Good morning, Friday. It's such a pretty day today and I don't have to be anywhere until 1 pm and I'm just so happy to be home with the dog as the sun shines bright in the sky and the weekend begins.
So I'm part of a group of a Facebook group for women of a certain age that veers towards snark and funny witticisms most of the time and is very rarely a place to share fashion tips. But yesterday one of the women in the group posted that she would never, under any circumstances, wear leopard print. Which made me think- how different we all can be when it comes to what we wear. Because for me, leopard is a neutral. I own scads of it and have always felt great wearing it- I mean- how chic is Kate moss above? Iconic. And then I started thinking about my "no way Joses" when it comes to what I wear. Here's a list of five things that, though right for others, are so not right for me.
A polo or rugby shirt. Strong no to this look for me. It's a cute, preppy, tomboy look for some women. When I wear anything with that type of polo collar, I look like Mrs. Tumbletee, my less than feminine high school gym teacher. It just doesn't' work for me. At all.
Shorts. I have good legs. Or at least they are a part of me that I can easily get in shape when I need to. But I ended my relationship with shorts some time ago and never really looked back. I do love them on others (how cute is the pic above?) - particularly the paper bag variety I've seen around town this summer. But on me? Nah. Give me a minidress over shorts any day. I have no problem wearing something short, just not shorts. Capiche?
Wedges. Ok, this is one I don't really love on anyone if I'm being real. I will never, ever forget the middle of the night car ride back from a shoot in Long Beach when my creative director at the time went off on why women should not wear wedges, and I have to say- he was right. I find them really unattractive. Plus walking on them is so precarious. The only wedge I don't fully mind is a small one on an espadrille. Other than that, I'm a strong no on them. Unflattering. Thank you. Next.
Dark toes. I get my toes done all year round. Possibly because I lived in Miami for so long where toes were always exposed. And though many New York girls go dark when it comes to cold weather pedicures, I simply can't. It looks horrible on me, except on my fingernails. I either need pinkish toes or bright toes. That's it. Oh and never red toes. That's just not me.
Lilly Pulitzer. This one is fairly obvious if you know me but me in Lilly? Just plain silly. Can you even picture it? I would potentially wear something vintage and do love the story of how she started her brand, but truly, no. I am not built for Lilly and Lilly ain't built for me and that's that. A bit too Kappa Kappa Whatever for me. I do love a print, ps. Just not necessarily a preppy one. In fact, LP is the antithesis of who I am, style-wise, and that's the truth. Keep your cotillion chic. It's not for me.
Curious to hear what your big no's are when it comes to how you dress. It's fascinating to get older for many reasons, but one of the biggest lightbulbs is knowing what looks good on you and owning it. So yea, leopard. I will always love her. And that's that. But Lilly? Nope. I guess the big takeaway here is I am not a preppy girl. I have always liked a preppy look on men, but it does not work on me. No way. PS- classic and preppy are different. I wear pearls all the time and love classic pieces like a navy blazer, great jeans, and perfect ballet flats.
Oh and one more- long hair. That ain't me. I can't do it.
Cause that's what's up this well dressed Friday in the 718. Know thyself. Yours, in what not to wear. XO