Miller Time Friday - Starting to Define a Style

Happy Friday All!
As we draw close to the end of the year, I am starting to think about next year, my hopes and dreams. I am also thinking about refining my style even further, something which you all know is a big challenge for me.

On January 14th I will be 50 years old.  This has come as a bit of a shock to me, since I basically still feel like I am 20!    It has also been an epiphany of sorts to me over the last few months, probably reinforced by my dad's death, that in my 50s I want to OWN myself fully, every single aspect of my life.  No more waiting for dreams, no more trying to be something that I am not.  And clothing most definitely fits into that category.

You know I am a magpie - attracted to all things glittery and colourful.  But this year, I have decided to be a bit of a hummingbird.  I used to think that hummers eat constantly, but since having multiple feeders, I have discovered that they also just like to sit as well, and if they have a dedicated source of good food, they are less frantic.  So in 2013, my wardrobe is going to become my dedicated source of good food!  And I will be the judicisious hummingbird - choosing my new flowers VERY carefully!  I will likely be getting some help to do this, but in the end, what I really want is a closet of a significantly smaller number of items which all go together, look fabulous on me and make me feel like I am wearing the clothes, versus me wearing Jenna or Gayle's clothes (do any of you resemble this remark, too?).  I still really like J Crew, I just want to be judicious in what I purchase there.  And I just don't want to chase my style, I want to define it fully myself and then only take what I need along the way.

In the spirit of this I decided to take a quick look at the few outfits of 2012 that I blogged here that I loved and which you seemed to like, too.  This would seem to me to be a good starting place for defining my style:

1) Identify your signature colour!  Pretty much anything with blue in it made me feel good.  But some colours, like the pagoda blue or a royal blue, really made my heart sing, especially if paired with simple silhouettes.

But pink appeared to be pretty good as well:

2) Simple is good

3) A good accessory or boot makes an outfit:

4) Boring suiting is okay, but add elements, like your signature colour, that really make it pop:

5) Sometimes you don't need colour

6) Sometimes you can jazz up pinstripe and look cute:

7) Dressing tonally makes sense when you are short and well endowed up top..

8) Show your legs:

9) You can go a little bolder if you don't make yourself a circus sideshow:

10) Invest in classic pieces

11)  Every once in a while, really let your colours show:

12) and finally, simple and elegant dresses are a thing of beauty:

 So I think I kind of know where to start.... How about you?  Are you thinking of changing things up in 2013?

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On the 4th day of Christmas WMM gave to me:

Some stained glass from Notre Dame Cathedral!

This picture reminds me that, even in beautiful places, you have to open a window and let the light come in.  If you aren't seeing all kinds of beauty, you are missing the Big Show!

Have a lovely day and Dani, since it is the holidays, I am going to bring leftover turkey along with a big bottle of pinot noir!

Have a safe day our there!