This week, lets chat about dressing for joy and success your way.

As a child, one of my dreams was to be a rockstar when I grow up. While I didn’t become a rockstar, I did have the opportunity to dress as one for my cousin in-law Gary’s 40th birthday.

While I do not dress like this all the time, I am glad that I have embraced dressing up the way I like and not what the world dictates.

I remember attending a course a few years ago where one of the modules was on personal branding. As part of it, the lecturer provided us with some guidelines on how to dress for success & presentations.

The materials shocked me because they were so old fashioned.

I refused to dress as suggested for my final presentation which frustrated my lecturer.

Instead, I wore my usual B’s style for presentation – a dress with my leather jacket (pictured in photo for a public talk that I gave). It made me feel great and like a rockstar. I was voted best dressed female by my classmates. I think it is because I embraced my own style fully hence oozed confidence.

Compare this to:

I love it when others have the audacity to dress the way that makes them smile. An example is 89 years old Wang Deshun. He is a Chinese model and film actor who got nicknamed the Hottest Grandpa in China after walking shirtless in Beijing Fashion Week in 2015.

I often use his inspirational video when sharing about mindsets and embracing change. He learnt English at 44, began fitness training at 50, learnt to ride a horse at 65, learnt to ride a motorcycle at 78 and hit the catwalk at 79. And at the age of 85, he achieved his dream of flying by successfully receiving his pilot’s licence. Becoming the oldest person to undertake flight training in China.

Closer home are my parents; my mum is 77 and my dad 79. They have always dressed well. I saw photos of my mum dressed in super mini dresses which were fashionable during their younger days. She also sewed many lovely cheongsams for herself.

Nowadays in their golden years, they love it when their daughters shop for them because they like our suggestions. My mum commented to me once: “I want to dress well and not what others think an older person should dress like.”

When they travel, my mum will bring along change of outfits for her photos including different hats and accessories. They enjoy wearing matching outfits as well. For her, dressing up and dressing alike makes her smile.

I love their mindsets about staying youthful through their dressing and will continue to encourage that!

What about you? Are you inspired by anyone’s dress style?