Dressing like a Woman
Kirsten Dunst at Chanel Couture
In the late 70s and early 80s, when my mom had a meeting or a luncheon to go to, she wore heels and a dress or skirt that hit close to the knee. She wore silk blouses. She set her hair in hot rollers. She was in her late 30s/early 40s and she dressed like a woman. (Of course, she still does.)
But so few women in their 30s and 40s do today. I can count on half of one hand, the number of my friends who ever show up like that anywhere.
I think Kirsten Dunst looks impossibly glamorous in the above photo from last week. Not girly. Not cute. Not cool. Just womanly. And she is not the only one. Maggie Gyllenhaal, who is featured in Vogue this month, might troll around Brooklyn in funky duds on her downtime, but in front of the spotlight she looks polished and sophisticated, too. Notice the clean but feminine shapes, the lack of too many (or any) accessories, and the lipstick. (I am seeing lipstick–as in ones that show up such as red and bright pink and orange–everywhere.)
I’m not about to trade in my mom-duty jeans and blazers for silk dresses, but if I have a meeting or a lunch, I’m going for it.
Maggie Gyllenhaal © Vogue.com
I’m intrigued that your post began with memories of the vision of your mother. I believe that our children are amazingly tuned in to their mothers’ appearance — even at a very young age. My son, now 13, has commented positively over the years when I’m dressed in my professional wardrobe, and negatively when he thinks I look ” toohippy” or “like a teenager”. Just yesterday, my niece’s three-year-old told her mother that she looked “like a grownup” and was genuinely pleased with her simple yet feminine look. Just food for thought.
“Mom duty” jeans and blazers would be a step up in Los Angeles, where exercise pants, sneakers or flip flops and a hoody are apparently perfectly acceptable attire for lunch in a nice restaurant, a meeting, a school event — anything! It’s appalling.
You’re very right. There’s a stigma put on dressing up, as if you’re not cool enough or down with the times.. as if taking time to look like a lady is wasteful. I, myself, have been guilty of that way of thinking. That’s one of the things I have to change.
Thanks for the post..I’m a big fan of the two