Celebrate Your Authentic Style

"Character is your beauty. Style is your strength" ~ Debasish Mridha

Style is such a prevalent theme for most women. There seems no way of getting around it.

I remember as a young girl playing in my mother's closet amongst the smell of her perfume, colorful silky fabrics and prints. Layer upon layer of color, like a painting, only I could step into. When she would leave the closet doors open, it felt like an invitation to me – that I may dream about dressing up like her.

There was a magic to it as I tried on her high heels in every color, sauntered past the mirror and painted my lips every shade of pink. My mother clearly knew her style, and that made an impression on me, even then. I was able to step into another world of fanciful wishes, beauty and dreams.

Fast forward to my young teens, leaving the world of make-believe behind and the sheer awkwardness of not knowing what to wear or how to wear it. I can remember loving a certain look, yet it was not for me when I tried it on.

Fortunately, age has a lot to teach us about ourselves and what we are comfortable wearing. As women, each one of us is born with our own signature, personality and lifestyle. No two of us are the same – each with our own traits, inner desires and talents. Each of us is beautiful in our own special way – that something unique to only you.

I think the real lesson in beauty is discovering what that is...

Let's have a little fun!

Think about the parts of yourself you really like. Maybe it's your ears. Do you enjoy wearing earrings to spice up an outfit? The options are endless and always changing. Bold, intricate, elegant, playful, colorful. Earrings, for me, are often a reflection of my mood. Accessories are an inexpensive way to call attention to those lovely ears.

Maybe it's your shoulders. Do you choose dresses and tops that flatter and show off your shoulders? Maybe add a body cream that glistens for added sparkle!

Maybe it's your hair. It's said a woman's mane is her crown. If I could have one frivolous wish granted, it would be that every day be a good hair day!

You get the idea. Have fun with it!

I am having more fun shopping at the local consignment boutiques. It's a lot like stepping back into my mama's closet once again, still playing dress-up, only now it's for real. I am wise enough to appreciate that all the parts make up the whole of me.

The idea is to lovingly focus on the parts you do like about yourself rather than dwelling on the parts you don’t. I think you'll find that when you begin investing in the aspects you like, you will find more fun and enjoyment in the creative act of caring for your inner beauty by how you are caring for your outer beauty.

Ralph Lauren says it best: "Style is very personal. It has nothing to do with fashion. Fashion is over quickly. Style is forever."