Be an Original: Wear Vintage with a Sexy Modern Edge

This my most gay outfit, ever — as in my most happy and bright look. Here’s why.

It makes me want to kick my heels up, skip down the Yellow Brick Road and end the day with a dance across the chimney tops.

Like the chauffeured car from “Midnight in Paris”, this ensemble hails vintage cues from old Paris circa. 1900s,  as well as from the dancing stages of 1920s’ Broadway.

Aside from the sentimental notions it stirs within me, this look has most notably been declared to be “the epitome of Robin Wallace” by dear friends, and I couldn’t agree more. It has a vintage look and feel while also being modernly fashion-forward: “fun, funky and sexy in a classy way”.

Well, enough jabber … here are the details!

What’s the Take-Away?

Being an original is trend-setting.

There’s nothing more fashionable than a person who is comfortable and confident in themselves.

Many might not give an outfit like this the proverbial “thumbs up”. Some may scoff that it’s too costume-like. Some may think it’s too loud, too vintage, too whatever … and yet, to stifle my full self-expression would be a crime.

While I subscribe to certain fashion principles (and properity), I wear what I like and what makes me happy. Yet, I am aware that this personal expression can catch a lot of attention.

Even garnering remarks such as: “Only you, Robin, can pull off a look like that”.

Well, I don’t know that’s entirely true. Certainly, we all have a fashion limits (ie our body types offer natural guideline to our fashion do’s and don’ts).

However, I believe people often say this to me more because of the confidence I exude, rather than what I am wearing.

In general, we avoid being vulnerable — in sharing our thoughts, our emotions, even just a genuine smile or holding a meaningful gaze.

For being humans, it is amazing how much time we spend avoiding our own humanity. Simply, it is just part of how we survive on this blue and green marble.

So to stand out in a crowd by wearing something like seersucker bloomers and layered stockings means to cast oneself into a vulnerable position. To most, this naturally means risk, danger, exposure — all things to be avoided.

And, even I am not immune to this feeling. When I stepped out of my house and locked the door behind me wearing this outfit, I faced major vulnerability: I was boldly calling attention to myself by truly embracing and declaring myself in this world.

My “survival self” pleaded for me to ditch the seersucker bloomers for a pair of navy trouser shorts. However, my “true self” stayed the course knowing there was “nothing to fear but fear itself”, to borrow a line from President Roosevelt.

How many times have you said: “I love that ____, but I could never pull it off”?

May I offer that the only thing stopping you from really being all the things you love is your own “but”.

Here’s my style challenge to you: The next time you start to limit your personal expression with the above sentence, stop yourself — remove the but, and just go for it. See what happens out of you boldly owning every part of yourself.

Remember, “fashion” is made into “style” when you own it with your confident swagger and sexy smile!