Happy Mother's Day

     Our first encounter with fashion typically comes from our parents. For daughters, I feel we are mostly influenced by our mothers. My mother and I have grown to appreciate each other's styles after many years of fighting. My mother always wanted me to be the girly girl. We didn't have much money growing up so I wore lots of hand me downs (I was the only girl and had two older brothers mind you). This was mostly around the house. But when we went out I was in pastels with lots of ruffles, giant bows on my head, and I seem to remember small tinkling bells at some point. I remember extremely slick bottomed slippery patent leather shoes (Thank goodness little ones are close to the ground). I had ponies on sweaters and way too many pigtails. Once I was old enough to realize what was being done to me I hated it. When I was allowed to pick out my own clothes, I went the complete opposite direction. I wore black and blue hues with no bows or bells in sight. I rarely wore skirts of dresses. I think I hurt my mom. I think she saw it as a way of saying I hated her sense of style. But it wasn't that, I just needed to discover my own style. Black and blue androgynous clothing was not it.
     I didn't realize it at the time, but my mom was the foundation of me forming my own sense of style. She taught me not to be afraid to express myself. She taught me what I should splurge on and what I shouldn't. She taught me not to be afraid to splurge but not to be wreckless. She taught me that you can never have too many shoes. She taught me that designer labels are not important and clothes don't define who you are. My mom taught me that confidence and courage comes from within but that first impressions are what matter most. Clothes may not define you and may not give you confidence and courage but they sure help others see those characteristics in you.
    Today my mom does not focus much on fashion (for herself anyways. She still loves to shop for and with me). She has gotten older and has faced many illnesses. She now wants more to be comfortable and hide what she considers to be her imperfections (she recently had a single mastectomy). But her sense of style is still there and much of it is reflected through me, her daughter. While we still argue about our own unique styles. There will always be that influence. She has shaped me as a women and set the foundation for my own Aura of Style. Happy Mother's Day to all the style shapers out there!