So What to Twenty! THE BEST OF 2014

FASHION & INSPIRATIONAL

LOOKBOOK Life & fashion wisdom to carry you into the years.

Where Life and Fashion Intersect

From the Creators of So What to Twenty!

TTTHEHEHE BBBESTESTEST OFOFOF 201420142014

FFFASHIONASHIONASHION & I& I& INSPIRATIONALNSPIRATIONALNSPIRATIONAL

LLLOOKBOOKOOKBOOKOOKBOOK LLIFE AND FASHION WISDOM TO CARRY YOU INTO THE YEARS

Where Life and Fashion Intersect

3

“For myself, it has to be more than just about

the fashion. There has to be substance.”

Glenda Harrison

O n a day in 2012, I lay in bed and

thought to myself, “There has to be

more to life than this.” At this point in my

life, I was in a dead-end job that offered

me little to no incentive for getting out of

bed. As I continued to bury myself under my

sheets, a thought came to me which one could

best describe as my Aha Moment. My grand

idea was to launch a fashion/style blog. By

doing so, it would buffer the dull effects

from an unsatisfying job. The blog would

fulfill two of my hearts desires—

inspirational writing and fashion.

After spending a mundane afternoon on

the job, I returned home and logged onto my

computer and launched my blog, which is now,

So What to Twenty! The purpose of So What to

Twenty was, and still is, to show women

thirty and above in a different light. My

goal being to cast out the images typically

associated with women of a certain age. At

the same time, the content had to feature so

much more than fashion. It had to inspire,

uplift and motivate. Now, over a year later,

with an entry titled VALUABLE, it marked my

200th post and is truly the epicenter of

what So What to Twenty is about-discovering

your true worth.

Thank you for taking this ride with me,

From the Creators of So What to Twenty!

#18 #18 #18 DetailsDetailsDetails Good accessorizing takes skill. It’s the part of

dressing that can ruin or enhance a look in an in-

stant. Accessories are like the icing on a cake. The

icing can either be delicious and add to the overall

appeal of the cake, or, it can be simply awful and

ruin it. Choose wisely.

5

#17 #17 #17 Gray MattersGray MattersGray Matters There was a time in my life when I didn’t appreciate

gray. For when gray arrived, it most assuredly meant

rain was on the horizon. My outlook on gray has

changed over the years. Now, I adore a subdued, gray

and misty day. It calms the spirit and evokes a

peaceful mood. I Now realize that gray matters.

From the Creators of So What to Twenty!

#16 #16 #16 ConfidentConfidentConfident

Conforming to the worlds ideology of beauty can lead

a women of a certain age to believe she is anything

but beautiful. I discovered that my confidence comes

from within and has very little to do with my cloth-

ing, hair, body, etc. My confidence comes from my

soul that lives within.

7

#15 #15 #15 I Am GlendaI Am GlendaI Am Glenda

I really believe that in order to know your style,

one has to know one’s self. If you truly know your-

self, there would be no need to copy another persons

fashion style. This I know...I Am Glenda. And so I

ask, who are you?

From the Creators of So What to Twenty!

#14 #14 #14 Dark LiquidDark LiquidDark Liquid In order to have a clear and introspective view of

one’s self, it is important to, like the caterpillar,

close yourself off from the rest of the world. It is

in this dark and quiet space that transformation can

take place. Don’t fear this time alone. Embrace it!

9

#13 #13 #13 ScallopedScallopedScalloped It’s good to have clothing and accessories in your

closet that have fun and unique details. After all,

it is these special pieces that make getting dressed,

all the more fun! A scalloped detailed top that looks

like a simple peplum from the front, but when you

turn around...Surprise!!

From the Creators of So What to Twenty!

#12 #12 #12 DaringDaringDaring A wide brim hat that conceals just so; a slit that

reveals a little extra leg. Sometimes it feels good

to step outside the conservative box and into a more

coquettish and daring side. This transformation need

not be for a certain occasion, nor is it to impress

anyone else. I enjoy going daring for me.

11

#11 #11 #11 Get to WorkGet to WorkGet to Work I’m reminded of my grandfather who would dawn his

overalls for a hard days work on the family farm.

This memory stays with me and inspires a look that

pushes me to get to work on a dream that I have had

for years. Remove the distractions, and get to work!

You’re never to old to pursue your dreams.

From the Creators of So What to Twenty!

#10 #10 #10 Brush StrokesBrush StrokesBrush Strokes In fashion, unexpected combinations can make for very

interesting outfits. The black midi skirt paired with

a creative and innovative top is a perfect juxtapose—

the CLASSIC combined with the BOLD. Add uniqueness to

your wardrobe and take your outfits to the next lev-

el.

13

#9 #9 #9 SunshineSunshineSunshine Placid Blue, Hemlock and Freesia—I adore colors that

are reminiscent of nature. Placid Blue as the sky and

sea, Hemlock as foliage, and Freesia as the warm and

loving sunshine. Oh sunshine, how I adore thee. I

long for your warm and tender kiss. Nature as a fash-

ion influencer? Yes please. That’s a marvelous idea!

From the Creators of So What to Twenty!

#8 #8 #8 LadylikeLadylikeLadylike In this current day, we celebrate the abrasive and

the brash. I refuse to fall victim to such a way of

life. After all, to be ladylike, in my opinion, isn't

a quality that places one in a feeble position. On

the contrary, this is one of the most powerful posi-

tions that exist. If you let it be.

15

#7 #7 #7 AngelicAngelicAngelic Fashion inspiration can come from any avenue, even

the classical music piece, Angels in the Architecture

by Frank Ticheli. When I close my eyes to hear this

song, with its incredible movements, I imagine angels

dashing about. This ethereal dress of white billowy

fabric with amazing movement made me feel angelic.

From the Creators of So What to Twenty!

#6 #6 #6 Royal Blue: Part DeuxRoyal Blue: Part DeuxRoyal Blue: Part Deux A wardrobe can benefit quite nicely from a talented

seamstress. In my life, my seamstress is my sister.

Capable of performing more than simple alterations,

my seamstress is able to transform old looks into new

and create new looks to my exact specification. Put

your seamstress on speed-dial. I did {wink}

17

#5 #5 #5 Perfectly CuratedPerfectly CuratedPerfectly Curated A perfectly curated wardrobe is one that melds in

perfectly with your life & style. Though my wardrobe

is mostly centered around classics, I do enjoy ex-

pressing my unique self by adding touches of quirk.

In this case, interesting details on classic loafers

take this classic look to another level.

From the Creators of So What to Twenty!

#4 #4 #4 DécolletageDécolletageDécolletage

Make it a point to select items that will accentuate

your favorite body parts. For myself, I rather like

my feet and my décolletage. For that reason, I have

quite a few pairs of sandals and shoulder baring

tops. I enjoy emphasizing my best features. Believe

me when I say...It’s an instant confidence booster!

19

#3 #3 #3 A Mini CircleA Mini CircleA Mini Circle So many times I have read that women over 40 should

not wear certain items-the mini skirt usually being

at the top of the list. Let your own body, life, self

-analysis determine what you wear. However, May I

suggest, that if you wish to give a certain look a

try, select uncomplicated pieces and detailing.

From the Creators of So What to Twenty!

#2 #2 #2 Pencil Me InPencil Me InPencil Me In I chose to dedicate a pencil skirt post to the overly

busy individuals who really need to find time to take

a chill pill and indulge in the pleasures of life.

When you receive a phone call from friends, inviting

you to get together for a day at the spa, do yourself

a favor, pencil them in.

21

#1 #1 #1 Took My Breath AwayTook My Breath AwayTook My Breath Away In the store window I saw the most exquisite top on

display. I gasped for air at its beauty. It literally

took my breath away. It had to be mine no matter what

the cost. This lovely floral top is now the revered

peace in my wardrobe. It’s no wonder that it’s ranked

#1 by my So What to Twenty readers for 2014!

From the Creators of So What to Twenty!

Gleaning from 2014Gleaning from 2014Gleaning from 2014

A s I look back over the year, I can most

definitely say that I attained a great deal

of wisdom. I took opportunities to glean from

whatever experience I had to endure—whether

good or not so pleasant. By viewing life in

this fashion (no pun intended), it allowed me

the freedom to clear my head and focus on what

was truly important. Most importantly, after 48

years of life, I discovered my all-important

value! This was truly an eye-opening discovery.

Since learning of my worth, when negative

thoughts try to bombard me, I now have the all-

important wisdom to shut the annoying negative

thoughts down!

And yes, there are other nuggets of wisdom that

I’ll take with me into 2015:

You can love people from a distance

NEVER give up on your dreams

Work towards your goal every day

There are second chances...and third, and

forth, and fifth, etc.

Always make time for YOU

There truly is a connection between the mind

and the body.

When what I need can’t be found on one side

of the boat, then I will cast my net onto

the other side.

23

Happy New Year!Happy New Year!Happy New Year!

You know you’re on

the right path when

you’re not put in a

position to betray

yourself. You don’t

feel like you have

to compromise who

you are. It just

feels right.

-Caroline Myss

From the Creators of So What to Twenty!

Where Life and Fashion Intersect