Do You Dress to Impress or Express?

Happy Sunday ladies! Today I’m pondering one of my long-held beliefs and wondering how itĀ fits into my wardrobe goals today. I dress to express myself, not to impress others. As I got dressed the other day I had to stop and consider my choices.

Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life wearing Talbots Tweed jacket and Chico's jeans
JACKET in red on sale | JEANS | TOP | SHOES |BEE PIN | EARRINGS | HANDBAG similar

Iā€™ve never been a fan of the designer knock-off handbags. Iā€™ve been guilted into attending some home parties where they’re sold but never bought anything.Ā I always assumed women buy designer handbags bags to please themselves and/or faux ones to impress others.

Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life wearing Talbots tweed jacket and Chico's jeans

Until last week. I’d spent most of a day working on my computer, wearing a plain tee and jeans. Around 3, I needed to run some errands in town. I tossed on my pink jacket and favorite mules.

Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life wearing Talbots tweed Jacket

As I added lipstick in the full-length mirror I realized I was wearing a ChanelĀ wannabe tweed jacket and Chanel wannabe cap-toed shoes. These were dupes for designer items.

 

SHOP CAP TOES FLATS

Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life wearing tweed jacket and cap toed flatsIā€™d never considered them anything other than things I liked. I bought them because I loved the color and shape. Surely no one assumed these were authentic Chanels! Tweed jackets and cap-toed shoes are common today and available at every price point.

SHOP TWEED JACKETS

Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life wearing tweed jacket and cap toed shoesNow I wonder if those women carrying designer knockoff handbags are just dressing to please themselves? Do they love the look so much that they buy an alternative at a price they can afford?

What do you think?

Do you dress to express yourself?

 

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

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71 Comments

  1. I know I’m two years late to the party here, but I think you look totally modern and chic. I love a Chanel-style jacket, although I haven’t yet found the perfect one. One thing I especially like is how you eschewed the heavy necklaces which would make it cliched, IMO. You make it minimalist and casual and fun–and that’s cool!

    1. Oops, I mean three years.

  2. I dress for myself completely. I’ll refuse to buy a handbag I like otherwise if it prominently features the designer’s name. (I’m looking at you, Michael Kors! Your clothes used to be great — why do they have to have your name all over them now?) One exception: if I’m uncertain about an outfit I’ve purchased, and my wonderful husband says “wow” with a gleam in his eye, it’s an instant keeper!

  3. I try to dress for both comfort and style as long as that style feels like ‘me.’ I do love a bargain, though, and don’t mind a knockoff as long as it’s well made and not a counterfeit (no fake labels). But no matter how stylish or comfy the clothes, if I catch a glimpse of somebody I don’t know in my reflection, I just feel awkward and phony. I’ve found that ANYTHING I buy for the wrong season — whether an impulse purchase because it’s on super sale or a high end item just to “keep up” — usually becomes closet clutter. Some expensive lessons learned!

    1. *Ooops… I meant “anything I but for the wrong REASON…” not “season” šŸ™‚

    2. I do hate those expensive lessons Summer. I think weā€™ve all been there.

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