I am too young for beige.

This week I attended Vancouver Fashion Week to see my daughter Sara Armstrong present her Spring Summer 2015  collection on the runway.  I was wearing a piece from her 2012 collection, suitably lived in rolled up Levis (circa 1996), and a pair Vince Camuto heels.  A woman asked me, 'who are you?'  I said,  I am wearing Sara Armstrong, and I am just her mother.

I later learned that she is a publisher of an online magazine here in Vancouver, and she was impressed by my style. She asked if I was a writer, and I said yes, and a publisher of a magazine based in Saskatchewan.

We talked about the untapped market for ‘women of a certain age’ in terms of style.  At that point, I realized the juxtaposition between being 52 and not wearing head to toe beige and elastic waist pants was what drew her to me.

Women of a certain age. What does that mean? I didn’t realize until that moment that I was one of those.

I do notice that women of a certain age are often styled in beige, as if she is about to disappear into the twilight of her life.  That is not my aesthetic.  Not my way.  In fact, I don’t own beige in my closet, and aside from my yoga pants that I wear exclusively to yoga and the gym, there are no elastics in my pants.

I might be somebody’s mother, but I do have a pulse. And so should we all.

My Muse

She is outspoken.

She loves style and fashion.  

She will choose getting her nails done before buying cereal. 

She pays extra money for rips in her jeans.
Sequins call out to her from across the room.
She likes to sparkle.
High heels are a staple in her wardrobe. 

The Fall Song: Born to be Wild

There is always a song in my mind. One that plays over and over again. A song that calls out to me, and eventually I start to sing along.  This is my process. I am the publisher, editor, writer and owner of SKY Magazine. 

The Fall SKY is inspired by Born to be Wild, the feeling of the open road, the smell of leather and the freedom of fringes and good old fashioned defiance. The Fall SKY is inspired by all things  wild and free.  The Fall SKY is coming soon.  Watch for it.  

Vancouver Fashion Week: Can’t wait to see you.