01 Dec Spotlight On: Over 40-Nicole of High Latitude Style
1. Tell the readers what made you decide on the name for your blog?
I wanted to combine my location and the word style in the name. I live in Alaska, which is in the high latitudes. I was first iterating on the latitude of Fairbanks – names like 64,8378N Style or 65 N Style, when my husband suggested just to go by High Latitude Style. I immediately liked the idea as it sort of gets even a double meaning.
2. What made you interested in fashion?
The beauty of clothes, the creativity evolved with styling outfits, the process of designing and making clothes, dressing up.
3. Tell us the challenges in dressing for the Alaskan climate.
Yes, there are challenges. You want to stay warm when you wait for the bus, idle your car at 40 below for 15 minutes in the parking lot, you name it. This means you have to wear layers of thick clothes and double socks in your boots, two pair of gloves, sometimes even gloves in mittens. You also have to be comfortable when in the office. Thus, I have big bags to schlep my pumps back and forth. You have to come up with an outfit that doesn’t make you sweat at the office because the sweat will lead to getting cold when you go outside. Thus, you actually have several layers and peel them off as needed. Sometimes, I feel like an onion. 😉
4. Which do you enjoy more on-line or thrift shopping, why?
What about online thrifting on eBay? I do a lot of “insomniac” online shopping. That’s what I call the Alaska version of the European window shopping. This means I browse online stores after 2000 and fill my chart, but never check out. I never buy after 2000.
5. Dresses or pants?
I am a skirt and dress kind of gal, I always was.
6. What 3 articles of clothing should every woman have in their closet?
A good fitting bra, shape-wear and high quality pumps. No matter what else you put on with these items, it has the right foundation. If it is not hideous or frumpy, badly sewn or a bad fit, one will look presentable. Doing some styling will even lead to an effortlessly chic look.
7. What has been your favorite thing about blogging?
The readers and blogging friends.
8. Tell Us about your book; How to Dress for Success in Midlife?
For many women in midlife, life changes. For instance, their kids leave the house and they go back to work or they take on a position in their career, or they retire or they volunteer in the community, babysit their grandkids, etc.. Pre-menopause and menopause also change your body. All these situations mean a change in how you used to dress. As you know life gets busier the older you get. Therefore, the book covers different dressing situations of mid-life women. Each of the situation can be looked up like a recipe in a cookbook. It provides the does and don’ts and what to think about when you have to come up with an outfit for the specific dressing situation. It has visual inspirations in form of outfit photos and additional outfit suggestions. This way the reader saves time and can come up with a suitable outfit within a short time by just searching the own closet for items that work for the dressing situation. The book addresses holidays, family and friends, work, vacation, events in town and much more.
9. You enjoy incorporating science of history in your blog, why?
I am a meteorologist and geophysicist by training. Thus, I am a science nerd, so to say. Dressing has two major purposes, insulation to stay warm and indicating who you are. Insulation and staying comfortable is related to energy exchange in form of conduction and convection of body heat and moisture in form of sweat or moisture from the environment. Choosing the right fabric can make such a difference for thermal comfort. Layering, for instance, is about insulation and looking stylish. I think fashion has a lot to do with science, it is applied science.
10. You often talk about Price Per Wear? Do you think women should consider this before they purchase an item of clothing? Why? When you are on a budget, and most of us are, I am, you can’t just buy out of a mood. You can only spend each dollar once. Thus, you have to prioritize and spend accordingly. For me an item is a good investment when I expect to wear it so often that it goes to less than $1. You can also ask yourself how many latte you could drink instead of buying the item and then decide whether you love it so much that you won’t buy/drink latte to get the item. You just have to set some criteria to stay in your budget.
11. Do you have a style uniform your prefer? ( me: mini, OTK boots, jacket)
In the 90s, it was black everything. Today it’s hard to say. In summer, a dress, sandals, and a cardigan. In winter, layers with a skirt and tights. When it gets really cold (less than -20F, -28.9C), jeans, blazer, sweater, scarf and booties with a down or shearling coat and hat for outerwear.
12. Heels or Flats?
Heels! The higher the heel, the better I feel.
Hope you enjoyed this interview with Nicole, please follow her on Facebook and Bloglovin.
Have a great day!
Jess xo
dan
Posted at 02:56h, 06 DecemberNicole is always very stylish despite the low temperatures of the place where she lives! I love her blog which I think is really unique!!
cassidl
Posted at 21:37h, 02 Decemberanther great interview, thanks for sharing
Jess Jannenga
Posted at 06:13h, 03 DecemberThank you Linda, I appreciate you stopping by! xx
Nicole Mölders
Posted at 00:00h, 02 DecemberThanks for joining Top of the World Style. Thanks for featuring me!
Jess Jannenga
Posted at 10:20h, 02 DecemberHappy to! Thank you for being my interviewee! xx
Elle
Posted at 21:21h, 01 DecemberJess,
Wat a great interview. I adore Nicole’s fashion sense, and her writing, style. I loved hearing about how she dresses for the brutal Alaskan climate ( layering like an onion!)
thanks for sharing this!
xx, Elle
http://www.theellediaries.com/blog/
A. Blake
Posted at 13:27h, 01 DecemberI think you always look great in pink! Can you believe that it’s already December 1st? #Topoftheworld
robjodiefilogomo
Posted at 09:32h, 01 DecemberI love hearing the personal things about the bloggers I follow!!
Thanks so much for highlighting Nicole—it was so interesting!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Jess Jannenga
Posted at 17:02h, 01 DecemberI know! I find the answers very interesting to read. It is another side of the ladies and you feel like you know them more. Glad you enjoyed it Jodie! xx
Nancy
Posted at 07:13h, 01 DecemberNicole was one of the first bloggers I followed. I think she is so very nice and I love her stories and her feminine style.
K MEETS STYLE (@kmeetsstyle)
Posted at 05:07h, 01 DecemberSo many gorgeous styles!!
#BLOGMAS on http://www.kmeetsstyle.com
vanityandmeblog
Posted at 01:49h, 01 DecemberNicole is so lovely. Great to learn more about her x
http://www.vanityandmestyle.com
Jess Jannenga
Posted at 10:17h, 01 DecemberThanks Laurie for stopping, glad you enjoyed it! xx
Rena
Posted at 00:44h, 01 DecemberLove it, Jess. So nice to learn more about Nicole.
Rena
http://www.finewhateverblog.com
Jess Jannenga
Posted at 10:17h, 01 DecemberThank you Rena, I enjoy Nicole;s blog and learning about other ladies xx
Liz H
Posted at 00:34h, 01 DecemberSuch a cute post! I loved reading!
Liz
http://Www.lizzieinlace.com
Jess Jannenga
Posted at 10:16h, 01 DecemberThank you! I enjoy featuring other ladies xx