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Style, and what never goes “out”

Guest Post by Gail.

Bell bottoms, cropped, tapered, leggings (don’t get me started on leggings, at least not now). Styles come and go, in today, out tomorrow.

But there are things that NEVER go out of style. Ooh you think, what could that be? Anoraks? MooMoos? Jellys? Dickies (not going there).

Good grooming. Never goes out of style. Nowadays, I’m sure there are a bevy of womenfolk looking at the menfolk thinking, “love to donate a razor, pair of scissors, and perhaps a good scrubbin’”.

My Father-in-Law at 92 years old, still woke up each morning and did his daily grooming. We lost him in December, but even that day he was wearing a crisp clean button down, ready to seize the day. He was one classy guy. Always clean shaven, with his few hairs combed to perfection and clothing that didn’t scream, “Hey, look at me, I’m going to spend the day on the couch”. I’m not saying that the few days of beard growth isn’t good looking on a Hemsworth, Eastwood (S.), Gosling etc. I’m just saying pride in appearance is a very desirable trait. And never giving someone else the opportunity to think, “I wonder when he/she last saw the inside of a shower stall…”

Growing up, my father, also a clean and classy guy, always encouraged us to “dress the part”. He said when I was going to take an exam, “Dress up, you’ll sit up straighter and think more clearly”. There’s truth to that (of course back then I looked at him like he was crazy). Have you ever needed to just run to the store, looking like the Peanuts character, “Pigpen”, thinking, I’ll just zip in and out and hope that I don’t see anyone I know. And you always do.

Make the extra effort, first thing in the morning, to get “ready for the day”. Then you’re all set, you’re in control, cool and classy. It really will improve your posture. When you feel proud of yourself, you walk straighter, hold your shoulders back and hold your head high.

Hate “getting ready”? Make it better. As in my last post, “You have to live in your own mind, make it a nice place”, use the tools you have: play music, sing, do a little Mambo (not when applying mascara), listen to talk radio, or NPR, have Good Morning America playing in the background, whatever lets you slide into the land of the living with a smile on your face.

Ladies – hair, nails, makeup, clothing, I’m not saying never be casual, I’m just saying be spiff. Oh, and in my humble opinion, I’d rather see no nail polish at all than the “I painted my nails a month and a half ago, and this is what’s left of it” look.

Gents – if you want to be “one of the guys” and rock the man bun (scrunched up face emoji) and a scruffy, too long beard to show the world you can, at least be clean and don’t make the ladies wonder whether you’re single handedly bringing back hair pomade and brylcreem or if your hair and a daub of shampoo haven’t met in awhile. And if you’re one of those guys who dares to be different, shave or trim and groom, you will have a better chance at melting a lassie’s heart.

Get up, Dress up, Show up..!

xx,

gracegrl