Evolving my style into my late thirties

I’ve been meaning to write this post for a very long time – and as April marks the beginning of my birthday month with this birthday being the last one in my 30’s (eek!), I wanted to share something that’s very personal to my own style – and maybe something that many of you can relate to, that hopefully helps some of you going through a similar experience.

I often help my clients through life transitions as it is typically a time of change that initiates a style refresh – be that motherhood, divorce, retirement, change of job, promotion, etc. Whenever there is a shift in our lives, we’re often looking for ways outside of ourselves to improve and evolve – and while style is very much an outward phenomena, it is also a deeper reflection of our inner state – so it’s a great way to bring what’s inside to the outside, so to speak – and to align the two so that our confidence is elevated. I love helping my clients through these metamorphoses of sorts – as I think their wardrobes can become a source of happiness, clarity and joy for them after we work together.

I think style development is such an important aspect of our image and how we put ourselves together as it helps us understand how to express ourselves through our style signature – in the most authentic way possible. So all that said, I wanted to share how my own style has changed and evolved over the course of the last 4 years – and how I’m transitioning it into my late 30’s as I get closer to Dina 4.0.

I would say that my biggest shift happened right after I had my son 3 years ago. Before pregnancy, I was always very confident in my style, and in understanding what I love and gravitate towards. I knew I loved color, print, certain types of silhouettes that fit me – like A-Line and Fit-n-Flare. My closet was filled with pieces from Anthropologie, Alice & Olivia, Rebecca Taylor and Tory Burch.

After I had my son, and returned back to my pre-pregnancy shape (with certain changes, of course), I started to find some of the clothing I had a bit overwhelming, like there were patterns and colors I didn’t prefer any more, some things no longer fit the same (which most moms can relate to) and I just craved something simpler, cleaner and less eccentric. I really felt like my existing wardrobe no longer served me or represented me, and had a deep need to purge and rebuild.

As with anything in life, nothing happened overnight – so I took the time to think through what no longer worked, and separate the pieces that didn’t work because of practical reasons (size, fit, etc.) from the ones that I just no longer gravitated towards. I put up a lot of my clothing on for sale on Poshmark, and donated a huge pile. I felt lighter and clearer. Then I started to rebuild.

I felt that the best way to start fresh was with neutrals and basics. I have to admit – I’m not a neutrals girl; I barely have any black in my wardrobe and typically love a pattern over a solid. But it felt right to invest in some gray and navy, white and brown – to make my outfits feel lighter and more refined. I craved simplicity and elegance with just a touch of creativity (a total turnaround from my mostly creative and fun wardrobe before). I attribute a lot of it to the “colorful” and intense nature my life had at the moment – juggling being a new mother, running a business, and everything else in between.

Once I built up a solid wardrobe of neutrals (pun intended), I started to add color back, but in more refined tones. I still loved all my shoes and accessories – so they provided the necessary statement details to create interesting looks. For my wardrobe refresh, I found myself choosing a lot of pieces from Sezane as I felt that they represented the French feminine aesthetic that I really love – with understated, chic and effortless looks.

When I knew I was ready, I began to add patterns back into my wardrobe – but seeking out new brands that worked to elevate my style – like Veronica Beard, L’Agence. Ulla Johnson, Phillip Lim, and Zimmermann. I even fell in love with a few Loveshackfancy pieces that are more on the Bohemian side as they brought out a little grown-up feminine whimsy in my wardrobe, and I loved it!

I feel that this shift came at a great time for me – as I’m now nearing my late thirties and feel like the style transformation has been mostly completed. I think the need to look age-appropriate while still staying authentic and current is one of the most sought-after feelings that my clients express, and entering one’s 40’s is typically the time when it begins to happen. I believe that each of us has their own timeline for change and evolvement (for some it might happen in their 20’s, 30’s, 50’s – or not at all) – but I hope that the experience I shared above can be a useful approach to giving yourself the room and grace to go through the necessary steps.

On that note, I’m sharing an outfit that really feels like “me” now – it combines creative touches with an overall feminine & chic aesthetic. It makes me feel confident, put-together, and won’t age and “time-out” with the passing of years.

The exact ingredients of this outfit formula are:

1. The Velvet Blazer I fell in love with this L’Agence Kenzie Velvet Double-Breasted Blazer back in December, and featured it in my Holiday Looks IGTV. I think the luxurious color and fabric make it a very elevated wardrobe piece that helps add refinement and a feeling of dramatic elegance to my looks.
   
2. The 70’s Stovepipe High-Waisted Jeans. As i’m sure you guys have heard, Skinny Jeans are voted out by Gen-Z 🙂 All jokes aside, while I love the skinny silhouette, and will never give it up, I do like varying my denim cuts, and the straight-leg, high-waisted silhouette really appeals to me. I’ve recently discovered Re/Done Denim – which is actually reimagined from old Levi’s jeans – and I am obsessed! These Comfort-Stretch High-Rise Stove Pipe Jeans are one of the most comfortable pairs I own!
   
3. A Pair of Neutral Booties. I’m a big fan of Coclico – as I’ve mentioned many times previously, and these Laeve Booties are so easy to wear with everything, I think they make a great wardrobe staple. I’ve found a few pairs in other colors on eBay – check them out in the carousel below.
   
4. A Classic Bag. I styled this Polene Number One Mini in “Sand” in a previous blog post – I think the brand does an amazing job at creating timeless pieces that look chic yet don’t break the bank. I recently added a new bag from Polene to my collection, and can’t wait to show you how I’m styling it in my Spring looks – stay tuned for upcoming blog posts!
   
5. A Lace Top. While you can’t really see the top in the outfit pictures, I chose to wear a Rebecca Taylor Lace-Trimmed Cap-Sleeve Top in black. It’s sold out online, but I found a few similar pieces – you can see them in the carousel below. I think the lace provides a nice juxtaposition to the velvet.
   
6. A Timeless Scarf.  I’ve had this Hermes Brazil Scarf in my wardrobe forever, but actually hardly ever wear it – so I’m making a conscious effort to pull it out more as I think it adds such a fun touch to my outfits! I found a few of them from eBay and curated a few other favorites – check them out!

I hope this inspires you to try out a similar outfit this Season, or bookmark it for the next Seasonal transition! As always, please feel free to share the outfits you create via Instagram, using hashtag #ModnitsaOutfit in your posts, and I’ll be sure repost them on my stories!

xo,

Photography by Leslie Moncada