My smile reflects my spirit

The word Fashion as a noun means current style, form, or sort. Expression also a noun means way of expressing, showing how one feels. As an artist, I use current, retro, costumes,  fads and basics of fashion to express myself and use my face, my body, as a canvas. Regardless of ones shape, size, or budget;  using fashion as an expression is a very powerful tool.  If you think about it, fashion is used to express grief, passion, and has the power to seduce,  or land the job of your dreams.  Being mindful of fashion is important, but being mindful of your body type is quite another thing. As a professional model, schooled in textiles and fashion, I have learned that fashion is more than a noun, more than just what’s in style.  Fashion is a feeling, and used wisely will illustrate your state of being, without  your ever having to open your mouth.  Don’t believe the old adage of what you see is what you get, as a model, this cliche is a marketing ploy, a stylists secret weapon, an advertisers tool.

Fashion to me, is better than beauty.  I hear so many stories of why people don’t care about fashion, they tell me they can’t afford it, or that if people don’t like me as I am,  then what’s the use of pretending underneath clothes.  When you come to think of it, everything we do, wear, eat, or the animals we pick, are an expression of our sense of style or fashion.  Being fashionable means that we have to take chances, we have to be adventurous, we have to experiment, and come out of our comfort zone. Very few people have the courage to come out of their comfort zone of jeans, or a suit. Or are simply so dependent on current fads, that they buy everything that is new without thought to their body type, age, physical appearance, colors, or textures.  Fashion is like ART, like fine WINE and only gets better when we know the value of our individuality.   When we accept ours body’s, our budgets, our strengths, our weaknesses, our uniqueness we are on the right path. Don’t dress for someone else,  dress for yourself, after all we are all one-of-a-kind.

There are so many components to living fashionably.  I use the logo, “Fashionably Fit” because I work with what I have, and don’t aspire to buy everything new that comes out, nor do I try to squeeze my body into a look that I wore twenty, thirty years ago.  Then there are other’s that are so concerned about their physical beauty, that they forget all about fashion and think that beauty is something that a plastic surgeon can give them.  Think of your body as a canvas, choose wisely, ask yourself what am I trying to say, and ask yourself if you are comfortable.  Those high heels, are they really comfortable?  If not, why would you wear them? Are those pants that you’re wearing so tight that you can’t sit down comfortably? If so, don’t wear them! Fashion is simple, comfort is another word for how does what you’re wearing make you feel?

For me, the key to successful dressing, is to remember the feelings that are provoked within yourself by what you are wearing.  Ask yourself, how does this make me feel?  Are you comfortable?  Ask yourself, what am I saying by the clothing that I’m wearing, with the car that I’m driving. Don’t forget the tone of your voice, your smile, and self-care is a key ingredient to being fashionable.  I always looks at a persons shoes, the inside of their car, the inside of their closet.  How a person takes care of their car, their clothing, their things, is in indication of how they take care of themselves.  If a person can take care of themselves, or their possessions, this is  fashionable.

To live a fashionably fit life, I believe that you have to take care of the whole person.  This includes being aware of your skin, makeup, hair, your hands, the way you sit, the way you stand, the way you speak.  A smile is contagious, yet we pay little attention to the power of a smile.  I believe my smile is my best accessory;  it invokes trust, expresses joy, enthusiasm, and is contagious. Yet, it costs nothing. Clothing is the background upon which all other qualities are imposed.  There are many things you can do to make your physical self more expressive, and clothing or fashion is just one modality.

Let’s visit a few things that make us fashionable.  I always ask people how they feel with what they are wearing.  If they feel fabulous, or self-conscious, or invisible, then these are all clues.  Never ever, let the line of clothing end, at your worse feature.  For example, if your arms are flabby, don’t wear a capped  or short sleeve shirt, or if don’t like the shape of our calf’s,  don’t wear a dress with a hem line that stops mid calf.  If you have a large uncomfortable bosom, don’t wear a v neck that draws your eye to this area.  This little rule goes for men too, if your ears are huge, don’t wear a haircut that draws your eyes to this feature, if you’re heavy wear small prints and keep your belts at your natural waistline or above.

Just because something is in style, doesn’t mean you have to wear it.  Being fashionably fit means knowing yourself from the inside out, and it doesn’t cost a cent.  Use fashion as an expression of who you are, or who you aspire to be, and don’t let fashion use you.  Remember be authentic in your dress, and people will magnetically be drawn to you.  Play up your good features, and tone down (don’t change) the features that are not your best.  Dress for the occasion, dress age appropriately, and remember fashion comes from the inside out, express yourself.  No matter what you’re wearing, smile, it will become your most valuable accessory and will open doors.