Who Influenced Your Fashion Style ?

[ArleneRaquel]

For me it was my mother. I just loved her fashion sense, which included heels, usually black, her red nips, nails, & cheeks, and after 1959, her cat's eye frames. It was in 1959 that she was first fitted for glasses and not just for reading but full-time, as I was at the the same time. In the 1960]s she wore, once in a while, mini-shirts, which she wore with great aplomb. In the show biz field Naureen O' Hara and Rhonda Fleming, Arlene Dahl, and Arlene Francis were the ladies that I followed. Marilyn wearing cat's eye frames in " How to Marry a Millionaire" was also an influence. I thinl that I first saw that film circa 1961. :) My mothers cat's eye frames were usually encrustred with rhinestones and her favorite style in earrings was hooped. To formal events she alway wore pearl necklaces and chanel perfume.

My mention of her wearing mini skirts reminds me of the song " Harper Valley PTA." For a period of time during the 1960's she wore mini skirts to many events, outside the home, events or so I remember, especially to the poker events held at her sisters.

[Adriana Moretti]

I couldnt pick a particular person who influenced my fashion style. Early on it was a photograph of a womans outfit (nobody famous) that set me on the crossdressing path...and to this day it is real photographs and obvervations from real people in the streets that continue to inspire my fashion style. Sure there are women who inspired me to actually dress, but if I dressed and took fashion cues from them today I would look dated LOL. To me style and influences are too different things..because style is something that should be yours but if i had to name a few early influences that turned me on to style it would be Catwoman, and Olivia Newton John as the bad girl in the ending of grease....seems I liked shiny tight stuff. Wait...I STILL DO .

[Vickie_CDTV]

My mother was my biggest influence too, she was a 80s fashion maven and wore all the high styles of the time, and that is still my favorite fashion period; bow blouses, power suits, hose, heels, big glasses, even the big padded shoulders.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Arlene, Growing up in the 50s' & the 60s' the women of that era to this day still influence my style preferences .

[Jenniferathome]

My wife! She's classy and has a great fashion sense.

[Janine cd]

I think that most of my taste in dress has been influenced by what I see in fashion magazines and catalogs. I try to select styles that are appropriate for my age.

[Lady Catherine]

This will probably sound silly, but Markie Post's character Christine on "Night Court" was a major influence on my style. Still kind of is.

[Madilyn A.]

Arlene, You and I grew up in the same era, women dressed to impress. Red lips, red nails, stocking, high heels, sexy lingerie. Yes we emulate the beautiful women of the 50's and 60's. I have become a fan of the sexy cat eye glasses as well. Marilyn as well as my 3rg grade teacher looked amazingly sexy in them....You got style girl !!!!

[Nadya]

I don't have a particular person I've been influenced by but I've been told that my style is similar to the woman tech person from criminal minds. I have to say, I do love her style. :)

[Barbara Jo]

I don't have a particular person either.
It was the '50 era that I grew up in with all the feminine fashions that influenced me.
Having an older sister that wore those fashions helped also. :)

[docrobbysherry]

The thing is, women dressed fancier and were more careful about their looks back then. And, the models and movie stars even more so!

It was all way over my head during those years for me. I was simply a man who wanted to get women out of their clothes!

Then, when I began dressing in my 50's, all the beautiful women I had ever seen and all the ones I see now flood my consciousness! I want Sherry to imitate ALL OF THEM! So many looks. So little time left---

[Teresa]

Arlene,
I don't think a person influenced more than the era !
I loved the full skirts and pettis of the early sixties, and then the mini skirt and long boots of the late sixties ! On the whole women are dressing less feminine now so those eras stick in our minds more !

[ArleneRaquel]

Thanks you all.

I agree with Sherry the 1950's were the epitome of style, grace, and fashion. Madilyn, I'm so happy that you find the cat's eye style in eyewear so sexy. I, of course, totally agree.
Katey - You are so right.
All the responses are wonderful.

[lexivanderpump]

For me it is Courtney Stodden.

Love,
Lexi V.

[Beverley Sims]

I thinl my mother's style was significant too.

[Karen_Ski]

I have to say my late aunt. She never married but always had a flair for fashion, nothing outrageous but always cutting age even in her later years.

[sometimes_miss]

Growing up, it was my sister's best friend. Cute, and she was the only female that was nice to me. And her clothes fit me perfectly just about until I got to junior high school.

[liz.thomas]

This will probably sound silly, but Markie Post's character Christine on "Night Court" was a major influence on my style. Still kind of is.

Ha that's great! Not so sure I like her oversized jackets, but she dressed nicely.

For me the 80s and 90s were huge influences, the most important may have been Fran Drescher in The Nanny. I loved her great nylon covered legs and the tight short skirts she wore.

http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/17000000/The-Nanny-HQ-the-nanny-17083888-2068-1383.jpg

Liz

[Glenda58]

My first wife was into makeup and dressing nice. My second wife was my size so the cloths fit and I learned what size I was. Then my girlfriend show me how to dress and wear makeup.

[liz.thomas]

I also forgot about Christine Boranski. She also has great legs and generally wears great skirts and dresses.

Liz

[Barbara Jo]

"Christine Boranski"........ I cant help thinking of her as Leonard Hostetter's mom. :)

[Margot Emerson]

It would have to be my wife. She has always been a stylish dresser. For a while, she worked at a high end clothing shop, so was able to access some really nice designer clothes at prices we couldn't normally afford. She even did some modeling for a while. i occasionally had the opportunity to be an usher or escort at some of the shows they did. So I really got to see how to put things together for a look.

We share a lot of common likes and dislikes in clothing, but have our own style as well.

Most valuable thing I learned was how to dress appropriate to the situation, and how to 'edit' so as not to overdo it.

[liz.thomas]

"Christine Boranski"........ I cant help thinking of her as Leonard Hostetter's mom. :)

I had to look Leonars H up. No, I was referring to her older work like in Cybil.

Watch 19:07 on. Love this outfit

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qwskBrQXRws

[CherylFlint]

Has to be my teachers when I was in grade school, the lady at the lingerie store in town, and the lady across the street.
We're talking 1950-60s style.

[Samantha_Smile]

I used to be heavily influenced by my mum, because her's were the first clothes I ever borrowed and as such I remained drawn to her style for some time.
Its only really the last 4 years or so that I have begun to wear more fashionable clothes and present as a GG of my age might do.
This shift has been heavily influenced by Emma, my Mrs who keeps an eye on what I'm wearing and tells me honestly when something just doesn't work (either for my poor outfit assembly, my body shape or other point that keeps me from working it). I am very grateful for a voice of honesty like this.
I also draw inspiration from friends, telly/magazines (celebrity girls fashions), girls in the street, just women in general - If I see something I like then I try to acquire it or something very much like it.
The way I see it, it's better to draw inspiration from many sources rather than just one, because if I didn't, I'd still be dressing like my mum and I wouldn't have worked out my own style.

[GinaD]

It would be Catherine Back in Dukes of Hazard. The classic "daisy dukes", the long hair, and the high heels were what I tried to emulate. I still dress like that today. Second would be the girls at school. I would try to mimic their style too.

[Ms Deidre]

My 3 older sisters and in a way my mother as she molded them into what they became. They always knew exactly how to dress for the occasion and were not afraid to show their femininity yet stay stylish.

[ArleneRaquel]

Add Loretta Young to my list, she was chic & elegent. I also admired that 1930's films " Clothes Horse" Kay Francis. Both were admired by my mother who once again influenced me concerning style, class, & taste. Both of these ladies had those virtues, at least on screen.

[Auntie]

Several teachers I had in the 60's. They dressed so they showed off their best assets without looking ****ty. I want to emulate them.

[Seana Summer]

I don't know that there was ever 1 particular person. I have always admired the well dressed and put together professional office look. That is certainly not something I see a lot of in my normal travels. So perhaps it is the ladies I have seen on TV such as the Today shows Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie, Katie Couric and Meredith Vieira. It is also some of the ladies I encounter when I work in the larger cities who still dress up to go to work. My one variance from the above examples is that I almost always wear nylons. My legs are just too ugly without them, they are "man legs" after all!

[satinnsilk]

I too cannot attribute my taste to anyone lady but growing up in the 60's and 70's definitely had an influence and watching movies from the 50's when women dressed so elegantly probably was part of it. I still love those retro styles immensely.

Elizabeth

[Maria Blackwood]

Mr. Fredrick. :D

Fun fact: he invented the push up bra

[DebbieL]

I've been reading Cosmo, Woman's Day, Elle, and Vogue for years. I like the Cosmo girl style, but I'm a bit big for outfits that tight and skirts/dresses that short, but I like the general attitude. I also like one called BBW (Big Beautiful Women) which I have been reading since I was in High School.

My favorite designers are Donna Koran and Calvin Klein. I have others I like as well, but those are common in my wardrobe.
I also like to shop at Avenue, Catherines, and Lane Bryant - all have great plus size fashions that work well on most of my sizes.

[ArleneRaquel]

OMG ! So many interesting posts and influences. Thank you ladies. MUAH !

[PrettyFlowingGown]

I love beautiful long ball gowns/ evening gowns/ long silk nightgowns, so it was always elegant actresses from the golden years. Ginger Rogers, Veronica Lake, etc.

[ArleneRaquel]

PrettyFlowingGown,
Thank you for adding those two lovely ladies, especially Ginger to the list of influences.

[Ilsa]

My Mother, my older sister, my younger sister, Donna Reed, and Barbara Billingsley in that order. Oh and of course Ingrid Bergman!

[ArleneRaquel]

Ilsa,
Thank you for sharing your major influences.

[Ilsa]

I'd like to share one more and that would have to be Grace Kelly. She was the epitome of everything feminine.

[AKADonna]

For me, it has been my age and physical size. I'm 70 and I'm 6'1" with size 14 feet. I have found that dressing age appropriately with the intent of "blending in" has helped me the most. One day. I just went to the shopping mall with a clipboard and recorded how various women m=about my age seemed to be dressed. I was amazed that very few of them wore dresses or skirts- mostly slacks and jeans. The taller women never wore heels and nobody wears too much makeup, it seems. This helped me in creating a style all my own that seems to work pretty well for me.

[Cheryl T]

For me it would be every woman I have ever observed, particularly those that are tall like I am.
I have taken cues from everyone I see to find what I feel looks good on me, makes me feel good and that I enjoy wearing. Refining all this input is the fun part of the process, and it's certainly helped me limit the buy/try/return cycle that I was in all the years I was in the closet. Of course it does help to be able to shop and try things on first 'cause what looks good on the rack doesn't necessarily look good on the body.

[Nicolesmyth]

my wife! she's beautiful and dresses classy.