Annette Hoeldrich (52) lives in Bavaria and works as an executive assistant and travel manager for NATO. Some of you may already know her from her blog Lady of Style, where she passionately writes about fashion for the 40+ crowd. Annette is an elegant Modern Classic who has a knack for making trends work for her lifestyle and polished style persona. Our 5’4 blogger is the proud owner of a unique jewellery collection, likes feminine looks, black bottoms and neutral colours. She also loves to remix favourite wardrobe items, and is a big fan of high-low style.
“I have always loved a feminine style and when I got older I turned towards sophisticated, elegant looks. I love dresses and have usually paired them with classy pieces like a blazer and heels. I still wear this a lot to the office and we have many formal social functions where this is appropriate. However, I feel I am more adventurous as I get older I now might pair a dress with a black leather jacket or wear it with booties instead of heels or classic knee-high boots. In the past I have been a lot stricter about the term ‘age appropriate’ and now turned to a much more relaxed attitude! It doesn’t mean I will suddenly start wearing miniskirts or cut-out dresses but I give certain trendier or edgier pieces a try. I especially love this style mix of classy and current pieces.”
Annette is quite the poncho gal. She picked up this burgundy number together with its toffee twin in an Italian boutique. The rich burgundy looks particularly vibrant paired with graphic black and white. The soft wool fabric that drapes back onto the body, and the solid colour help to streamline the unstructured style on our 5’4 blogger. A tailored button-down shirt tucked into stretchy skinny trousers also balances out the volume of the topper. Our blogger has a large jewellery collection, and is skilled at creating a streamlined look with multiple pieces. Here, her pendant earrings with antique finish, multi-strand necklace, gold cocktail ring and eye-catching bracelet add artistic flair. Finally, the gold hardware on the sleek burgundy tote and charcoal belt complement the jewellery.
Retro elegance with a knee-length fit-and-flare dress. Two things make this fab frock even more special. First, the antique rose print in shades of black, grey and white, where you might have expected colour. Secondly, the sheer black yoke combined with the bustier detailing makes for an unusual pairing. It emphasizes our bloggers toned shoulders, while the fit-and-flare silhouette accentuates her trim waist. Keeping the accessories simple, lets the dress be the star of the show. The thin ankle strap on the dainty sandals creates less of a horizontal line across the leg. A beaded bracelet adds subtle colour and sparkle. And the boxy cream clutch adds a modern touch to this dressy, ladylike look.
Sporty Luxe goes to London. Annette loves her faux leather trousers, and built this comfy and practical sightseeing look around them. She created a colour of column by pairing them with a simple black pullover. Keeping the colour palette simple by only adding shades of camel and brown gives the look a luxurious vibe. The fluid fit of the wool blend coat is on trend, and allows for some layering underneath. When the coat comes off, Annette’s animal print scarf continues to add pattern and colour to the all-black outfit. Patent slip-on sneakers, with subtle tortoiseshell effect, bring a bit of sheen to the look. Our blogger’s pulled back hair works well with the playful sporty vibe. A colour blocked tote, gold-toned jewellery and soft pink lipstick provide the finishing touches.
Annette enjoys repeating items she loves — like her faux leather trousers. Here are her top tips for remixing favourite wardrobe items.
“Indeed, I love my faux leather pants and have three pairs in the meantime… Remixing current pieces of my wardrobe is exactly what my worldwide readers can relate to! I think this makes the difference of my age group compared to the 20 something bloggers. For them it is essential to show the latest it-bag. My readers favour more long lasting pieces made of quality. Sustainability is a big trend especially here in Europe. When I go shopping (actually I do most of my shopping online) I rarely buy single pieces unless I exactly know that I have something matching in my wardrobe. I always have a couple of sets in my mind on how I will wear the new purchase. On my blog I have done a couple of styling series in the past, e.g. ‘A basic striped dress worn in 3 different ways’, or ‘How to wear a summer dress in winter’, or ‘3 ways to wear a classic LBD’. Pinterest and my favourite blogs are always a good source of inspiration!”
An all-black look that combines hard-edge leather with feminine lace makes for a great irregular outfit juxtaposition. Head-to-toe black can look flat or harsh, but Annette’s skin peeking through the lace makes all the difference here, because it breaks up the black and looks like a pattern. The vintage lace blouse has elbow-length sleeves. Showing forearm skin is another way to lighten up a darker outfit. The chic faux fur coat adds even more textural interest. Annette’s pants are slim fitting but not body con. Tucking them into black leather booties, with great fit around the ankle, creates a long, lean leg line. As always, our blogger’s accessories game is on point. An elegant pearl arm cuff, similar style ring, and hoop pearl earrings bring timeless elegance to the look.
Casual boho meets ladylike polish. Boho style is often associated with earthy colours, but Annette opted for jewel-toned hues paired with white. Fresh and crisp for Summer. A loose tunic blouse with bell sleeves and deep V-neck is a breezy option for warm weather days. Layering a white cami underneath provides more coverage, and emphasizes the beautiful colours of the paisley print. Cropped skinny pants and bare ankles create structure. Pointy-toed slingback sandals with kitten heel elongate the leg line. The patent leather echoes the sheen and colour of the top handle bag. The large amulet necklace is a statement piece that works well with the boho tunic. Glossy pink lipstick provides extra polish.
Meet the toffee twin to Annette’s Italian burgundy poncho. She’s made it the star of this neutral-toned, trendy look. As you may have noticed, our blogger is a big fan of black bottoms and of remixing favourite wardrobe items. Here she has paired her beloved faux leather pants with a grey plaid shirt. The flannel fabric and wool poncho add instant softness to the hard-edged pants. Layering the drapey poncho over an untucked, rounded hem shirt creates a flattering silhouette with the slim-fit pants. A sparkly sequins and pearls necklace dresses up the look. As do the pearl ring and bracelet, and Annette’s relaxed yet polished hairdo. Soft coral lippie and Annette is ready to go.
We’d love to hear what you think of Annette’s fab Modern Classic and on trend style. You can browse the rest of her outfits over at Lady of Style, or check out her pinboards for more visual inspiration.
