Don’t Spend Time Trying To Look How Other People Think You Should Look

November 14, 2016 by suzanne carillo

Be Your Own Person

This vintage sweater dress is really NOT my usual style. However it is what most would consider a “classic” piece perfect for women of a “certain age” to wear.

It’s straight, baggy, grey and has a high neckline.

Everything I am normally not attracted to.

How to style a sweater dress over 40 Suzanne Carillo — I’m actually pulling the dress back a bit here so I get a bit of waist definition.

And yet, the simplicity of the piece and the fact that it is by Robin Kay, a Canadian designer made me reconsider.

I spent quite a bit of money back in the late 80’s early 90’s on a cardigan sweater by Robin Kay.

It was black, plain and with brass/gold buttons. I bought it because I thought it was a very classic piece that French women might wear. The cardigan was a piece of the clothing I took on my solo trip to study in France. I had failed French in University and it haunted me. I was determined to rectify my personal failure, but of course fashion was always on my mind. I didn’t want to look the part of foreigner studying abroad.

Here is a photo from one of the first parties that I attended with friends from the University of Montpellier.

I’m wearing my own version of an androgynous look. I’m pretty sure that oversized men’s jacket was thrifted. I paired this with a leather cowboy belt I bought when I was in Italy and cowboy boots (I bought in Paris) with metal tipped toes.

One thing is certain, I do not look remotely French.

I *thought* I wanted to try to emulate those effortlessly chic French women but in the end I always believed in my own personal sense of self and style. It didn’t matter what people thought of me or my style. I’m not them. I’m me. I can only be me. Why try to pretend to be otherwise?

Twenty-six years later I still feel the same way.

My style defies definition. One day I’m wearing “classic” the next day I’m dressed in what many women consider, “wackadoo”.

At least I’m a wack-a-DO and not a wack-a-DON’T.

I’d rather look back on my life and regret some of the things I did do or wear than look back and regret what I didn’t do or was too scared to try or wear.

Here I am again but this time wearing a very classic dress that I wish I still had. It may have been by Robin Kay as well. It was fitted with long sleeves and a square neck.

This was our French Thanksgiving, so it would have been right around the same time of the year as now.

My flatmate, Tina is the other gal in black. She is from the US. I met her while waiting in line to find living accommodations in Montpellier. We still keep in touch but like so many of my friends, I wish they lived closer.

I still can’t believe we cooked a full meal for 13 people in our tiny kitchen with an oven that looked like it came out of a dollhouse.

My sense of style has always been eclectic, changing with my mood.

The dress may be classic, but I’m anything but.

I couldn’t resist taking the idea of Robin Kay and turning her on her head so-to-speak by pairing a plain sweater dress with some vintage inspired teal and satin suede boots and an oversized necklace my husband brought me back from Australia. The necklace is a real treasure. It is made out of semi precious stones indigenous to Australia. I picked up the boots from a consignment store last week. Are you surprised? I didn’t think so!

Fashion is a creative tool to have fun and play with.

It allows you to express parts of yourself and personality. It doesn’t have to be boring. You don’t consider yourself boring do you? Why should your clothes be boring? Allow yourself to experiment. Try something new.

Don’t ever be bogged down by rules.