Dare to be different!

A period of long service leave from my day job means that I now have more time for my business, and I’m looking forward to being more active with this blog.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about my own personal style. How it’s changed over the years, and how rarely I vary it now. I think most women around my age probably end up with a similar habit.

When I was in my twenties I wore dresses most of the time. Girly dresses, often old-fashioned, sometimes bordering on hippy. In my thirties I had moved into a much more daring phase. I wore fitted pants, short skirts, jackets that shouted “statement”, knee-high, impossibly high-heeled boots.

Now, in my forties, I’ve settled into a style that I think you would call elegant. I wear more tailored dresses, suits, longer skirts and blouses with cardigans, well-cut jackets and coats. The Chanel look.

But I rarely throw clothes out, so I still have pieces I have collected over the years and I’ve started to be more adventurous again.

Believe it or not I’ve been inspired by my shoes. Maria Peron shoes are so striking I just don’t want to be boring anymore. Now, instead of thinking ‘What shoes shall I wear with this?’ I’ve started to think, ‘What shall I wear with these shoes today?’

So over the next few weeks I look forward to sharing a few looks that I’m trying out, as well as demonstrating a number of my more classical outfits.

Here’s one my friend Alice helped me put together. I used to wear this jacket a lot in my late twenties. I wouldn’t have worn it with shorts back then, but I love this clash of military and casual. Join me and be daring!