Link to blogpost about lifeline fashion passion

Olive Green

https://passagedesperles.blogs......html#more

Miss the links!
So here is one from a Montreal blogger who is consistently interesting, sharp, and real.
This plots and categorizes fashion interest over time and life changes.
At 70, we are in much the same position vis a vis value and expenditures.
She also talks about uneven aging, is passionate about pearls and artisan jewelry, and her street style observations are always kind.

1 week ago

Dressing

11 replies

Latest reply was from judy

Dee

Veteran

Well that was a fun read Olive Green and she's a fellow Montrealer too.

I feel that I have had a high interest in fashion starting pretty young, definitely by the time I was 7 or 8 years old. I always felt strong need to dress as fancy as my wardrobe and my mother would permit me. In my teens, I used my babysitting and part time job money to finally buy the trendy stylish clothes that I really wanted to wear. I experimented a lot, both with fashion, hairstyles and I was even a certified cosmetician at one point in my life.

This passion continued right up until my 30s and then it dropped to a lower interest fashion once my children arrived on the scene. It was revived once again to a moderate level of interest in my 40s and that's basically where I've stayed ever since. Its definitely not the same level of experimenting but I understand much better who I am now and prefer to dress in a more practical yet somewhat stylish manner to suit my current lifestyle. I can't foresee this ever changing much, at least I hope not, because I really enjoy fashion and love expressing who I am by my clothing choices.

1 week ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Interesting, read, Olive Green! The blogger is popular with YLF readership so there you go

To use the blogger's terminology:

I've had quite a High Image Interest for decades in terms of DRESSING. It's my line of work, after all!! But minus the beauty aspect of it. No cosmetic procedures other than a few problematic mole removals. I'm not very interested in make-up and beauty products either. I am into the wardrobe items part of it! That said, I love to spend on artwork, home decor, and travel. I will forgo wardrobe item expenditure for those things.

My Image Interest is higher now at 54 than it was in my teens, 20s or 30s! Like Dee, I don't expect that to change for the same reasons she mentions. I want to maintain the fun, and stress-relieving part of my life, which is fashion and style.

1 week ago

Runcarla

Veteran

Another long time fan of this Canadian blogger.

1 week ago

LJP

Veteran

That was an interesting article! I was a High Image Interest person for most of my teenage and adult life - with maybe a dip to Low Interest in the early parenting years. Or Medium-Low at least, lol. I'd put myself firmly in the Medium Image Interest category now and I'm totally ok with that. Relieved , even. I expect to remain that way for the rest of my time

1 week ago

Brooklyn

Veteran

How interesting! I would say I have high image interest and have had it all my adult life. Since about age 10 actually. I like what she said about losing interest after losing the “fashion runway” of work. I found that leaving office work really flummoxed me, for a while, but I never lost interest. I adapted. My mum is in her 80s and still has high image interest, so I suspect it’s not going to change for me.

Like Angie, I’m not that interested in make up or hair. But I am interested in art and design. Increasingly I am channeling my image interest into DIY projects. I am hoping to start making my own jewellery this year.

1 week ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the link! I would say I started with a low image index as a teen and it has gradual ramped up starting in my 40s until now, pushing 60, where I would say it is as high as it has ever been. I would also correlate my image index with my self confidence index, which follows a similar trajectory.

1 week ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Fun read, Olive Green! Thank you!

I've been high image interest for most of my life (from childhood, really) with a dip to low in my late 30s to late 40s for reasons having to do with low income, jobs that demanded the most practical clothing possible, and then some weight gain and childcare.

I'm not particularly interested in makeup or beauty products or hair (apart from picking a style I like that suits me). It's the fashion part of it that interests me. I also have a high interest in home decor, art, architecture and design.

I do find that big life changes (jobs, moves, etc.) can occasion a kind of wobble, as Brooklyn indicates. It can take time for me to figure out how to adapt to a new situation in a way that combines my practicality with my high image interest. Both are very strong in me, so it can be a bit of a conflict!

My mum's pattern was very similar to my own -- high interest up until her mid-to late 30s, I'd say -- then a period until she was around 50 where it was low, and then it increased again. She couldn't shop by then but loved the fashion pages and enjoyed getting dressed up to go out.

1 week ago

Olive Green

Veteran

I remember being completely attuned to fashion in my teens and early dating years, and had absolutely no money. I did have a French beauty of a mom who was definitely High Image and never felt remotely like I was up to the task of being her rather plain and introverted daughter.
Frustrating!
I don’t feel like that now. Appreciate so much having her eye for beauty firmly installed and working, and her sense of self integrity and poise is still a wonder to me.
It’s clear that dating, having kids, moving jobs or locations, menopause and retirement are all potholes on the road to high fashion interest, yet require some thought as we sigh and reach for our pocketbooks. Another wardrobe update.
Suz, combining practicality with high interest…exactly. That is it in a nutshell.
Jaime, self confidence is the best accessory. Well, and a smile
Brooklyn, you paint with your clothes, jewelry will be beautiful.
Runcarla, Montrealers, right? That is a High Image city, which must be inspirational.
LJP, same. Dress what we have, and keep enjoying the show.
Angie, your bright colours and wowza styling say so much about you.
Dee, practical and stylish is a great place to land after the rollercoaster of life changes.

1 week ago

Olive Green

Veteran

Agg, the name bolding is a bit off, more coffee.

1 week ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Olive Green, love the sound of your stylish role model Mama! The apple did not fall far from the tree. You lucky fish

1 week ago

judy

Veteran

Thanks for the link. I used to visit her blog and it's slipped off my radar for a bit.

I've always had a high interest in what I am wearing, especially since say 13, 14 years old, willing to try new things and experiment, and lots of joy in it. Little interest in hair or make up, with the exception of some lipstick/mascara phases in my 30's and 40's.

The only changes over time have been environment and money access. Currently I live on a very low income, and therefore buy very little, but my interest and satisfaction remain high!

1 week ago

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