What Every Woman Over 35 Should Know About Style

Anything But Mid is hosted by Amy Edwards and Whitney Stropp. Neither host is a doctor and nothing here is medical advice. Lightly cleaned for readability.

Anything: I'm Amy.

Whitney: And I'm Whitney, and this is midlife.

Anything: But you're anything but mid. We love when we get it right. We love when we get it right.

Whitney: I love it! It's ridiculous how excited I get.

Anything: I know, me, too!

Whitney: And it's it's not I mean we're doing it every week. I don't know why I'm just so blown away when we get it right.

Anything: I know. I'm like we nailed it again! I have a a mid moment. I just had this morning.

Whitney: Oh, okay.

Anything: I have a Band-Aid on my leg, and I thought when I got out of the shower, "Oh, I need to replace that banana." And then I was like, "No, it's not a banana." And then I was like, "Bandana?" And then I was like, "I know that's not right either." And I was like,

Whitney: Oh, my gosh.

Anything: And then I go, "Band-Aid." And then I was like, "Why did I think it was banana?" And I am concerned for my own brain health.

Whitney: This is what's so messed up, and I'm glad that we talk about it because this is happening to every woman in menopause. It is not you don't have Alzheimer's, you didn't have a stroke,

Anything: I don't?

Whitney: No.

Anything: Thank you.

Whitney: You do not. You do not. This is part of menopause, and it is insane.

Anything: It's so weird.

Whitney: You can't remember the name of something.

Anything: Like, literally, my brain just went to fix the banana and then bandana.

Whitney: Yeah. Yeah, I get it. I'm I it happens to me.

Anything: Thank God, you get it.

Whitney: All the time, girl. It's ridiculous.

Anything: Well, if it's happening to you, listener, then

Whitney: You're not alone.

Anything: No, you're not alone.

Whitney: It's it's totally normal, and that's why, finally, women are starting to talk about all this shit and we're getting into the FDA's business so that we can get the hormones that we need.

Anything: Or just get things tested on women, rather than just men, for ever, for literally ever.

Whitney: Yes. Yeah, but it's so typical of us women to just suffer in silence for years! Women have been going through menopause forever.

Anything: Yeah.

Whitney: Nobody told me that you lose your words?

Anything: But don't you think But don't you think we've kind of been gaslighted in some way, like, I don't know, by society and everything and men, and just told why Gaslighting. As in, it's not that big of a deal, it's in your head. As in, like, "It's fine. Yeah, you're okay. We all go We're We're just getting older," something like that. And like, Yeah, but men don't have this issue. it's actual No, but they act like they're getting old and it's a thing, you know? There's I do think there's somewhat of, "Oh, honey.

Anything: Yeah, exactly.

Whitney: It's fine. It's Yeah. Yeah.

Anything: Gag gag Anyway, I'm glad that we're rising up, we're using our voices,

Anything: Oh, please, yeah.

Whitney: even if we can't remember what things are called. We're still going to shout!

Anything: "Banana!"

Whitney: We'll shout the wrong word, but it'll be

Anything: "Banana!"

Whitney: It'll be us really rising up.

Anything: It'll be loud. Yep. All right, do you have a mid moment before we go?

Whitney: I cannot think of one right now.

Anything: Okay, perfect. That actually qualifies,

Whitney: So, yeah.

Anything: believe it or not. That qualifies.

Whitney: I'm sure I have had many, but I can't think of anything. I can't even really remember what I did yesterday.

Anything: Yeah. Yeah. I keep them on my Notes app, and I'll be like, "Mid moment." So, if you have one, please send it to to us. anythingbutmidpodcast@gmail. So, let's get into style!

Whitney: Yes, I am very excited. I have wanted you to do this because I love your style. If you follow Amy on her personal accounts, you see that she's always putting on something really cool that you wouldn't necessarily expect

Anything: Thank you.

Whitney: to go together.

Anything: Oh, thank you. Well, that's what fashion is doing right now, and I think it really goes with what we're talking about, like, an anything goes attitude right now. Women are fed up with rules, and I just feel like it's spilling over into what we wear, and it's really cool. So, I I think we're at a really nice moment in fashion. I really like it.

Whitney: Okay, good.

Anything: Yeah.

Whitney: Meaning like, if you want to put stripes with polka dots, it's fine.

Anything: You fucking do it, and it's actually, you know, happening, and kind of like, yeah, and

Whitney: Anything goes.

Anything: Anything goes. I don't know if I just, you know, channeled this timeline, which I'm thrilled about, because that's what I've been doing. So, I'm just I'm excited about that.

Whitney: Yeah. You really go I mean, you really take the parameters off of it because you'll be like, "I'm going to cut this here, and I'm going to

Anything: Oh, I keep scissors.

Whitney: use this and put it on as a belt, or a scarf, or"

Anything: Yes. Yeah. You don't

Whitney: You don't keep scissors in your closet?

Whitney: Dude, I Fabric scissors? Good ones? No. I Just like in my cooking, I have to follow the recipe specifically, and then it still doesn't work out.

Anything: Oh, shit. Really?

Whitney: Yeah, but I have been inspired by some of your things that then make me go, "You know what? Fuck it. I'm just going to try this on, and and I'm going to feel good in it."

Anything: Yeah. Yeah. Good!

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: You know what? I mean, like Justin's grandma has been inspired. Like, I get feedback from people that are like, "I'm wearing this because you were talking about it, and I just want to wear what I just want to, you know, shine or whatever." And I'm like, "Ah! That is like so"

Whitney: That's the point. Uh! That's our message. Yeah.

Anything: Makes my heart burst. Yeah. Makes my heart burst. So, let's talk about it. So, you asked me to do style for a while, and I wasn't even sure what I should talk about. So, I tried to get some direction, and I came up with two episodes, but I can do a third if you so choose. So, let's talk about what we're going to talk about in this one and the next one. And then, I'll get into what I've kind of laid out, okay?

Whitney: Yes. Yes.

Whitney: Okay.

Whitney: Okay.

Anything: So, it is, "Forget the rules, and wear what you want," which goes with, "We do what we want." So, that Which is like what you're talking about, like me putting things together that whatever, right? Right, maybe it works, maybe it doesn't. It's not a fucking lifelong commitment.

Whitney: Yes. Yes.

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Well, and you'll do things like, "I'm going to wear this tube top, but put a but it's going to be over a a button-down." You know, I mean, that's necessarily a thing.

Anything: I have. I've done something like that.

Whitney: Yeah, you've you put things together that people wouldn't even think you're supposed to wear at the same time.

Anything: I think I've held myself back in the past. Like, I've looked at something together and been like, "This just works for some reason," and I and then I've tried to make sense of it and gone like, "No, it shouldn't."

Whitney: And you're like, "Forget that."

Anything: And then I didn't wear it. And so, now, I'm trusting my own just instincts better than I ever have, which I've always, you know, I used to own a clothing store, so

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Well, that's what I was going to say. You you have a natural talent for this. I mean, of course everyone can do something similar, but they don't have the talent that you've just been naturally given. It's kind of like again, going back to cooking, everyone can follow the recipe, but not everyone can go, "Oh, I'll put a little smidge of this and this and that, and ta-da! It tastes delicious."

Anything: Yeah, that's true. I don't know that it's natural. I mean, like for instance, my cooking got better because I really worked at it and bought a really good cookbook that I feel like I learned how to cook, and I understood how to put things together better. But, I think clothes are kind of the same way. I did this

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Well, that's true.

Anything: I did this modeling class at Foley's in Highland Mall when I was

Whitney: Oh, my gosh, Foley's.

Anything: 11. I know. That's throwing it back, baby.

Whitney: I have not heard that

Anything: Do you remember that Foley's

Whitney: Oh, of course!

Anything: in Highland Mall? It had this, like, glass wall kind of on the outside.

Whitney: Yes.

Anything: Yeah. So, um and it was kind of near that glass wall, cuz you would walk in kind of on the second floor. Anyway, whatever, if anybody remembers. And, uh

Whitney: You were a model.

Anything: Not exactly. I took a modeling class with a friend, and it was run by this woman, cuz I grew up in Killeen. So, we had to drive every Saturday morning. My mom would drive us down, and we'd go. And

Whitney: You took modeling classes.

Whitney: Right.

Anything: It This woman that ran it was a modeling agent or something like that. And there was all these young girls. And I remember, once, she was talking about ways to put together outfits, and she used me as a bad example, as a what not to do. She made me stand up, and she was like, "Now, what would you do to make this outfit, like,

Whitney: No, that's so horrible!

Anything: better?" And I remember, I I was wearing just like a white button-down. I don't know. I was 11. A white button-down and a red plaid skirt, cuz it was the '80s and that's what we wore. There were a lot of plaid. And, um she they were like, "Oh, I would belt it and blah blah blah." And so, I had to stand up and be told all that. So, I think I'm scarred, maybe.

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: That is so horrible! Your poor, little 11-year-old self.

Anything: I know! Oh, my poor dorky self. You know, I had hair I didn't understand and a unibrow.

Whitney: Oh, yeah.

Anything: So, anywho, why am I an authority on this? Well, besides that story, which I just thought of, I just love fashion and the way of expressing yourself. So, I have studied yourself.

Whitney: You've You've immersed yourself into it, too. I mean, like you go to fashion shows, you're involved in the Austin fashion scene. But But you were drawn to it, which is why you did the the the store.

Anything: Yes. Well, yes.

Anything: Yeah, for sure. Um yeah, I owned a store right here in Austin from 1999 to 2005. I really just wanted to see what that was like, to go to market and all that just really interested me and sounded fun. I've always enjoyed like shopping. I like finding things that are weird and unusual. If it's something strange, I would be like, "I have to try this on, and I have to see what's happening here." And I I'm good at like looking at the fabric and having vision. When I was in high school, I started sewing. I took my mom's sewing machine. I started sewing Units.

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Mhm.

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Oh, Units! Wow!

Anything: Yeah, there's a throwback. Units! I started

Whitney: We all had Units.

Anything: And I got I bought just jersey, and cuz Units was expensive!

Whitney: Yeah, it was. It was It was a big deal.

Anything: A Units belt, which was just a piece of sewn jersey, if It I know y'all remember these, right? Look them up. But anyway, like, and they were just like cut out fabric, didn't have a seam. It was nothing. So, it was really easy to start. And so, Units, so I made all sorts of like Units tops and stuff for myself. Just it was basically just like a square of fabric, you know?

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Yeah, it was nothing.

Whitney: Yeah. It was awesome.

Anything: And so, um so, I started doing that, so I've always just been really interested. I um so, I mean, I go back 40 years here. So,

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: And, um and then, of course, I have a clothing collection, which I draw from all the time, on my Instagram. And yeah, I'm on the board of the Austin Fashion Council. It's just been like a through line in my life. I'm very

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: It's Absolutely.

Anything: I I enjoy it so much. So, it's just fun, right? It's just like, it's just self-expression.

Whitney: It's not fun for everyone. It can be daunting for a lot of people because it you're overwhelmed, you don't know what goes together. Then, sometimes you're trying to mimic someone else, and when you put it on your own body, you're like, "This is horrible."

Anything: That's true.

Anything: Big time.

Whitney: I don't know if I should put a belt on, or if a belt accentuates an area I don't want. Like, I don't know You're saying there are no rules, but at the same time, I'm like, there are trends that happen, and sometimes you're wear you wear a belt, and then other times, belts are out. Like, tell me about that.

Anything: We're going to talk about that. I know, I'm not a big I always think I'm going to like belts, and then I don't like them.

Whitney: What about the belts?

Whitney: But you do belt things in like in your little videos, you'll

Anything: Occasionally.

Whitney: Yeah, but it'll be like a scarf, or you tuck it in and it's

Anything: Very rarely. Rarely, yeah. I'm not a big belt person, and I have belts and I think I'm going to like them, and then I don't, which we're going to talk about that, too. So, um yeah,

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Okay, good.

Anything: but what I want to do, too, though, is like help people

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: see more fun in it, and feel a little more free.

Whitney: Yes.

Anything: And um that's kind of one of my MOs.

Whitney: Yes.

Anything: So, and then I want to be a voice and example of like wearing what you want at any age.

Whitney: Yes, absolutely.

Anything: I'm big big believer in that. So, we're going to do, "Forget the rules."

Whitney: Confidence is your greatest accessory.

Anything: Oh, boy, is it ever. Just just And And if you get it wrong, who cares? Just laugh, right? It's not, like I said, it's not on your body forever. You can literally take it off.

Whitney: Yeah. Own it.

Whitney: That's true.

Anything: Um so, I was going to do a two-part series, so my second part is going to be on like over 30, 40, 50 style and finding your style as you change to stay fabulous at every age, okay? So, that's going to be the next one. This one, so we're going to talk about kind of these rules. And then, a third part I was thinking of was like how to clean out your closet, or really like

Whitney: Okay.

Whitney: Okay.

Whitney: Perfect.

Whitney: Oh, good Lord, yes.

Anything: hone that. And I mean, I'm a closet cleaner outer from like way back, so.

Whitney: You say that, but then you've got pieces from the '90s.

Anything: You don't even know how much I've gotten rid of.

Whitney: Oh, man.

Anything: Isn't that Isn't that Should I be embarrassed?

Whitney: I I would've killed No, I would actually have probably People would have enjoyed going through those things and taking stuff for themselves.

Anything: Oh, for sure. For sure. For sure! I had so much from my store still, I mean just like all sorts of stuff. All right, so anyway, and my mom had some good stuff I've saved, you know, that kind of thing. All right, so here Okay, number one, we have been set up, right? Like, I feel like like we were talking about with the, you know, gaslighting for

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Mhm.

Anything: menopause or whatever, like Jerry Springer, past generations, the patriarchy, beauty standards, like I feel like we've been set up to a degree to feel like we have to abide by some sort of standards, right?

Whitney: Mhm.

Whitney: Yes, I agree. I agree.

Anything: I agree, yes. The rules, then, are made up. So, which is true for just about any rules, right? I mean, I'm not talking about morality or anything here, but I'm like these rules, right? It's this is like the reframe that we need to have. These are made up. They are not. Like, white shoes after Labor Day is not.

Whitney: I agree with that.

Whitney: Right.

Whitney: Right.

Whitney: That's, of course, the first thing I was thinking of, too. And even even just more like just recently, I'm like, "Well, should I wear these white jeans?" cuz And then, I'm like, "What am I doing?" That That was a

Anything: I know, that's right.

Anything: It's 98° outside!

Whitney: That was that was a rule for like the you know, mid-century, like when when you would put on your whites in the summer and then you would not wear them because they would get You'd go back to the city, and your clothes would get dirty. Like, there was more at play than just

Anything: Yeah.

Anything: Oh!

Anything: I didn't even think of that!

Whitney: And it did talk It was about society, you know. High society could change their clothes.

Anything: Yeah!

Whitney: You know? Yeah.

Anything: Yes! Wow! Oh, gosh, I didn't even think of that. That's so interesting. Okay, so that's another set up, right? Like,

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Yeah, all the rules are fake.

Anything: these class systems, or some shit that we've been fed. Then, and told that that's right. So, we have to reframe this within ourselves, like where these came from: magazines, your mother's advice, or old generations, a culture that wanted midlife women to maybe fade into the background like as we got older, so or be like a certain way when you get older, like the like you just mentioned like the upper society. Oh, they had to be all buttoned up and refined or some something, you know?

Whitney: Mhm.

Whitney: Right.

Whitney: Right. Right.

Whitney: Or the or you shouldn't be showing any cleavage after a certain age. If you've got fucking awesome cleavage, you show it till the day you die.

Anything: If you have shitty cleavage, and you want to show it,

Whitney: Good point.

Anything: do that, too, right? Like, that's right, anything.

Whitney: If you have no cleavage, that's also okay.

Anything: Show that, too! That's right. That's right. Okay, so speaking of rules, let's talk about some of them, right? Like, cleavage, or I didn't even think about what you were saying about like upper class

Whitney: Okay.

Anything: people. Like, that's fascinating, too, because there's their own set of rules. They're like, "Oh, I can't wear that. That's trashy," or whatever you want to call it.

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Exactly.

Whitney: Yeah, that seems like I don't have any money if I do this.

Anything: Right, or classy, or classless, or what whatever you want to list in there, right? And then, like miniskirts after 50 or 40, that's like that Jerry Springer thing. "My mom dresses like she's 14," or whatever. I mean, like, who cares?

Whitney: Right.

Whitney: Mhm.

Anything: I have a friend who's was like 51 or something, and she was just like, "Well, I do dress like a 19-year-old boy." And when she said that, I was like, "Wow, you do dress like a 19-year-old boy." And I laughed so hard. But, I was like, "You do! But, it works on her. She looks she's so cool, right? So,

Whitney: And you're like, "Yeah."

Whitney: I never thought about that.

Whitney: And it works.

Whitney: Yep.

Whitney: I always think about Dolly Parton.

Anything: I have her in here! Yes!

Whitney: Okay, good!

Whitney: Well, then we'll talk about her when you have her. But, I mean, well, she is a perfect example of what people would have said was trashy, and she talked about it her whole life: the big hair, a lot of makeup, the sparkles, the high heels, the tight outfits. But, everyone loved her, and everyone loved her Dolly style. Like, that was her part of her I mean, brand, to be honest. And she said, she never left the house without looking like Dolly Parton.

Anything: Well, no, but yes, go ahead.

Anything: Exactly.

Anything: Yes!

Anything: Yeah!

Anything: I love that!

Whitney: You know? So, what you expected, you would get.

Anything: I mean, how admirable, but that takes time.

Whitney: Yeah. And she was 80, and Wait. When did she dress like a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader? I think that was last year.

Anything: Yeah, it was recently.

Whitney: She Yeah, she had the whole costume. When When her husband turned 80, she dressed like a Playboy Bunny, and did a whole thing. Like, she is a perfect example of somebody who does not did not think about age

Anything: Right.

Whitney: in in relation to what she could or couldn't wear.

Anything: I know, and she was a proponent for doing whatever you want. I remember

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: some interview, I'm paraphrasing, but she was talking about, "Oh, you can dress how you want, or you can you can do everything and dress like the town tramp like me," or something,

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: you know? And you're like, "Hell, yeah!" I mean, just she's so amazing.

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Yeah. It just goes to show you, we we think there are all these rules, but then we see someone who's not adhering to any rules, and we think they're incredible. So, that can be you. That can be you.

Anything: Yeah. Yeah.

Anything: That can, absolutely. Cuz I mean, like, we're talking if you think, "Oh, I can't go sleeveless," "Oh, I can't I have to act my age," "Bold lipstick," or "Nails," or "Gray hair," or "Long hair," or whatever, bikini body. Everybody is a bikini body.

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: Hello?

Whitney: It really is a going back to confidence. I mean, it's I mean, my mom refuses to wear any sleeveless stuff because her her skin is 80 years old, and she's embarrassed. But, I I was watching Goldie Hawn clips last night of her recently, and she's wearing strapless things, and that skin is old. And she's like, embracing it.

Anything: Yeah, it is.

Anything: Really?

Anything: She's just owning it.

Whitney: She's just owning it. She's like, "This is what She's so cute. Oh, yeah, she's so cute.

Anything: And she's so cute. Oh, she's so cute.

Anything: She's so cute.

Whitney: And she's just wearing whatever she wants, and you stop focusing on the things that you may think don't look as good now because she's 80, or whatever. You don't even notice that. You're looking at her face and how adorable she is, and look at that cute outfit.

Anything: And her vibrance, and Yeah. I know, it's funny, nobody notices the things that that we notice on ourselves as much as we notice them on ourselves. Like, I've talked about this on my Instagram before, when I owned a clothing store, I would see women come in and just evaluate themselves to a degree that no one else is ever even going to come close to. And like, staring at their butt in an angled mirror, and all I was like, "Your butt looks good, girl!

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: It's so true.

Whitney: Mhm.

Whitney: Oh, and the lighting in in those stores is never good.

Anything: Your arms look good!"

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: I tried. But, yeah,

Whitney: Oh, I'm sure you did. You You understood.

Anything: but they were still evaluating themselves in a way that made me feel better about my own body. It made me go, "Huh, maybe I should go easier on myself, cuz

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: they certainly don't look as not even they look great, and they're thinking they look that." Yeah.

Whitney: Yeah, they're in their heads about something, yeah.

Anything: So, I have so many memories of that. So, and I just would try to tell them, but they wouldn't listen. And so, I just tried to let it affect my own self-image. So,

Whitney: Mhm, mhm.

Anything: Yeah. Okay, the only things that matter to pay attention to, I don't want to call these rules, cuz we're not worried about that, is like, does it fit? Does it feel like you? Do you feel good in it?

Whitney: Mhm.

Anything: Um like, you know what? So what if your mom doesn't want to wear sleeves, right? She, I guess, could look at her reasons behind it, and if it's an external thing, or if it's an internal thing, or if she just doesn't feel confident, maybe she's just going to put on something different, and I'm not going to fault her for that, you know?

Whitney: Yeah, exactly. You have to do what you're comfortable with. But, I do think fit is a really important

Anything: Mhm.

Whitney: you know, point.

Anything: Yes.

Whitney: Especially like, our Talk about gaslighting. Our bras, the sizes are apparently all wrong. And I haven't done a lot of research on this lately, but I've read in the in the past, like, we're all wearing the wrong bra size. You should go in and get actual measurements, because I think most people just think they're a 34B,

Anything: Yeah, right? Right.

Whitney: and they're not. And then, you think, "Oh, a DD means you've got huge boobs," but it it has so much more to do with that, you know, like your your rib cage and all this stuff. And if your bra fits good, then your shirts look better.

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: Yeah, that's true!

Whitney: I was I was noticing I I have on I wear

Anything: Wow.

Whitney: Yeah, I've lots of times wear cheapie bras that like have the inserts that are always jacked up.

Anything: Mhm, I hate inserts.

Whitney: And I I noticed over this weekend, I was wearing a shirt that was like tighter, but then because my bra inserts were a little jacky in there, jacked up, it didn't look good. So, I was like, "Oh, I got to put a jacket on, like, you know, until I get this bra situation fixed."

Anything: Wow.

Anything: I never thought about that, but you're so right.

Whitney: Yeah, your panties and your bras, they need to fit well

Anything: It really does.

Whitney: so that the rest of your clothes look good on you.

Anything: That's right, and things are all sized weird, so don't I used to call them sizists. I had sizists in my store. Like, if they were above a certain size, they would not buy it. They would not accept that. And so, you know, you don't I I think I've really let go of that. I mean, like I don't care if I'm ordering a large. I want things to fit the way that that they fit, right? So, yeah.

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Right. Right.

Whitney: And that does make a difference, because if the large hangs better on you, then you actually look

Anything: Yeah, it does.

Whitney: like a small.

Anything: Yeah! It's true! Actually, yes, yes.

Whitney: You know? I mean, just it's just it's hanging correctly.

Anything: It's hanging correctly. So, just cut the size out if it's bothers you. Just cut it out, and then you'll forget what size it was, cuz you can't remember anything anyway.

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: That's right.

Anything: So, it's all works out in the end. That's right! And I think jeans So, I have a friend that was shopping for jeans and called me, and was like, "I don't know what to do. I can't find jeans." And she was like, "I like my jeans to be a certain way," or whatever, and I said, "Listen,

Whitney: "Banana."

Whitney: Uh, jeans are hard.

Anything: anything goes right now with jeans. They're saying skinny jeans are coming back, and low-rise." I said, "You just go to town. If you want barrel, if you want wide-leg, if you want skinny jeans, if it's in the store right now," which they all are,

Whitney: Yeah, they are.

Anything: then it's current. So, just wear whatever. Anything goes with jeans.

Whitney: Yeah. Good. I want to get rid of those high-waisted jeans. They hurt my stomach, they make me feel nauseous, they accentuate a part that I don't need accentuated.

Anything: Oh, yeah, they can cause a a fupa in a whole different way, right?

Whitney: The fupa, whatever.

Whitney: Let's just bring it back down. Just bring it back down.

Anything: It's coming. Good. It's happening. But, you have a choice. Like, I think just anything goes, so I think that's a really good example. But, I'm going to talk more about trends and personal style evolution in the next one. So,

Whitney: Good.

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Okay.

Anything: anyway, but that I I just thought that's It's just interesting right now, because I feel like we're always at a point where it's this or this, but right now, I just feel like we're having an anything goes moment. And some things maybe more than others,

Whitney: Right.

Anything: but like long skirts might be having a moment. They are right now. Personally, it's too much fabric for me. It drives me a little bit bananas, so I don't do it, so you know.

Whitney: I think the moment is we're having a moment.

Anything: We're having a moment.

Whitney: You have your moment.

Anything: Yeah. Yeah.

Whitney: You If you want to jump into the 19-year-old teen boy look, then go for it full force,

Anything: Yeah, that's right.

Whitney: wear it with pride, and then it totally works. Same thing with the '70s outfit or, you know, the long-waisted jeans or, you know, Dolly Parton style jumpsuits, whatever.

Anything: I agree.

Anything: Yes! Yes!

Whitney: It's really about, "I I feel good in this, so I'm going to go out

Anything: Yes.

Whitney: and own it."

Anything: Yeah. Well, on that note, my next point is to find your icons. I mean, you know, just keep looking around and see who really calls to you, and

Whitney: Mhm.

Anything: maybe you don't want to copy their style exactly, but maybe there's elements about that style that you're like, "Ah, I understand that she's putting together things that are comfortable. I want to feel comfortable." You know, like maybe there's some things that you admire about that that are more than just what the actual item of clothing is, you know?

Whitney: I like to I like to name name the look. Like, I'm like, "Oh, I'm going to I'm feeling like alternative rock

Anything: Ooh!

Whitney: right now," and so, I'll get out the concert t-shirt and, you know.

Anything: That's what you did today!

Whitney: Yes, exactly, I did! And um you know, or some and but it doesn't always have to be alternative rock. Sometimes, I'm like, "I'm feeling like a 1950s vibe." Like, I just got back from Rhode Island, and we toured all these mansions, and we were looking at, you know, I'm starting to watch The Gilded Age. I know I'm late to it, but it's on HBO. It's all about like that time frame, and you're like, "Oh, all these clothes are kind of fun." And the big skirts and everything, and so, you know, just be a character.

Anything: I don't know what that is, okay.

Anything: Mhm.

Anything: Yeah!

Anything: Well, that's the thing. You can choose to be a character. You can choose to do anything, and like it doesn't mean you have to commit to it forever.

Whitney: Who are some of your icons?

Anything: I know. You know, I was like thinking through just bold women that I really like, like I mean, and then Gloria Steinem just passed away. And so, I thought about Gloria's style, and I just It still looks good. Like, she still looks good. It's so simple. I like things that are really simple a lot of times, which probably is surprising, but I do, and like just jeans and a tee when they're like I don't know. There's something about that that I love. But then, I thought about just interesting women like Sophia Loren, that's one that, you know,

Whitney: Mhm.

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Yes.

Anything: this Dolce & Gabbana kind of like Italian thing. Like, maybe you want to go to Italy and dress like that.

Whitney: Yeah, yeah.

Whitney: Yeah, yeah.

Anything: But, of course, I've always loved Gwen. I think Gwen, you know, has been, for many years,

Whitney: That's one of mine, 100%.

Anything: Gwen Stefani, we're going by first names here.

Whitney: Gwen.

Anything: Gwen, big fan, you know, of always how she's kind of pushed the envelope, and just really done her own thing. Like, I love that.

Whitney: I've always Yes.

Whitney: Yes, I love that.

Anything: Um I like Tilda Swinton. I think she's always very, very interesting. I love sculptural things like that. I admire Betsey Johnson, and I may not want to dress like Betsey Johnson, but like she has retained a playfulness and vibrance that I think is really, really cool.

Whitney: Oh, yes!

Whitney: Mhm.

Whitney: She's embracing

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: Iris Apfel, of course, an icon. Um and then, I thought about like some women on Instagram, Carla Rockmore, if you follow her, I like her a lot. Baddiewinkle, you know, she is passed away, but if you

Whitney: I don't know who that is.

Anything: You don't? She was in her 90s, I think, and she just wore these crazy outfits.

Whitney: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. In New York?

Anything: She was funny. I don't know where she was, actually, but

Whitney: Yeah. There are a couple of those women.

Anything: you know She she was a good like example of just having a good time with it, and like

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: That's the thing. It's going to open up your world, and make it fun. Think about the fun the fun of it, yeah.

Whitney: I like that.

Anything: Yeah. I mean, and it's an icebreaker, too. If you don't know what to talk about at a party, wear something fun, and then guess what? You'll have something to talk about. And you know, but then there's other people like Michelle Obama, Diane Keaton, Dolly Parton, those were all

Whitney: Mhm.

Anything: people that I thought of that are just really awesome to look at, and just be like, "What do I like about that, or what what do I not?" Like, I don't want to wear pencil skirts and and heels, you know what I mean? Like, that's not my thing. And when I see it, I like it on someone,

Whitney: Right.

Whitney: Right.

Anything: but I know I won't be happy in that. So, it's just And and again, we'll we'll Well, actually, yeah, I'm going to lead right into that. So, evaluate yourself and what you really like. So, even if you find these icons, think about what you really like in there. So, do you always feel weird in collars? I do.

Whitney: Right.

Whitney: I do.

Anything: Collars are weird, and then I'll buy something with a collar, and I'll literally cut the collar off. So, do you like high necklines, or not? I don't. I feel claustrophobic. I have a lot of hair. I have a lot of curly hair. I have a lot going on on my face. It's too much. So, I just know myself. I don't like heavy fabrics and a lot. I I like purses. I don't like a ladylike, prim, hard purse. I like soft, smooshy. Yeah.

Whitney: You like boobs.

Whitney: Boob Boob purse.

Anything: Boob purse. I do like my boob purse. That one is hard, but that's a special occasion purse. But overall, I want something that's easy to carry and, you know, just smooshy. Smooshy, I like smooshy.

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: I like things that are a little sexy, a little rock and roll. And then, I'll get swept away into thinking, "Oh, I need to wear a gingham dress, cuz I'm in Rhode Island." And maybe you do, but really, that's not me. And I just

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: like I went shopping the other day, and I was just looking around at stuff, and I was like, "Just this is cute, but nothing here is me." And so,

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: I didn't buy any I didn't get swept up in the moment.

Whitney: I think that's all good.

Anything: You have anything to say about all that?

Whitney: Well, I I was just thinking it it can change from day to day, but you know, I like Audrey Hepburn style. I like the simple, classic.

Anything: Yeah.

Whitney: But then, I like Gwen Stefani. So, it just I wake up in the morning, I'm like, "What do I feel like?" And sometimes, I'm like, "I don't want to be a fashion icon today, and I'm just going to put on my house dress

Anything: And that's okay.

Anything: Same!

Whitney: and wear that around." But, I did just have a thought recently because I desperately I'm excited we we definitely want to do one on cleaning out your closet, because I

Anything: Same. I do it, too.

Anything: Okay.

Whitney: have got to do it, and I was just thinking today because I I've been I was in New York this this week, and in in Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and there was a lot of shopping around. And I

Anything: I will. So, this will be a three a three-part series.

Whitney: I kept myself from buying things because I was like, "If I don't love it,

Anything: That's right.

Whitney: I can't go put it in my closet." I have so many things in my closet that I need to get rid of, and from now on, I just want to love it, even if it doesn't make sense.

Anything: Yeah.

Whitney: Like, if I see a pair of huge, strawberry, dangly earrings like I did while I was in New York,

Anything: Mhm, mhm.

Whitney: get them, even if I don't have an outfit for it yet.

Anything: Yeah.

Whitney: I love them. They're bringing me joy already. Some Somehow, some way, it'll it'll it'll work.

Anything: It will. It will, I'm a big believer in that. The things that are you start to go together. And that's a great gauge. I'll talk about it more in the other episode, but if you don't love it, pass. Just pass.

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Somebody said once,

Anything: Like, you have to be hard on yourself. Yeah, you can't just sort of be wishy-washy on it. Don't do it.

Whitney: Somebody said This was in terms of like other aspects of your life or whatever, but I think it works across the board for everything. If it's not a "Fuck, yeah," it's a "Fuck, no."

Anything: Right! Right!

Whitney: I love that.

Anything: And like, I mean,

Whitney: "Fuck, yeah!"

Anything: I just did it the other day with a skirt, and I really thought I wanted it, but it was long, and didn't have pockets. I was like, "Pfft." And so, I didn't buy it, and now I'm like, "Good call. Good call." And like just an example of like getting swept away in the moment with things that aren't really you, like

Whitney: Oh, yeah.

Anything: I love looking at bracelets and stuff like that. I really hate shit hanging off of me. I really don't like a lot of bracelets. I don't like

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: I I don't like feeling like that. And so, um

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: so, like I'll see someone who wears a bunch of those and stuff, and think, "Oh, wow, that looks good," or I'll be in a store and think that looks good, but I have to like go like, "I know I don't like stuff clanging around on me. Drives me bananas."

Whitney: Yeah, I I do that as well. I get kind of um

Anything: Yeah.

Whitney: I get turned by other people. I notice it a lot within my own friend group.

Anything: Yeah.

Whitney: I'll be like, "Oh, that looks so cute on her." And then, I end up getting something similar, and I never wear it, because that wasn't me, that was her.

Anything: No, it was her.

Whitney: And it looked good on her, but I'm I if I can't pull that off Not that I can't pull it off, I don't feel comfortable in it. It's not me.

Anything: I know.

Anything: It's not you. It's not you.

Whitney: Yeah. Gwen Stefani, it's always me.

Anything: Right.

Anything: I mean, yeah, sure. Fitted though? No, it's not.

Whitney: But, um Yeah, my friends aren't But, they do color your they they definitely My friends will color my fashion.

Anything: Uh-huh.

Whitney: Um I think that's interesting. And where you live also covers I mean, like that that where you live will influence your fashion, I think.

Anything: Yeah.

Anything: Absolutely! I mean, if we were living on the islands, that's what we would be doing, you know? Like, would be we'd be looking like um

Whitney: Bikinis all day.

Anything: Yeah. We love Jimmy Buffett or Parrotheads. So, um okay, like and then, you know, I get swept up in colors, too. I know I don't look good in khakis and moss greens, and yet,

Whitney: But, who told you that? You just you don't like it.

Anything: Well, I know. I Every time I see myself in it or see a picture, I'm like, "Uh-oh."

Whitney: Remember when they did all those like summer, fall, like whatever your season was?

Anything: That's having a resurgence.

Whitney: Oh, really?

Anything: You didn't know that? Oh, yeah, getting your colors done is having a massive resurgence. I'm a winter, or I was back then, or that's what my mom told me.

Whitney: No, I had no idea.

Whitney: I can't remember.

Anything: So, I haven't had it done. I want to do it. Oh, you're a spring or fall, for sure, as a redhead?

Whitney: Yeah, probably.

Whitney: Yeah, for sure. There are It is good to know what colors you look good in, like what does the most for your

Anything: Yeah.

Whitney: skin tone, and all of that.

Anything: Yeah, it is. It's really good. So, anyway, it's just don't get swept up on things that look good on the hanger, or a model, or a mannequin. Um you know, appreciate it. It it it kind of like is an evolution of a process. So, the challenge for the week is to notice any embedded rules that you may have when you're putting something on that are deep down in you, and maybe take a moment to consciously defy them.

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: Maybe put something on and experiment with it. Push your boundaries a little bit. Expand your comfort zone. Wear the white shoes! You know, the shoulds, all these shoulds, I should cover this up, I should do this, I should do that, I should put these together, I shouldn't put these. Um let go of those, and like,

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: you know, "Oh, I'm going to a meeting, and I should wear something professional and understated." Hmm, should you? Cuz what if what if you leaned into your uniqueness and you added a pop of personality, cuz it's so easy to take it off if you want. Even like people are doing like feathered brooches and stuff right now. I ordered one from Amazon, it's not big enough, but you know,

Whitney: That's true.

Whitney: What about

Whitney: Oh. A feather brooch?

Anything: Uh-huh, they're really cute.

Whitney: What about What about And that this is a rule, but like do you do that thing where you take one thing off before you leave the house? Like, you put on all this stuff, and then you're like, "Oh, take"

Anything: I don't. I don't, but I guess I know, I've heard that. And um

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: I really saw it in L.A. Story, I guess, back in the day. Mariel Hemingway said it, I think.

Whitney: Yeah. It always yeah, it always stuck with me, but then if you don't wear a lot to begin with, then it's like if you're not putting a lot of necklaces on and stuff.

Anything: It might have been Mary Lou Henner, but yeah.

Anything: Right, I don't I don't like a whole bunch of Yeah.

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: Um yeah, you know, I saw I was kind of researching for this episode, and Kristen Wiig, she has great style.

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: She was or great stylist. She was wearing this Elie Saab outfit for the Oscars, and it was like a top and skirt, and I was like, "Yes!"

Whitney: Oh, really?

Anything: You know what? When I saw it, it was just so Oh, look it up and or maybe I'll try to put it in the episode. It's I was like, that's what we're doing. Like, that to me just I want to I want to feel good, sexy, comfortable, drapey. So, anyway, that's I just challenge everyone to just maybe just expand a little bit, and and break a rule,

Whitney: I'm sure I seen it, I don't remember it.

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: I love that.

Anything: right? So.

Whitney: I I what I have done in the past, especially like with my good friend, Gwen, I'll see a picture of her wearing something, and I think, "Oh, man, I really love that." So then, I will ask Google, and now with AI it's probably even easier, to create a similar look or like, where can I get this outfit specifically, or where can I find something similar? So, like for example, I saw Gwen wearing these camouflage pants and this white t-shirt that says, "You wish," on it.

Anything: Cute!

Whitney: I bought the whole outfit. I just went on Amazon, and I found a t-shirt, I'm sure it wasn't the actual t-shirt, but I found that t-shirt, I got some camouflage pants, and I had the look like within a week.

Anything: Yeah!

Whitney: You know? And I'm like, boom, there you go.

Anything: Oh, nice! Okay, channeling that inspo.

Whitney: Yeah.

Whitney: Yeah, you can just take a a look that you like and try to recreate it. They do that They used to do that in the magazines like

Anything: Yeah, they did.

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: Yeah. Yeah, "Steal this look," or whatever.

Whitney: Does anybody read a magazine anymore?

Anything: I'd like to, but I don't. Um all right, next time, I'm going to talk about finding your style as you age and change, and trends when things, you know, come back and how to deal with that, and kind of like like

Whitney: Yeah, yeah.

Whitney: I heard And again, this is a rule, but I heard if you wore it the first go-round, you shouldn't wear it the second go-round.

Anything: I've heard that, too, and I've come to think that that's a rule that's bullshit. So, yeah.

Whitney: Bullshit.

Whitney: Yeah.

Anything: So, there we are. Style, I finally did it!

Whitney: All right, I'm excited!

Anything: Thank you for pushing me to do that, cuz I it really was me like going like, "What am I even talking about? I just going to sit down and figure it out."

Whitney: Yes.

Whitney: Well, if you're not already following Amy on Instagram, you you definitely need to because she is constantly putting up content that has these

Anything: Thank you.

Anything: Only every day, once a day.

Whitney: Well, that's a lot, like, you know. But, you if you go to her page, you're going to see so many cool outfits that you might not have even thought would have gone together, and sometimes you'll you'll like the whole scarf thing that you're doing right now, you know.

Anything: Yeah. That's fun, though.

Anything: Thanks.

Anything: I am doing a scarf series of how to tie scarves.

Whitney: Yeah, it's interesting, and it might just give you

Anything: I don't even really like scarves, but I never know what to do with them.

Whitney: I know, for me, it inspires me to do something out of my own com- comfort zone, so.

Anything: Oh, good! Good!

Whitney: Get a pair of glasses, get some cool earrings.

Anything: I know, absolutely! You know what? Actually, I'm glad you mentioned that cuz Caddis sent me some free glasses, and I want to put them on cuz they're really fucking cute. I know, out of the blue, they sent me some progressive readers, and

Whitney: How nice!

Anything: Aren't they cute?

Whitney: Very cute!

Anything: Aren't these cute? So, thank you Caddis, yes, Polish Raw Honey Progressive, in clear. So, really cute, so.

Whitney: Yeah, Caddis.

Whitney: And can you see?

Anything: Yeah! Yeah!

Whitney: Do they work?

Anything: I can! They work!

Anything: Stylish and they work. All right, perfect.

Anything: Yeah, so anyway, um all right, anything else before we go?

Whitney: Yeah, no. Just I mean, this is a perfect segue. We do what we want. In fashion, do what you want. Don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone, because if you believe it, everyone else will believe it.

Anything: All right.

Anything: We do.

Anything: That is so true. That's right, and just like the older we get, the more confidence we can have. And so, like just um don't subscribe to those rules, they're all made up anyway.

Whitney: Don't subscribe.

Anything: You badass.

Whitney: But, subscribe to us!

Anything: Subscribe to us, please hit follow, subscribe, follow us on Instagram, all the things. We're really working hard to build this up and do a great job for you, and if there's ever a topic that you want to hear about, please let us know. DM us, or email us at anythingbutmidpodcast@gmail.com. And we love you so much, and remember,

Whitney: We do what we want.