No one can accuse me of being a fashion icon.
My favorite piece of clothing – a red velour sweatsuit – is deemed by my kids as my “Golden Girls” outfit. I still own a jacket with shoulder pads. And I’m certain, in time, the banana hair clip will come back in style.
While I’m not a candidate to offer fashion advice, I am empathetic to those who suffer the wrath of the style police. Maybe this has something to do with the unfortunate prom dress selection in high school, but I’ve totally put that behind me (she says, eye twitching.)
So, when the recent red carpet critiques hit the press, I got a little defensive.
Take Sophia Loren at the Oscars. Critics labeled her a “Tiered Terror” with her gold evening gown. Granted, I’ve seen better, but, the elegant Sophia makes 74-years-old look like the new 30.
Others slammed Beyonce’s mermaid-styled dress and took jabs at her mother. Lighten up. She wore her mother’s design! Besides, Beyonce could wear a brown bag and look smokin’ hot, so back off, Cojo.
It seems as though fashion has eclipsed everything.
Do we care more about what Meryl Streep wears than her brilliant acting career? And, correct me if I’m wrong, but history was made on a cold January day, and it wasn’t that Michelle Obama wore green pumps.
Before I sound too high and mighty, I’ve succumbed to fads on occasion because a fashion magazine said I could reinvent my life simply by investing in an overpriced rhinestone belt. One day, I proudly wore my blinged accessory while teaching a college history class. Think American Revolution Meets Prada. Hello, world! Meet the new Amy! I’m reinvented!
One of my students walked up to the podium and said, “Nice belt, Mrs. Mangan. My grandma has one like that.”
The belt looked great on Heidi Klum. On me, I looked like Hedda Hopper.
My longtime friend Kelly, who, as luck would have it, happens to be a fashion stylist, has reminded me through the years of the difference between style and trends. Style is finding a classic cut pair of slacks that makes you look and feel good. A trend is when you buy jeans with pleats. And you’re short. Hellooooo, hips!
Style is sticking with colors that accentuate your features. A trend is buying a yellow sleeveless dress when both pale skin tone and flabby middle-aged arms beg for a better option.
Fashion designer Yves St. Laurent said, “Fashions fade, style is eternal.” How true. Style is a verb; fashion, a footnote. To me, style is the complete package. How a woman carries herself is more important than what a woman carries, regardless if it’s a Chanel handbag.
I know women who exude style. They have the right combination of confidence, grace and humility . . . characteristics you can’t find on a clothing rack.
Composure is the ultimate chic. It’s better than any belt, but my velour sweatsuit is a keeper, kids.
