Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Augustyn.
Julie, please share your story with us.
Cindy, Lori and I met freshman year in college on the tenth floor of Stevenson North at Northern Illinois University. The year was 1979… back in the day of cameras, film and actual photos. Cell phones with cameras, Facebook, Instagram… even desktop computers were not part of our vocabulary. Thank goodness! We all borrowed Lynn’s typewriter to write our papers. Cindy and Lori were marketing majors. I was an education major. However; one thing was for sure, we had a passion for fashion!
We dabbled in all the fashion trends – “preppy look”, disco outfits, to our early ’80s (1984) jumpsuits with padded shoulders. I’m embarrassed to say I rocked the permed mullet at one point. UGH! FTF has supported each other over all these years celebrating each other’s successes and supporting each other during difficult times… forever friends!
One of our annual traditions as girlfriends is what we refer to as our “poolside chat”. This annual tradition is an all-day affair of catching up with each other, eating, laughing, and drinking. Part of the conversations tends to focus on fashion challenges we face as we get older. It can be difficult finding age-appropriate looks because designers focus on teens and millennials. However, we will not be resigned to the old lady looking outfits. We’re confident we can overcome these challenges and still be cute and trendy no matter our age. Fashion Trends and Friends was formally put into action after our summer 2015 poolside chat. We knew we could help others in our demographic and thought we’d not only share but also point fellow 50 and over fashionistas in the right direction! FTF is as much about FRIENDS as we are about FASHION! What separates us from other bloggers in our demographic is that we offer solutions!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The easiest part for me has been the actual fashion part of our blog. The challenges have been keeping all social media platforms going on a daily basis and building our authentic following. Getting great quality pictures can be difficult. Everyone makes it look so easy but it really is an art. Taking daily selfies with a selfie stick and tripod along with how to pose continues to be a challenge. I view it as a learning curve, which is improving with time.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
About Fashion Trends and Friends
Who We Are:
FTF was created by 2 life-long friends who love to shop together and follow fashion. Our mission is to create an online community where friends come together to find clothing options, outfits that are on trend, flattering, age appropriate and minimize problem areas!
What We Do:
Provide stylish fashion inspiration by featuring the season’s trends that are age appropriate and stylish for all body types – all in one spot!
Why We Do It:
In today’s busy, fast-paced world, it can be hard to find the time to identify the current season’s trends, create an outfit, find that perfect fit and buy it! We know that Fashion Trends and Friends will be your resource for quickly finding that perfect outfit for any season!
Remember that a little creativity can turn any outfit into a trendy sensation and ANYONE into a Fashionista!
What were you like growing up?
I fully admit to being a “fashion freak”. I come from a long lineage of fashionistas long before fashionista was even a word! For as long as I can remember, I’ve been passionate about fashion. We have a picture of me as a two-year-old sitting under an old-school hair dryer. How many two-year-olds do you know that would sit under a hair dryer patiently waiting?! I never minded it.
Fast forward to first grade. Upon returning home from my first day of school, my mom asked how my first day of school was and if I liked my teacher. My reply was that my teacher had overslept. My mom thought it odd that the teacher would have told us that she overslept. She asked if she told us that. I replied, “No!” Of course, her next question was how did I know she overslept. I told her that my teacher did not have time to comb her hair, put on her makeup or iron her dress. In my five-year-old mind, that equated oversleeping! My first-grade teacher looked like that all year.
I’m extremely visual and can recall events pretty vividly especially what everyone wore! When I visualize an outfit, I not only see the actual clothes, I see the accessories (jewelry, belt, purse) and shoes. I will obsess until I make that perfect fashion trend fit and look good on me no matter if I’m at my heaviest or thinnest. I get asked constantly to take others shopping. I believe that I have a natural knack and ability to dress all body types. All of my life, I’ve had a major bootie. Most of my life, I’ve had a small waist. This combination can be a fitting nightmare! Now, that many lines carry a “curvy” version life is slightly simpler finding a good fit. I’m also rather large chested and when I hit my 50’s my once thin waistline seemed to start spreading. None of these have slowed me down or inhibited me from taking the current fashion trend and making it work! I love the challenge and am always determined to figure it out!
In college, I majored in special and elementary education. I also have a master’s degree in school administration. I love my job in my school district. I’m blessed to do the things I love the most – education and fashion!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fashiontrendsandfriends.com
- Email: fashiontrendsandfriends@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fashiontandf/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fashiontrendsandfriends/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/search?q=fashion%20trends%20and%20friends&src=typd&lang=en
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsqzGjPqroxKo3e2NbpwN1w/featured?view_as=subscriber
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
