Until recently, I only really associated Taylor Swift with two things: country music and that song allegedly about Harry Styles that I shamelessly listen to more than is socially acceptable. But when, in a recent interview with Seth Meyers, T Swizzle aka the current definition of sassy, ‘opened up’ about leaving the gym in her full fifties inspired get ups and rouge lipped combo - I quickly fell into a loom band of Googling and, essentially, fell in love.
Like Taylor, I'm very taken by the Jessica Rabbit inspired co-ord, doused in Chanel no 5 and Ruby Woo.
Why? Because like Taylor, I am a serial and ladylike over-dresser. I’m pretty sure I'm actually a little scared of under dressing. I would hate to turn up looking inappropriate to the cause. Ever since I was about four, I remember opting for party dresses over anything else, and not a lot has changed since. I'm still a fan of the oversized hair-bow, a bee-hive is my hairstyle go-to and I’ve continually opted for a more dressed up retro look over anything. Like Taylor, I'm very taken by the Jessica Rabbit inspired co-ord, doused in Chanel no 5 and Ruby Woo. When I, er, make it there, gyms are totally worth dressing up for (although not sure my class teacher was entirely buying my Shopping Is My Cardio T-Shirt either...).
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Don’t get me wrong, there are days where I yearn to look effortlessly cool in some chunky Birkenstocks, Scandi-cool pin stripe slacks and a white sharp sleeveless duster coat- or that I could run out of the house make up free and wearing some Adidas tracksuit bottoms with Cara D ease (trust me, I tried it on a recent flight and got told I looked like I’d gone around the world travelling)- but sadly, I make it look as straight forward as making a baked Alaska on the Great British Bake Off. And we all know how that turned out.
Vintage shopping suits my mood more - the ladylike aesthetic inherently smarter than modern trends.
Perhaps it’s the glamour and whimsicality of times gone by, the dreamy nostalgia of what once was, or the fact there’s always something for every shape - but I've always turned to eras gone by with my clothing choices. Vintage shopping suits my mood more - the ladylike aesthetic inherently smarter than modern trends. I simply can’t help dressing up. Take my last holiday for example: heading away on a 6am flight with my family; I was insistent on wearing red lipstick, my favourite dungarees and matching sandals, because if there was one thing that would make me look awake- even if I didn’t feel it - it was a slick of lippy and my best summer-time outfit. Surely, kids, there’s nothing wrong with that!? (you think Taylor's always wide-awake when she's been kettle-belling post-red eye flight in the gym all morning?)
Like Miss Swift, I get plenty of side-long glances. Sporting a beehive, a Grace Kelly style car coat and cat eyes bigger than next doors satellite dish are the kind of things that don't go unnoticed. Don’t get me wrong I don’t dress up to seek attention from passers by. I dress in the way that makes me feel comfortable and happy - and if that’s how a nod to the fourties, fifties or sixties makes you feel than go for it; even if it does mean a couple of backwards glances and a giggle or two. Just remember that at* one* point in time it was totally acceptable! After all, an old proverb once said, ‘If Betty Draper didn’t stand for it- neither shall you’ (or ahem, something like that).
Recently on my blog I had a comment from someone thanking me for ‘reaffirming their life motto that there’s nothing wrong with being overdressed’- and I certainly vow to stand by that. I’m no trend forecaster, but I’m certain a LFD (little floral dress to you and I), ballet flats and a staple lipstick will never go out of fashion. I'm pretty sure Taylor lives her life by this mantra, too.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.