2. How do you define fashion and or style?
What I’ve grown to realize is that style is not rocket science. And those silly rules that have been handed down over time are nothing but hogwash. Our style is purely a form of self-expression. Since humans are visual animals, we have our clothing combinations to give a glimpse into our moods and personality.
3. What influences your style? ie travel, work, movies, magazines, social media trends, celebrities, color, etc.
One of the biggest influences on my style growing up was my mother. The fact that she still enjoys being intentional with her outfits is so joyous to me.
As an adult, my style inspiration was either magazines or tv shows (including What Not To Wear). It was during this time, that I believed (wrongly) that there were rules I should follow when getting dressed.
But now that the blog and social media are my main influence on fashion, I have grown and evolved so much in my style. It’s been incredible to see how creative we can be with our outside appearance.
4. How has your style evolved?
My style has evolved tremendously over these last 20 years. Personally, I believe part of it is due to my lifestyle and current situation. When I was married to my ex-husband, it was not an enjoyable time in my life, and my style was very limited and boring. There was very little color and I wore very simple things. But after I met the love of my life and became happy, my closet became much more colorful. This was when I was still a cosmetic dentist and believe in many of the fashion rules, so while I was more colorful in style, I was still very traditional in my clothing choices.
But now? Now I love the variety that can happen any and every day. Some days I like dressing preppy, while other days I add some edgier items. And all days incorporate some color and fun. In fact, my word for the year is EXTRA. Coco Chanel may have said to take off one accessory before you leave the house, but I say the opposite!! Add more and more!!
5. What does your dream wardrobe consist of?
I could give the answer in two words really: Variety and Color. By variety, I mean that I like to wear dresses, skirts, jeans, pants, cropped pants, shorts, and everything!!! I don’t want to be put in a box or category that I should only wear this or that.
And color?? Color is something that makes me happy. Sure, I love an all-white look from time to time, but the colorful part of me usually ends up adding in a colorful accessory before I leave the house.
6. If you were to give fashion advice to your younger self what would it be?
I always laugh that my younger self was very stubborn and wouldn’t listen to any advice I’d give her, haha!!
But seriously, I would tell her to stop being so serious. Would you believe that I rarely wore pink, polka dots, or many other things until I started blogging because I didn’t think they were serious enough? My younger self needed to let loose and have more fun!!
7. How important is it to be body positive and to appreciate the skin that you're in?
OMG, this is a huge point that I discuss on my blog almost weekly. I can’t tell you how freeing it is to finally accept your body as it is. Personally, I’ve struggled with hating my pale skin. It’s taken years and years to finally embrace it and not stress over trying to be tan (or use tanning creams).
Even when I was younger, I wasn’t seriously overweight, yet I would obsess over how my body wasn’t perfect. Looking back it was truly a huge waste of time and energy.
This blogging journey has been the tool that has made me realize that there is no perfect shape or body. It’s ridiculous that we try to look thinner or taller or any “er”. In fact, that’s the subject of one of my popular blog posts called Perfectly Imperfect. Let’s love ourselves as we are!!
8. What do you love about jewelry? What is your absolute favorite, is it earrings, necklaces, etc.
What don’t I love about jewelry, haha?? There is no way, I can give you a favorite. That would be like asking a mother who is her favorite child!!
All three of us on the blog believe in the magic of accessories and jewelry. I will say that living in Arizona in the summer months, statement earrings (lightweight ones) are the way to go. It’s too hot to wear necklaces or scarves (but I will hang scarves on my purses or hats). And lately, I’ve been loving bracelets and statement rings because these were things I couldn’t wear when working as a dentist. For some reason, my patients frowned upon being hit in the face with my jewelry, haha!!
9. How do you incorporate accessories and jewelry into your daily looks?
Not a day goes by that I don’t wear some kind of accessories or jewelry. Lately, I’ve been trying to incorporate my brooches and pins into my looks. But I always will grab earrings to go with any outfit. Even when I go work out I have some kind of stud earrings in my ears. My favorite way to wear jewelry lately is to pull in a totally different color into the outfit with my accessories. Otherwise, I feel too matchy-matchy.
10. What are your non-negotiables... What must you have/wear/do? and what are your, “I’m never ever doing or wearing that”?
One thing I’ve learned over these last years is to never say never. But I haven’t succumbed to wearing Birkenstocks yet. I see many fashionable influencers wearing them, but I have yet to try them. With my open-mindedness though, it could happen.
And maybe that’s my MUST HAVE. Open-mindedness. I used to be very judgemental when looking at others’ outfits. Yet I’ve learned that just because it’s not what I would wear doesn’t make it bad. I think we can learn from everyone who puts intention into their daily life.
11. Tell us why you choose fashion and style. So what we mean by that is, we don’t have to dress up, we don’t have to adorn ourselves with jewels and embellish with accessories, but we do, we choose to… why do you?
It’s funny how some people think fashion and style are all fluff and non-important. But the fact of the matter is you will never regret taking the time to look nice. Especially if you go out in public. But even at home alone, we feel better if we look better. It’s human nature.
Therefore, I choose to take the time to choose interesting clothing and fun color combinations with lots of extras because it makes me feel good. And as the saying goes, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
12. What’s your favorite fashion/style quote or mantra?
Oh, I have many. In fact, most days on my blog posts, I share a quote. Here are 2 of my favorites:
1-"It’s better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life.” Sister Elizabeth Kenny
2-"Every now and then a man’s mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions” Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
13. How and where can people connect with you?
Everyone should sign up for my daily emails because that’s where I share the more personal things going on in my life. You can sign up on my blog: www.jtouchofstyle.com and signing up for emails give you my eBook about accessories.
On Facebook and Instagram, I’m found under the handle @jtouchofstyle where I share many different things than just my blog posts.
What a great way to put it, Jodie! Colors, patterns, statement jewelry, whatever it is, wear it if you love it!
XoXo
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