Monday, February 9, 2009

I like what Doretta Says

[caption id="attachment_197" align="alignnone" width="480" caption="Doretta on her Harley and Bettina, the store"]Doretta on her Harley and Bettina, the store[/caption]

"'Oh my daughter could wear that-- she would love this store.' Before the customer in question had opened her mouth I knew what she would say. Every day I hear comments 'If I were 15 years younger' or my personal favorite 'I hate when women dress like teenagers.' These words come spilling out of the mouths of women, some attractive, some not so, some mature in age, some younger than I.Words that undermine the individuality, personal style and , gosh darn it, send us straight into the matronly zone."

Doretta's New Rules of Dressing as she calls it, says everything I've been thinking but unable to articulate. The idea that when we turn a certain age, we have to start buying Sag Harbor....give me a break! Thanks, Doretta, for speaking for many of us who choose to express ourselves through fashion and refuse to be defined by what others think is appropriate.

I met Doretta through my Etsy store a couple of years ago. She purchased one of my favorite tops that incorporated a vintage corset. There are certain sales that really make me want to know more about the customer...who they are, what they look like, their personal style. Well you can imagine my excitement when I learned that she owned a fabulous boutique, Bettina, in San Francisco. So when I was visiting the Vivienne Westwood exhibit at the deYoung last year, I stopped in to take a peek. The visit confirmed everything I expected- a beautifully edited collection of women's clothing and accessories with a clean and modern aesthetic. She was at market so I didn't get to meet her in person. And it wasn't until I read "Doretta Says" on her website that I fully appreciated how much I love her.





Let's hear a round of applause for Doretta and be sure to visit her website or store if you're in the City by the Bay.

6 comments:

  1. I love that! I wear what I wear because I like the color, the fit, what it says to me. Often times my 16 year old daughter will say that I dress boring or old, and yet I turn around and she's wearing my clothes. This happens constantly. Go figure.

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  2. ahhh what a GREAT sentiment! It is too true what they say about age-ism and fashion and you seem to have expressed it wonderfully. What a beautiful flow of amazing inspiring people that come into your life too.. and here's to being an individual no matter what your age...because after all...as J and I always say (*wink*)
    age: it's JUST a number!!!

    :) XOXOXOXO!!!!

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  3. Thanks for posting this. I have to admit to loving what the 30's and 40's are wearing in Harper's Bazaar's age appropriate rundown (is it every month?) and not so much the 50's attire. I'm 52! Why can't I wear a short pleated skirt? I can I tell you! When I'm feeling a bit bummed about age appropiate-ness I google Betsey Johnson!

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  4. Applause, applause. I like your description of her store...clean modern aesthetic.

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  5. [...] day. And, by the way, if you’ve ever doubted your personal sense of style, be sure to read this. Hats off to Doretta of Bettina and her “new rules for dressing” and to Lorimarsha for [...]

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  6. This is especially true in this area. Southern Virginia, so traditional, just because I live near Colonial Willimsburg, does not mean I want to dress in that style.
    Thanks, for the inspiration.

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