Today’s 40 Style star is Wendra. She is an artist and created a fashion accessory for women over forty – a magnifying glass necklace that sparkles and shines with crystals. I wanted to find out more about this idea and her bohemian chic style. Enjoy!
I love being an artist. I work in various mediums to create emotional narratives. I tell stories. I set the scene for stories. I make art and I create experiences that inspire happier, healthier and more productive lives.
My background is in art direction for television commercials .
I enjoy traveling. I have worked all over the world designing scenery for hundreds of television commercial campaigns
I also paint with water colors and I love to teach others how to paint and how to relax and enjoy while painting with water colors.
To me painting is a form of meditation.
I was born in the summer of 1961 – so I must be 53. Because I feel so young I often forget my age, so I can’t blame forgetting on old age
I created the Looking Glass Necklace when I could not hold the things I wanted to read far enough away for me to see clearly.
I needed something that looked pretty to me and was pretty to wear. I now wear The Looking Glass Necklace while shopping and dining out.
Everyone is surprised that my pretty necklace is also a magnifying glass and they often ask to look through it. – It’s become a fun conversation piece. I have always been fascinated by crystals and all kinds of stones and sea shells. I feel like a little girl in a candy store when I shop for the crystals and beads for my necklaces.
I see other women using the Looking Glass Necklace as a fashion accessory that also has a purpose – similar to scarves. It’s a fashion statement that says “I want to see and appreciate all the wonderful details of life. I take care of my needs and I am proud of my age.
My style is creative. I dress to express my mood, I choose colors and textures that reflect my surroundings, and my feelings for each day or evening.
My personality is very fluid, I teach and practice yoga and I like to dance.
So I am drawn to clothing and accessories that have color and movement. Because I have a small build and soft features I prefer smaller patterns and soft earth toned colors.
The most important components of my style are my jewelry and my scarves.
I love how jewelry adds sparkle, and how the color of the stones I choose compliments my personal energy. I also love how scarves add texture and color while keeping me warm in the winter and protect my skin from too much sun in the summer.
I live in Seattle. It is cold and grey most of the winter so I wear many layers. I make sure my layers carry a theme with colors and textures so I can take off or put on as I go from a walk out doors to an in office meeting and then to dinner out with friends.
Yes I definitely take color profiling and my body type into account when I dress. I see my body type as the size and shape of my blank canvas and my color choices as my palette. I am absolutely an Autumn color profile – this is the foundation of my wardrobe.
My style did change after turning forty. I felt more established and secure in myself – and I began to spend more money on timeless pieces and accessories.
Yes I believe in dressing age appropriately because as my grandmother said “Every age and every stage has its compensation” – meaning there are benefits at every age. I like to accent and differentiate the benefits of my age in the way I dress. While my teenage daughter and I share many of our casual clothes – I do not want to wear her mini shorts and she does not want to wear what we call my “Mom Fabulous” clothing.
I have been interested in fashion all of my life. I loved my patent leather go go boots when I was seven and my mini skirts when I was seventeen. “I grew up in a lingerie shop”. It is not just the title of one of my writing projects. – My family owned a chain of stores called “Sabrina Shops”. This is where I spent my afternoons and weekends with my grandparents amongst lavender, lace and peignoir sets while pondering what it meant to be feminine. I am just as interested in fashion now as I have ever been, and even more so with the advent of so many new types of printed fabrics and accessories and the wider range of global styles for women to choose from.
The way I look is important to me as it is another way of creative self expression -it is a reflection of my inner spirit. I am inspired by others who are vibrant and I hope to inspire others by taking care of my self as well.
I follow trends because I like to know what is “state of the art” and to feel culturally connected. However I don’t always follow the trends – I choose the ones that best compliment my style and budget.
Currently I am excited about Pantone’s choice of “Marsala” as the color of the year – it ’s a warm rich color that resonates well with my Autumn color profile.
My fashion tip for women over 40 is not to underestimate how much we are able to redefine what is beautiful – We can be bold and confident in our style that comes with maturity. Just like the color of the year “Marsala” we are like good wine blossoming with age.
I plan to offer new variations of the necklace every season – to compliment various styles from casual to formal, and at various price points.
I also see the company growing and being able to improve the lives of others through employment and through giving back to charities that support women, vision, and the environment.
Wendra was kind enough to send me one of her necklaces too and it’s gorgeous. If you like to order one, be sure to contact her through her contact page and mention 40 Style. You will be entered in a raffle to win a free necklace and will receive $5 discount to any purchase within the next six months. For more details visit her website.