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.

[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---

[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 !

[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.

[Nicolesmyth]

my wife! she's beautiful and dresses classy.

[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.

[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.

[Maria Blackwood]

Mr. Fredrick.

Fun fact: he invented the push up bra

[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.