Style Tips I Wish I Learned In My 20s

[@NiTeFiSe.collie]

I'm 56 and still looking for the perfect tee. Finally realized that I obviously don't like the way I look in t shirts. I can stop looking now!

[@mademoisellejaime]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@americafirst9144]

Have you tried Pima cotton long-sleeved ones with a little stretch?

[@southernsass7624]

Banana Republic has nice dressier basic tees in different sleeve lengths and necklines.

[@dawnpotts5941]

I feel the same about button down shirts!

[@eve_in_paris]

Funny, I am 56 too and I’ve been looking for the perfect white button down for decades, to realize I don’t look good in a white button down, nor in white at all. #experience 😉

[@mayamontoyak]

I love the point about how dressed up we want to feel, it made me think that I always love pairing something more polished with something more casual. I like the contrast but never knew why.

[@Employeeofthemonth7000]

In all honesty, I think the 20s version of myself had a clearer and healthier view of my style or clothing. I was broke, so I bought less and valued my clothing more. As I have gotten older, make more money (and with the creation of social media) I buy more, wear it for a less amount of time, and pay a lot more for each piece. I think I have devolved. I am working on that now and it is a goal of mine to go back to my ‘20s self.

[@mademoisellejaime]

This is a great reflection! And I'm right there with you. My own goal for 2025 is fewer and better :)

[@dinapawlow1622]

Thank you!!!!!❤ I wrote down all of your life lessons. The one that resonated most with me was Nothing Is Timeless. Too often I hear ´ this is an investment ,it is timeless,it is worth the money’… go spend the big bucks…you will use this forever! Not true, I won’t be fooled again.

[@mademoisellejaime]

Yes exactly!

[@roxanebethjohnson3594]

I'm 57 and I really had my style mastered in my 20s, I think because there was no social media to confuse me. I lived in downtown San Francisco, I'd see what was in the shops, what stylish women in the city wore & a few magazine cutouts I collected each month, and go from there. That said, everything you've said here rings 100% true. There really are no classics BUT...the jewelry I inherited from my grandmother has been with me since my early 30s and those are the most iconic and classic items in my wardrobe. They make everything look special, even a fitted T. So, if I had to do it all over...I''d just wait for those few pieces of my grandmother's jewelry! And spend less money, knowing most of the items I purchased (even the expensive, high-quality items) would not stand the test of time. But, my love of style has always held me in good stead. If you are interested in good style, you'll learn it and keep it forever, unlike the latest pair of "timeless" jeans or "classic" white shirt.

[@mademoisellejaime]

Yes! Love this and thank you for sharing your thoughts! x

[@luluandmeow]

I've learnt not to buy pieces that are too comfortable around my waist, as they encourage overeating. For example wide leg jeans/oversize trousers, I put on a few lbs because my wide leg jeans were so comfortable and also hid my tummy (I'm slim but this is my weakness) and sure enough now my usual bootcut/slim straight jeans no longer fit. I spend more on great outerwear than on an expensive cashmere jumper, I wear merino instead which is also easier to wash.

[@CathyHarbidge]

Love this video, so much food for thought! I think I would echo some of your messages to my younger self, especially about the need to be comfortable in my clothing. I would also encourage myself not to be sad when trends don’t work out, being a curvier person I found a lot of styles didn’t work for me, but would try to wear a version anyway, and it usually just made me feel sad and like I stood out in a bad way. Now I look for silhouettes that work with my curves, not against them!

[@mademoisellejaime]

Thank you for sharing!

[@amandalh60]

Such great reflections and advice.

[@margarettaylor920]

An interesting thought about the level of formality with which you are comfortable!

[@jennydickson7805]

The lesson I would tell myself is to spend less on clothes and more on better quality accessories as they seem to have a longer lifespan.....and they do fit years later! A silk scarf around the neck adds so much to an outfit, as does a cashmere wrap or a set of bangles. In my wardrobe I have accessories from many years ago and jewelry too that remind me of wonderful memories, places and family members.

[@mademoisellejaime]

Yes, great one! I will say some items I've bought haven't aged well - like patent leather belts (cracked), but on the whole, these definitely do seem to be the things that have the longest lifespan :D

[@elizabethwestwick7401]

It seems so simple, but I would tell my younger self (and older self too!) that check your closet first. You may have something similar already to wear. Quality over quantity has been my motto, it's okay to take your time a build a wardrobe you love.

[@mademoisellejaime]

YES! especially if you're someone who loves nuanced details - it can be easy to convince yourself this new thing is different. Great one :D

[@scegenius8751]

Only buy natural fabrics!

[@alyssarudman]

Such great tips Jamie! Wish I had these mastered in my 20s too 😅

[@katienicholas9019]

I also really struggle with buying shoes having given myself bunions wearing crazy heals in my twenties! I just fine it so tough to buy anything other than trainers or flip flops. Would to see you make a video with your advice here x

[@mademoisellejaime]

Gosh we would put our feet through their paces, wouldn't we? I got mine at 14 from ill fitting school shoes and I'll always remember wearing skate shoes instead of black school shoes with my school uniform (as recommended by my podiatrist at the time). I think a big thing is discovering brands which *you* find comfortable and that don't pinch. Feet are so personal and this is largely trial and error - but soft leathers also help, too!

[@KimberlyPerrotis]

Even though I didn’t gain weight, my waist thickened by four inches (!) during menopause. I could see it month by month, but short of major surgery, there was just nothing I could do. It’s so hard to find clothes that fit well now.

[@mademoisellejaime]

So I was reading something recently that said that women start to lose muscle mass in their late 30s (this is general for men and women but apparently happens faster for women) so that would make sense that your weight wouldn't fluctuate, but your proportions would!

[@janehancock9118]

I’m 69 & have always loved fashion. I was so broke in my 20’s & didn’t have the patience to save up for the item I really wanted, therefore I would buy many substitutes. So the lesson find your style buy better & what you want and buy less.

[@aukluk]

The style tip I'd tell my 20-something self is that liking an outfit on someone else (especially a fashion influencer) won't translate to liking the same outfit on my body.

[@mademoisellejaime]

YES!!! Proportions etc are so different from person to person

[@Louiseh48]

How do we ( Australians) buy from Quince? That cardigan you’re wearing is gorgeous

[@mademoisellejaime]

Thank you! (a very good JK affordable alternative). I used mail forwarding to from Quince as the brand ships within the US only. 

The service I use is Planet Express: planetexpress.com/?ref=324270 Their website is dinky, but they’re less expensive and ship *faster* than other mail forwarding services I’ve tried. HTH!

[@shawndraortiz6185]

I would tell my younger self to buy nice quality, but that doesn't have to be expensive. I would also remind myself that you dress nicely for yourself. A woman recently told me she loved my style. She said, " I work from home and no one sees my clothes, so I always wear leisure wear." I said, "Dress for yourself. You will feel better about your day." Wearing a nice outfit makes me feel good about me. I didn't realize that when I was 20.

[@mademoisellejaime]

Yes 100% !! After a certain point you get diminishing returns on the quality for the price, too. And agreed on dressing for you - I also think it helps set intentions and motivation for the day, too x

[@KimberlyPerrotis]

The only thing I wish I knew in my 20s is to hang on to more of my good clothes. I can’t find the same quality at any price nowadays, even at designer brands. I agree that nothing is really timeless, but some items are more timeless than others. I could still enjoy wearing some of the beautiful wool coats and blazers I had then, for example. Everything is polyester crap today. Even if I can find wool outerwear, it’s almost always ruined by plastic linings. It just never occurred to me forty years ago that apparel quality would become so degraded in the future.

[@mademoisellejaime]

I feel like even a lot of the quality issues stem from the past 10-15 years. I have a merino top from a fast fashion brand that I got when I was 15 (over 20 years ago!) and it is IMMACULATE! I couldn't imagine buying the same item from the same brand today

[@krys1933]

Those Tibi pants look so nice and comfortable on you

[@mademoisellejaime]

Thank you! They really are very good - I think if I didn't have the green I'd be tempted to get them in the stone colour (nice, muted shade)

[@Haydee483]

Also I bought so many handbags with logos I wish I could invest in just one nice classic bag .. I been wanting a Chanel since 95. If I would it brought back then there were cheaper…

[@Haydee483]

I regret spending so much money expensive stuff !with menopause your body change drastically..