A glitzy, four-story Forever 21 recently opened in downtown Seattle. It’s kitty corner to the Nordstrom Flagship on 6th Avenue — prime position right in the heart of town. I’ve browsed through the entire store a few times now in an effort to get a better handle on their merchandise.

I’ve been to many Forever 21 stores, none of which were quite as big as this one. At the moment all four floors are full of printed merchandise and the eye cannot rest. It’s bold pattern after bold pattern, after bold pattern. There are very few floor breaks with mannequin and accessory displays, or even just solid colours.

I can navigate through the largest Macy’s in NYC with confidence and patience, but I am overwhelmed at this Forever 21 store. I’m not sure whether it’s bad visual display design, an overstock in printed items, or that I’m not their target customer.

Are you overwhelmed when you shop in a large Forever 21 store? Do you find that there’s an overdose of bold printed garments in your local Forever 21 store at the moment?

Often the popularity of one fashion silhouette leads to the popularity of another. For example, for years, stylish Autumn and Winter fashion has been about wearing fabulous boots in all sorts of lengths, heel heights, styles and colours. This led to the legging jean (or leans) becoming a hit too. This in turn paved the way to a greater leggings assortment and the resurgence of leggings in general. Although I stick to black leggings, these days patterned leggings, velvet leggings, lace leggings and corduroy leggings are also common.

One trend can also support the longevity of another. Tapered cropped silhouettes, slouchy trouser silhouettes, AND wide legged pant silhouettes are currently ensuring the longevity of platformed heels. High vamped booties continue to work hand in hand with short skirt and dress hemlines. Soft voluminous blouses are a great match for pencil skirts, baggy short shorts and skinnies. I also think that voluminous blouses have rejuvenated belt sales! Sleeveless dresses create demand for cardigans and shrugs. Sheer blouses and tops make camisoles more popular than ever. High necklines make long pendant necklaces an easy sell.

So the trends we see in different wardrobe items are all intertwined. And as silhouettes change over time, chances are high that their so called “support acts” will change along with them. And now I wonder what impact the upcoming midi length skirt and dress will have on footwear trends?

I often mention my small handful of clients who are over the age of 70 because they are so very, very inspiring.

They have a strong, quiet confidence and grace that comes with age. They are poised and beautiful. They have positive body image. They are well groomed. They have killer haircuts. They wear spunky specs and accessories. They wear the very best under garments. They wear quality clothing. They fearlessly pull off trendy pieces with sass and sophistication. They wear colour. They take an interest in New York Fashion Week. They are proud about the way they present themselves to the world. They evolve their style each season. And most importantly, they have the utmost fun during the process. We laugh and laugh when we work together. It’s pure energy for my style soul.

These clients wear their ensembles with an air of panache that is all their own. They pair somewhat eclectic pieces with a solid classic edge. Straight leg jeans with ballet flats, skinnies tucked into flat riding boots, boyfriend blazers over frocks, sparkly dresses with animal print shoes, Fryes, leggings, cropped leather jackets, slouchy trousers, clamdiggers, statement belts and cuffs, sheaths and edgy waistcoats. It’s all so glorious I can barely stand it.

I was recently out shopping with a younger client when we bumped into one of my ravishing 70 year old clients. I asked her what she was doing down town, to which she said: “I want to find a midi skirt like the ones you recently talked about on your blog, and try on a pair of nude heels. I also want to try on that denim jacket at Club Monaco because I need a new one!”. I hugged her right there and then.

Don’t EVER think that you are too old to have fun with fashion. If anything, my clients have more fun with fashion and style at 70-plus than they ever have before.

To my clients, know that it is a pleasure and privilege to work with you. You rock my style world in every way. You impress me no end and I want to be like you when I grow up.

Many of my clients select “approachable” as one of the adjectives to define their future style. They don’t want to seem intimidating by being overly polished, trendy, classic, dressy, avant garde, eclectic, branded and glitzy. They don’t want to look like they are wearing really expensive wardrobe items or  looking too perfectly pulled together because they worry that other people might think this implies that they feel a sense of superiority. They do want to look stylish, but at the same time “down to earth” and “touchable”.

I understand these feelings and I work together with my clients to fill their wardrobe with items that create, for them, an approachable style.

My personal take on what makes someone seem approachable is not wrapped up so much in what they wear but rather HOW they carry themselves off in their ensemble. If you have a friendly demeanor, a smiley face, and your body language suggests that you are attentive and open, you will look approachable to me, no matter what you are wearing.

Call me crazy but I am very, very affected by the smiles and laughter of others. I find a friendly face and a fabulous laugh an instant attraction. If I am going to make a judgement about whether you look approachable, the first thing that I will look at is your face and body language, and not your outfit.

Does this mean that my clients should stop connecting approachability with wardrobe items? Well, it isn’t that simple. The thing is that confident people are usually approachable people. When people are shy or ill at ease, defensiveness causes them to withdraw and put up their guard. To others these signals might look indistinguishable from those of someone who is aloof and superior. Certainly not very approachable.

The bottom line is that this is yet another example of needing to manage your comfort zone. If you are moving from a very casual wardrobe to one that is more dressy, my advice is to take some risks but do it in stages. There will be times that you feel self conscious, but these will pass as you get accustomed to the new you. Try not to let your own insecurity about a new look turn into defensive body language that makes you seem less approachable.

Does this resonate with you? Do you find people who have an overly trendy, classic, branded, dressy, eclectic and glitzy style unapproachable and untouchable? How would you define an approachable style?