Welcome to Tell Us About…
This month our Tell Us About prompt is Sue’s choice: Your Personal Style – what a fun topic!
We’re all different in what we like, the colours we wear, our style of dressing and how we present ourselves to the world. There are no right or wrong ways in my opinion.
Before I get into my personal style, I offer these two Mother of the Bride (MOB) stories which may give you some indication of my personal style 🙂
Mother of the Bride (MOB) #1
As an example of what we think we like, or don’t like, I offer the colour purple.
I went into my first wedding as MOB with high hopes and expectations. Everyone, including me, was expecting me to wear orange or shades of, and yet when I tried on this pink/coral suit thinking it was THE ONE I was underwhelmed – see photo below.
I had given the sales assistant my likes and dislikes, one of which was no purple, and so this pink/coral suit fitted most of my expectations – it was a sleeveless dress (although I said I wanted sleeves) with a short fitted jacket which could be removed if I got a bit overheated, the length was good, it was a nice material and I didn’t even peek at the price tag!
In the end they suggested they just bring me things and asked me to be openminded.
The purple version of this same outfit looked stunning on me and I was immediately sold. To add in my signature orange they suggested an orange wrap which actually went beautifully with the purple – quite surprising!
This photo with our daughter always makes me smile – she has something on her face which I’m wiping away and my husband is getting a twig out of her train – isn’t it a lovely candid shot by my sister?
You may also notice my hair was a lot lighter in the pink/coral outfit which combined made me look a bit washed out. I went darker for the wedding day (too dark perhaps) but it was better with the purple.
Out of interest do you like the purple or coral best?
It was good that I chose the purple as the Mother of the Groom had a similar style pink outfit and we would have been very much alike! She lives in England so we didn’t have much chance of communication about our outfits beforehand. The bridesmaids wore yellow.
Mother of the Bride (MOB) #2
With my youngest daughter’s wedding being a Destination Wedding in Fiji for a small intimate family affair (only 16 of us) – I chose my trademark orange, although I had two outfits to choose from, both colourful!
And then Grant decided to ditch his original traditional outfit and go with the Fijian custom of the sulu (a kilt-like garment worn by men and women in Fiji since colonisation in the nineteenth century) and a colourful orange shirt. The locals loved it!
What a fantastic wedding and holiday it was!
So what is my Personal Style?
I would say my personal style is a love of COLOUR.
Or as I like to call it ‘dopamine dressing’.
I associate my style with brighter hues rather than neutrals – think oranges, reds, yellows, greens…basically a riot of colour.
Do you know I often get comments when I wear something neutral, bland or too boring colour wise? I really do, all in fun of course, but I’m known for my ‘dopamine’ dressing and it’s become a habit I can’t give up. I love colours and the brighter the better. They just make me happy 🙂 which is what dopamine dressing is basically all about.
Source: Is Green planning a takeover of my wardrobe – Deb’s World
I like dresses, shorts, skirts that aren’t too long, hats and casual effortless styles. Nothing too fitted, tight or glamorous!
These are all shots from my archives and, as you can see, colour features very heavily!
Note: as to the personal style of my hair – over the past few years I’ve been slowly growing my hair out and am happy with the length it is today.
What’s my take on fashion?
I like clothes but don’t tend to keep up with particular ‘trendy’ styles. I know what I like to wear, what I feel comfortable in, and I don’t necessarily stick to things my age group should wear! There are no rules in my opinion.
I like to think I’ve managed to stay roughly the same shape and size for the past 40 years or so, but after recent body scans I know that’s not true, as I’ve had a significant increase in weight and certain measurements, plus body fat percentages – all of which I’m working hard to reverse with my current strength training, eating plan and increased activity. But I’m still a small/medium size in clothes -go figure!
Overall I’m doing OK and trying not to focus on the numbers. Already some clothes are fitting me better and that’s all I’m taking notice of at the moment. Gone are the days when I weighed myself religiously every day!
I quite like my legs, they’re strong and quite muscular, and because I’m relatively short at 163cm, I like to wear shorter things rather than midis or maxis. Anything with too much fabric, or too long, just swamps me, so I don’t wear too many maxi length dresses.
I wear straight leg jeans and leggings as these give me the illusion of feeling a bit taller and leaner and would like to say I’m elegant but I know that’s not true 🙂
My shape is pretty basic – I have narrow shoulders, a thickish waist and hips, I’m quite muscly in my legs and thighs and so will try to find things that flatter my upper body, give me a bit of a waist and some shape. I do like flowy tops and dresses but sometimes they can make me look pregnant (at my age??) and accentuate certain areas which isn’t always for the best. But they can help hide certain areas if I’m careful.
When I was working as the manager of Education in a men’s correctional centre, I had a thing about jackets and had quite the collection! When I finished work I (somewhat reluctantly) bundled up my jackets and donated them to the local charity shops. Retirement dressing doesn’t need formal jackets – well mine doesn’t!
What I’m not…
I’m not a model, and my size generally falls between a size 10/12 or Small/Medium.
I don’t wear heels even though my husband is a good 30com taller than I am, I prefer flats and comfortable boots.
I’m not affiliated with any clothing brands and I mainly shop online at certain favourite shops like Birdsnest, Blue Bungalow, CottonDiva and enjoy looking at UK sites Joules, SeaSalt and Boden to see what they have available. When I visit my daughter in England I often take a look through these stores, as I like the fact that their clothing isn’t generally available in Australia, although with online shopping everything is becoming available.
I’m not a fan of the colour ‘beige’ and wrote about the Beige Army a couple of years ago. I know beige and neutrals suit some people and that’s fine, it can be a great base for many outfits but it makes me look washed out.
Funnily enough I wrote this post a few years ago, about the colour brown:
Not quite 50 shades of brown – in which I point out for someone with brown hair, brown eyes and brown skin, I wore my fair share of brown clothing back in the day!
Just look at us both in our browns at our engagement party in 1979.
What is Tell Us About…?
Tell Us About…is a monthly opportunity for bloggers to showcase their creativity, created by Gail from ‘Is This Mutton’ – another great blogging friendship group! Each month one of the co-hosts will choose a theme to focus on, and everyone is welcome to join us.
The linkup can be found below and on Gail’s blog – Is this Mutton – and here is the list of prompts for the rest of the year, so we hope you can plan ahead and join in.
Remember the linkup opens on the 3rd Thursday of the month.
- April: Your Personal Style (Sue)
- May: Musical Influences (Suzy)
- June: Beauty (Marsha)
- July: Blogging (Debbie)
- August: Holidays/Vacations (MK)
- September: Favourite Things (Jill)
- October: Schooldays (Penny)
- November: Confidence (Gail)
- December: My Year in Review (Sue)
As a woman, you reach an age when you think, ‘You know what? I’m just gonna wear what I want, do what I want…’
The Revenge Club by Kathy Lette
My fellow Tell Us About blogging friends have all done a post on their personal styles, and many of them are much more professional fashion bloggers than I am! So click on the links in each blogger’s summary below to see what they’ve written.
- You’re reading my post – I hope you enjoyed it 🙂
- Gail from Is this Mutton (UK) finds there’s a great feeling of peace and satisfaction about nailing your personal style, with no more expensive mistakes. And it costs nothing to do.
- Jill from Grownup Glamour (Aus) took a look at her own personal style and its interpretation over time.
- Marsha from Marsha in the Middle (USA), professes to be a fashion blogger but struggled with pinning down her own personal style. She may or may not have been successful.
- MK from MKsAdventure (USA) reflects on her personal style evolution and the influence of age and confidence, time available, and disposable income.
- Penny from Frugal Fashion Shopper (UK) – struggles with the concept of a personal style as there’s one style she would really like to be seen as having but in reality she wears altogether a different set of clothing. But just maybe you could have several personal styles?
- Sue from Women living Well After 50 (Aus) – looks at the Evolution of Personal style: Reflecting on Changes over time. Can we change our style or is it inherent?
- Suzy from Suzy Turner blog (Portugal) – shares her journey in defining personal style, from admiring fashion icons like Stevie Nicks and Diane Keaton to embracing monthly challenges, while cherishing her love for Victorian Goth and celebrating the freedom of self-expression in fashion.
To sum up
I’m quite happy with my taste and style and always make an effort to look ‘nice’. My mother and grandmother instilled a certain style and standard as i was growing up, so I do try to dress appropriately.
Thanks for reading my post, I’m so glad you’re here in my world. I’d love to know what your personal style is?
Recent posts you may have missed:
- A puzzle in cobalt blue #SundayStills
- Bonjour Noumea, it’s been a while!
- Autumn Colours in Tumbarumba
- Re-grouping as the years move on #SundayStills
- An Apple a Day and all that! #WOYP
You can also find Deb’s World here – let’s stay in touch!
Everyone has a story to tell!
Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. You can read more of Deb’s story here
Copyright © 2024 debs-world.com – All rights reserved
Deb's World 
Funny how you said ‘no purple’ but that was what you wound up wearing…and beautifully, for your daughter’s wedding. I absolutely LOVE the photo of you and the mathematician lovingly caring for the bride with final touches. I hope you have that photo framed. Perfect portrayal of parental love.
When I think of your style, I would say carefree and colorful. To learn or be reminded that your signature color is orange just echoes that. I love orange, too. You live such a vibrant life, it would be a shame for you to wear black and gray like so many women of our age.
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Bright colors are associated with positive emotions and energies and I think they fit your style perfectly!
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Many thanks Mary, that’s very sweet of you!
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Hi Deb, brilliant approach to the prompt and I agree you personify ‘colour’. The purple was a stunning choice and isn’t it amazing how even some shades of a certain colour maybe miss the mark – the coral one washed you out. I loved you collage and you have so many colourful outfits I just can’t imagine you in ‘beige’. We both look pretty colourful in the photos of us together don’t we? BTW I notice in your engagement photo we had the same wallpaper in our loungeroom growing up. A great take on the post Deb and you should be a model!! x
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Oh thank you Sue, you are so lovely to say that!! I don’t think I’m the right size to be a model but I do like clothes that give me a lift.
I loved this prompt and really got into it. I also loved that you feature in my collage so often and we both look very colourful :). That wallpaper was the height of fashion in the late 70s.
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The purple did look gorgeous on you. My personal style is casual. I love sun dresses that can double as bathing suit coverups. My favorites are Jam’s World from Hawaii.
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Thanks Elizabeth the purple was a great choice! Yes to casual dressing and sundresses are so comfy. I’ve not heard of Jam’s World.
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You can look Jam’s World up on the internet. My favorite style is the Hattie Dress. They are colorful and comfortable. I used to buy them for $75 but now Jam’s Word website has them for $350! I have found them on Etsy for the old price, and at a boutique for around $100.
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I love the colourful clothes that have become your trademark! They certainly are bright and cheerful and reflect your sense of fun 😊
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Yes Deb, you’re right they have become my trademark and I wouldn’t change a thing! Thanks so much 🙂
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For as long as I’ve read your blog, I’ve always seen you as a refreshing splash of colour! Orange, red and dark pink is perfect on you! But I think you looked good in the coral outfit too. I love how you enjoy your muscular legs (and you should!!).
I struggle a lot with personal style. Perhaps because I’ve been struggling for so many years with who I am and to live on my own terms. Also I didn’t feel comfortable with my body and mostly tried to hide it. But recently since I started to grow muscle mass (and now I have shoulders, yay), more clothes fit me and I have more opportunities to explore, which is fun! But I’m still just exploring and have no idea what my personal style is! For now I love my tank tops and leggings or skinny jeans with some cardigan or hoodie but I’d love to get to a nice shop to explore and try something for fancier occasions.
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Yes Susanne, I understand the increased muscle mass having an impact on body shape and I’m finding that a bit with my training regime. Good for you trying to explore your style options, it can be hard to leave our comfort zone at times. Enjoy your body and exploring new ways of dressing. I wish I was brave enough to wear tank tops! Thanks so much for your lovely comment, I like the idea that I can be seen as a ‘refreshing splash of colour’, that’s made me smile!
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I only know you through your blog but you come across as bright and bubbly and the bright colours seem so very you. The purple outfit was the perfect choice for the wedding. We do seem to find our own style over time , be it casual or more dressy . I have scheduled my post but may have made a mistake with the date.
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Yes Jill I think you’re right, we do seem to find our own style over time and I’m happy with mine now! Can’t wait to read your post as you really extoll glamour, something I don’t seem to have!
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I’m a huge fan of purple so I would probably have gone with the purple outfit for the first MOB look, although looking at the photo of you in the orange, I think you looked fabulous in that one too!
I, too, love to wear lots of colour and think there is nothing worse than beige (on me, that is!) although it does look good on certain other people.
Hugs
Suzy xx
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Thanks Suzy, I am now a fan of purple after the wedding! Everyone was surprised but also complimentary. We’re friends for life as we both feel the same way about beige 🙂
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Oh my word you looked wonderful in the purple MOB dress. Bright colours are definitely you and I agree that they give you dopamine rush. Here in the UK people tend to wear darkcoats in the winter and it’s so dreary – I have a yellow coat and a bright red one too. Colour makes you feel so happy. And your dresses and colourful clothing are just so right for you.
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Many thanks for your comment (Penny?). I love bright coats in winter and have a range, I couldn’t wear a dark colour when it’s so dreary outside. I love the idea of a yellow coat and have a nice red duffel coat I love wearing when it’s cold. I agree, colour makes me feel happy 🙂 and just maybe I make others smile by wearing them too.
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What an interesting post. I prefer the purple, it’s such a dramatic (and slightly unusual) choice. Your love of colour shines through. I’m sure we’re instinctively drawn to the colours that suit us. You always look so happy and relaxed in your clothes which is the real barometer of style! At the end of the day, our style is an extension of us, and our personality
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Thank you Gail, I liked the idea that the purple was slightly unusual and it worked really well on the day. I still love the outfit and have since worn it a few times. I agree that we are drawn to colours that suit us and learn what we like over time. I do feel happy and confident in most of my clothes but hadn’t thought of that as a barometer of style, so thanks for pointing that out! I think you’re right our style is an extension of us and our personality 🙂
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Even though I’ve not “known” you long, I definitely think bright colors, usually orange or yellow! It is interesting you didn’t want purple for your MOB dress. But, you were stunning in it. Yes, my vote is for the purple. I wore black to my daughter’s and beige…yes, you read that right…to my son’s. I looked decent in my daughter’s photos and absolutely washed out and horrid in my son’s! I don’t know what I was thinking except it was down to the wire and I could go down the aisle in my undies!
This was a fun prompt which really made me work! It’s interesting how you don’t think about something, and then when you do, it’s kinda difficult!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Oh Marsha you made me smile with your beige wedding outfit story! I’m glad you thought I looked stunning in the purple outfit, I felt pretty special on the day 🙂
It’s been a great prompt and I can’t wait to read everyone else’s posts, including yours!
Thanks for your lovely comment on my style, much appreciated 🙂
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I saw this prompt and thought – goodness – what would I say – then looked in my wardrobe and the answer was ‘shirts of different colours’ and promptly went to Country Road and bought a purple linen one at lunch time 🙂
You always wear lovely bright colours I think, so you might approve of this new one!
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That’s a great style Barbara, I used to have a thing about white shirts and had a real collection! I’ve since branched out into different colours. I love the idea of a purple linen shirt – go you!!
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Hi Deb – I always love your bright colours and florals. I think it’s important to shine our lights where we can – and you look gorgeous in all your pics. I wore a soft sage green to our son’s wedding – a colour I’d never worn before and really liked. I had tried a different outfit on that was more in my colour preferences, and my husband said it made me look ‘old’ – I couldn’t get it off fast enough!!
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Thanks so much Leanne. I do like florals and colour – obviously!! I can imagine a soft green would suit you. Isn’t it good that we try things outside of our comfort zones especially when it works!
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The purple is stunning and original! I also love color! I was looking at my collection of work jackets the other day…I really should give them up since I live in leggings and comfy tops in retirement!
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Thanks Carol, I love the purple outfit and have worn it since the wedding. Yes jackets don’t really go with leggings and comfy tops 🙂
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You have a lovely, bright style that matches your smile! You look causal, comfortable, and happy. That’s the important thing. You also seem to know what works and doesn’t work on a short body. I am with you on not wearing long outfits – makes me look like a kid doing dress up.
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Thanks very much Bernie, that’s lovely of you! I think feeling confident in what I’m wearing helps make me feel happy and gives me reason to smile, if that makes sense. I know what I like and think I know what suits me by now. Like you anything too long tends to swallow me up!
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