Hi everyone, it’s Justine.
Today let’s talk about style and about the little style details that might make you appear
older than you are.
Let’s be very clear here: this video works at any age, for everyone.
I’m not saying “old”, I’m saying “older than you are”.
Or than you feel.
And I leave it up to you to decide which ones apply to you and which don’t.
There is no finger-pointing on this channel.
It is a safe space.
Basically, the five things that I will mention now come from questions that I receive from
you.
And usually the questions are phrased like this: “Is it ok to wear this, given that
I am xyz years old?”
From all the questions that I got over time, I grouped, or I took away 5 main mistakes,
which I will go through now, and I will also explain how to avoid them.
Number 1.
Wearing everything boxy.
When I see women dressed in everything loose, their entire outfit is loose, I wonder, do
they feel really completely uncomfortable with their entire body?
Are they trying to hide it?
Are they trying to hide parts of it?
And I’m an optimist.
I think there is always at least one part in our bodies that we do like.
Why not try to create an outfit around the parts that we like, rather than trying to
hide everything that we dislike about ourselves.
It’s a much more confidence inducing and positive thought, isn’t it?
For instance, if you do try to hide your body under loose-fitting outfits, maybe rethink
it?
Try once to wear a little bit of tailoring, a little bit of something fitted within an
outfit.
For instance, wearing loose sleeves but the sleeves are fitted at the wrist level.
It gives you already a little bit of heart, a little bit of fit somewhere in the outfit.
Or if you wear a very long dress, why not try to belt it?
Suggest the contours of the body under the garment at least at one point, so to say.
Or if you try to follow the classic rule of balance that’s also very helpful I think.
If you wear tighter pants, the top can be loose.
If you don’t like to show your hips by the way, you can make the top go longer and cover
your hips, that’s no problem.
A flowy blouse that’s a bit longer or a tunic with fitted pants, or the other way
around, you make the pants loose, but the top a little tighter, either on the torso
or the arms.
Number 2.
Wearing monochromatic outfits can also make you seem older.
For instance, all black, all beige in summer.
Black is great, eh?
Black…
I love black.
I’m a big fan of black outfits.
But it is missing contrast, so it will tend to make you look a bit pale, or a bit washed
out, a bit tired.
We need to be smart about it when we do monochromatic outfits.
The easiest trick is to add in a slight touch of color through jewelry or an accessory,
and you’re looking to break the harmony of the color palette of what you’re wearing
by combining the main color with a touch of its complementary color.
So on the color palette, let’s say you’re wearing a navy blue outfit which is here,
navy blue is here.
Its opposite on the wheel would be something orange.
It doesn’t have to be a pure orange and it doesn’t have to be a big quantity in
the proportions of the color you’re wearing, but a slight touch will immediately make your
outfit pop, look more modern; it will wake up your face.
That’s how the eye works, so you can use it for yourself.
I did a full video on color theory applied to fashion, so to help you combine colors
when creating outfits.
I will link it here in the corner and down below in the description box for you.
I highly recommend you watch it if you haven’t done so already.
Number 3.
Wearing the same shapes, cuts and proportions as in your earlier days will very likely give
away your age.
Choose cuts and proportions that match your current body.
This one is at any age.
I think at any point in time, regardless of age, your wardrobe should match your body
and fit you properly in terms of style.
I will share my own experience with you guys, no taboo here.
I have always been a pear shape, and I know that, but there was a moment in time when
I was extremely sporty, and I in fact looked like an inverted triangle.
In that moment, at that time, I wore garments that I would not wear anymore now.
So my weight has remained quite constant but my body proportions have changed what feels
like dramatically compared to my teen years.
You know for instance when you go buy jeans.
If you get jeans that are not cut for your body shape, it’s extremely uncomfortable,
because the fabric is too tight, so jeans are a good test.
Now I need jeans that are a lot curvier around the bum, higher-waisted and much wider around
the hips.
When you sit down with jeans that are too tight for you, you know the blood circulation
in your legs stops.
That’s when you know.
I’ve done a video where I try on different shapes and cuts of jeans for you to compare,
and you can tell how my silhouette looks different, and comfort.
It’s crazy.
So I will link that video too, here and down below in the description box for you guys.
One more note, because that’s important.
I’m not saying that you can’t wear your old favorite garments anymore.
If they are garments that are older, but that you love, because they are a memory to you
or something special, I’m not saying you should not wear them anymore.
You can still wear them if you have them re-tailored to fit your current body.
It’s much cheaper than buying new clothes.
Number 4.
Wearing too many accessories is another thing that I came across a lot in your questions.
In French we say: “This lady looks like a Christmas tree.”
And then you know she’s got too much on.
I’m sure you gathered… the metaphor.
Coco Chanel herself said, “When you put on your jewelry, at the end, take one thing
off.”
Another way to put it is “less is more”, “quality over quantity”, etc.
There are variations.
But basically, it’s harder to wear less pieces, but to curate what you wear better.
It’s harder, but it’s more elegant.
But it’s harder.
But it’s more elegant.
Number 5.
Wearing a bra that doesn’t fit you anymore.
The most common thing that I see is when the bra gets… the cup gets too small, and the
breasts are coming out above the cup.
Very common thing.
Or the circumference has become too small, and you see here skin popping out because
it’s too tight here in the back, and the last one is when the straps are too tight,
and they cut into the skin here.
So first, make sure that you wear the right cup size.
There’s the size and there’s also the shape of the cup.
So not every brand will fit you, your breasts, and that’s normal.
Then make sure that the circumference underneath still fits, and check every 6 months or every
1 year because your body really changes that much over time.
And if your bra has boning under the breasts, it will very likely also have adjustable straps.
Check your straps all the time.
So right now I have a slight difference on the right side so I need to adjust that.
Make sure that they’re not too loose.
Because then you don’t have the support that you need and it’s counterproductive
for a bra to not support your breasts.
And if it’s too tight and it cuts here into the shoulders, you will naturally go like
this, and it will show in your posture, so allow yourself to stand tall by adjusting
your bra straps.
Do check your bras and the fit every six months or every year because breasts change a lot
over time.
You gain weight, you lose weight.
You’re pregnant.
You were pregnant.
You’re pregnant again.
It’s really a roller coaster.
Make sure to check regularly that your bras still fit you and replace what doesn’t fit
anymore.
This is a very quick run-through and it is hard to generalize when talking about fit,
but I do hope you found these tips useful.
If yes, thumbs up, thank you so much!
If you want to learn more about fit, I have done two previous videos on two very difficult
garments.
The first one is a women’s suit, super hard to fit, and a shirt or a blouse.
Both things are very likely to be part of your work wear, of your work attire, and they
are incredibly hard to fit, so it needs proper explanation…
I will link this video here and down below for you guys.
Subscribe to this channel if you are interested in fashion in general and if you’re curious
to learn more.
I usually upload videos every Sunday.
And I will see you next week in a new one.
Until then, take care.
Bye!