A Grown Up’s Gap Year – ISSUE #11 – How To Reclaim Your Style Mojo

Hello, Happy Sunday!

How we wear, what we wear, goes deeper than simply throwing on clothes and calling ourselves dressed.

The power of a good outfit can’t be underestimated. The right clothes can lift your mood and put a spring in your step. If you respect yourself enough to present your best version, there’s a good chance the world will take notice. What we wear influences confidence, connection, and wellbeing.

In my opinion, society’s standards around dressing have relaxed to the point of comatose. A little less casual and a little more care would go a long way (okay, not for solving global crises – but maybe for reviving self-respect and mutual regard).

“Yes, activewear is comfy – but did it have to become everywhere wear?”

Contrary to what you might assume, I transformed my wardrobe before I started to look and feel better. It was a ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ approach – except it wasn’t fake. Putting thought into my clothing gave me momentum. Others noticed too.

So let’s cut straight to the chase – how are you feeling about how you are presenting yourself, to the world?

WELLBEING | Midlife Mojo Is a Wellbeing Shift

This isn’t about age, budget, or looks. You may not have innate style – but you can cultivate it.

Lyn Slater – academic turned global fashion icon – knows this. Her book ‘How to be Old: Lessons in Living Boldly from an Accidental Icon’ offers a new lens on personal style: not as trend-chasing, but as self-expression and becoming. Her message?

“Style in mid-life is permission to experiment, not disappear.”

How much of your wardrobe reflects who you are now – or who you want to be?

Be bold. Be playful. Let fashion start conversations. Kaftans are my signature – they’ve sparked compliments and connections alike. I return the favour. If someone looks fabulous, I say so.

Try this:

Cull the tatty, the ‘meh’, and the ‘just in case’. Gift, discard, sell.
Book a stylist or wardrobe editor (even once helps).
Photograph outfits from your own wardrobe, while you are wearing them – it’s the clearest way to see what works.
Find a tailor – fit is everything. Bring the old back to life, the less expensive looks ‘made to order’.
Invest in quality – key pieces that mix and match well and stand the test of time.
Know your style – note what style and colour you are wearing, when others comment on your appearance.

I care where my clothes come from. I cull often. If it doesn’t earn its place, it’s out. I do this reset every six months. It’s part reinvigoration, part therapy – and always worth the time investment. It’s your (style) oxygen mask.

It’s a Fallacy That Looking Great Requires a Massive Budget

Looking stylish requires a little planning, not piles of cash. Buy less. Buy better.

I’ve had phases of one ‘good’ outfit only when I was on leaner budgets. So – no ivory tower here.

TRY THIS:

Sign up for favourite designer sale alerts.
Sell or donate garments you no longer wear – OR arrange a swap party with friends.
Hire pieces (and rent out your wardrobe too: thevolte.com).
Buy off-season. Fashion’s sales cycle is constant – why not take advantage?
Shop local – smaller boutiques curate with care. You won’t see everyone else in the same dress.
High street brands with values? I like Uniqlo. Find yours.

Best Foot Forward

Shoes matter. Most of my clothing budget goes to footwear – stylish flats and dressy sneakers (only heels if I can stride, not hobble). I walk a lot. Comfort + chic, always.

CHIC LOCALS | Find Your Style Muse

If you’ve been out of the ‘freshen up your style game for a while’ – FIND A MUSE. The chicest women I know have a uniform. They know what works. It saves time and stress.

3 Women I Follow for Style Inspiration:

1. @trinnywoodall

Energy, make-up magic + fashion experiments.

2. @lindavwright

Crimson cashmere, Parisian chic.

3. @and.bloom

Dutch muse. Effortless with a twist.

TRAVEL | Sustainable Fashion

Less but better. Handmade over mass-produced. Vintage over cheap and new.

Shop preloved fashion. I’ve done this for 30+ years – first by necessity, now by choice. My favourite find? A sweater my dad designed in 1975 (family knitwear company), found on eBay US. Pristine. Joyful.

Sydney