Althouse: "'I told them about my inside-out approach to dressing,' she said. She asked each of the women to identify three words..."

March 17, 2024

"'I told them about my inside-out approach to dressing,' she said. She asked each of the women to identify three words..."

"... that describe who they are right now. Or, alternatively: who they might want to be and what they might want people to see when they look at you. Then, when they would go shopping — or go through their closet at home — they would have this list on hand. With each article of clothing they picked up, they had to consider, 'Does this say these three things about me?'... 'The women all came back and were like: "I never had a style. I feel like I have a style, I have a way to know how to get clothes now."' As for the words Slater chose to identify herself at this moment: writer, community worker, grandmother. 'When I wear a denim shirt and overalls, I am all those people,' she said...."

From "Your clothes no longer serve you. Now what? Lyn Slater, the 70-year-old former fashion influencer and author of ‘How to Be Old,’ offers lessons on what to wear for your next act in life" (WaPo).

20 comments:

Temujin said...: I've considered dressing up like Thomas Wolfe now that I'm at that age where I don't give a shit what other people think.; 3/17/24, 7:59 AM
Old and slow said...: This should not require so much introspection. No one cares at all what you wear, particularly if you are old. They are scarcely aware that you even exist. This is a good thing. Wear what you are comfortable in. Wear what suits you. No one else gives a damn.; 3/17/24, 8:30 AM
cassandra lite said...: Considering the slovenly way the vast majority of people dress in public lo these many years now, any advice that doesn’t begin and end with “Even if you’re making a 7-Eleven run, try to look like you respect yourself and others” is bullshit.; 3/17/24, 8:55 AM
Wince said...: With each article of clothing they picked up, they had to consider, 'Does this say these three things about me?'

Damned forever to roam the aisles of Ann Taylor with these three words: "Crazy, Sexy, Cool"?; 3/17/24, 9:03 AM
Beth B said...: Why do I not feel compelled to take fashion advice from someone who looks like Truman Capote in drag?; 3/17/24, 9:25 AM
Old and slow said...: Blogger Wince said...
Damned forever to roam the aisles of Ann Taylor with these three words: "Crazy, Sexy, Cool"?

This is one of the funniest comments I've read in a long time.; 3/17/24, 9:26 AM
WK said...: If you are willing to dress inside-out, you can get a couple extra days of wear before washing….; 3/17/24, 9:26 AM
B. said...: She works too hard trying to look cool and aloof. At least Iris Apfel smiled.; 3/17/24, 9:31 AM
Eva Marie said...: Is that her style or is she mimicking Iris Apfel (who passed away March 1, at 102)?; 3/17/24, 9:38 AM
Caroline said...: I totally relate to what she says about dressing for a mood or memory. My daughter keeps trying to persuade me to adhere to the “if you didn’t wear it this year, throw it out” rule. I have quite a collection of vintage pieces, some of which I don’t wear more than once in a blue moon, because I lead a pretty simple glamaw life. I’m in my sixties. For example, today, st. Patty’s day, I’m wearing an emerald green cable knit kilronan sweater jacket over leggings, a thrift shop score from 5 years ago. I still have the satin nightgown from the 1940s that i found at a vintage place in soho when I was at film school in the 80s. I treat it like formal wear, with a sweater or lace tunic on top.
I was going to wear my 1960s Hawaiian pantsuit to my son’s graduation, but he refused to leave the house if I was going to wear “that getup”.
I have fun with these pieces. I like that no one else has them, or knows what to do with them, or has the nerve to leave the house in them. I get way more compliments now than when I was younger. Mostly from young women, invariably dressed in leggings and a bra top no matter the occasion. It’s easy to stand out in a sea of mediocrities. And I consider it my duty to bear witness to a more glamorous, pulled together era.
@Temujin, you had me at Tom Wolfe!; 3/17/24, 10:42 AM
Kate said...: @Caroline -- lovely!

My clothing choices are determined by what fits me. I'm less hourglass than I used to be, but pants still bag at the waist on me and I don't like belts. It's endlessly depressing and I've given up on feeling proud of my look. I don't think 3 nouns will improve my chances.; 3/17/24, 11:19 AM
JAORE said...: Carolne, is one of your three words hoarder?

I kid, really do.

Your post made me smile.; 3/17/24, 11:44 AM
Joe Smith said...: I would dress like Cary Grant but I don't think I'd have the same presence.

I always thought that when I retired I would pick a casual brand that is comfy and just buy that brand. Make it easy.

Now that I am retired I have the same mixture of really old clothes that are barely fit for Goodwill.; 3/17/24, 11:55 AM
Howard said...: I basically had the same wardrobe since grade school

Shorts and a t-shirt, jeans and a t-shirt, jeans and a collared Lacoste style shirt, a collared Lacoste style shirt with unpleeted Chino style pants and dress slacks and a button-down dress shirt with or without a sports coat and or tie.

Flip flops, Huarache sandals, running shoes, kick around casual tennis type shoes, hiking boots and dress shoes one brown one black.; 3/17/24, 12:39 PM
Nancy said...: Howard, you wear one brown shoe and one black shoe? Guess that goes with anything.; 3/17/24, 2:28 PM
mikee said...: In my job as a General Contractor, I have taken to wearing jeans and cheap gray polo shirts, usually of the brand sold for almost nothing at Walmart. No company logo, just a cheap "uniform" to wear at work. One previous home buyer saw me on a Saturday away from the job site, and she immediately said, "I am so relieved to see you wearing a green shirt. I've only ever seen you wear gray shirts, for two years now. I thought you had a mental disorder of some kind." Now that's effective style!

I also sold a home to two lovely women from New York, a married couple. When I went to their place to do some warranty work on a rainy day, I removed my muddy shoes on the front porch. The woman who opened the door looked at my socks and broke up laughing. She called her partner over, and she laughed at my socks, too. I had not realized that my athletic socks, with DICKIES brand name printed across the toes of each foot, would so amuse two lesbians. The first one said, in a very dedpan voice, "Most masculine socks ever." Live and learn.; 3/17/24, 2:58 PM
MadTownGuy said...: I got hooked on Business Casual in my work life after the need to wear a sport coat and tie went by the wayside. Still pretty much dress that way, except I've discovered cargo pants, the Swiss Army knife of outerwear.

I have a blue polo shirt and khaki trousers that I wear frequently, and while staying a hotel got odd looks from the attendant at the front desk..
Then it hit me that I was wearing the company uniform.; 3/17/24, 6:47 PM
Rocco said...: Kate said...
"My clothing choices are determined by what fits me. I'm less hourglass than I used to be, but pants still bag at the waist on me and I don't like belts. It's endlessly depressing and I've given up on feeling proud of my look. I don't think 3 nouns will improve my chances."

What if the three nouns are in common use among the enlisted in the military?; 3/17/24, 7:43 PM
Mikey NTH said...: Denim shirt and overalls = old lady gardening in a prescription commercial.; 3/18/24, 8:51 AM
PM said...: Wife dresses in crazy, unusual clothes. She's a painter.
Husband dresses as if he's going on, or just finished, a hike.; 3/18/24, 11:17 AM