Sophisticated Dame

Honestly, it is a guilty pleasure ... this Oscar Red Carpet ... a clandestine peek into a woman's psyche - or at least that of her stylist.  Ms. Mirren's stylist for the event was none other than Becks Welsh  who also styled Helena Bonham Carter that evening of February 27th.

Two distinct women and two distinct styles.

Both with distictly Authentic Voices.

Ms. Mirren did not disappoint on the 27th. 

Given that she wanted to wear a British Designer, HM's choice of a gunmetal grey silk Vivienne Westwood was spot on.  Westwood has had an amazing career and has always been interested in pushing the envelope and has a flair for the dramatic ... if you have been around the block, you probably remember the Sex Pistols God Save the Queen ... or maybe her getting her OBE with no knickers on ...

But I digress ...

HM uses the dramatic puff sleeve detail and the ruching to play up her attributes fabulously.  She has an amazing body and knows how to work a dress to her advantage ... she is not overly bedecked and bejeweled. The color of the silk shimmers and really plays up her fair coloring ... that and a little blush, a pale pink on the lips, and simple eye makeup equals a sophisticated ensemble for a very sophisticated Dame (literally).

Ok ... all well and good but how does this apply to the rest of us mere mortals?   I use HM as an example of a woman who knows who she is - and everyone can learn from this.  She has a strong sense of herself - her strengths and weaknesses; She is 65 ... she is not sleeveless but she is on occasion!  If I could talk for her, I think she might just say something like "Dear, just because you can does not mean you should".

She is confident - and confidence is sexy ... has nothing to do with showing skin.  We all know what it feels like when we look good - Own that feeling!  That feeling could be inspired by a good hair day; that first day that you get to put away the winter boots and get that pedicure up and running again; fitting into a pair of jeans that have lain fallow in your drawer for a few months (or years!); cleaning out your closet and letting the past go ...

Be authentic - be yourself - this is an internal thing.  Women invest time in trying to fit in - drawing attention to oneself has the potential for making one a target.  Pay not one iota of attention to the haters - march to your own drummer and stand up for yourself.

Just think of the stories you can tell ... I, for one, am taking some pages from Helen and Vivienne's books ... maybe, when I am called to the castle, I won't be wearing any knickers either!

Our uniforms ...

A passion for fashion born in my mother's closet - Pant and skirt suits, multiple pairs of heels in their boxes (same style, different colors), cashmere sweaters, scarves, the occasional Pucci print, perfect pearls and lady-like jewelry - all found a way into my consciousness. An army of bottles, lotions and potions - lined up in perfect precision on her dressing table.  Jewelry that came out of it's slumber in the safety deposit box just in time for the party.  Her's was the first walk in closet - made to be hidden in - the Scottish wool perfectly scratchy against my face with a faint lingering whiff of Arpege - her collection of scarves a veritable riot of color and texture tied just so - her heels tapping a tattoo on the well-worn, turn of the 19th century, wide board floors.  Her's the first uniform - impeccable with not a pair of jeans in sight.

I can't always say that I dressed well, but I certainly enjoyed the process! I did have an actual uniform during high school.  Knee socks, clogs and a short tartan or khaki skirt - with a button down shirt and sweater - and cords in the winter when our legs would turn first bright red and then blue with the wind coming off the mountain.  In the land of the Fair Isle and fisherman knit, I was Queen - my closet regularly raided by marauding roommates.  Rough and ready to go, I hit the college quad running - I rebelled against the conscription and embraced yet another uniform ... jeans and T's ... Indian shirts, tie dyes and denim patches ruled the land and my days spent ripping out seams of faded jeans to make skirts lasted long into a time where others put on the stockings and went to work in finance.

I eventually appreciated the power tie and suit ... but that was short lived ... strong shoulders, strong hair and slouchy menswear had it going on long after the sensible shoes were kicked off and that tie ripped from my throat.  Button downs, turtlenecks, hats, gloves, vintage blazers and overcoats ... a pink double breasted jacket bought in Paris ... Levi's men's jeans ... Doc Martins ... Keds .... and still the sweaters ...

Student uniform, mommy uniform, teacher uniform, a woman of a certain age uniform .. we all wear them ... and for many the uniform is a safe place to be ... comforting in it's familiarity but with the potential for stifling creativity as it easily stagnates ...

As an planner, stylist and event designer, I spend most of my time pouring over my favorite magazines and websites .... stacks and stacks and more stacks of tear sheets haunt my waking moments and overflow onto the floor from my glass top desk ...a riot of color and style - Valentino bows, Marchesa draping, Lagerfeld structure, Calvin and Kors classicism, Dior bondage, Hilfiger sportif .... with a wink and a nod to who went before and who is waiting in the wings, there are many options for all of us ... and you don't have to wait for a special occasion (wedding or otherwise) to look your best.

Embrace your uniform, but clean out your closet ... donate to Goodwill and AmVets ... jumpstart your local economy and go get a new pair of shoes and an accessory or two .... mom jeans need to be set free ...

One more thing ... remember that you might just have a daughter, niece or granddaughter who likes to play in your closet ... what are you teaching her?