Where Bloggers Live 11.2026: My Favorite Style Era

Fashionable friends, welcome!!  This Where Bloggers Live post will go live on the second Friday of the month which just happens to be a Friday the 13th.  I am scheduled to substitute that afternoon for a friend's second grade class so today I stopped by Dollar Tree to buy a car load of stickers.  I am not the least bit ashamed to say I bribe them with stickers for good behavior.

My Favorite Style Era

The WBL prompt for this month is my favorite style era.  For some reason - maybe the word ERA? - my mind went straight to Taylor Swift.  I will share that rabbit hole in a second.  But then I started thinking about the clothes I prefer wearing in this season of life - retirement.  I have always loved dressing up but just can't justify dressing up these days to sit at home, or go to the gym or pick up a Walmart order.  My closet is full of dresses and skirts I can't bear to part with - YET.  But I rarely wear them.  And actually, substitute teaching is one occasion where I can!!  

Here are some of the contenders for my favorite style era.

19th Century Frontier Girl, um, Woman

When I was a little girl, I dreamed of wearing clothes like the prairie dresses and skirts, petticoats, leggings and boots that Laura wore on "Little House on the Prairie."  A Google search revealed that those are a 'thing.' You can buy prairie-wear on Amazon, Etsy and a number of other sites.  Need to keep that in mind for next Halloween.  Of course, I would dress as Laura's older sister, Mary.  I am too old to be Laura!!

1920s Flapper Fashion Era

In high school, I read The Great Gatsby and An American Tragedy, both set in the early 1920s.  I fell in love with the fun flapper look that became popular then and replaced the rigid clothing of the Victorian Era.  The fringe, the sequins, the way the clothes moved in such a flirty way.  

I wrote a term paper about the Ziegfeld Follies and asked my mom to make me a flapper-themed Christmas formal.  We found this fabulous fabric that was sleek and satiny with a print featured old photos of flappers and their beaus.  I accessorized with shimmery, long black beads and strappy black heeled sandals.

Ever the librarian, I asked Google to find flapper style clothing for purchase.  Who knew??  Etsy and Amazon have oodles of options.  Maybe that's what I will be next Halloween.  A flapper grandma.  

Oh, I had forgotten about fishnet stockings.  And garter belts.  I wore them both in high school.

1940s Wartime Fashion

This is one of my favorite periods in history so it follows that I would also like the fashion of this era.  The shoulder pads.  The shirt waist and tea party dresses that accentuated the waist.  Wide-leg trousers.  Blouse and skirt combinations.  I wore these pieces in college.  Full skirts with pretty blouses and ankle strap Mary Jane pumps like the ones I still love today by L'Artiste.  

I'll give you 2 guesses who sells '40's style tea dresses.  Yessiree, Etsy and Amazon.

Aren't those cute?  Not sure about the full skirt on my FULL hips these days but I really like that silhouette. 

But didn't I say that this prompt made me think of Taylor Swift?

Taylor Swift Fashion Eras

I think the word ERA in this prompt made me think of Taylor Swift.  I started thinking about how her fashion sense and persona have evolved over the years.  Then I started investigating.  This website, Taylor Swift Style, popped up toward the top of my results.  And from the landing page, I discovered this Style by Era page where you can find looks from each of Swift's eras.  

I clicked on each of the 12 eras to browse the looks Taylor wore during that period.  Of course, almost everything is suited to a much younger woman than I but of them all, I think my favorites are Red:  "tea-length skirts or dresses, Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses, lace-up Oxfords, kitten heels" and Midnights:  "celestial sequin dresses, faux fur shrug, wool sweater vests, wide-legged corduroys."  

Have a look to see which Taylor Swift era would be your favorite.

My Current Fashion Era

All things considered, I would say this current era in fashion - whatever era this is - would have to be my favorite for this chapter of life.  It seems that about anything goes.  Especially in the cut, color and fit of denim jeans.  When I am not in activewear like sweat pants or joggers, I am in jeans.  And I am glad I can wear the styles I feel best in without looking untrendy or out-of-date.

These days I allow myself to be comfortable more than I ever did before.  Especially in the shoe department.  No more squeezing my poor tootsies into sharply pointed heels.  I love that tennis shoes or athletic shoes or trainers - whatever you want to call them - are having a loooong moment.  My feet are so much happier.  With the arrival of fall temperatures, I am happily moving into my booties with anticipation of wearing my boots in the not-so-distant future.  

Here's what I wore to sub recently.  Shirt dress from Walmart.  Cardigan from Old Navy.  Amazon scarf.  Kohl's Mary Jane pumps.

Whatever era or combination of eras that outfit might be, that is ME.

Where Bloggers Live

This long-lived blogging series was created by our fearless leader and friend, Bettye at Fashion Schlub.  Bettye explains that “Where Bloggers Live” started out kind of like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…with bloggers! Through each bloggers' interpretation of each monthly prompt, we have shared our work-spaces, homes, towns, and thoughts. I kind of invited myself into the group a few years ago and have enjoyed every month's prompt and post.  

And here are the Where Bloggers Live bloggers.  Hope you will stop by to check out their interpretation of today's post.   

Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks

Bettye at Fashion Schlub

Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style

Em at Dust and Doghair

Yours truly

Sally at Within a World of My Own

Your Turn

How would you respond to this month's prompt?  What is your favorite fashion era?  And while you're at it, how do you feel about Taylor Swift and her sense of style?

Wishing you a peaceful weekend.  I have lots of laundry to put away and my Halloween decorations to pack up.  Then need to start thinking about Thanksgiving.  It will be here before we know it.

Thank you for spending part of your day here with me.

Hugs and kisses,

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