Some Debunked Truths To Re-Loving Style At 50 Something!

                                             Can We Normalize Wearing What The FUNK we Want? :) Not Kidding At All!

I never thought I’d be here, sharing my story on a blog post, but here I am, at fifty-something, learning to embrace the "wearing what the Funk I want" mantra.

I struggled with my style for so long, feeling like I just couldn’t get it right. Not realizing there is no right or wrong way to rock any style. 

But over time, I've come to embrace the funky, odd, and mix-matched no fashion sense of style in clothes that make me, me.

I was bullied as a kid and throughout my preteens, and as I entered high school, it got worse. When most of the kids were wearing name-brand clothes, I was cutting up my clothes and re-making them into something else. 

Thinking back 30- 40 years ago, upcycling clothes and jewelry just was a big thing in my day as a kid. Although, I got laughed at and talked about for cutting up my clothes. Thrifting and changing up my clothes was fun. I was called dirty for wearing secondhand clothes although I knew most kids at my school wore hammy downs.

It’s funny how now according to social media, thrifting and buying used old clothes is the hottest trend amongst youngsters these days.

Upcycling, recycling and cutting up clothes is also popular, and it’s growing rapidly among resellers. My grandmother used to tell me every single day to stop worrying about what the kids say about you because one day, thrifting and cutting up clothes will be a big thing. HA! If only my granny was here to see what's happening in the 21st century. 

I spent way too many of my years focusing on the way I looked and dressed. By the time I was an adult with kids, I was dressing in plain clothes and wearing mommy-style moo moos all the time. Hey, before you judge me, dressing up just was not a factor in my life. But as my children got older I noticed they were into dressing up and wearing the latest trends like Lizzie Mcquire and Pop Art Styles. As they got older, I started beauty school, and that's when the spark for style and dressing myself up hit me again at the age of 29. 

Although I was a mom about to be a new wife, I was beginning to see myself as pretty for the first time. 

I'm not joking at all ( I saw myself as more than a mom, wife, friend, and a church going girl for the first time. Going to beauty school later in my life opened my eyes to a whole new world of being a woman.

Who knew finger waves could make a woman feel beautiful? Just as getting a fresh new hairstyle can make someone feel nice, wearing a cute outfit can and will do the same thing, in my opinion. I believe that is possible. Not only did I enjoy beauty school, but I started fixing myself up more and buying new and gently used clothes again. But I fell off the style train again somewhere down the lifeline. I began to bum style again by throwing whatever I could tussle up out of my dresser drawer for the day. 

Don’t worry. I will share more about bum styling later because I love a good bum style. And I do have plenty of days that will call for that type of styling.

By the time I was in my mid-thirties, I was still not dressing for myself or my age. Once, I opened up my salon. I was working so many hours I just wore a uniform and baggy clothes for comfort. 

I remember attending my first hair show, and my eyes opened up to a whole new world.

Fast forward, life was moving fast, I closed my local salon and moved to Dallas, Texas, with my husband and our children. I got a new start on life, had another little baby, and life was feeling and looking real good. Boom one day I woke up and I was forty-something and I looked in the mirror wanting a new style change. My daughters have grown up, they were finishing up college and the last bay was in elementary school. 

Oh my goodness, I started to see that my age was catching up with me. Not in a bad way, but I needed to start putting myself first for once. 

This time, when I looked in the mirror, I saw a woman who could not be bullied anymore. Now is the time to start living life and wearing what the FUNK I wanted. 

Of course, there are things I know I can’t or won’t wear anymore. As much as I admire the youthful confidence of those who rock Daisy Dukes—or as the young folks say, “booty cheek shorts”—they’re just not for me. My body has changed, and my legs genuinely look strange in them. And that’s okay. Embracing my age means acknowledging these changes and finding ways to feel fabulous without compromising on comfort or confidence.

At forty-something, I cut off my hair and dyed it blonde then in a year I went even bolder. I slapped a bottle of pink on my hair and I have not turned back yet. Then I started playing my style and now I am 50-something still learning about myself and what I want my life and style to become. But, the one lesson I have truly learned is I going to wear what the FUNK I want by any means.

It took me a long time to get to that point in life but it’s my safe space and I am happier now living in my own style truth. I am not an influencer or expert in style, but this is my story and I am going to share it the way I best know how.

Here Are My Five Truths To Wearing My Style At 50-Something:

Confidence is Key: Wear your outfit with confidence. When you feel good, you look good.

Ignore the Critics: Fashion is subjective. Don’t let negative opinions dictate your style choices.

Just Wear The Style: At the end of the day, no one really cares what you wear. I should have worn my daisy dukes and boots. 

Don’t Trust Social Media Tips: Don’t be afraid to try new combinations. Mix patterns, textures, and colors to discover what works for you. I knew wearing converse with my wedding dress was cool, I should have done it! 

Age is Just a Number: There are no age limits in fashion. Wear what makes you happy, regardless of your age. Seriously, polka dots and fishnet socks are a thing if they’re your thing. 

Body Positivity: Love your body and dress it in a way that makes you feel fly. Highlight your favorite features. At every stage in my life, I stopped dressing up or putting in any effort when getting dressed because I wanted my body to look a certain way. That is so lame now that I think about it. Big thighs, big belly, big back,I don’t care; I’m getting dressed.

Accessories Make the Outfit: Don’t underestimate the power of accessories. They can elevate any look. I think I love accessories more than putting on a cute dress. Stay tuned for my little tricks and hacks

My Personal Opinion: Ive learned to enjoy the process of getting dressed. Style is a personal art form and a way to express yourself. Now that I know and understand that it’s on now. :)

What age were you when you started to pay attention to your own personal style?

Join The Funky Movement, Where We Uplift and Encourage One another to wear what The FUNK we want!

See Ya In The Next Post 

Tangie