“Linda Evangelista” saved my life In high school – I was the odd bird. Humble beginnings in the Midwest. I stood out. short hair – prominent nose – sometimes boyish attitude – other times hyper feminine.
And when I paged through Vogue in the 90s and saw Linda Evangelista. The super model. I was in awe. My hero. Wow, checking out this odd beauty, short hair, strange nose. I get it now. I can be my version of beautiful!
I was different Designed clothes for my Barbie Dolls( they were rock stars and never married … Ken who?) I dressed differently. I dyed my own hair. I made my own clothes. And got bullied for it. But I refused to bend. I stayed true to me and my self-expression.
Fast forward I left the Midwest and landed in New York City – to pursue FASHION. Fast forward decades later – I’m facing 50 now A new decade. The next chapter, yet another evolution, embracing all the changes at 50.
I admit I’m a bit vain, and want to keep liking and feeling as vibrant as I can as I age. As David Bowie says Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes turn and face the strange ch ch changes. David Bowie is one of my all time hero’s – I admire how he lived his life fully expressed – artist – dreamer – evolving with the decades – all his personas – and how he used fashion to express himself. Ahhhh the changes are inevitable.
As a personal stylist, I guide my clients to accept the changes and work with what they’ve got. And now as I face 50, I must look at myself in the mirror and take my own advice. I admit I am vain. I admit I want to keep looking and feeling vibrant sexy. But it can get vulnerable.
Weight loss, weight gain,… Am I too skinny?… Am I too fat? … What about those fine lines around the eye? I like to say as I age, I can see it around my eyes. The droopier the eye, just draw that eyeliner higher.
This is why I love clothing, and style, and fashion. Can you imagine if we had to leave the house barf naked every day? Thank goodness for clothing! Use your clothing to create that confidence you need on those days you’re not feeling so confident. Use style to express yourself, express all sides of you.
Who are you? Your roles change day to day, hour to hour… worker, caretaker, expert, professional, caregiver, provider, protector, athlete, advocate, sex maven. So many roles so many facets so many styles!
Use style to create the self care self expression and self confidence you need to embrace all these roles. Embrace all the changes. You may not like it, but you can find a way to accept it. Age gracefully they say
One thing is inevitable, change. We are constantly evolving. The only thing constant is Change. So embrace your evolution, go gray, go bald. Those lines and wrinkles are a sign of experience age wisdom vitality
One things for sure – when I celebrated my 50th – women said to me welcome to the club! And now you can care less about what others think about you – and just be you, more you, all you, a more fully expressed you.
So here’s to facing 50 and embracing 50. Face the strange ch-ch-changes. and the beauty is we get to evolve into a more fully expressed version of our true selves, one year at a time.
