Natalie Borton and Conni Jespersen: two Instagals that share their knowledge of fashion. What can I say? They are incredibly inspirational to me. (I mean, look at those happy smiles!) Even at almost 40, I still find fashion confusing. When these ladies created an online Elevating Your Style class, I jumped on the early bird special and signed up. And I have no regrets.

NOTE: If a fashion course is not currently in the budget, these gals have fantastic Instagram feeds that you can follow. They are chalk full of fashion help. I really like Natalie’s try-on sessions (full of tidbits) and Conni’s Wine Wednesday Style Chat.

However, here are three MAIN reasons I enjoyed their course and continue to follow them on Instagram:

​1. Conni and Natalie break it down to SIMPLE.
“Keep it simple sweetheart” (aka KISS) is really at the heart of their course. For them, clothing can have a bit of a formula behind it, BUT, we shouldn’t let that scare us. It’s a fluid formula that allows for out-of-the-box thinking and works for all body types.

When I saw that the teaching videos were short, I was a little "judgy" and wondered how much I would learn. But the succinct videos pack a lot of knowledge, further demonstrating that we can enjoy the complexity of fashion, but also stay away from deep diving if we want to. (Some of us just like to dip our toes in the shallow side!)

2. Conni and Natalie start with what you already have.
While this duo keeps things simple, they very much acknowledge that there are many elements of fashion beyond the scope of the course. But what I like is that they encourage you to use what you have in your wardrobe and start from there. No intense shopping trips needed. Armed with their personal knowledge and tried and true tips (and worksheets), I found solid direction for putting together clothing in new ways.

3. Conni and Natalie’s course demonstrates and encourages intentional living.
If you follow my blog, you know I’m working to live more intentionally this year. Natalie and Conni are very intentional with their wardrobes, and you can see the fruits of their labor. Using their guides, I am able slow down, focus on what is literally hanging in front of me, and make more confident fashion choices. Fashion doesn’t come easy to me, so the investment of my time has already had major payoffs.

I hope you will take a look at their Instagram pages (Conni’s is here and Natalie’s is here) and give these gals a moment of your time. I love supporting other women who have such a healthy approach toward life and of course the fashion that goes with it. 
 

I had such a hard time wearing high waisted jeans when they came back in style. I realize not everyone cares about fashion and clothing, but I hope you will stick with me and keep reading.
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Even when I was a little girl, I noticed there was typically a difference between what the older crowd wore verses the younger crowd. And in my opinion, the younger crowd had the better options. I happily put on my stirrup pants or bootcut jeans or whatever was “in” at the moment, and as my budget allowed, I enjoyed the ebb and flow of fashion.

BUT…when the high waisted jeans made their comeback, I watched with horror as the zippers and pockets grew longer on the jeans. Ugh. I loved my low waisted boot cut beauties. And besides, high waisted pants were so out of style years ago. But that was the key: “years ago” now meant they could make a grand return, and be amazingly cool again, with a slight retro feel. I wasn’t wanting to try something new because in my mind, it was still “out of style.” I did not want to welcome change.

Hmm. That had me considering how easily my wardrobe could reflect my age and my attitude about aging.

Does it really matter if someone is wearing the latest cut of jeans? Of course not! My point is that I began to see how aging can influence even our clothing choices. And that when we do shop for clothing, we have an option to experience what’s “new” and “fresh.” We can join in with others and embrace it, or we can take a stand (in my case, in my low cut jeans) and say the choices were much better before.   
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With gritted teeth, I went into the dressing room with some high waisted jeans, and surprise, surprise, I found myself liking them. Yes, I felt a little more current, but I think most of all, I felt a little more youthful – not in the sense that the jeans magically transported me.  I wasn’t secretly longing to be a youth again and this somehow appeased me. No, it was more the fun and excitement of trying something made “new” again, and knowing that like everything else, it would change. And that it really is completely fine by me. 

I love your comments! 
Let me know your thoughts below! 

Fashion hasn’t been easy for me. I’m in my late thirties, and I still struggle with what to wear and how to accessorize it. But while I find myself moaning over how quickly trends change, I have to admit, a teensie part of me enjoys seeing “the latest” come, go, and then come back again.

See, I never really understood why my Mom found such delight in something I was wearing and exclaim over how it reminded her of her past.  

Now I get it.

It’s super neato to see “reruns” of clothing or accessories I used to have.

It’s like I’m no longer the new kid in school. I’m the experienced student that knows what’s coming and therefore feels more confident. Sure, there is fun in the newness, but there is also fun in thinking to myself, “ah, it’s back. Here’s a second chance to decide how I want to incorporate it into my life.” ​

I like to look to people who are older than me, notice something I admire about them, and then start to cultivate it in my life; this is so that when I reach their age, I have that trait embedded in me, just like they do.
Of course, the artist in me notices the clothing, make-up, and exquisite jewelry.

But I’m also talking about inner qualities. For instance, while growing up, I noticed my Mom kept everything so clean and tidy. I liked it when she would help me organize my room or step in and confidently guide me as I cleaned. When I poked around in her areas of the house (her closet, her bathroom cabinet, her night stand drawers) everything seemed fresh and put together. She left no dishes in the sink overnight, and she even folded up the throw blankets in the living room before heading to bed.

And now, as I run my own household, I like to do the same.

My admiration of qualities in others turns into a goal for the future, helping me anticipate the years ahead.