Classy and Fabulous

Coco Chanel once advised, "A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous." As we tread the territory of middle-aged, this advice becomes increasingly more important. Do not let the "girl" sobriquet throw you off. Being a girl has less to do with age than with one's sense of self and style. Channel your inner Holly Golightly and you will remain forever young.

The French have a much gentler expression for the years between 40 and 60; une femme d'une certaine age. I will be sharing five rules a la francais which I have adopted in my personal style, rules to give you a timeless look to keep them guessing!

1. Be comfortable in your own skin. On the surface, this means remembering to apply your daily SPF, moisturizer, and springing for an occasional facial at Burke Williams. Going deeper, this means self-acceptance and knowing who you are. You are a beautiful woman with your own distinct personality. Dress accordingly.

2. Fads vs. Trends. Fads are the dysfunctional relationships of fashion. We are tempted to go back in time to correct mistakes. Don't. Trends are more about silhouette and color; skinny vs. wide leg; earth tones vs. brights. The rules are no longer hard and fast. If an A-line skirt suits your figure better than this season's pencil skirt, stick with the A-line.

3. Shop Religiously. Study Vogue and In Style for inspiration; then spend an afternoon in the Valley. Westfield-Topanga is now home to Rodeo Drive boutiques and Neiman's but you can still find fashion inspiration in your typical mall stores like Claire's, Target, and Banana Republic.

4. When In Doubt, Throw It Out -- Sometimes... Conventional wisdom counsels if you haven't worn something in 6 months, give it to Goodwill. I would agree if we were talking about the skintight black leather mini hanging in your closet since your Roxbury clubbing days. Or that moldy piece of cheese in the back of the fridge. That pair of black wool designer pants scored at Loehmann's can be tailored to fit your new shape. Serve that beautiful suit divorce papers or at least a trial separation. You might be able to pair the jacket with a flouncy skirt or jeans; the bottom can be teamed with a cashmere cardigan. The other exception is accessories. I recently reestablished a relationship with a Nicole Miller quilted purse, circa 1992, with a Vodka motif. Paired with a little black dress, it is much more of a conversation piece today than during President Clinton's first term!


5. Invest. The stock market and Southern California real estate may have plummeted but there is still value in a good haircut or a Wacoal bra fitted by an expert at Nordstrom's.

We may not be able to turn back the clock to 20, despite hours of Pilates and regular Botox, but we can look great for any age, timeless, classy, and fabulous!