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2020 - style goals reflection

Bijou

Veteran

John Lennon said in his song Beautiful Boy "Life is what happens to you whilst your busy making other plans". This has been very true for me in 2020.

At the start of 2020, I was filled with optimism, a new year and new decade. My style goals were 'glamorous, sophisticated and bold' reflecting my desire to look professional. Wearing suits for my corporate office job was an easy and practical solution to achieving my style goals.

2020 - the year of Covid - made these style goals go out the window - not too many opportunities to be glamorous, sophisticated and bold when working from home...and then I changed jobs, so working from home is now my new normal.

I selected pink as my colour of the year and renew as my word of the year. My colour and word goals for 2020 have been successful. Pink, has been a great colour for me, an uplifting and happy colour. My pink purchases in 2020 reflect my change in style, less corporate and more casual and relaxed. My pink Birk's are my favourite at home shoe and my pink cardigan is soft and cosy to wear.

Renew - when I picked this word, I wanted to refresh my outlook and smarten up. That did not happen, but I did embark on a new business venture. A number of stressful situations have arisen in 2020 which have meant that my goals of being fit and fabulous in 2020 were not met. Luckily I kept up my karate training and have set training goals to get me back on track in 2021.

In Finds - my 2020 Pink Purchases and favourite purchases which help toughen up all that pink!
Favourite shoes - white boots
Favourite clothes purchase - denim jacket (second hand)
Favourite bag - denim bag

For 2021, I will redefine my style goals to reflect my changed lifestyle. Any comments or suggestions on how I should proceed are most welcome.

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Dressing

32 replies

Latest reply was from Bijou

Liesbeth

Veteran

In this crazy year it's lucky - or a coincidence like with my goals - to have any goals accomplished at all!
I like your new additions and find them very cohesively YOU despite your having to do a fast turnaround job-wise.
So how can I give you advice? In all changed circumstances where you have at least enough left to wear that you still like, I find the best approach to feel your way through... like you'll know when you lack a certain type of clothing for your new circumstances (warm cardi or breezy top or...)

celia

Veteran

Pink and Renew were good items for 2020, I think. It didn't work out as you were expecting but it seems like it was a positive year for you.
I love your pink items and that polka dot skirt is my favorite of the lot.
Out of curiosity what style of karate do you practice?

Runcarla

Veteran

In a time where there is a lack of novel sensory experience due to reduced extracurriculars, I believe what we wear has a big role to play and may even fill some of the void. You have always had a good eye for the beautiful and luxurious. I think that will continue to be true going into 2021, even if you are more internally focussed due to WFH. Though the type of garments you choose might be different in the new year, the Bijou part will be the fabrication. Silks, cashmere, fine wool, high end performance synthetics, etc. I’m wondering if a neo house dress, or pajamaesque pantsuits (not pajamas) will feature in your closet next year?

Minaminu

Veteran

you definately had a pink and fab 2020, considering the ups and downs that we all had this year! I like your bubbly style and look forward to see how it will develop in 2021!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*applause*

You can't help but ALWAYS look glamorous, sophisticated and bold, Bijou! Full stop.

Just looking at your new items makes me smile and cheer you on! WFH has not shifted the goal posts much to my eye. Fewer heels and suits perhaps, but always powerfully pretty and playfully glam because that is who you are. Your authentic style shines through

Life took us all into another and very unexpected direction this year. Almost everything was a moving target. But you weathered the storm and have a great attitude for 2021! WELL DONE.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

p.s. do you think that a 50 year old can start karate from scratch?

slim cat

Veteran

I enjoy seeing your posts and outfits - you are a ray of light with your glamorous, playful style of dressing! I think you did great job adapting your style this year but staying true to yourself - well done!

JAileen

Veteran

Your outfits are always fun to see. You wear great colors and have fun accessories. Those are some great additions. And pink, well, I love it! I hope you have better 2021.

kkards

Veteran

2020 is the year that upended so many plans, goals and initiatives, but it looks like you were successful in pivoting your goals in the new reality. Well done...and I’m sure that in 2021 you will continue to evolve and find your way of being 'glamorous, sophisticated and bold', even if it looks so different from what you originally thought.

Anonymous

The pink Birk’s made my day!

notsaf

Veteran

Love your pink picks! I also always have loved your denim looks and the way you mix pretty colors/fabrics/patterns with tougher elements (a denim jacket, your star boots), so I think you'll nail a less formal look through that kind of mixing. I look forward to seeing the results! Here's to a better 2021.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm with Angie. You may not have worn as many tailored suits (and that's a shame, because you own some gorgeous ones and look amazing in them!) but you stuck to your pretty, feminine, bold, and distinctive "Bijou" style through and through! I'm impressed, in fact, by how effectively you managed to switch over to slightly more relaxed renditions of some of your favourite styles and find your footing (ha ha) right down to pink Birks!

rachylou

Veteran

I love your pinks. I think your style goals worked out, if in an unexpected stay-at-home way! I do feel you have a knack for being sophisticated yet cheerful. That can be a challenge.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Pink and pretty, but playful with a twist of unexpected! I always enjoy your outfits and think that you will have even more fun being creative as a WFHer. Love the pink floral dress and imagine it with the snow boots!

Bijou

Veteran

Liesbeth - such good advice to accept and adapt to my new reality.

Celia - yes pink and renew were good words for me in 2020 - when I selected them I had no idea of what the future would hold and that is definitely a good thing. I practice sports karate with our style accepted by the World Karate Federation. 2020 was supposed to be a great year for our sport with the Tokyo Olympics - hopefully they are deferred and will not be cancelled. My school is an Australian arm of EKKA Karate Association in England.

Carla - I thoroughly agree with you. Dressing adds a bit of excitement to the day and so when activities are restricted, it is a way of lifting my spirits.

Minaminu - I am planning on taking things a bit slowly in evolving my style. To regroup and access how I can wear what I currently own in new ways.

Angie - Thank you so very much for your beautiful message. You definitely could do karate, I was a beginner at 46 years of age. With yoga, you have strength and flexibility - two things that were a challenge for me when I started. I was worried that I was not fit or flexible enough to start karate, but my instructor said well if you start you will get fit and flexible, which was true. At my school Adults over 25 only have to do a jump front kick. A jump turn heel kick is the typical flying kick that you see in the pictures, but only younger adults are required to do those kicks. As for kumite (sparring), I do this, but with other women and we go hard (as in challenge each other), but we have padded gloves and foot pads and arm guards and never connect when we do head punches or kicks - it is very safe. I love doing kata, which is a sequence of movements that represent flighting. It is like doing a moving meditation that gives a complete body workout. 2021 is the year that I hope to get my second dan - so lots of training for me to achieve that goal.

JAIleen - my westie shirt has been a great addition too - a firm favourite that gets the Margot seal of approval!

KKards - that is a great way to look at 2020 - not with a sense of loss, but rather seeing the new opportunities that the changes 2020 brought into my life have provided to me.

Nikki - the pink Birks are comfy and fun! I like to wear them with socks in the cooler weather.

Notasof - yes I am hoping that 2021 is a good year for the world too. It is nice to see vaccines being available to stop the spread of Covid.

Suz - I have a few business meetings so those give me the opportunity to wear my favourite suits. I never thought I would be swapping my heels for Birks, but the fact that they are so comfortable - they definitely beat heels!

Rachy - thank you - I think the cheerful part of my style definitely comes from the use of colour. My love and use of colour is something that I intend to continue with.

Shevia - that is definitely the opportunity - to become more creative now I can dress to please myself. I love the outfit you suggest and have worn these together.

Sal

Veteran

Bijou - I enjoy your creative joyful style so much. You write well and I hope one day we can meet. 2020 has been a strange year - and stressful even fir those of us not in Covid hotspots.

Love your pink capsule - it was a great choice of colour for you.

MsMary

Veteran

Angie, I started karate from scratch at 40 and got all the way to black belt and competed in tournaments and taught children's classes. It was a fabulous experience! Give it a try!! Check out a number of dojos until you find one that works for you! At a lot of places they have classes for the parents of the kids who train there, and that would probably be a good option for you.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I do think you managed "glamorous, sophisticated, and bold" this year, despite all of the changes and challenges. I can see how that might not feel quite right for moving forward, though...as you'll probably need to embrace a more practical element working from home.

I find your style to be playful and cosmopolitan in addition to your current words. Playful, in a grown-up way, rather than a twee way...you add that sophistication and glamour to everything you wear!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

What Jenn said. I also love the playfulness of your style. And the way you can mix pretty and tough.
It’s kind of like you with your pretty blonde hair and your karate!
My work and weekend looks are not that different, I wonder if you would also like to keep an element of dressy in your WFH and weekend looks, while keeping them comfortable?

Helena

Veteran

Love your pinks, and I can picture them on you - just beautiful. It sounds to me like you have made the most of what 2020 handed to you this year, and have come through with a positive attitude which is reflected so beautifully in your vibrant style - so maybe not as 'fit' as you would choose, but most definitely 'fabulous', even if not quite in the way you envisioned. xx

Anonymous

Love the pink for you!
And @Angie- yes to karate Why not at 50?
I'm in awe of black belts! Wish I could remember katas :/

Bijou

Veteran

Sal - I hope we get the opportunity to meet up.

Mary - you would be an awesome karate teacher! I concur with you recommendation to join a school that has classes for parents of children, that is how I (and most of my classmates) started and you get a nice mix of ages, with plenty of older students in their 40's and 50's.

Jenn - thank you for your analysis and clarity of thought. I do need to set goals around being practical, never a strong point for me. As much as I like to think I will happily sit at my desk at home wearing sequins in reality that is not going to happen, I am much more likely to put on my jeans.

Jenni - I tend to embrace playful, pretty and tough elements in about equal measure, so that is something to ponder when I consider how to define my style and come up with my style moniker.

Toronto Girl - pink was a great colour for me in 2020. I have enjoyed wearing it and had fun adding it into my wardrobe.

Suntiger - you can probably find your old katas online. It is interesting to see how different styles do the stances and kicks a bit differently.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Bijou, thank you for the detailed response. As soon as I can find a nearby dojo post pandemic, I will report back. You are my inspiration

Mary, that is KILLER awesome! I'm motivated.

Suntiger, thank you for the cheerleading!

Bijou

Veteran

Angie I am humbled and excited for you. I think given you love yoga, you will really enjoy karate and be very good at it. There is something very energising about taking up a new challenge.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I am obsessed with the dress! Longer sleeves and length and not typical or boring.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

You’ve been an inspiration to me since I joined here, and you’ve done it again with this pivot.

Staysfit

Veteran

Bijou,
kudos for taking a risk and switching jobs. New ventures require creative thought and much energy. Glamorous, sophisticated and bold have shifted to a more casual version. Maybe pretty, sophisticated and bold instead? Regardless, your sparkle and excellent eye for detail reigns true. Best wishes for success with your new business and Happy New Year!

Style Fan

Veteran

I love these favourites for you. Pink Birks look perfect for 2020. I am going to take Renew for my 2021 word.
You always look so sophisticated. I love the Bonjour sweater.

Bijou

Veteran

Barbara Diane - it is a versatile dress, I am glad you like it too. I hope you can find something similar for summer.

Fashintern - that is a lovely compliment - thank you so very much.

Staysfit - yes to being more casual! I have been inspired by your process of identifying the colours, silhouettes and styles that were true to your style and style descriptor.

Style Fan - Renew is a good word to allow for a process of positive change and so worked well for me in 2020 despite Covid.

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