We Fell For Style Early. Then We Learned To Use It.
by Karen and Erica
A friend just sent us this fabulous article about a dress—the Mondrian dress by Yves Saint Laurent. Oh, we loved that dress. It was genius—even made it into the Metropolitan Museum.
We wore a version of that dress in the 60s, just as we were starting to learn about style. You probably did too. To this day we remember it how it looked on us, and how proud we were of the white go-go boots we wore with it. We thought we were the bee’s knees. All the boys loved us! At least so we believed.
Our style changed in college—Erica donning pastel shifts and sweater sets, heels and fishnets. Karen wore only bellbottom jeans, work shirts and construction boots. And hair down to her derrière.
Law school did not improve the picture much. Nor did our first law jobs. We had to wear suits. Skirt suits, of course, in navy or black or gray, and white shirts with floppy bowties, and little black pumps. Clunky brown briefcases rounded out the look. The idea was to appear as much like men as possible, in the hopes we would slip into our careers without anyone noticing we were women.
Style was in hiding. But deep inside, style began to demand attention.
Eventually, we got really bored with being mini men. Yves Saint Laurent’s vision reasserted itself. We began to come out as women. We still wore a lot of suits—and they were still skirt suits. (It took a few more decades to break out pants suits.) But now our suits were in jeweled colors, or wide stripes, or slinky silk. Wearing a suit sent the message we understood the game. Wearing a distinctly woman’s suit sent the message we were going to change the game.
Then we took it to the next level. Dresses. Diane von Furstenberg’s wrap dresses became our armor. Beautiful patterns, stretchy fabric that could be worn tighter or looser depending on the state of our diets. Sexy, but professional!
As we grew more confident in our careers, our clothes got more adventurous. Erica went to board meetings in a fabulous suit with large red flowers all over it. Karen went to court in pink polka dots—which prompted court reporters to expand the array of colored pencils they brought to hearings. Our clothes were still our armor, and they still sent a message. Now the message was—we have changed the world. We knew we now belonged, and we wanted to be seen for who we were.
Time flew by. We have now retired from our law jobs. We don’t really need armor in the same way any more. But we do need an image, and it has to be good. Too many designers seem to think women over forty are happy looking dowdy and dumpy. Many seem to think there are no women over 65—or that they want to dress as if they were teenagers. COVID’s lockdown has done nothing to help.
We’re going to change the game again. We are not yesterday’s retirees—who wouldn’t have worn dresses anyway. We are state-of-the-art, we are vital, we have people to see and things to do. We need clothes that speak to our lives now. We are women of experience, healthy and active, with long runways ahead of us. We want clothes that respect who we are, that respect the environment, that respect the people who make them. Fabrics that are new and different. Styles that translate experience into glamor. Elegance on the move.
We want clothes that send today’s message—we’re still here, we’re not done, and we’re dressed for engagement.
Right on! I couldn’t have said it better.
The attached article from WWD weaves (pardon the pun, but it is apt here) in an inspiring way the desire for elegance and glamor with more responsible, more green, planetary living. The fashion industry has previously not been known for this. The fascinating improvements to fabric technology gives me hope.
I am recently retired after having spent most of my career in NYC at the top companies of the world’s fashion industry. I worked in PR, advertising, styling, and my forte was trend spotting. I am appalled that the world of marketing seems to think that all female retirees are only worthy of the sidelines – the scrapheap of life. This, I believe is sexism and ageism still trying to keep women "in their place." WE must become the harmless, overweight smiling grandma in loose and frumpy clothes with a practical haircut and sensible shoes. Nonsense. Our individuality should be shining now that we do not have to fit into the profile of what employers require. We are losing ground with our human rights and – after being an activist since my 20s – I am no friend of those who do not engage to advance women and our right to equality. How we are depicted and what we are offered is part of the uphill climb that we continue to face. I get tired of this "battle" but we need to continue to fight it until it is won. By the way, just because innovative fabrics are out there does not mean they will be used: I saw stretch linen in the 90s on one of my trips out into the fabrics market – what happened to it?
Cobble together your own age-appropriate look with fashion flair. I’m a big fan of denim dresses with cargo pockets. Ditto cropped denim jackets paired with a linen skirt or ankle-length small-print cotton skirts, boots and boho earrings/necklace. Not hard to do, easy on the wallet and flatters everyone.
I also wore men inspired suits in the early 80’s and ‘90’s and by the 90’s I realized I could put my own colorful spin. I let go of the greys and blacks and moved into burgundies, greens, golds etc. shoes w ere a playground of style and color to complement.
Now days, where work tends to be a lot more casual (I was in entertainment, and more recently sports gambling), people don’t dress for work, but I always kept the armor of a jacket. No more suits per se, but definitely a jacket or stylish cardigan. I have a couple of denim jackets that I use for casual Friday which I like to wear with a great shirt, a statement piece of jewelry, slim fitting jeans or dress pants and, oh ya, much flatter shoes. Gone are the heels (and I’m grateful for that).
Thanks, everyone. So good to hear the thoughts of stylish women!
My daughter is about to start law school. We are shopping for a basic black suit- although she gets to wear pants right off the bat. My signature as a young lawyer was jewel colors- as soon as I could, I started branching out from boring black/gray/navy to add silk blouses or wool jackets in strong colors worn with black separates. Now, my daughter has helped me style for retirement- good basics, a few designer accessories, and, yes, always that jacket, whether suit style, leather, or bomber! It polishes any outfit.
Inspiration!!!
I love colorful vintage dresses, jackets or cardigans and comfortable shoes (occasionally even a pair of white sneakers with them if my feet need a break). I sometimes alter the style (removing a mock collar or frill) or replace a belt with something that’s more my style. Of course, always accompanied by pieces of jewelry collected in my travels. I often shop on Poshmark, EBay and ThredUp because I can’t find what I want in stores, it’s green and it let’s me experiment!
I love this, I remember as a young prosecutor we weren’t even allowed to wear pants in the courtroom. I would stage my outfit throughout the trial since the women on the jury were sometimes more interested in what I was wearing than the facts of the case. I would start my opening in white (girl next door) and close in black. With a 99% win rate, the defense attorneys would roll their eyes when I walked in … oh gawd, she has on white today!