I agree. Our age is one of our greatest assets, no matter where we are in life. I’m in my 40s, so it doesn’t make sense to keep dressing like I’m still in college.
Younger people often admire the style of older generations and say things like, “Look at their vibe” or “That drip is effortless.” But the truth is, those older folks didn’t just wake up one day and decide to have sprezzatura. It came from years of knowing themselves. Their clothes put us at ease because they reflect that quiet confidence, the kind that only comes with time.
Absolutely, Chip. And older generations learned to dress as a part of good manners, respect and a sense of occasion. We've lost that somewhere down the line. As someone with a younger son, I fear for the future. The way kids dress to go to school these days leaves a lot to be desired.
I realize this may be a bit of a niche question, but do you have any tips on maintaining one's style through periods of dramatic size fluctuations (i.e., pregnancy?). It's so difficult to invest in clothes that are only going to fit a small percentage of the time.
Victoria, I had three pregnancies and was not someone who could just size up (maternity shirts didn't even fit by the end!). What I did with each pregnancy was settle on a sort of uniform. With my last, it was slim pants, a simple maternity tee, and a cardigan. Ballet flats for a pop of color and polish (and I didn't have to reach down to tie them, yay!). I was last pregnant during Covid so didn't see much of a need to accessorize a whole lot, since I wasn't leaving the house much, but having a simple silhouette that worked for me and was versatile helped keep me feeling myself. (This silhouette continued to work postpartum. I eventually traded the tees for an oversized oxford shirt -- nursing friendly and forgiving.)
Thank you for adding your thoughts here! Pregnancies are so different for everyone. I see women every day who just have a little bump even at the very end. That was not my journey! For the last two months I had to give in and buy some maternity wear but chose not to spend a lot and, as you mentioned, stuck with a simple silhouette and basic colors.
Oh yes -- I should have added that I also did not spend a lot on my maternity wear. Wish I could have splurged but it did not seem at all practical. I invested more in cardigans, shoes, things that weren't maternity-specific, but I was intentional in making the maternity-specific items (pants and tees) very basic so I could build around them. Like literally black pants / comfortable, inexpensive jeans with stretch and a white or gray tee, every day.
Hello Victoria! I do have some experience with this. I didn't want to invest in an entirely new wardrobe nor did I like most of the maternity wear that was out there. I had a very large baby so towards the end, I looked like I was carrying twins. I wore regular wrap dresses bought a size larger. Since they wrapped, there was a lot of flexibility as I grew and also worked postpartum.
If I had to do it again, today, I would look at stretch, cropped flares (like Ann Mashburn Faye) sized up. They stretch quite well and snap back so could live beyond pregnancy.
Depending on your particular style, Saint James has great dresses with a forgiving fit that could get you through the majority of your pregnancy.
Also, while I don't know your style, for me, keeping it simple with the clothes and focusing more on accessories (scarves, jewelry, etc) to maintain my style worked well.
I agree. Our age is one of our greatest assets, no matter where we are in life. I’m in my 40s, so it doesn’t make sense to keep dressing like I’m still in college.
Younger people often admire the style of older generations and say things like, “Look at their vibe” or “That drip is effortless.” But the truth is, those older folks didn’t just wake up one day and decide to have sprezzatura. It came from years of knowing themselves. Their clothes put us at ease because they reflect that quiet confidence, the kind that only comes with time.
As to the youths who notice, game recognizes game. More on the idea of sprezzatura to come.
Yes!
Absolutely, Chip. And older generations learned to dress as a part of good manners, respect and a sense of occasion. We've lost that somewhere down the line. As someone with a younger son, I fear for the future. The way kids dress to go to school these days leaves a lot to be desired.
I realize this may be a bit of a niche question, but do you have any tips on maintaining one's style through periods of dramatic size fluctuations (i.e., pregnancy?). It's so difficult to invest in clothes that are only going to fit a small percentage of the time.
Victoria, I had three pregnancies and was not someone who could just size up (maternity shirts didn't even fit by the end!). What I did with each pregnancy was settle on a sort of uniform. With my last, it was slim pants, a simple maternity tee, and a cardigan. Ballet flats for a pop of color and polish (and I didn't have to reach down to tie them, yay!). I was last pregnant during Covid so didn't see much of a need to accessorize a whole lot, since I wasn't leaving the house much, but having a simple silhouette that worked for me and was versatile helped keep me feeling myself. (This silhouette continued to work postpartum. I eventually traded the tees for an oversized oxford shirt -- nursing friendly and forgiving.)
Thank you for adding your thoughts here! Pregnancies are so different for everyone. I see women every day who just have a little bump even at the very end. That was not my journey! For the last two months I had to give in and buy some maternity wear but chose not to spend a lot and, as you mentioned, stuck with a simple silhouette and basic colors.
Oh yes -- I should have added that I also did not spend a lot on my maternity wear. Wish I could have splurged but it did not seem at all practical. I invested more in cardigans, shoes, things that weren't maternity-specific, but I was intentional in making the maternity-specific items (pants and tees) very basic so I could build around them. Like literally black pants / comfortable, inexpensive jeans with stretch and a white or gray tee, every day.
Hello Victoria! I do have some experience with this. I didn't want to invest in an entirely new wardrobe nor did I like most of the maternity wear that was out there. I had a very large baby so towards the end, I looked like I was carrying twins. I wore regular wrap dresses bought a size larger. Since they wrapped, there was a lot of flexibility as I grew and also worked postpartum.
If I had to do it again, today, I would look at stretch, cropped flares (like Ann Mashburn Faye) sized up. They stretch quite well and snap back so could live beyond pregnancy.
Depending on your particular style, Saint James has great dresses with a forgiving fit that could get you through the majority of your pregnancy.
Also, while I don't know your style, for me, keeping it simple with the clothes and focusing more on accessories (scarves, jewelry, etc) to maintain my style worked well.