Confidence, passion, and style - A style interview with Julia

Today I interview Julia who lives in France and is passionate about fashion, beauty, and travel. Yous will love her expert tips on style and manner and discover why she started blogging after 50. Enjoy!

Can you tell the states a little bit more about yourself?

I'1000 English language merely I've been living in France for the concluding 23 years, and so I guess you could say I've acquired the "French touch". I have been married for nearly thirty years and have two daughters in their early twenties.

I initially trained as a chartered auditor (more years agone than I care to think!), but so retrained every bit a teacher in 2003.

I take always been passionate about mode, beauty and travelling, and take spent much of my complimentary time researching dazzler products, shopping (or at least window-shopping) for new dress and planning my side by side holidays!

In 2022 I decided to take a leap into the unknown and kickoff a blog almost my passions, also as to retrain (again!) as a personal stylist. I remember my piece of work as a secondary school teacher has helped me understand a lot more than nigh trunk bug and insecurity and I would like to aid every adult female (whatsoever her shape, size or age) feel good nigh herself and confident in her style.

I hate going to the gym, but I love running as it clears my head, and makes me feel more than positive. I as well love good food, practiced vino and good visitor.

As a point of reference which age group do you lot vest to or perhaps you are willing to share your age?

I describe myself as an 'over 40s' or 'midlife' blogger, simply I'm really in my 50s. In fact, I'yard 54 and I'thou absolutely loving this age, as I accept more free time, confidence and maturity than I had when I was younger.

Tin can you tell u.s. a bit more virtually The Velvet Runway and why you created it?

A number of factors came together at in one case, at an historic period I would consider a turning point in life.

Firstly, my daughters grew up and left home – one went to study in Los Angeles and one went to study in Dublin. My hubby has e'er travelled a lot for his work, so I institute myself very much afflicted by the 'empty nest syndrome'. Not only, were my daughters no longer at home, just my husband wasn't either!

At about this time I read a magazine article about 'mid life bloggers' and my youngest daughter decided to change her orientation and apply to study Mode Design. As I helped my daughter put together her portfolio and select materials for her designs, I realised how much I would love to be more involved in the fashion manufacture too.

So, in September 2022 I decided to accept a jump into the unknown and showtime a blog well-nigh my passion for style, dazzler and travel.

I also felt that the way minefield becomes positively hazardous when yous reach midlife – (as if it wasn't hard enough before!) and I would like my blog to exist a place of reassurance for anyone who is struggling to find their style.

I aim to feature outfits that women feel they could actually wear, as so many of the track trends and magazine articles feature wearing apparel that whilst they are beautiful are not practical for every solar day life or not inside the budget of the majority of united states of america!

Some people take asked me "Why The Velvet Runway?" and I chose this proper noun as I was looking for something that embodied all the features that I wanted to embrace in my blog.

The "Velvet" represents the material and consequently the mode elements of my weblog (crushed velvet is i of my favourite materials equally information technology is and then luxurious) and the "track" symbolises both the catwalks and hence the way and beauty aspects of my web log and besides the runways at airports and consequently the travel attribute.

How would you describe your own personal style?

I call back I would depict my style as classic with a twist or a hint of fun, as I beloved to integrate new trends into my wait.

Where practice you alive and how does that influence your mode?

I live in rural France, so I don't actually think that has influenced my style. Notwithstanding, I am almost exactly half-fashion between London and Paris and brand regular trips to both Capital letter cities, and I experience this has had more of an influence on my manner than where I live.

Do you experience yous take a signature fashion?

Non really- I like so many different looks and I love to mix things upward a flake depending on my mood – although I do have a disproportionate number of lace dresses in my closet!

What inspires your outfit choices the most?

A number of factors influence my outfit choices, as I beloved to get ideas from other style blogs equally well as taking account of street-style. I'm not sure if information technology'south since I started blogging or took the personal stylist grade, but I find I'm constantly noticing what other people are wearing. Sometimes, I accept a mental photo to endeavour and find something after!

Of course, I also beloved reading fashion magazines and wandering around the stores. (the latter action usually comes at a cost!)

Merely, I recollect the biggest influences on my outfit choices are my mood and my daughters' stance! Having ii daughters in their early twenties is similar having an inner critic, and I trust and value their judgment (fifty-fifty if I occasionally ignore it!)

Do you take things similar color profiling or body type into account when yous apparel?

Absolutely! I completed a personal styling grade earlier this yr and I am fascinated by colour profiling and body type.

I think dressing for your body shape is probably the near important gene in styling at any age, every bit it can make the deviation between looking fabulous or frumpy. The most important cistron is to cull clothes that show off the bits of your body that you lot like and disguise the bits y'all don't!!

For colour profiling, whilst I think it is important to accept into account the colors that arrange yous, I would non apply the rules too strictly equally I think the best style to meet if a color suits you is to try it!

It is usually very obvious if a color brings out the green of your eyes, makes your complexion radiant or completely drains you!

Has your way changed at all after turning 40?

Yes I think my style has definitely improved since turning forty, as I am more confident, understand my body shape ameliorate and am willing to have more than risks!

I have also (finally!) learned the importance of investing in quality pieces, although I do still purchase short-term trends!

Exercise you lot believe in dressing 'historic period appropriately' and what does it mean to yous?

Yes and No! Whilst I would personally never wear a lycra mini skirt or a crop height at 40 plus, I practice believe information technology's fine to wear above the knee joint skirts and to follow fashion trends.

I think the virtually important 'rules' are to apparel for your torso shape and the occasion. For example, I believe my legs to be one of my assets, and then I will happily wear shorts and/ or brusk skirts on vacation, but I would not vesture them in a concern state of affairs, where I call back a longer length brim would be more appropriate.

Another important factor is non so much what yous wear merely how you wear information technology. An case here would exist the instance of distressed denim, which could be considered inappropriate for the over 40s. I would definitely non vesture distressed denim with a ingather elevation (or even a slouchy jumper), but I believe it looks fabled with a crisp white top and a structured blazer.

Similarly, I would ever employ the age-old dominion of legs or cleavage only never both, so if I'thou wearing a short skirt, I volition choose a less revealing top!

Would y'all say that at this stage of your life you are now more, or less interested in manner, way and the way you look?

I am definitely more interested in way and the way I expect now and I blench when I run into photos of myself from twenty years agone (probably because I tended to follow mode trends to the letter without taking account of whether they suited me or not!)

I think this is partly due to the fact that previously I had less time available, between bringing up a family unit and concentrating on my career, at that place was little fourth dimension left to peruse mode magazines!

Every bit my daughters have grown up I have started perusing fashion magazines with them and accept had more costless time to develop this and other interests.

Why is the style you expect of import to yous?

I think it is a question of confidence and personal satisfaction. I similar to accept my time to get ready and aim to look as good every bit I can. If y'all believe you lot look good then yous feel good, and sometimes something as simple equally wearing a favorite dress or a treasured detail of jewelry can elevator your mood!

Do you follow trends? And if yes, which trends excite you lot at the moment?

Again, Yes and No! I do follow way trends only I am non a slave to way! My advice would be to 'splurge' on classic, timeless pieces that you will wear year after twelvemonth and to 'steal' on the new trends, every bit yous volition not get and then much wear from them.

I will also but suit a new fashion tendency if it flatters my trunk shape.

At the moment, I beloved the 'off the shoulder' look and romantic ruffles. I am also very keen on the neutral trend and pastels (such as the Pantone colors of the yr – serenity and rose quartz).

I also really love lace upward sandals, as I recollect they are a flake unlike.

Notwithstanding, I volition be fugitive the nightwear/pajama tendency and depression-slung pants, and I remain wary of mesh. Call up 'fashion trends come and get but style lasts forever'

Do you have any manner and fashion tips for women over 40?

I think the most important communication for women over 40 (or whatever age) is to clothing what y'all love and feel proficient in, and don't be afraid to step out of your condolement zone.

If you love information technology, buy information technology Just don't rush into adopting a new trend if it doesn't piece of work for you lot (i.e. suit your body shape and coloring) and pair any new trends with trusted favorites to make certain you keep your personal mode.

Invest (splurge) on classic, timeless pieces and take fun (steal) with new trends, and brand certain that whatever you lot choose flatters your body shape (highlights what you love and hides what you lot don't)

Lastly, have fun. We are so lucky to be over forty at a fourth dimension when in that location are and then many fashion trends out there and such a swell source of inspiration from all my fellow mid-life bloggers!

What are your plans for your website and Instagram folio and how practice you see it develop over the coming years?

In the curt-term, I really want to work on improving the quality of my photos; as for the moment I am just using an I-phone. If anyone has any tips I would love to hear them.

I accept likewise been co-hosting a Manner Challenge on Instagram this month and I have loved seeing all the amazing looks of other bloggers. I would beloved to do a monthly post on my weblog and/or Instagram featuring my favorite looks from other bloggers.

Past the autumn, I hope to add personal styling services and a look volume to the blog to provide inspiration and way advice, with a range of on-line and confront to face services, such as special consequence styling, personal shopping, color and body analysis, wardrobe detox and girls' fun nights.

In the long-term I would love to develop a business with my daughter simply that volition take to look until she is more than avant-garde in her fashion degree and I'1000 not sure how that will pan out for now.

Annihilation further you would similar to add?

The all-time thing about becoming an 'over 40s' blogger has been the new friends I accept made through blogging and I am so grateful to exist a part of this exciting community.

I likewise desire to thank Sylvia and the 40plus squad for featuring me on 40+Manner.

Visit Julia at The Velvet Rails and @Thevelvetrunway for Instagram!

Which of Julia's looks is your favorite?

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Source: https://40plusstyle.com/classic-with-a-twist-a-style-interview-with-julia/