My mother taught me everything that I know about style. When other kids were watching cartoons on Saturday mornings I was by my mother’s side watching Fashion TV. We would ooh and ahh over the latest designer collections. My mom is a seamstress and a fashion genius. I’ve seen her make miracles with everything from my old jeans to fabric remnants. My sister and I would spend hours with her in the fabric store as kids begging her to leave only to end up picking out our own patterns and begging her to make us our next outfit.
I remember being joyfully excited about a skirt I like in Casual Contempo as a preteen and begging my mom to look at it, she pulled at the fabric and examined the hem. She rolled her eyes and exclaimed, “I can make that!” Those four words would make you put your garment back on the rack and walk out of the store. I sat down recently with my mom so we could talk about her style and her thoughts on style for the everyday woman.
Q. Did style influence you to sew or did sewing influence your style?
A. Sewing was my way to get the look for less. Back then sewing was affordable so you could make things that you wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford. I’ve always loved clothes, sewing was just a way of putting more options within my reach.
Q. How do you think your sewing and your style affected my sister and me?
A. Your styles were so different. You are so eclectic and all over the place and your sister is sporty. When you were little it was my way of expressing my love for fashion. Because I could sew I could give you both more. I was lucky that I could dress you any way that I wanted and you and your sister were receptive. You were always opinionated about what you wore I remember when you were three years old and proclaimed that you wanted to wear dresses every day!
Q. What do you think of our style now that we are adults?
A. (Lots of laughter) You both do well and understand your body types. I sometimes think you both dress mature for your age and I feel a little bad about that. You do really well with balancing classic looks and styling a look for the club. You’ve always had fun with fashion.
Q. Who’s your favorite fashion designer?
A. That’s hard because I love high fashion but I also like urban wear too. I love Michael Kors not what they sell in the stores but his ready to wear line. I love classic designers like Celine. I also like avant-garde fashion too like Alexander McQueen I like things that could only be worn on the runway or at the Met Gala. You know who progressively looks better and better in high fashion? Rhianna. You can see her growth and she keeps getting it right. I like Rhianna’s style much better than Kim Kardashian.
Q. What is your style advice for women who’s body have recently changed to due weight loss or weight gain?
A. Buy your size and if you don’t know what size you are, find out by trying on what you like in multiple sizes. I believe in dressing the body you have. You are wasting time if you are waiting on your body to change before you start dressing better. Buying items that fit will always look good.
Q. What key pieces would you recommended for women on a budget?
It depends on your lifestyle. I think everyone should have a good white button-down shirt. You need a good skirt. You need good pants. Shop off season for the key items that you need like a coat, suit jackets, and expensive suiting items. You can buy quality at any price point.
My mom is a major style influence in my life. She has taught me so much about fit and garment quality. I know I wouldn’t have any interest in style had she not been key in ensuring that my sister and I understood how to dress our bodies in their current state. My mom is the original body acceptance advocate in my life. I’m so glad her Wize Style rubbed off on me!
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