factor .
and can change di amatically the most intelligent design, has a special
from situation to situation Outside or
indoor`, limed Ages or Pcers, geography.
building. event and the weather can
affect one's mode of dress.
Fashion is serious. What you wear
reveals a significant message about you
and OW world. Even if you do not care
attk,ut clothes per se, they communicate
much about ■ our attitudes toward the
occasion. your company, and yourself.
In the morning you make a decision
about what to wear to which o thers
respond all day long. Think of your
clothes as the most communicative
factor after your face and eyes -- per-
sonal style is how von send nonverbal
menages.
One dresses out of consideration for oth-
ers as well as for one's own self-image. No
one wants to fade into the woodwork. it is
nice sometimes to lead the pack, and quite
naturally you want your clothing to com-
municate the feeling that you "belong." Your
goal is a wardrobe of clothes that are right
for your body, your personality, your envi-
ronment. and the specific occasion.
MAKING CHOICES
In 1970. young fashion was jeans and t-shirt.
Now, it is 2012 and it's back to jeans again,
but not for work. Maybe if you work in a
bodeea or it is stylized as a uniform, or in a
restaurant perhaps. There are many
alternatives in fashion today. If you learn a bit
about fashion history, by visiting museums and
reading books, you might use your knowledge
to bring to your dress some lovely touches — a
shawl — a belt, not only because they look good
on you and are comfortable and practical, but
also because they add character to your
clothes.
Dress conservatively. Siimplicity, expressed
in the highest quality fabric and
14
elegance. "I've worn it ten years and I
now feel comfortable in it." It is th e
comfort and self-confidence that the old
favorites brought that make you feel
"at home."
The most exciting thing about fashion
is the artistic expression it permits. If
you have a sense of fashion's past, you
can indulge in appropriate whimsy —
mix and match and feel comfortable
and at ease. The look must befit you and
the occasion. View the fashion of the
present and, based upon your knowledge
of the past, calculate its future as it re-
lates to you and your lifestyle.
What transforms a mere garment into
a work of art and makes the person
wearing it shine? Your ability to pull it
together and carry it off well. Beyond
personal qualities, a number of precise
elements interact to create fashion: line,
color, texture, mass, and movement. A
good designer combines these qualities
and so does the inspired clothes wearer.
When you learn what clothes are right
for you --- for your face, your figure,
your personality, your lifestyle — you
become i mmune to the "rages" of
commercial trendmakers. You can reject
-
passing fancies, and recognize timeless
quality when you see it. The Italian and
French Vogue are more aesthetically
focused and American Vogue more
consumer-practical. Look at museum
catalogues, too, for authentic copies of
historic belts, scarves, and jewelry to add
a touch of the past to today.
A first step in learning who you really
are is to take a good look at yourself and
what you do. Then decide in which gen-
eral category — sporty, tailored, roman-
tic, or sophisticated — you feel the most
comfortable. Remember that the choice
is not static and does not forbid some
crossing over for variety and experimen-