Lessons Learned From My Favorite Fashion Bloggers

written by Cathy Lawdanski February 16, 2016

I’m a t-shirt and jeans girl. That is what I am most comfortable wearing. And as a blogger who works out of a home office, that is perfectly OK – while at home. But how does someone like me dress appropriately for other occasions in a way that gives me confidence and communicates who I am and what I’m about? Here’s what I learned from four of my favorite Fashion Bloggers.

Lessons Learned about Fashion over 40 from Fashion Bloggers

Lessons Learned From My Favorite Fashion Bloggers

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Pam Lutrell

Pam Lutrell from Over50Feeling40.com was one of the first fashion bloggers I started following. At that time, I was a size larger than most of the clothes in my closet and was thinking that there was no way I was going to go shopping until I “lost 10 pounds!” Well, if I continued in that vein, I would be wearing about 2 things that were tight and uncomfortable all the time, because to date, those 10 pounds haven’t gone anywhere!

Pam Lutrell from over50feeling40.com believes that women can make fashion choices that make them feel confident not matter what their age, size or price range.

Pam wearing white, cream and tan with a statement necklace. Great picture by that red fire hydrant!

Pam inspired me to love my body and to shop for clothes that fit me NOW. She says that “There is nothing which prevents a woman from being stylish, confident, and fashionable…age does not matter; income does not matter; and body size does not matter.”

Each week, Pam does a feature with Jennifer Connolly of awellstyledlife.com called Style Sweet Spot. Here’s how it works – Pam and Jennifer pick an occasion that they are dressing for like a baby shower, trip to the museum or out for a casual dinner and show us what they would wear and why they made the choices they made.

Jennifer Connolly

What I like about Jennifer is that she helps me understand WHY something is a good look. For example, I loved this top that she was wearing.

Jennifer Connolly from awellstyledlife.com plays with angles and proportion in this asymmetrical top.

Jennifer said she was playing with proportion and angles when she chose the top with asymmetrical lines. I knew I liked it, but that little bit of a description helped me know WHY I liked it. And knowing WHY I liked it will help me look for those same features in a top in the future.

In another post, Jennifer talked about how texture and pattern near a woman’s face can minimize the “texture” on her face. Don’t you just love that we can call it texture?

Here is Jennifer’s textured dress over pants:

Jennifer wears this textured dress over black pants for an afternoon baby shower.

I tried the print near the face option with this heart-print scarf near my face for a girl’s lunch out.

Cathy Lawdanski, mysideof50.com wearing heart-print scarf

I tried pattern near my face in this heart-print scarf.

Shellie Bowdoin

Shellie Bowdoin* is from thefabjourney.com. Shellie often posts looks featuring great basic pieces she has in her closet (in some cases she’s had them for years), with new pieces to make a great new outfit.

Shellie models an animal print dress that she’s had in her closet for 18 years! Still looking good!

Shellie Bowdoin shops her closet. thefabjourney.com

This whole outfit came from Shellie’s closet and all purchase were sale items for Macy’s, Dillard’s Oulet or Goodwill. She has had those cute, orange Michael Shannon shoes for over 5 years!

Her post “How to Shop as a Fabulously Frugal Fashion Hunter” inspired me to quit doing my usual, walk into the store and buy everything on the mannequin outfit and walk out.

Here is my pairing something old with something new to make a whole new outfit:

Cathy Lawdanski, mysideof50.com pairs old with new for a whole new look.

Whole outfit is several years old, except for the Kendra Scott necklace that my husband gave me for Christmas.

The sweater, leggings, boots and necklace in the middle are all several years old. I added the Kendra Scott McKayla necklace that my husband gave me for Christmas and felt up to date and stylish for a Saturday luncheon at a country club!

Shelley Janac

I first discovered Shelley Janac from thequeeninbetween.com on Instagram. She had the most marvelous looks that MIXED PATTERNS! This blew my mind – mostly because I am the QUEEN OF MATCHY-MATCHY and because in the “olden days” that was a fashion no-no! But Shelley’s looks were so fabulous and fun.

So cute – small polka dots on the skirt with a striped top. The necklace is the perfect pop of color.

So I put on my big girl pants and gave it a try for a Saturday shopping trip. I paired a navy polka dot vest with a red and blue print scarf.

Cathy Lawdanski from mysideof50.com mixes patterns

Polka dot vest with scarf in complimentary colors.

This was way out of my fashion comfort zone, but when the sales guy at White House Black Market complimented my look, I knew I had arrived! LOL!

So…thanks to these ladies for their wonderful websites and their great fashion advice. There may be hope for me yet! I hope you will follow their blogs and social media accounts. You’ll be inspired to up your fashion game!

Do you ever feel like you are in a fashion rut? What’s the hardest thing about styling your over-40 self?

*Shellie recently interviewed me about a mid-life perspective on body image and weight loss. You can read the interview here.

Cathy Lawdanski

Cathy Lawdanski is a 50 something writer who is learning to be brave and try new things. She writes about topics that resonate with midlife women - aging parents, adult children, grandchildren, travel, books, food, entertainment, retirement and whatever new adventure she is on!