English is not very good but I think you know what I mean 😉
Thanks for the video. However, I disagree with your rule “I am too…” to wear this. It is good to be self aware and know what makes you feel and look good in. Whenever I gain few pounds, I ditch some things until I lose weight again. Should petite people wear whatever? Should tall people wear whatever? Some other rules you mention are really outdated and I am certain that they are not rules for quite many years now, like not mixing metals or matching shoes and purse… Not hating or anything, love your channel, but this topic needs some serious revision. Keep up the good work and Happy New Year.
Yes, short people should wear whatever they like. Tall people should wear whatever they like. If you don't enjoy wearing some things when you're heavier, you shouldn't wear them. But it's up to other people to make decisions for themselves.
@@melaniemcneil407 Thank you. We are all entitled to our own opinion and you haven’t changed my mind with this comment since you did not elaborate it 😉 Should we just forget the body types then? Pen skirts look awful on me though I love seeing them on others - but just because I like them does not mean I should wear them. Anyway, no need to respond. This was a comment not really a question to you. Have a nice day.
@@Mina_Susnjevic you're absolutely right. If you don't like something on you, no need to wear it. My real point is, you only need to please yourself, and I only need to please myself. We don't need to worry about what other people choose to wear. That's their business, not something I need to worry about. Makes me happier to have one less thing to care about. Happy new year!
Gender dressing has been around my entire life & I am 55!! Remember the 60s & 70s when men & women looked androgynous? And, in the 80s with the Mueic Scene. The Big Hair & makeup & skin tight pants on BOTH females & Males? In the 90s it was Grunge & long hair , flannel & baggy was the style on both genders! It kinda bothers me that "the powers that be" act like it's something new for a singer to wear a pearl necklace!! Im certain that Boy George is sitting at home just laughing!!
Yes. I can't get into men wearing overly feminine clothing just as I don't wear overly masculine clothing. Just my opinion. Others can do as they wish!
Hi from France Léonie ! Icannot support age rules since I am a child . In thèse Times my battle was to get long hair and Wear Navy blue... I am now 61 I don't like things for eldery ladies. The other rules are also stupid I think
