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midlife fashion

Building A Wardrobe You Love | A Review of Adore Your Wardrobe

Building a Wardrobe You Love. Do you wonder how they do it? Your friends who always look so cute and put together? A year ago, my closet was filled with a wardrobe that I DID NOT LOVE. Not even close. Sometime in my 50’s I forgot how to dress myself. I had nice clothes. That I spent a lot of money on. Yet, I didn’t like how I looked in any of them. I felt fat, unattractive and anything but confident.

What was wrong? When I was younger, I used to dress really cute. Shopping was fun. Everything fit and most styles looked good.

When I reached my 50’s, my adult daughters would shop with me and that was a help. But they were more well-versed in what was “current”. Not so much about what was flattering for my body type. And what the heck WAS my body-type anyway?

Then I heard about Kelly Snyder from Redefined Mom. She faced the same predicament I was in. But one revelation changed that forever… Fashion isn’t art. Fashion is:

science
math
proportion
balance

And now, she is on a mission to demystify fashion for women, transforming the way they think about, buy and put-together outfits…forever!

And last fall, that was exactly what she did for me through her Adore Your Wardrobe eCourse! I loved it so much that I became an affiliate, which means if you purchase the course through my link, I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you. But I would recommend AYW even if they DIDN’T have an affiliate program.

The Adore Your Wardrobe eCourse is a 30-day course that will change the way you think about fashion and your wardrobe. This 6 module + 4 Bonus Lesson course contains videos, written overviews, and worksheets to help give you the skills to become a killer fashionista.

You’ll receive instant access to the entire course to enjoy the lessons when it’s convenient for your schedule.

Every few days, you will receive an email from course creator, Kelly ,with an overview of the day’s lesson, as well as a mini-challenges to help build your confidence and feel successful in your ability to create a great-looking outfit.

Here are the lessons and bonuses that are included:

#1: Getting Personal With Measurements Lesson

#2: Determining Your Unique Body Type & How To Create Balance and Proportion Lesson

#3: Laying The Right Foundation Lesson

#4: Jeans – How To Find a Pair You Love Lesson

#5: Anatomy of a Shirt – Necklines & Length Matter Lesson

#6: Rule of Four

#7: Maximize Your Wardrobe Planner

#8: Tailoring 101

#9: How to Shop Online Like a Pro

#10: Create a Wardrobe You Adore

PLUS: Exclusive access to our private Facebook group to connect with and encourage each other as we walk this path together!

Here’s what the Adore Your Wardrobe Course did for me:

I found out what my body-type REALLY was and learned exactly what cuts and length of tops and pants were most flattering on me. Again – not what I thought AT ALL. The types of clothes I was purchasing for my body-type were adding so much extra bulk to my frame. No wonder I felt fat and frumpy!

Since I know EXACTLY what to look for, shopping is a breeze. I don’t take a gajillion things into a dressing room, try them on and hope for the best. I choose only the things I know will be flattering and have a much greater chance of walking out of the store with pieces I love.

I don’t waste money on clothes that are not going to work.

I’ve learned how to bring attention to my best features with my clothing and accessories.

I have fewer clothes, more outfits and I LOVE everything in my closet.

Through the exclusive Facebook group, I had access to AYW body-type experts who helped me as I put together new outfits and gave me important feedback on my outfits. This group is SO NICE!

Enrollment for Adore Your Wardrobe only comes around twice a year. So get on the waiting list so that you’ll know the next time the course opens!

What To Wear To A Funeral

Do you ever get stuck on what to wear to a funeral? When my dad died in 2015, I had NOTHING to wear to his funeral. Nothing in my closet that fit anyway. So I spent a day at the mall wondering around aimlessly, trying on NEW clothes that ALSO DIDN’T FIT (as if I didn’t already feel bad enough) and went home empty handed.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission. I so appreciate every click-through and purchase! Every little bit helps to keep My Side of 50 up and running!

Would I just have to wear my Talbots “generously cut” shorts and t-shirt that I had worn all summer as I drove back and forth to the hospital every day? No, that wouldn’t do. In the South, we still “dress” for a funeral. Maybe not quite as formally as we used to, but I wasn’t going to go to my Dad’s funeral looking less than my best.

What To Wear To A Funeral

Thank the Lord for the wonderful ladies at my local Chico’s. I walked into that store after the disastrous trip to the mall, told them “My dad died, his funeral is tomorrow and I don’t have anything to wear.” Those kind ladies helped me figure out my size (because in the world of Chico’s, overweight women in the 50’s can still be a size 2), parked me in a dressing room and started bringing me clothes.

I walked out of there with black pants, a black top with leather details (similar), a really cute and edgy kind of vest (similar) and the jewelry (similar) to go with it. I felt great. And since we were on a roll, they even outfitted me for a shower I had to attend the following weekend. I will be forever grateful to those sales ladies. I would never have been able to figure all that on my own.

So….when Jodie from Jodie’s Touch of Style asked me to partner with her on this style post, I thought, no problem. I’ll just wear what I did to Dad’s funeral. The only problem is, I love the components of that outfit so much that I have worn them to death and am sick of them.

So I went to Macy’s and got a couple of cute new pieces for the post, got them home and hated them.

What to do? My sister-in-law who was visiting and was my photographer was about to go home. I had to figure out something. So I decided to “shop my closet” and here is the outfit I came up with. I’m kinda proud of myself!

I started with a base of black. The Amazing Black Pants from Soft Surroundings and the Simple Comfort Top from Covered Perfectly. I wear both of these all the time. The pants have an elastic waist, but they are tailored in such a way that you’d never know it!

The Covered Perfectly top is so soft. It’s thin enough to layer, thick enough so that everyone doesn’t “see your business” and long enough so that it’s not riding up.

Then I found this Tahari by ASL Textured Crochet Knit Jacket that I bought for formal night on the Alaskan Cruise we took last summer. It’s “lacey” enough that you could wear to a more formal occasion, but casual enough for a daytime event. The pattern is gorgeous and I love the fit of Tahari jackets.

To accessorize, I wore my Kendra Scott Aiden Pendant Necklace. I usually wear a combination of gold and silver, so this necklace is perfect. Funny story – when my husband asked what I wanted for Christmas, I put 3 Kendra Scott necklaces on my list with the idea that he would pick one. He bought all 3! I’m not complaining. I guess he figured if he bought them all, there was no way he could get in trouble.

My Cloisonne Bracelet was a gift from a dear friend that I wear ALL THE TIME. I wear a lot of black and white so that it goes with everything.

And I just have to show you my ring. The diamond in the middle is the diamond from my Mom’s engagement ring. The 4 diamonds on the side are from the 10 diamond ring that Dad gave her on their 10^th anniversary. It’s also two-tone. I wear it every day. Feels like I have my Mom close to me all the time.

Now over to Jodie’s Touch of Style to see the outfits that these 3 ladies are wearing.

I love this blog. Each week, Jodie has a fashion theme and shows outfits for ladies in their 50’s (she’s the 50’s model), 60’s (her stepmom, Nancy is the 60’s model), and 70’s (her mom, Charlotte is the 70’s model). They are just lovely.

Here’s a sneak peek. I love that they feature some options besides black. Click here to get the details on their looks!

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March 30, 2017 15 comments

Be Brave

Get Your Midlife Style Back – How I Did It!

Today we wrap up our series of fashion posts with a guest post from ME about midlife style on Shellie Bowdoin’s site, The FABulous Journey. You’ll recognize Shellie from my two posts where I feature lessons I learned from my favorite fashion bloggers.

Fashion Bloggers Rock A Summer Look

Lessons Learned From My Favorite Fashion Bloggers

This time, Shellie asked me to write about How I Got My Midlife Style Back. I have to laugh at the irony of this as I sit at my desk in short shorts, ratty t-shirt and no make-up, bra or shoes because everything I own is either in the laundry or in my suitcase that is packed for our vacation. You wouldn’t look at me now and think I had any business writing a fashion post! LOL!

How Blogger Cathy Lawdanski Got Her Midlife Style Back

Get Your Midlife Style Back – How Cathy Did It!

How I Got My Midlife Style Back

But seriously – Getting My Midlife Style Back hasn’t been easy. This 57-year-old body has grown and changed and finding stylish clothes that fit well or even knowing what looks good on me is a challenge! I have learned some valuable fashion tips from Shellie and others that I follow that help me feel more confident and fashionable when I do have to be seen in public.

Shellie is the “real deal”, as they say. While she is lovely and fashionable and always looks put together, her blog also talks about other issues that are important – health, fulfillment and personal growth. You can read more about her here.

Join me over at The FABulous Journey today for Get Your Midlife Style Back – How Cathy Did It!

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