In a previous post, I mentioned BurdaStyle’s Party Through the Decades competition. You had to pick your favourite fashion decade and whip up a party dress inspired by the styles.
Well, I really wanted to do this, but there’s just not enough hours in my day to accomplish everything I want to do. But I did do something thinking about what styles I like best.
As you know, I’m participating in the HepburnHepburn project, and have finished some of the items on that list. And I love Chanel. I’ve actually been reading and studying her drawings, styles and life a lot lately, mostly because I find it so incredibly inspiring. I couldn’t possibly hope to imitate (never mind emulate) the craftmanship that goes into one of those designs, but I love looking at the details in the pictures.
Then it struck me….. all the ladies mentioned above were the exact opposite of me physically. They were all very thin. Need I say more? I’m not thin. I’ve never been thin. If I starved myself for 30 days, I would still be more solid and shapely than a thin person. It’s just not in my genes to have that gamine figure.
So, I thought maybe I should go a-studying styles that were more conducive and flattering for a curvy figure like I’ve got. Like, maybe, the ‘50’s. And look at how people like Elizabeth Taylor or Marilyn Monroe dressed (not to mention the current craze thanks to Mad Men).
Anyways, I never did get this dress made up (or even cut out!) so I could participate in the BurdaStyle competition, but it’s given me some food for thought about what would suit me best.
What about you? Do you hanker after a certain look or a certain decade for your clothes? Are you confident in your own style, or do you try to keep “on trend”?
Mezzo Couture 
Elizabeth Taylor’s style suits you to a T! She’s the first one that popped into my head for you, along with Lana Turner. I’m a 1958-1963 kind of girl with a big dash of Rockabilly and a dollop of Audrey Hepburn.
Coco Chanel was a style genius! Completely inspiring. 🙂
Wow, I have not thought about personal style but I too am not nor will I ever be thin except in my dreams (I am thin there). I think I need to think about my “best” look from that venue. Thank you Anne
Clever to think about which decades actually suit your figure. You would look good in a fifties dress. You have a fantastic hourglass figure. This made me think, when were pear shapes last “in?” I am thinking about 250 years ago!
I’m not a big “vintage” enthusiast—partly because that 50s-early 60s vintage look does *not* suit my figure at all, and the 20s and late 60s looks that might suit my figure better don’t appeal to me personally. There are individual vintage looks that appeal to me, but mostly only as re-interpreted for the things I know look good on my body. Though I am noticing (rather reluctantly) that I like a *lot* of 70s patterns… if they’re made up in very not-70s fabrics.
I like to think I have my own style, only lightly influenced by trends… I’m okay with trends if they give me ideas of new things to try, but my blood-pressure starts rising at the thought of what’s “popular” telling me what I can’t wear. 🙂