Classic with a rock & roll vibe - a Style Interview with Alison Gary

Alison Gary is a veteran in the world of blogging and not long ago historic the ten yr anniversary of her blog Wardrobe Oxygen. It was high time to feature this popular blogger who can at present also phone call herself 40+ and discover her style secrets. Relish!

Tin you tell us a fiddling chip more about yourself?

I'chiliad married to my loftier schoolhouse sweetheart, our daughter is in First Grade.  I work full time outside the habitation for a government subcontractor.

When I'm not working, I'one thousand often blogging – it's a second job only it'southward also a passion project.  I dear live music – I nourish at to the lowest degree i concert or music festival every month and in that location's ever music playing in our home.

I accept a long piece of work commute and spend it with NPR, podcasts, and Audible.  I honey travel, spending time outdoors, writing, and cooking (particularly with my hubby who is a brilliant chef).

There'due south nothing better than ending the day out on my back deck with my family, some tunes, and a cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

Equally a point of reference which age group do you lot belong to or possibly y'all are willing to share your age?

I turned 41 this Jan.

Tin can you tell the states a bit more about your blog Wardrobe Oxygen and why you created it?

Wardrobe Oxygen turns 11 this June; it started for two reasons. I began journaling my outfits when I traveled to visit a business concern customer and she mentioned I was wearing the same suit I wore for my last trip.

Having the photograph journal along with notes of where I wore the detail prevented such a flub to happen again.  I also had a decade of styling, visual merchandising, and personal shopping under my chugalug and had learned some manner truths that worked for all women.

I wanted to document them somewhere.  I never imagined a decade later that Wardrobe Oxygen would be where it is today!

Where exercise you alive and how does that influence your way?

I live in a town that many would describe as "crunchy."  We're a historic town, a cooperative. We're very into community gardening, recycling, and shopping local.

This town is in the suburbs of Washington DC, where I piece of work and regularly visit.

I think the juxtaposition of Corporate America and my hippy customs shines through in my wardrobe; a mix of professional attire and relaxed weekend pieces that are often from upstanding brands or local artisans.

Exercise you feel you have a signature mode?

Archetype with a rock and roll vibe.  I've never met a striped shirt I didn't like, I love denim and leather, and accept a passion for pointed toe pumps in statement colors and prints.

I'll mix a Breton tee with distressed jeans, a biker jacket, and courtly pumps; I'll wearing apparel downward most frocks with a distressed denim jacket, and I honey pairing pencil skirts with one of my many band tees.

Do yous have things like color profiling or body type into account when you dress?

I used to do this very much, and wrote near information technology a lot when I started Wardrobe Oxygen.  However, over the years getting to know so many different women and getting to know myself ameliorate, I've let all those rules fly out the window.

Wear what you like, confidence and happiness is far more than flattering than any waist-whittling dress or complexion-glowing colour.

What are your best way tips for women with a like body type like yours?

I'1000 short, busty, and have soft curves.  The best tip is to go with the flow of your figure.

Don't fit a square peg into a round hole, and don't try to clasp a fluid effigy into structured garments.  The older I get, the fewer stiff fabrics in my wardrobe.

Second tip is to beloved the body you have. Hiding your figure in shapeless shifts and oversized knits will but make you look larger and lumpy.

Don't punish your body for non fitting society's unrealistic expectations, celebrate it in pieces that make you feel vehement, sexy, potent, feminine, beautiful, or powerful.  Conviction is the most attractive thing you can wearable.

Has your way inverse at all after turning xl?

When I turned 40 I started changing my personal style.  I felt I was likewise mature for some of the things I used to habiliment, but I went also far in the opposite direction and felt my fashion was crumbling me.

I think it's normal when you hit a milestone age to question many aspects of yourself and life.  But after some time, things normaled out and the aspects of my personal way that take changed are because I am a dissimilar person, non because I have a different age on my driver's license.

Practice yous believe in dressing 'age appropriately' and what does it mean to you?

I hate that term, I don't think there's anything that's off limits considering of your age.  However, I feel the older we get the better nosotros know ourselves and the better we can style our outside to fit who nosotros are inside.

Would you lot say that at this phase of your life you are now more than, or less interested in style, style and the way you wait?

It'due south dissimilar.  I have always loved fashion and cared almost appearance.

In my 20s it was a lot well-nigh creating a persona with fashion.  I didn't know who I was, and clothing helped me feel more like a career woman, a style expert, an developed.

In my 30s, fashion was a way to show the earth I was confident and successful and creative.  Now that I am in my 40s, fashion is more for me.

Information technology'southward self-expression and self-intendance. Information technology's a creative outlet instead of trying to prove to others I am a creative.

Why is the way you await important to you?

I believe your appearance is a sign of respect.  How you dress for work, a funeral, a wedding is showing respect to the state of affairs and the people involved.

Only caring nearly your advent is showing respect to yourself.  You deserve the attention, the pampering, to feel groovy.

Practise you follow trends? And if yes, which trends excite you at the moment?

Oh I beloved trends!  At the core, my wardrobe is pretty basic pieces.  Lots of solids, simple lines, classic pieces.

Trends are what make it all fun and feel fresh every flavour.

I love that scarves are back – I have a skinny black silk one I utilize to dress upward a five-neck tee and jeans; I dearest tying a bandana at my pharynx with a collared shirt or wearing apparel; I habiliment all kinds of scarves 'cowboy style' to add flair and interest to my simple dresses.

I'm besides digging sneakers as acceptable footwear.  I take a pair of silver snakeskin slip-ons from SUPERGA that are my jam and look awesome with everything from cotton fiber sundresses to leather leggings.

I find Converse Shorelines to be a comfortable alternative to Chuck Taylors and are perfect with boyfriend jeans, talocrural joint pants, and midi skirts.

I've also come to love the cold shoulder tendency. I used to despise it, but this season information technology grew on me.  It's a way to feel a flake sexy without showing a lot, and you can still wear your regular bra.  Gotta beloved trends that are also practical!

Do you have any fashion and style tips for women over xl?

I call up this is a time more than than ever to really assess your wardrobe and run into if it's working for who y'all are correct now and what your life is truly like. The terminal decade was likely spent creating your life.

At present yous're likely living it, and you need a wardrobe that not only works for that life but gives y'all the freedom to easily dress and get out and bask it. If you oasis't done a major cupboard make clean out now is the time.

Take one weekend day, plow on your favorite tunes, pour a glass of wine or a cup of tea and remove everything from your cupboard and drawers and give it all a serious once-over factoring in the here and at present.

It'due south improve to vesture the same pants iii times in a calendar week than to own a bunch of "almost right" clothing that never makes you lot experience your all-time.  There's no point in having a corner of your closet dedicated to decades-onetime cocktail dresses or shelves of heels if you now feel best in flats.

While I'grand not one who feels herself with a closet narrowed down to a minor sheathing, it is a smashing way to piece of work with less until you can build the correct wardrobe for your current self while getting to know your electric current personal style.

What are your plans for your blog and how do you lot see it develop over the coming years?

Last yr was Wardrobe Oxygen's 10th anniversary and I had big plans for it. I hustled difficult… and information technology took the joy out of blogging.

This yr I am stepping back and kicking it quondam schoolhouse – I don't accept a set up editorial calendar, I do outfit posts when I feel inspired, I write about things that aren't very Pinteresting, I'grand non stressed over SEO or social media.

It'south then freeing, and it has made blogging fun again. I experience this change has helped me reconnect with my readers and create stronger relationships with them.

As for the future… I'yard non thinking that far in advance any more than. I spent the past couple of years and so focused on the prize I missed the souvenir of the here and now.

I'grand trying to alive, and blog more in the present and it's pretty awesome!

I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I did. Now visit Alison at Wardrobe Oxygen   and @Wardobe Oxygen  for Instagram!

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