12 Comments
Oct 29Liked by Cedar Sanderson

You can dress "fun" without looking like "mutton dressed as lamb" for sure. My efforts usually end up with me looking like the crazy cat lady I am, but at least I'll never be caught in public in too-small stretch pants with a short top so everybody can see VPL or worse. Some trips to town leave me wanting brain bleach, but I digress. I don't understand why some people haven't figured out that well-fitted clothes are much more attractive than "40 lbs of butt in 20 lb butt pants". Same goes for knit tops. I wish more women would look in the mirror before leaving the house. We really don't want to see every bulge and bump because you bought all your shirts 50 lbs ago and haven't sized up. In other news, hooray for weight loss! Now that I've found a medical professional (naturopath) who actually has a clue, I'm on real thyroid supplement and feeling much better...and have dropped 10 lbs in the past five weeks. I can now wear those jeans that have been languishing in my drawer for three years!

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I studied "Color Me Beautiful", in my late teens/early twenties, and have used it ever since, so I know that I can put together outfits that match and match me without worry, because I don't buy the things that aren't my color. (I'm a Winter red-head, not an Autumn red-head). I'm a Dramatic/Romantic for my main style, with "comfortable with a feminine flair" for my "work a day" clothing.

As for age? Since I'm not chasing trends, I don't worry about that either. I'm comfortable with my style, and like you said, being confident in that, helps you to look "right" in your clothing, no matter the decade it's originally from.

For hair, mine's butt length, so I wear it in a figure-8 bun with hair sticks for daily work (so that it doesn't drag in everything!) and with barrettes, bows, clips and other sparkly things (sometimes even braids!) half down or all down for going out, church, etc. And totally down when the curls are drying so that I can scrunch them!

For nails, I go natural length and bright colors most of the time with art (unless I'm depressed...that is one of my first signs, is not doing my nails!). (I do my own nails)

And makeup, I like bright and unnatural (second sign of depression...not doing makeup).

Jewelry fits with my Dramatic/Romantic and usually matches my outfit or my nails/makeup.

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author

I didn't touch on makeup or nails, so thank you! I never do either - years of working in labs meant I didn't pick up the habit, and growing up on a farm meant they were not practical.

Jewelry is a whole 'other post for me, but it's highly personal.

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I had a round about way into make up and nails. (I grew up in AZ, and had quite a bit of Navajo jewelry as a teen, and expanded from there. I still love natural stones of all varieties!)

For make up and nails - my mother never wore either, except sometimes some lipstick. and she kept her nails short, because she did massage. I almost never wear lipstick, because I think I'm allergic, or at least they REALLY dry me out, so it's Burt's Bees for me. Anyway, I never learned about them from my mom, so I experimented a little, and then joined the military, where you couldn't wear much. So, in happy rebellion, I would wear what I could - mostly nail polishes that were reg, and bright red or purple on the weekends/off duty.

Once I got out, I went the whole Monty figuring out how to wear/use more, especially as youtube became a thing. Eventually, I went to beauty school, because I thought, why not? I'm already doing it, so why not figure out what best practices are to correct some of my bad habits! But, I was ahead of the curve on 90% of things like that (I still haven't figured out false lashes, but then mine are blessedly long, if light colored).

I feel that for me, they are just another accessory (nails and makeup) to play with, when I'm in the mood to play. But, I understand, keeping them short and clean for sanitary/work purposes, and that is valid, too.

I really need to get back into them...the sad has dragged on a long time, and I can't grow my nails without polish (I use gel polish) to support them from chipping and splitting. And now that allergy season is slowing down here, maybe I can get back in the habit of putting on a little face. It tends to make me happier throughout the day.

Keep up the learning about yourself and growing happier!

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Talking behind her back, she's put her beauty school training to grand use, if you want to, ever need to beautify, make a sasquatch bedazzling and you haven't read it yet, read her; https://substack.com/@tntcreationz/p-148386272

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Being a guy, even approaching old, is far easier. If it doesn't drag the ground or hang past my wrists it'll do. ;-)

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Oct 30Liked by Cedar Sanderson

I thought that way when I was in my twenties. Now I'm in my seventies and I have two favorite brands of shirts (long sleeve and Hawaiian), one of boxers, one of slacks, one of socks, and one of shoes. And a palette of preferred colors. Life's too short to wear things that clash with my tastes.

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I love those skirts. Thanks for the tip!

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author

You are welcome! They aren't real silk, but they are so fun.

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I too wear my shirts tunic style, and belt underneath.

Be warned, people, it's a style flattering to some people and not so good for others.

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Dress to please yourself. Notice a certain lady’s shoe collection!!!

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author

I love her shoes! I have my own things there, too. And I do dress to make myself happy. I think if you do that, you can pull anything off because it makes you feel good and that radiates.

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