There’s nothing wrong with finding what works for you and sticking with it. The important thing is not to look dated.

The whole shoe scene today is enough to send a shoe lover like myself into a steep (heeled) depression.

But, I have other fish to fry these days! so much more fun…

I like looking reasonably fashionable. I’ve never been a slave to fashion and have always had my own idea about it that works best for my body, my lifestyle and my preferences. I wore my interpretation of a “classic” look back in the 70s in high school and college when classic wasn’t cool.

I feel verything about the the fashion industry is so youth driven that – I’m only speaking for myself here – I’ve reached a point where it doesn’t appeal to me. Or, at least the way its presented doesn’t appeal.

The emphasis on impossibly thin, almost prepubescent bodies. The notion that you’re supposed to change your wardrobe every year. It’s like a bunch of bratty teenagers deciding we’re in – and everyone else is hopelessly out. It’s so exclusionary many women reach a point where we throw up our hands and say, “I want to look current. I don’t want to dress like I’m in a time warp. However, there’s more to life than feeling incessantly inadequate. I’m past all that teenage angst.”

I have a business, my health, a wonderful marriage and 3 adorable grandkids. I keep up with what’s happening in the world. Who has time for an industry that seems to simply roll it’s eyeballs in collective disgust at anyone over a size six, less than 5’8″ in height and over age 30?

Right now I think the craziest thing in fashion – and you see it all over the pages of magazines and on the celebrities – is the towering Gladiator shoes with a dozen or so straps and buckles on teetering heels and platforms. I’m not gonna buy a pair. I’ll keep wearing my pointy heels until I see something I like better. Also, something that doesn’t make me tower over my husband whose only four inches taller than me.

When fashion can be accessible and presented in a way that includes all women – no matter what height, size or age – then women will absolutely flock to find out more and have fun with it..

I publish The Flashionista Report. It’s a nod to our fleeting (sometimes annoying) ‘flashes’ (of brilliance!) and a voice for interpreting popular culture and inspiring new ways of living, thinking, loving, and shopping. I launched in March 2009 and right now it’s a free bi-weekly e-mail.

My background is in the fashion industry and I launched in response to a lack of interesting content for the self-aware, style-conscious, female boomer demographic. I’ve always felt that the fashion industry is laser focused on youth; as much as they say otherwise. The fashion and lifestyle news I was receiving in my own inbox seemed largely irrelevant to my age and interests. The Flashionista Report delivers fresh and appealing content to women 45 and older.

If we don’t remain relevant we end up the opposite. Irrelevance would be an unfortunate position for such a significant generation.

Just wanted you to know about us.

“Style is more than the clothes on our backs. It’s who we are and how we live our lives and it should be the best we can fashion for ourselves.” Mary Marino