Never Too Late for Signature Style

When I first started out in the fashion business, my boss — who was a merchandising whiz – had as much personal style as she did business acumen, experimenting freely with looks like shocking-colored tights, Mickey Mouse embellished denim jackets and floor-sweeping skirts.  She was 50-something and I was so amazed someone her age still had so much fun with fashion.

And here I am now, in middle age like she was, wondering why I don't seem to have as much fun with fashion as my boss did at this age.  Is it because instead of polishing a signature style I have been sidetracked by the fashion industry urging me to dress younger/thinner/richer? Probably.

Signature style is especially difficult to present to mid-lifers who are already worried about age-appropriate dressing. So fashion advice givers — books, magazines and internet sites — all hawk watered-down views of middle-age style: fewer accessories, neutral colors, simple lines, lower hemlines. Boring, boring, boring.

While fashion experts spew the "less is more" theory for the over-40 crowd, the missed point is that signature style actually gets better with age. This is the time of our lives when we should be enjoying who we are and how we got here; and it should reflect in how we dress.

For inspiration, there's fashion editor Marilyn Kirschner who has developed a signature style of wearing the most amazing vintage pieces. And Vogue editor Anna Wintour who is as famous for her trademark bob, extravagant furs and dark sunglasses as she is for her editing skills. These are mature women who have finely honed their signature style to the point where it is their fashion identity.

Maybe, like me, you have sacrificed personal style in the name of time, budget or raising a family. But it's never too late to find your own look that helps define your style and show your fashion personality to the world.  

Here are ways to express your signature style:

• Find a signature item: I've heard of a woman who wore only Levi's 501s every day, another who wore cowboy boots with everything.  And then there's the socialite who wears white jeans year-round. Is there something unusual or beloved in your closet that could work with everything? Maybe it's a blue-jean jacket paired with everything from dresses to velvet pants. Or perhaps it's a sentimental family brooch that you pin on everything from jackets to sweaters.  You could even develop a signature item silhouette – say the tunic – which you wear in different colors and prints.
• Develop a signature style: Maybe you like bold graphic prints and distinctive lines in your clothing, which points to an architectural style.  Or perhaps — like the First Lady — you gravitate toward the argyle-print cardigans and pencil skirts of preppies. I happen to like many different looks including Western, boho, classic American sportswear, rock 'n' roll. Weird mix, but it's mine. What pieces do you love in your closet? Your favorites will help point you to the style or mix of styles that define who you are.
• A signature feeling:  My boss' signature style was more of a feeling of experimentation than one distinct look. I've met women who exuded romantic charm because of their color/style choices; others who gave off an independent vibe by wearing clashing prints or colors.
• A signature look: Signature style doesn't have to be something elaborate. It can be as simple as wearing red lipstick every day or coloring your hair a certain way. In fact, beauty is one of the easiest ways to help hone your distinctive style.

You can still be perfectly fashionable without having a defined personal style. You can still look younger/thinner/richer by sticking to tried-and-true fashion advice. Or you can experiment and lay claim to a look that is entirely yours. Your choice.