My girlfriend Judith and I were on Vacation in New Orleans and we were eating lunch at The Court of Two Sisters.
I looked up and saw this older woman who was wearing denim capris and her stockings were rolled down around her ankle with her comfy walking shoes. I could not believe she had left her hotel looking like that. But her feet looked comfortable and she looked cool in the heat!
Have you ever seen a woman wearing something so outrageously appalling, that you were looking for the Fashion Police? You were embarrassed for her and envious.
Embarrassed that she would consider wearing something so awful out in public, but she was so comfortable she didn’t care and you were jealous.
YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL: STYLE AND COMFORT
It is possible to have both style and comfort.
It takes three things:
- 1 – Personal style
- 2 – Clothing fiber and
- 3 – Fit
The situation is also an important factor.
You might not wear the same thing to a business event that you would wear to a picnic.
You might be physically comfortable in the outfit; but if you are dressed inappropriately, you will feel emotionally uncomfortable.
Try as you might to pull it off, it will take a lot of energy and that is the polar opposite of being TOTALLY comfortable.
STYLE
You need to know your own personal style for all different situations.
Knowing who you are and how you express that in your clothing is important.
If you are struggling with that, see my free e-book.
When you know your style – whether you like color or neutrals, you are a fashionista or uber casual, are you in frequent dress-up or casual situations, you are equipped to start to look at the other two elements of being stylish and comfort
FIBER
Clothing fiber is all about what is in the fabric your clothes are made from.
And what fabric you feel most comfortable in.
There are natural and man-made fibers.
Generally, the natural fibers produce fabric that will breathe better and keep you warm in the cool weather (think wool, cashmere, etc) and cool in the hot weather (think cotton, linen, etc.).
There are other fibers that are man-made (tencel, rayon, bamboo, etc.) that also have a high comfort level.
Generally, I have found polyester to be very hot as it doesn’t seem to breathe.
It performs much better when it is mixed with a natural fiber such as cotton.
And there are many high performance man-made fibers that have wicking capabilities that are very comfortable.
This is where you may need to kiss a few frogs before you find what works for you.
Of course, we cannot forget the magic of lycra and spandex.
A small amount, about 5% in a natural blend will allow that additional give that is all important in comfort.
This is different than the content in a spandex or other support garments that are designed to smooth out your lines and enhance the fit (may not have the level of comfort you seek).
FIT
Speaking of fit, this might be the hardest factor to face.
A comfortable fit is when your clothes drape on your body flawlessly.
Your clothes aren’t too tight around any part of your body and are neither too short nor too long for the outfit.
It is not about what size is on the label, it is about what size fits.
Every manufacturer sizes clothes slightly differently.
A garment may not fit perfectly off the hanger in the store, it may require a little bit of tailoring by you or a paid professional.
PUTTING IT TOGETHER
Today, we can choose what length of pants or skirts fits our personal preference and style.
Your pant length may be chosen to show off or cover your shoes, you get to pick.
You might want to wear a mini skirt or prefer a longer skirt – that is your choice.
It all has to do with how you put it together in your personal style.
So you have figured it out, your personal style, the perfect fabric and that great fit for your event.
Then what?
Is it time to look in your closet and let go of some clothes.
The ones you haven’t worn for one reason or another?
Usually because they don’t fit right, but it could be they no longer suit your personal style or fabric preference.
If you are having a challenge letting go, you may find some tips in my free e-book.
We’ll continue this conversation of personal style in this blog in the future, along with some other fun things like capsule wardrobes (a small number of garments for a much larger number of outfits at a reasonable investment), personal maintenance – clothes, shoes, makeup and skin, travel and taking your style and comfort on the road.
Join us on this journey. Visit our website and we’ll give you the free e-book “Is Your Brand in Your Closet”.
Until next time,
Sheri.
Visit my website: www.sheriscw.com
