I've been reading my advance copy of Kim Johnson Gross' "What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life" and the section that strikes me most is the chapter on "Style Mentors."
While Kim's book is mostly about navigating the style waters of middle age and beyond, the idea of finding a style mentor is solid for any woman. Kim says in "What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life";
Who are Style Mentors? They are women we notice. Whatever their shape, height, weight, or age, they wear their style like a second skin.
Kim goes on to name her style mentors including Katie Couric, Oprah, Jackie O, Michelle Obama: all examples of classic good taste.
Which led me to thinking about who my style mentors were and my list looks nothing like Kim's. Although I appreciate classic good taste as much as the next aging yuppie, the women I notice are loud and proud with their style.
First and foremost, my style mentor is Cher. Early Cher. Sonny and Cher, Cher. I remember watching her and being amazed by her outrageousness. She had such attitude and wore the coolest clothes I'd ever seen. She was flamboyant and strong and I wanted to be all of those things. I still love boho looks, turquoise, hats, fringe, lined eyes: all thanks to Cher.
My newest style mentor is a designer of upscale western apparel named Pat Dahnke. She makes fabulous over-the-top western pieces (the kind you'd wear to a fancy Western-themed charity ball.) She creates fun looks like purple fur legwarmers and extravagant flask holders. Pat uses fur and suede and color with abandon, and frequently wears them all together.
And I really like all things Rachel Zoe, the celebrity stylist. She took a while to grow on me, but her idea of glamour makes fashion so much more fun. Her excellent book "Style A to Zoe" champions the idea of more is more (also a chapter title) and I like this. While many fashion experts talk about toning down your look as you age, Rachel espouses an ageless recipe for living almost every day like it's a red carpet day.
I've always admired style rebels: women who thumb their nose at convention and do what they like: Bjork in the swan dress, Cybill Shepherd in sneakers and a pantsuit, Madonna in a cone bra. These are the women who continue to inspire me to rethink my style and how it expresses who I am.
I'm more fringe trim than sheath dress, thanks partly to my style mentors. I think if I ever write a book about middle-age fashion it will be called "I'll Wear What I Want. You Got a Problem with That?" Cher would be proud.