Style: Growing up VS. Evolving

Today I want to share my thoughts on personal style, growing up, and just being happy.

When I was around 24 years old I was compared to Anne Hathaway's character in The Devil Wears Prada. "You  know you could look like her if you tried" was what was said to me. I remember thinking 'why would I want to look like that?'. And let me be clear that I'm not talking about the "True to myself" Anne, I'm talking about the "Oh I'm wearing $600 shoes to be respected at the workplace" Anne. And don't get me wrong, this isn't a post to blast Anne Hathaway's character in the film or the actress herself. I think she is wonderful and gorgeous and awesome. And I also think that movie was just fine. I mean, in the end she does find her true self right? So speaking of true self and basically getting back to the whole point of this post... I have been trying to get back to MY true self. It all started when I was midway through my pregnancy with Liam.  I began to wonder if I needed to change.  Could I still wear the clothes I wanted? Did I have to grow up? What would it take, and how did I need to change in order to fit into this so called "Mommy mold" I had created in my own head? What I found out was I can't change, and there is no such thing as a mommy mold.

This is my dream style, the style I seek to fulfill , what I would consider my signature look.  And let me tell you, it's far from what I had imagined I'd look like as a mother.

Not my photos! Images found on Pinterest // HERE

As a young girl I looked up to music icons like Joan Jett and Billy Idol. Many of my weekends were spent at motorcycle shows, listening to classic rock, and hanging out with a lot of tattooed people who rode Harleys. So naturally I love rock n' roll. I love tight jeans and tattoos. My hair has been dyed too many times to count, and hair cuts have ranged from chopped up to shaved off.  I adore the alternative. But I have been fighting this attraction for the past year. I thought it was time to let it go. To move on. To grow up.

What was I thinking!? How can I be anything but myself?  Why am I comparing myself to countless other people? When I found my old septum retainer and found that I could still slide the jewelry through my nose I found myself looking at myself in the mirror and seeing someone I used to know looking back at me.  Was this just nostalgia or something more?

And so I ask this question:  When it comes to style, why do we choose to grow up instead of evolve?  I found that the more I tried to fit into the grown up mold (the mommy mold), the less confident, pretty, or even stylish I felt.  On the other hand, when I put on my skinny jeans and my leather jacket...I feel great.  I feel like myself!  Last night this topic came up while chatting with David. He simply said "Christine, you are cool, you are rock n' roll! And it doesn't matter if you are 30 or 50 wearing what you love...it's going to look good because that's who you are!"  And he's absolutely right (although I'm not sure I consider myself to be rock n' roll haha). Then I starting thinking about this guy I used to see walking around the neighborhood we used to live in.  He has to be at least 50.  His hair has greyed and his body has aged.  Never the less, there he was walking his dog down the sidewalk wearing slim blue jeans, vintage vans, and a band t-shirt.  The best part was it wasn't some tragedy, it looked authentic.  He didn't look like he was wearing a costume, he just looked like himself.  A retired punk kid who decided to let his style evolve with him.  I admire him and his refusal to change who he was, and in all honesty, wouldn't that be the real tragedy?

I'm not saying you have to keep shopping at the same stores you found yourself wandering around in when you were 16. But if you like something there is no reason to toss it just because it's not "what someone your age would wear".  If it looks good on you, and it makes you feel like a million bucks, then it's the right outfit.  People have a pretty good sense about what looks okay and what looks plain ridiculous.  And the people who don't are often found at Walmart. (just kidding...but really...people of walmart!? good grief!)

Sometimes my favorite thing to do is hop on Polyvore.com and create little outfits.  Here are some examples of what I love to wear.  I think this is perfectly age appropriate and shows how my style has evolved as I have gotten older.

What are some of your favorite things to wear? How do you feel your style has changed or stayed the same as you've gotten older.  Are you growing up or are you evolving?