The Fab 40s are Getting Dressed for NYFW
We are back at it again, my Fab 40’s friends and I, and we are dressing up for New York Fashion Week. While NYFW ended on September 16, that isn’t stopping us from dressing the part just for the fun of it.
This month’s theme was the brainchild of Ada and I have to admit that I was kind of stumped. Back in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, I spent a good many years working in different parts of New York City and it really is one of the most fashionable places on earth. It was such a cool environment back in my 20’s and early 30’s.
I remember leaving my office on some evenings and going shopping at the big city retailers scattered all throughout NYC. There was a three story Century 21 right around the corner from my office. If you are unfamiliar with this department store, it is headquartered in New York City with the flagship location on Cortland Street in Lower Manhattan. This is the store that I frequented. There are only 13 locations of Century 21 department stores in the northeast United States and they are sadly going out of business after 59 years as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In any event, you could find some really amazing deals on designer labels in Century 21 and I would often spend hours scouring the clearance racks for the best prices. I would get such a rush as I entered through the big glass doors and headed straight for the escalator that would take me to the women’s and shoe departments. This, of course, was pre-fashion blogging days so the only place that I could show off my quirky fashion was on my walk between the subway station and my office building. But it was freaking New York City at the turn of the millennium. The sidewalks were our catwalk! And we wore what we loved, paying no attention to fashion rules even in the fashion capital of the world.
Spending so much time in the fashion capital (about 60-80 hours a week to be exact) does kind of make a person a bit immune to all the glitz and glamour. In a city that hosts some of the biggest events in the world from fashion to music to sports to dance and theatre and all things artistic, you are exposed to an overwhelming amount of, well, everything. During my years spent in that amazing city, I learned that the best way to survive it was to just be myself. And so that is exactly what I did and what I continue to do.
When Ada presented this month’s theme, I momentarily lost sight of that lesson and started racking my brain on how I could create a super glam, over the top, NYFW worthy outfit that would turn heads and fetch a million compliments from strangers. And then I realized that’s not me. Not at all who I am. And so I got back in touch with the me who wears whatever I like with no concern about people looking at me or paying any attention to whatsoever.
Plus after working for so many years in the heart of the city’s hustle and bustle, I know how awful it can be to get yourself into the city and how treacherous your day can be if you are physically uncomfortable in your clothing. First of all, it is a giant pain in the ass to get into NYC regardless of where you are traveling from…buses, trains, subways, boats, bridges, and tunnels…all jam packed with traffic and people…you get sweaty even in the dead of winter. So practicality and comfort are key. Otherwise, you will find yourself spending money you didn’t intend to “fix your outfit” so you are more comfortable. While I love any reason to go shopping, I hate when I have to buy something that I already own because I didn’t have the foresight to bring it with me!
And so this is how my NYFW outfit came to be. I opted for a bubble gum pink midi skirt (thrifted) paired with my favorite combat boots (my wedding shoes), a turtleneck and a moto jacket. I added a cozy slouchy hat for a bit of style contradiction and to keep my head warm and I layered my super comfortable Sheertex tights under my skirt for extra warmth. And if I get too hot in the city, I can remove some layers including my hat, jacket, and tights. I always toss a pair of flat slip on shoes into my bag when I travel into the city as well because you never when you might have a shoe failure…even in flat boots!
I feel like my NYFW outfit is an accurate representation of my personal style…a little bit girly and feminine, a little bit edgy, a little bit grungy, with a whole lot of comfort and practicality.
Now let’s check out what my Fab 40’s friends have styled with NYFW in mind.
The Fab 40’s is a group of five fashion bloggers from around the globe. Each month we choose a different theme and invite a guest blogger who is also in their 40’s to join us. This group’s goal is to take on style trends and show how we each interpret and incorporate them into our own lives. With five widely varied views, you are certain to find something that speaks to you each month and encourages you to continue to have fun with fashion after the age of 40.
Let’s begin with Ada of Elegance and Mommyhood who chose this month’s theme. Ada is the perfect vision of a NYFW street style star in this magnificent gold skirt with the sassy slit and lots of glitz and glam in her choice of fun accessories.
Outfit Details: Gold Wrap Sequined Pencil Skirt-Express (current) / Baby Blue Satin Bow Back Bodysuit-Abercrombie (current) / Metal Cuff with Dark Green Stone-Express (old) / Crystal Silver Collar Necklace-Loft (old) / Clustered Multi-Stone Crystal Statement Earrings-BaubleBar (old) / Blue Lucite Wristlet Clutch-Lord & Taylor (very old) / Black Leather Kitten Heel Slides-Stuart Weitzman (very old)
Next is Daenel of Living Outside the Stacks looking ready to hit the streets of NYC in perfect Fashion Week style in an edgy leather skirt paired with a badass graphic tee, denim jacket, and comfortable shoes for walking.
Outfit Details: Denim Jacket, Statement Tee, Faux Leather Skirt, and Adidas
Now Sheela of Sheela Writes looking the part for NYFW in her edgy combination of leather and frills, polka dots and chevrons. I am certain photographers would be snapping street style pictures all up in Sheela’s sartorial business!
Outfit Details: Everything thrifted.
And rounding out our fabulous group is Suzy of Suzy Turner Books & Style looking extraordinarily glamorous in her satin slip skirt with leather jacket and trainers. I always love this contradictory combination of feminine and masculine, plus one’s feet must always been comfortable when venturing anywhere near New York City.
Outfit Details: Leather jacket-Massimo Dutti / Skirt-Massimo Dutti / Trainers- Asics / Black vest-Intimissimi / Bracelet-Swarovski / Necklace-Happiness Boutique
Have you ever visited New York City during fashion week? What would you wear if you had the opportunity to attend NYFW?
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.
Shop my look…
Outfit Details: Skirt-Thrifted / Turtleneck-Shelbee’s Shoppe (RIP) / Jacket-Target (Very old) / Boots-Steve Madden (My wedding boots from 2010) / Tights-c/o Sheertex / Hat-c/o Rosegal / Earrings and Necklace-Super old
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
29 Comments
Nancy
Great Theme! Have a good week!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Nancy! Happy Monday!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
I didn’t know Century 21 was a department store. I always thought of the Realestate company but I knew it wasn’t because I used to see job alerts for it. So sad they are going out of business. Anyway, I love your skirt!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jennifer! It’s funny because I was just going to mention in passing that Century 21 was my fave place to shop when I worked in the city and then I realized most people would confuse it with the real estate company! It is a rather small department store chain with only 13 stores in the northeast and I think one in Florida. But I guess it’s all irrelevant now since they have fallen victim to the pandemic as so many other businesses have. Bummer!
xoxo
Shelbee
Ada
I had heard great things about the Century 21st department store. Had no clue at their history though so thanks for telling me that. So sad so many stores and companies are closing! Glad you spent years in NY City though, such a great city!!
Loved that I chose this theme this month. It’s a fun one and everyone looks great! I loved that you stayed true to yourself. Your laceup combat boots are awesome! Vivian has my chromebook doing online schooling now, but I will get to my post later in the afternoon. Come check it out!!
Have a great last week of September!!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Ada! This was a fun theme! Good choice. Although I was a bit challenged at first, I realized I was making it harder than it needed to be. I just have to stick my personal style and I am usually okay! My kiddos are in school today so I am using the quiet time to try to get ahead of some blogging stuff. I may not be bouncing around reading blogs today so I will get to yours tomorrow for sure! Have a wonderful week!
xoxo
Shelbee
mireille
I love it! All the texture and the contrasts. Love the choice of necklace and the combat boots: it is you! And taking your pics in front of city building just add that extra touch! Well done, Shelbee! Shelbee, street style in “New York”!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks so much, Mireille! This was a fun theme although I was a bit challenged. I do love the end result as it is totally me! Have a wonderful week, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
Looking so very chic and in style. Love the the building and the ads. Very nice.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Patrick! I was trying to create some big city vibes in my tiny little town with no people around! Hahaha. Have a great week, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
I love, love, love this outfit! I don’t think I’ve seen you in pink before. I really enjoy the juxtaposition between the sweet girly skirt and the edgy black moto vibe of the rest of the outfit. Fun to hear about your NYC experiences too. I’ve never been there. I admit the bustle of humanity there seems a bit overwhelming, but it would be still be an interesting place to visit.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Michelle, thanks so much! I just found this skirt during my recent basement clean out. I had found it thrifting a few years ago and have never worn it. I pulled it out of the donate bin and immediately pictured it with black combat boots and faux leather. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of that before! I may have worn it bunches by now. NYC is a very crazy place and very interesting to visit. I hope you get the chance to go there someday just to experience it!
xoxo
Shelbee
Bettye L Rainwater
Oh! I hadn’t heard that news about Century21. I haven’t been in a long time, but I used to go a LOT when I worked near one on the island.
Love your pink and black combo!
I missed ALL of NYFW. I think I subscribed to an email things that was gonna let me know what shows were streaming each night and usually, I eat that stuff up but I was just preoccupied and busy and didn’t get to see ANY of them. Boo. I’ll have to look for the European ones (I might have missed those by now, too!).
Bettye (running just a little behind on everything these days)
https://fashionschlub.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Bettye! Oh, I missed it all, too. Actually, I rarely pay much attention to NYFW when it comes around…because I am always a little bit behind everything as well. Century 21 was such a great store! It is so sad that it will gone soon. Damn pandemic. I hope your week is off to a great start, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Tamar A Strauss-Benjamin
Super cute! So crazy Century 21 is going out of business!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Tamar! It is insane how many businesses, even larger ones, that are going to meet their end because of this pandemic. So sad.
xoxo
Shelbee
Suzy Turner
I just adore this post, Shelbee. I adore how much thought you put into your outfit and then realised it just needed to be ‘You’ and I think you accomplished that so perfectly. Your boots are the icing on the cake for me, and when I read that they were your wedding boots? Well, that just made me swoon! You look absolutely fabulous. You are fabulous!
Hugs hugs
Suzy xx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, Suzy, thank you so much, my friend! This was super fun even though it was a challenge. But I guess that is why we do these prompts anyway…to be inspired and get creative! I remember when my husband and I first decided to get married, the very first thing I asked him was if he cared if I wore combat boots on our wedding day. I always wanted to and my first husband was much too traditional for me to express myself at all! Jeff’s response to the combat boots was simply, “Hey, I am just happy you want to marry me. Wear whatever the heck makes you happy!” And so I did! By the way, you are also fabulous!!!
xoxo
Shelbee
Suzy Turner
Awww thanks, Shelbee!
Your husband sounds like such a great guy! Have you ever shared a wedding pic on your blog? If so, I’d love to see!!
Hugs
Suzy xxx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
He is my lobster, Suzy! He makes me laugh every single day and it doesn’t get much better than that! I have shared photos on the blog before…here is one post. But you can see all of them in my Facebook Wedding Album. There is a separate album for the Wedding Reception. We are friends on Facebook so you should be able to see them all!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jacqui Berry
What a great prompt! We did a similar one last month and I loved getting dressed up for seats in the FROW Nice one Hun. Jacqui x
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jacqui! I loved your FROW prompt! You all really did such a great job. I am loving style prompts these days especially since I have literally no where to go. The prompts give me a purpose when getting dressed. Otherwise, I would never get out of loungewear! I hope you are having a great week.
xoxo
Shelbee
Darlene
I love your street-style look for NYFW! And especially your comment about surviving a glitzy and glamourous locale: just be yourself! Words to live by, my friend!! Nicely done.
xx Darlene
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Darlene! This was fun even though I was challenged by it! I liked my outfit when we photographed it and then I started questioning if it is “enough” for NYFW. The conclusion I drew was that it is enough if I like it! Haha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Gail
Looking great Shelbee because you’re totally rocking your own cool vibe. You’d get papped for sure.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Ha, thanks, Gail! This was challenging but super fun to style. I totally felt myself in this combination!
xoxo
Shelbee
Daenel T.
Shelbee, I love this so much! It’s edgy and flirty and fun and all the things in between. I’m a combat boots and skirt/dress kinda girl too. Makes me feel totally kick a$$!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Daenel, thanks so much! I was definitely comfortable and feeling very much like myself in this outfit…a little girly with a touch of badass I guess! Haha. This was fun!
xoxo
Shelbee
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