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Fashion Mission Statements?

Staysfit

Veteran

I was cleaning out the study, a potentially dangerous activity, and came across some scraps of paper with the following headings: Shopping Rules 2012, Staysfit Buying Rules (no date), Scaling Down Mission Statement.

The mission statement in particular made me think about what it might be like to have a fashion mission statement. I have never written one. I did write a statement when I was thinking about moving last year. This still applies as we are still in the process of scaling down in our home with the intention that we will in fact eventually move to a smaller home once our DS graduates High School next year.

Here it is: "Scaling Down Mission Statement:" I need to consolidate our household items so we can move to a smaller home. I will eliminate objects/items that aren't a reflection of our current life and thereby simplify and gain better control of the environment so it is easier to maintain clutter free and find things. The purpose of scaling down is also to provide a clean, calm, cozy environment in which I can easily do the things I love - entertain, exercise, read, relax, enjoy natural views.

I am still thinking about what I would include in a fashion mission statement, the main elements are to include a statement of "I need to...." and "So I will..."

In my case, my style journey started as a process to improve and refine my style, hone down my closet, and reduce my spending on items that would be left unused. I also wanted to focus my attention on other areas of my life, so I could free up more money for savings, vacations, and recreation, etc. From this I can start to develop a mission statement. Here's my first stab at one:

"Staysfit Fashion Mission Statement" I need to define and refine my style to enable me to make better purchasing choices, so I can reduce spending on items that go unused and thereby free up money for activities and uses that are also of high priority in my life at this time, such as savings, vacations, recreation, etc. Style is particularly important to me, as it is a reflection of my personality, and my appearance has a huge impact on relationships. Relationships are the most important thing to me in life plus they are the basis for my livelihood. Therefore, appearance is of high priority, although not top priority in my life.

It may need some refinement, and I may completely change it. It was done very impromptu.

What do you think? What would your Fashion Mission Statement be?

General

21 replies

Latest reply was from Staysfit

Helena

Veteran

I love this - I think it's a great idea and your mission statement is excellent. I especially like how it not only defines what you want to achieve re: fashion, but also puts it into context in terms of other priorities in your life.
I don't know what mine would be, but this is an exercise I will do! Thanks for sharing it!

Staysfit

Veteran

Thanks Torontogirl, I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

I was just thinking about a revision, as I am a big editor. Here is my first edit. There may be more.......

Staysfit Fashion/Style Mission Statement:

I need to refine my style to enable me to make better purchasing choices, so I can reduce money spent on items that go unused and free it up for purposes that are also of high priority in my life at this time, such as savings, vacations, recreation, etc. At the same time I need to maintain a good appearance so I can make a good impression on people and form good relationships. Style is a part of my appearance and it reflects my personality. My appearance has an impact on relationships. I value my relationships above all other priorities in my life, and relationships are the basis of my livelihood. Good grooming, healthy habits, and wardrobe evaluation and planning are all ways to help improve and maintain a good appearance which helps to foster the formation, and maintenance of relationships..

Dimity

Great question!
I think mine might be something like this: I need to define and refine my clothing choices to better reflect who I am, so I can then use my time to pursue the other areas that are interesting to me without having to fuss about clothes but while still feeling good about myself.
A bit of a long sentence, but getting somewhere.

Dimity

Your new version demonstrates clarity of thought about how relationships fit in with style. It's very true how important it is to present ourselves effectively in our differing roles, so this is a valuable point. *applause!*

Runcarla

Veteran

Good connection made regarding fashion/style and the role it plays. So many times fashion/style is relegated to recreation and amusement with only occaisional value for self expression.

Mission statement works for me. Maybe even better than style descriptor, something I am still struggling with.

Good thread, Staysfit!

Staysfit

Veteran

Dimity, I like yours! The sentence may be long, but the ideas are all there.

Carla, I also have style descriptor words, which I find helpful, but this is more of an overall statement of purpose guiding what I am doing with my style and why. It sets some general parameters so I dont get distracted from my priorities.

I have spent a lot of time over the past few months considering my style, and this time and focus on fashion is uncharacteristic. When I look at how there is a complementary benefit to one of my core values - relationships, it helps me justify the time spent and I feel good about the process.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Angie's Mission: To have fun with fashion, and make sure that YLF does too.

Staysfit, I like your though process.

Staysfit

Veteran

Thanks Angie! I love your mission, and I think you are very successful at it! We all benefit!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

40plusstyle recently did an interview with Lyn of Accidental Icon.
In it Lyn said:

People would say, “Oh your face is so young, dye your hair”, magazines directed at my demographic had constant advertising about “anti-aging” products. So I guess my rebellious nature kicked in and rather than try to stem the tide so to speak I started to take risks with clothing and sure enough, young people in particular began to “see” me and make comments about my style. This feedback would induce me to take another risk and so on until I found myself no longer being invisible.

So for me rather than surgery or other anti-aging remedies, focusing on clothing and developing a unique and different style is how I have responded to aging.

This, together with Angie's having fun with fashion, is my mission.

Dimity

Staysfit, I don't usually have so much focus on clothes either. Like you, though, I'm finding that there are lots of benefits in other areas. Today, I got two really nice complements on what I was wearing and it boosted my confidence so I could relax and enjoy the occasion.

Staysfit

Veteran

Shevia, I love your mission statement! It's so true that there is a general difficulty accepting the aging process and a need to "cover" it up or somehow hide it. I love the idea that rebelliousness against someone else's criticism of your appearance (suggesting you cover your gray hair because you have a young face). pushes you to express your creativity and personality in such a unique and special way.

Dimity, you give a perfect example of how your appearance can effect relationships. This part is speculation: You looked good, received a complement and felt good, and also probably felt more positive towards the people who complemented you. Here is more speculation: On that particular day, your positive mood and greater ease would have made you more likely to react positively towards someone else also.

I believe that happiness and positive energy spreads spreads Thats why Angie's mission to make fashion fun works so well! She has so much positive energy, and knows how to use her skills to bring that positive energy to this forum.

Anonymous

I came up with a style/shopping statement awhile ago to help myself understand & focus better on what my needs actually are. I'm in danger of shopping for a fantasy life (dressier than I need), so my statement for my wardrobe became this:

"To have a wardrobe full of clothes that are classic, timeless, versatile, and flattering, and that fill all my current lifestyle needs."

The kickers are "current" and "needs", but all the words are key to what I'm drawn to and to what makes me happy in my style.

Staysfit

Veteran

Andrea, I love your statement! I have also fallen prey to the fantasy me and have made purchases and choices based on what I wish I was rather than what I truly am at the time. For example when I cleaned out my closet I had four or five cocktail dresses that had never been worn before, tags in place, etc. I purchased them imagining I would need them. Even the college graduations I regularly attend each year (my husband is a college professor, and I also have medical residents that I teach) do not require such formal attire, a nice dress will do.

Elly

Veteran

I want to feel good in my skin each day. In order to accomplish this, I need to have a wardrobe of comfortable, relatively current, flattering clothes, that are in good condition, and are practical for my preferences and lifestyle. I need to feel good about myself AND feel like myself wearing them. They must bring me joy. Laundry, dressing, and packing must be easy. To assure this, I will continue to follow fashion, pay attention to my emotional and physical preferences, evaluate my needs each season, shop with my budget and lifestyle in consideration, shop one season at a time, return items that don't live up to my expectations or don't meet me needs, repair an clean items as needed, cull items that I don't love or wear or are past their prime. And of course, have fun with fashion!

Dimity

Your speculation is spot on!

Sharon

Veteran

Shevia, I love that quote. One of the things that has stayed with me after watching the documentary on Bill Cunningham was his statement "Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life." I think that is so true! It allows us to transcend age and weight and body changes and to define our appearance independent of those things. I love the idea of choosing clothes based on how well they serve us in facing the realities of our lives on our own terms.

Staysfit

Veteran

Very nice Elly! Everyone has subtle differences in their emphasis, and each mission statement is a truly personal guide. Thanks for sharing yours.

Sharon, I haven't seen the documentary on Bill Cunningham, but it sounds interesting. You have drawn some useful ideas from there and in three short sentences, have created what sounds like an excellent mission statement. (Maybe that wasn't your intention, but what you wrote could be one).

MovingFashionForward

Shevia, I too love that Accidental Icon quote -- what an inspiration she is!

Sarah

Dimity

Interesting to relate the Bill Cunningham quote about fashion being armour and Accidental Icon's decision to consciously adopt a different style to combat invisibility. It's like her clothes are a cloak of visibility that makes her relevant to today's world and protect her from fading away.

I've found that I get more attention in a store and better haircuts if I make an effort to look good, so it really does work.

Sharon

Veteran

I have certainly experienced the sense of my clothes protecting me from feelings of vulnerability and insecurity and I am sure their powers extend to overcoming invisibility too!

Staysfit

Veteran

I love the direction this has gone. I found the Bill Cunningham documentary on Netflix, and I read the Accidental Icon blog post, twice, then printed it out for my fashion scrapbook. I am probably in the beginning of the documentary now. This is not relevant to mission statements, but so far he's riding his bicycle around Manhattan photographing people's legs and shoes. So many people get mad at him when he tries to take their picture! That's what I've noticed so far. I bet I would also get upset if a stranger tried to photograph me. It's the surprise factor, not paranoia.