Let’s Style This Mannequin and More About Me
Happy Tuesday ladies. Today I have a mixed bag for you. A mannequin and a bit more info about me. I’d like to start doing some question-and-answer posts. Are you curious about something you’d like to see covered? Curious about me? If you have questions just hit reply to this email and ask away.
Today I’m answering questions about me.
Did I work as a stylist in a store or individually?
Yes and yes. I managed several intimate, high-end boutiques for many years. I did the merchandise buying along with the owner and helped ladies find the right garments for their bodies. It was extremely rewarding and I loved helping them. They began to ask me to come into their homes and help them organize their wardrobes and help them decide what should stay or go.
I realized this would be a fulfilling career change so began my studies. I trained with several image masters, tested, and received my certification from the Association of Image Consultants, better known as AICI.
“AICI is the leading and largest professional association of personal and corporate image consultants worldwide. Our members counsel both, individual and corporate clients on appearance, behavior, communication, and soft skills.”
I ran my own Image Consulting business for several years, helping women clean out their wardrobes and discover the gaps they need to fill with garments and accessories that will help them look and feel their best. We would shop together to find what they needed.
When the economy hit a nosedive I decided to retire and start a blog so I could share online, what I had been sharing with paying clients.
Now enough about me, let’s have a look at a mannequin I came across and see how you would style what she is modeling.
The blouse is semi-sheer chiffon with a ruffled neck and cuffs. You can click through the links above to learn more about the items.
Would these pieces work for you? Would you wear either one and how would you style them to work for your shape, coloring, and lifestyle.
Let’s have an exchange of styling ideas and inspire each other.
Thanks for being here and making this community such a warm, sharing place for women to discuss fashion.
Have a great one ladies and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
As is and for casual wear, might add a sleeveless denim vest with it which hits at the waistline and tuck the blouse in; add a quality belt with an ornate silver buckle to the jeans and a pair of slip on/textured/low wedge loafers and a small cross-body bag. To elevate the look; I would nix the boot cut jeans altogether and choose a much slimmer cut and wear an open toe/higher wedge shoe but again tuck the blouse in, sweep at least one side of my hair behind my ear to show off my favourite drop/dangler earrings and last but not least add a handled handbag to complete the look. Enjoyed finding more about you and thank you so much for sharing!
-Brenda-
Oops; re the elevated look would be without the vest and no need for a belt as the blouse would be tucked but cuffed over the waistband. -Brenda-
I can picture your ideas beautifully!! Thanks Brenda.
The blouse is really pretty but not my style. I wear boot cut jeans occasionally. Thank you for sharing your history with fashion. If I were to give it a try I would definitely wear silver jewellery.
Absolutely love the black blouse. I had a double mastectomy without reconstruction 12 years ago (age 42 then) and never wear prosthetics. This blouse is perfect! The high neck brings the focus upwards. The gentle drape masks a bit of the flatness. The sheer sleeves add a touch of sexy and coverage of a lymph sleeve.
Thank you for sharing your story. Years back I started the consultant journey, with the purpose of helping breast cancer survivors. I was amazed at the science behind styling. I learned enough to volunteer with survivors. AICI stylists have earned their wings, now it’s clear why your blog is so enjoyable and professional!
I love that you studied styling so you could help breast cancer survivors!! Thank you.
So interesting to hear about your career Jennifer how amazing! Following your blog this past year has really boosted my confidence as a 57 grey haired woman and l love to hear how someone got to where they are now:) For a topic l would live to hear about ways to keep your hair healthy. I have been losing mine and l notice thinning and that’s because l don’t have enough vitamin D so l am just wondering if you could talk about what we can do as we get older to help keep our locks on tip top shape. Cheers !
with the COVID I have added D3, Vit c and zinc. I have lots of new hair and my hair is not falling out any more. I don’t know which vitamin did it but I am glad.
I will write an update and share what I am doing. I do take 5,000 units of vitamin D everyday.
I like a black top with jeans but would not choose this particular pairing. High necklines are uncomfortable and I prefer to see some skin below my face, at least to the collarbone. Also, I don’t wear polyester tops (they make me too hot) or chiffon unless it is silk (a tactile preference). Bootcut jeans are good but the fading in this pair puts an unwanted emphasis on the thighs. I’d choose a solid color straight leg jean with ballet flats. However, I would appreciate this outfit on someone else.
Thanks for explaining your thoughts, Terry.
I love this look. Although I don’t own any blouses with a high neck, I think it’s a look I should try. I do wear bootcut jeans and have always felt they help balance out my shape. I would wear this look with black booties and long boho style necklaces and some bangles.
I have a similar blouse in black and have worn it with skinny jeans and black booties. I usually wear a black leather and silver bracelet and silver chandelier ear rings (old) with it. Love the look. Thank you for sharing. Isn’t it amazing all the paths we wander down doing what we love?! Best to you and your week
I am really enjoying your blog Jennifer. Some of your suggestions would be great for me and others not so much but it’s interesting to see your suggestions which help me to think “out of the box”. Many thanks.
This outfit is so me. I could step into my closet now and find numerous items to add to it such as a either a green tweed, a coral tweed or blue tweed Channel type jacket. Or I could add long cardigans in cream or coral. I have a beautiful black alpaca wrap. I could look to booties, heels or flats. I could dress up as is with a lovely necklace, or Southwest jewelry. I love it!
I love how you think outside the box styling this look. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the background info. It’s always interesting to hear where people are coming from.
I like the idea of the outfit. Black isn’t my color and the chiffon/ ruffled neck are too frilly for my personality, so this blouse goes in the great-on-someone-else box. To get a similar look I’d pull out my soft green velvet popover shirt and add an interesting necklace or bold earrings (not both!). Booties with a small heel. Great look for fundraiser dinners, if we ever get back to those!
Those are fun ideas
I normally wear a black top with blue Jeans and black tassel flats because I love the look together. Not sure about that blouse for because I have short neck but definitely like color combo.
I wish you were still doing wardrobe consults because sine turning 70 I have no idea what to do, I have lost a lot of confidence. Thank you for your ideas.
I hope my posts can help you get back you confidence. Is there something specific you’d like me to write about?
I love seeing everyone’s ideas of what they would do. It definitely sparks my thoughts, but would it ever be possible for you to give us your ideas for how you would style it? Maybe the following day after everyone has posted their ideas. Thank you for all the hard work you do for us. I know everyone appreciates it and loves to have a safe place to learn.
That’s a great idea Linda.
It is lovely to learn more about you, Jennifer.
I love everything about this outfit. I love taking a pair of jeans and elevating them by adding something dressy on top. I’ve even worn jeans with a sequin top and it works! I like this blouse very much. With the frilly neckline and cuffs, I think it adds an element of elegance and really doesn’t need anything else to “clutter” the look. I always wear earrings and I’d wear silver hoops with this outfit. Heels in black or ankle boots in black would look good. You could do a half tuck with the blouse and wear a black belt with the the jeans for another look.
I like both these pieces, although would probably not personally wear the blouse because of my broad shoulders. I would half tuck this blouse and add a dressy belt, swingy earrings and perhaps some snakeskin boots. I’d add a fun wrap, a clutch purse and I’d be good to go for a fun night out.
This would be a go to look for me! I have a long neck, smaller on top than on the bottom and have narrow shoulders. It would work for a casual dinner out in our cooler months. I would wear with statement earrings. Since I don’t wear heels anymore, I would probably wear booties with 2” heels. The bootcut jeans need a little more height.
Fabulous look! I would buy it and wear with hoop earrings and bracelets, booties or wedge heels.
Thanks for sharing your personal history…You have great taste!
I love your blog and all the great fashion ideas for real, older women like myself. Although I’m not a fan of this particular blouse, I am now considering trying a blouse with sheer arms with jeans. It’s a style I’m thinking of trying to help cover my arms. Thanks for your expertise.
This outfit is not my idea of something I would wear; blouse is too dressy to be worn with mid-wash jeans and would be totally out of place in warm/hot SoTx! Black would wash me out and the high collar would choke me; boot cut jeans need higher heels for me and I can’t go there anymore. So; guess the outfit is a NO for me.
Question: Since I seem to recall you mentioned previously that you sewed; what type of clothing did you sew and when did you start? Enjoyed learning about your previous career…thanks.
I learned to sew in my early teens and by college I was sewing all my clothes. As a young mother I sewed my children’s clothes as well. I later began making our drapes, pillows and learned to upholster chairs. I literally sewed everything I could.
I really like this look, combining dressy and casual. Shoes and jewelry would help define the final look. Not sure about the high neck on me but would try it onto see. I do wear a lace blouse with jeans for that casual/dressy look, no high necks. I like to “dress up”, after working for 50 years I have too many things in my closet not to wear them, even on days I don’t leave the house. I get asked quite often why are you so dressed up…I’m not really, this is my style. Always have a little bit of makeup and jewelry on, makes me feel good.
I like the outfit very much, however the top would not look great on me personally. I agree with many other comments, that a pair of gold earrings, a nice bag and you are done. I really like a ‘fancy’ top with jeans, it’s dressy but modern. For my personal taste I would look for a cream or pale blue top with a boat neckline as I cannot have anything around my neck. The boot but jeans look good and I would wear a pair of heels with them. My personal preference is a straight leg Jean, but I think either would work. I retired last year and because of the pandemic have very little reason to get dressed up. I find my wardrobe needs are changing, I love reading your suggestions and I really like your dressing room dairies. I have a similar figure to you except with narrow shoulders, so a lot of your tips are very helpful. I live in a small town in Canada so I now must rely on online shopping, I miss living in a larger centre, but rewards of grandkids nearby makes up for that loss!