Testimonials | 21 Steps to a More Stylish You

Before I discovered Sylvia’s style club and 21 steps course, my closet was a hodgepodge of different styles, colors, and sizes. I didn’t have an understanding of my own style, and I certainly didn’t have the knowledge and skill necessary to put together a well-coordinated, flattering outfit that reflected my personality.

Thanks to Sylvia, Ruth, the 21 steps course, and the support and encouragement from the lovely ladies in this style club community, I have learned to dress my body type in a way that enhances my positive features. I now understand how to wear colors that complement my features, and I have discovered my own unique style.

As all three of these examples illustrate, in the “before” photos I’m trying to hide behind large, ill fitting clothes, and the styles don’t reflect who I am. I knew the outfits were off but didn’t know why. As you can see, in the “after” photos I’m more confident and happier. Sylvia’s 21 steps course and style club have given me the ability to put forward the best version of me, and it’s been loads of fun!

I highly recommend the 21 Steps Course.

I have been a style club member for over a year and took the course last winter.

I had two goals:

1) to learn more about proportion and silhouette for my 64yr old changing body shape, and
2) decrease my existing wardrobe while increasing money in my pocket by making wiser buying decisions.

I accomplished both.

This journey has been well worth the time and money spent. I am planning on retaking the course to further refine my goals.

Standing ovation!

Thanks for all your hard work in putting this course together.

I enjoyed it immensely!

I really enjoyed this course and learned a great deal.

Sylvia designed a complete, well rounded style course, which took many components of style into consideration, such as body shape, colors, our personalities and likes and dislikes.

I have read about many other style systems, but most of them seem to want to put you in a category and I grew more and more frustrated either trying to fit into a specific category or just struggled trying to wear what was recommended for a certain category or type.

Sylvia’s course allows you to really figure out what your own personal best style is and to just work with your own unique body and your own personality and I can’t say how refreshing and freeing it was!

I just feel like I know what I really should and shouldn’t be looking for in clothing and what I don’t even need to waste my time and money on.

When not taken live, it’s a self paced course, and I think it’s best to take your time though and move as slow as you need and take lots of pictures because they will show you what others are seeing way better than the mirror does!

I plan to go back and keep working through some of the sections for a while yet.

I highly recommend this course–it is definitely money well spent!!

I wanted to improve my all-day style and I saw in the free mini-course how you work and how the advices, examples, pictures were instructive and inspiring.

The course enabled me to get a new look onto myself- seeing myself on these selfies with different eyes- as to see “from outside”.

I was most astonished and also really happy to realize that I was not that bad looking at all.

What I assumed often when I look into a mirror- being very critical with myself. As a seamstress of measure-made beautiful clothes I want to present myself polished.

As an example: when I’m working in the atelier, it MUST be practical. But now I can better combine practical clothes with something funny or special, with some nice accessories which do not disturb my work.

What I like most I think are the selfies. They were an eye-opener for me. Also, there are suddenly so many possibilities out of the same closet – even without buying something new….amazing!

I love this idea to look deeply into my closet and try new combinations with things I already have- this was great and showed me that there ARE really nice items which I now will wear more often.

When you attend 40+ style you get so much information that helps you understand more and more about your preferred style andl how to achieve it.

I have done it now for almost 2 years and every time I think: o yeah, that would be an approach that will suit me.

You get more and more confident about yourself, the group is very supportive and the leading ladies Sylvia and Ruth are so energetic, so helpful and full of tips.

Even if you follow just one course, you get a lot of new insights that will bring you further on your own style journey, which is, by the way, also a lot of fun!

Fun and well worth the time!

I’ve really enjoyed Sylvia’s style course.

At first, I questioned whether I would have time to complete this. But as the days passed, I found myself hooked on learning the new concept and “playing” in my closet to attempt the style assignments.

I’m not a “selfie” taking person, but I now have a catalog of outfit photos in my phone and on Pinterest. On the weekends, I’ve found myself putting together outfits for fun, documenting them with a photo and then I’m ready to go with my work week.

This has been a great investment of my time.

Overall, I now understand why I like certain outfits and how to apply these basic concepts. I highly recommend this course.

I wondered whether I would have time to do the course and my ability to assess myself, eg shape, coloring; having the nerve to post photos and get feedback, but I loved nearly everything about this course!

The videos, the exercises, the resources, the recommendations, seeing other members photos.

I recommend this course to anyone who wants to understand more about how to develop their personal style.

CONFIDENCE AND STYLE IMPROVED 100%

This is what I needed. As I am now well over 40 (they say 60 is the new 40) and I was stuck in fashions and style the last decade or more.

This course helped me in so many ways.

My wardrobe is cleared of cluttering old clothes, I now wear my makeup daily and better, I plan my outfits with care now and mix and match much better.

I really love the inpluts and pictures from real women, not just models.

I have just upped my budget for a while and am now hooked on fashion and style. Hope I don’t get too critical on some, perhaps I may suggest they do this course.

Excellent course. Strongly recommended

This Style Course exceeded all my expectations.

Every aspect of style is treated comprehensively:

clear explanations,
lots of photos,
related articles,
fun and practical assignments and personal feedback from Sylvia.

It was also very motivating to read the posts of other participants: their contemplations, chosen outfits, learning points.

Furthermore, I learned about Pinterest and Stylebook as great tools to discover and elevate my style. I have learned so much during this course and enjoyed every single step of it.

Strongly recommended!!

I was concerned whether it would be worth the financial investment. It felt a bit expensive at the time and I was trying to weigh what I might learn from the course against what I could purchase for my wardrobe.

I had also used a local stylist in the past and the experience was not what I had hoped for. I really learned very little about my style and how to flatter my figure. I wasn’t sure the 21 steps Course would be any different.

I finally decided I wanted to better understand my style and the materials on the website seemed to have quite a bit of information about how to determine your style and improve your understanding of color, shape, and fit.

My expectations for the course were more than met!

Each step was well thought out. I liked that each step included a video of Sylvia and Ruth talking about the step and showing clothing and accessory examples from the vantage point of different body shapes and styles. I think the workbook helped me to further refine each step and think through how it related to the style I wanted to achieve.

I also truly enjoyed the online community and the thoughtful comments from the women in the club.

I feel the process really taught me to understand the style I wanted to create for myself.
I feel I have a much deeper understanding of what colors enhance my look, what shapes are flattering and how to put together an outfit of mixed levels of refinement. I feel I have the knowledge to dress for any occasion.

My confidence has grown and I trust my sense of what I want from my wardrobe. I can shop with greater confidence and discretion.

I have a much better idea what to say “no” to and what to challenge myself to wear when I want to break out at bit.

I would recommend this course to any woman who is interested in developing a depth of understanding about their style. I think the course is amazingly versatile and can suit a novice or someone with fashion experience. Looking back on the work I did with a local stylist. I think she could have used the course!

This course was wonderful.

It was a gateway into a whole new realm of style and presented in a way to make it very accessible to every person.

What I liked most about it was the info from Sylvia and Ruth, and watching how Sylvia made the info work with her own style and clothes.

Ruth is wonderful at the technical and Sylvia is wonderful at showing how it works in real life (Ruth does too, but I love Sylvia’s style, and for me, this was the main reason I signed up).

I’m finally learning to embrace my personal style, and know what looks good and doesn’t, and then make educated decisions on what I wear.

I still need tons of feedback and to continue learning, so I’m so glad the style club is here!!!

I viewed the styling of participants on Facebook almost daily. I was struck by the differences in how they interpreted the style challenge.

It opened my eyes to more possibilities than I had dreamed possible.

I found possibilities of uses for my own wardrobe. Most importantly, I realized that my basic black/white style needed color and interest. I realized I had no florals in my wardrobe, only stripes or solids.

I have taken the 21 Steps to style twice and enjoyed & learned things each time. It is a wonderful course.

There is so much good material. I loved the interaction with the other ladies of our club. Ruth Essex as our mentor was brilliant. She is so generous to share her knowledge. We learned so much about the why’s and why not’s from her.

21 steps helped me better understand all the elements that went into and make up style.

The assignments for each section were very helpful in thinking through what works for you as an individual. The course isn’t something that you can do quickly as the assignments took thought. Planning the outfits for each photo assignment took thought as well.

21 steps has enabled me to be a more “conscious” dresser. I really enjoyed the course. The art of personal adornment should not be something we hate or dread, it should be fun.

This course was fun!

I would recommend this course to anyone who loves style and someone who would like to present themselves in a better manner.

I learned so much from this course!

The rule of thirds was a real eye opener.

But the thing about the course that impressed me the most were the questions Sylvia asked us. Having been a teacher before retiring, I appreciate the thought provoking questions that really require some soul searching and deep thought to answer.

The other participants were great as well in helping delve into our style selves.

Yes, you can speed through the course but if you take the time for yourself, you will discover wonderful things. You can walk away with a better sense of what looks good on your body and how to create a wardrobe that makes you happy when you wear it.

Loved it and would definitely recommend it.

This course is exactly what I needed!

After I retired, I traveled all over the US and Canada in a motorhome for ten years and only had a skeleton wardrobe. Now I’ve settled down and can finally have fun with fashion.

I purchased a lot of new clothes but looking at recent family photos showed me that I was on the wrong track.

This course has lots of good information, is designed to challenge the participants at different levels, and is a very supportive environment.

Sylvia was wonderful, I made new friends, and I now know how to make myself look great.
I now know how to make myself look great.

VERY WORTHWHILE CLASS!
I really enjoyed the structure and content of this class.

I thought the assignments were the right length and duration to give you plenty to do, but not overwhelm you. Linking to others in the class provided inspiration and support.

This was a very worthwhile class and exercise for anyone interested in refreshing or improving their style. Well done!

Steps in the right direction!

Sylvia gets a rave review for creating a supportive environment, giving excellent fashion advice, helping us use the technology.

I enjoyed learning new skills, experimenting, doing useful exercises, and meeting women from around the world who share my desire to look better and feel better about myself.

I highly recommend this course to everyone!

I found the 40+style blog 3 years ago when I was looking for advice on how to dress and be stylish as an older woman. After following and participating in the blog I was persuaded to take the course because I had developed confidence in the quality of the blog and the timeliness and depth of information on fashion and dressing. Additionally the blog conveyed the upbeat, friendly personality of Sylvia and the women who participated.

The course more than met my expectations. Each of the 21 Steps offered comprehensive information on each topic plus exercises on how to apply the material. The workbooks, photo assignments, sharing and interacting with other women and the 40+style club mentors on Facebook offered many ways to learn and adopt the lessons. Students can complete each step in any way that works for them.

I am a compulsive learner so the material was extremely valuable to me but the most surprisingly useful and enjoyable part of the course is the interactive participation via Facebook. I feel like I made several dozen new friends who share my love for style, struggle with the same challenges of aging, want to live life to the fullest. These friends live all over the world. Absolutely amazing that we became a community through the course.

I have recommended the course to my friends and family. My sister enrolled in the course and is enjoying it immensely. The style course is unique in that it delves into information and theories that when applied really work. It is a welcome departure from all of the scattered articles and blog posts that contain “tips”, “top 5 lists”, “everything you need to know……(in 250 words), 5 minute fashion shows on TV, books by fashion industry celebrities and more that are so general in nature as to be useless to some who want to focus on developing their style. The missing component in this approach is the interactions and feedback of the community. It is that feature of the course that enables rich learning.

My experiences with the 40+Style club and the course have been nothing short of incredible. I had no idea I could learn so much and get so much joy from taking on the task of finding my style. I feel like the mentors and Club members are now genuine friends a benefit that I could have never imagined. I wish you continued success and want you to know that you made a big difference in my life as the aging process unfolds. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

The Spring 2019 capsule wardrobe (A $97 value)

Putting a cohesive wardrobe together can be tough.

That’s why we are going to help you create a wardrobe you love that will always give you something to wear!

We will create a seasonal capsule wardrobe for your that will mix & match perfectly. We handpick up to 15 items that all mix and match beautifully to give you up to 100 unique outfits.

Adapt the capsule to your unique body type and style personality and look amazing!

GIVE IT TO ME!

I LOVED THIS CHALLENGE. FUN, FUN, FUN!
I loved this challenge. Fun, fun, fun! So helpful and rewarding to finally learn how to put together separates for my pear body type in a modern way.

I had no idea what to expect in my first online course but I was thrilled with the volume of valuable information and styling tips. Sylvia gives excellent personal advice and made me see accessories in a whole new light. I highly recommend this course, it has made such a positive difference in the way I dress each day. Thank you Sylvia!

My Mum told me not to bother with this course as “I should know myself what suits me”. Unfortunately I didn’t know and made lots of expensive mistakes so this was money well spent as I learnt a lot about overall style not just accessories. It has actually been life changing for me as I really had no idea and now at least I feel I’m on the right path and have developed some good habits.

I feel confident & beautiful!
This course delivers! Like many women, I have struggled with “what to wear” and how to pull it all together. Through an easy-to-learn format and practical exercises, Sylvia teaches us how to elevate our style through the use of accessories, head to toe…literally, hats to shoes and everything in between. This course is now a tool I have available any time…like I can pull my favorite cookbook down from the shelf when I need a recipe…I can refer back to these lessons again and again when I need to put together an outfit for any occasion.

If you’re looking to up your style quotient, then this is the course for you. Not only is it fun and inspirational, it’s also packed with styling techniques and segments that you can participate in privately or for class review. Sylvia’s feedback is on cue and especially helpful in helping you attain just the oomph you need. Through and through, this course is sprinkled with jewels of all types and loaded with special features and interviews that will set you apart from the pack. I couldn’t be more pleased with the content and the results I attained.

Absolutely brilliant course showing how to style with accessories. The correct accessories can totally change an outfit from day to night, street to office, casual to formal and also from traditional to contemporary style.
This course takes into consideration body proportions, image, colour and a variety of styles.

So many outfits can be created with different accessories, and much cheaper than buying new clothes..
Personally I found this course brilliant and showed me new ways of upgrading my style and coming out of my comfort zone.
I would recommend this to everyone.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and inspiration. Even though I have been in the “style business” for a long time, I always learn new things from you. Your most recent course was a very helpful refresher on just how much the details can make or break a look. I am already looking forward to your next course!

Don’t buy new clothes, buy accessories! It is less expensive, but the effect is much bigger. And accessories are not only earrings, bracelets and necklaces. But bags, shoes, scarfs, hats. With those accessories you can point out who you really are. You can give attention to your most beautiful parts of your body. You can be funny, you can be chic, you can be beautiful. All with the same clothes, but with different accessories. This course makes you dare. This course tells you what to choose in which occasion. And what kind of accessory is just for you. This course is personal. And this course is fun to do.

I THINK ALL WOMEN WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS CLUB!
The Style Club has helped me by trying combinations of clothes I hadn’t thought of.
The sense that you are not alone in your style journey is very reassuring – and it’s lovely to be connected with women from all over the world with different stories to tell.
I think all women would benefit from this club. It’s inexpensive and it’s a supportive community. Everyone can benefit from trying new things.

THE CAPSULE HAS BECOME A BASELINE Doing the capsule helped me find a workable style within my wardrobe that suited my newly discovered style words, personality, and body type. Previously there has been an abundance of orphaned styles. The capsule has become a baseline – I can see clearly what does and doesn’t go with it, making it clearer to have a sense of direction and cohesion within my wardrobe.

It was wonderful to see lots of other women my age having the same issues and questions of how to deal with various style challenges. Though I always knew I wasn’t alone, now I REALLY know
it’s such an uplifting community and we all need a bit of that in our day to day lives.

A GREAT JOURNEY TO WAKE THE SENSE OF PERSONAL STYLE
This is exactly what I needed to learn and to become aware of certain aspects of fashion, styling and getting confident in myself! The big plus is that the course is on-line, so available nearly everywhere, is no-time restricted and that is so polyvalent, applicable to so many figures, styles and personal preferences!

Great job! Thanks for all your hard work in putting this course together. I enjoyed it immensely!

I STARTED CALLING THIS THE “SELF-ESTEEM GROUP”!
I loved getting both good and constructive feedback on each of the outfits. I started calling this the “self-esteem group”!
I learned how to identify gaps in my wardrobe, shop for specific items rather than just “anything that fits”, try different combos and accessories and think critically about my clothes/body type and rule of thirds.

I FEEL THAT I HAVE GROWN IN MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT SUITS ME
I was stuck in a rut. I’d dressed for work in a formal working environment for 40+ years and my weekend style was basically jeans and a T shirt /sweater. I found that I was wearing the same style every day – just with variations in colour to ring the changes.

The capsule made me look at style and proportion and to try new outfits which I would never have thought of combining previously.
I reworked my existing wardrobe for the challenge and now have a whole new capsule to wear! I only purchased one additional top in a style which I had never even thought of wearing previously.
I feel that I have grown in my understanding of what suits me and have also gained confidence in experimenting with new outfits and accessories.
I would absolutely recommend it! I have really enjoyed being part of such a supportive group of ladies all growing and learning together.

Before joining the 40+Style Club I had no idea how to dress my shape or how to successfully put outfits together from the items already in my closet.
The club taught me how to determine what my shape was and how to successfully dress that shape. Sylvia taught me how to create flattering outfits from the items already in my closet. I was able to connect with other women who have the same shape as I. From them I have been able to get ideas and advice on how to look my best.

I have met the most amazing group of women from all over the world. Together, with Ruth, we support each other in our efforts to look our best.
I feel confident that I can find clothing that will flatter my shape and I know that if I have a question or need an honest opinion that support is as close as my laptop.
I recommend this to anyone over 40 who is looking for advice on how to look their best.

I’M HAVING A GREAT DEAL OF FUN WITH THIS GROUP
The 40+Style Club is helping by offering a course-like interactive experience where I can continue to learn and have a community of women who are also on this journey and can help each other make progress.
Through the use of predetermined capsules of clothes I have discovered some gaps in my basic wardrobe, gained understanding of what outfits flatter my body type and how color can bring energy to an outfit. I’m having a great deal of fun with this group and am enjoying the challenge of working on my style.

SYLVIA GETS A RAVE REVIEW FOR CREATING A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
“Sylvia gets a rave review for creating a supportive environment, and giving excellent fashion advice.
I loved the casual style challenge. It was so much fun putting together an outfit and getting feedback from others in the group and seeing their interpretations of the same outfit!”

I NEVER FELT SO GOOD ABOUT MY BODY. I HAVE STARTED FEELING CONFIDENT.
I joined the style club as I was keen on improving my style.
I have discovered some outfits which look good on me and some which do not.
I am pear shape and never felt so good about my body. I have started feeling confident.

I LEARNED A LOT!
The capsule wardrobe challenge was a great exercise in learning how to shop your closet, get creative with pieces and learn how to save money. I learned a lot.

I’M NOW READY TO LEARN MORE AND EXPERIMENT!
I felt frumpy before I joined the club. I tend to wear the same thing most days – jeans and a sweater or t-shirt.
Having a ready-made capsule encouraged me to shop my closet to make outfits and I’m now ready to learn more and experiment!

Prior to joining 40+Style Club, I had been working on my style for 2 years. I had edited my closet down to items that were truly my style, built up my basics and had a clear vision of my style. But I was missing the fine tuning of how to put outfits together as well as taking my style to the next level.
Since joining the 40+ Style Club, I have learned about proportion and silhouette, what colors go together and why, levels of refinement and how do I put pieces together to get the most out of my wardrobe.
The input from the fabulous style mentors and women in the group is priceless. It is a safe place to ask questions, give and get feedback and truly sharpen our style skills.

SYLVIA HAS CREATED A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT HAS RESULTED IN A TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY.
I already did the Accessorizing course from Sylvia. I liked that course very much. From that time on I was a bit obsessed with choosing the right clothes apart from choosing the right colours which is something I already often did.

I often see women on the street who who do not care anymore about their looks, their body, their health, their fun in life. I don’t want to become that way. I have a belly and I am 66 years old, but that does not stop me from looking good.
The 40+style club is a safe and supportive environment. The women all want the same thing: to look and feel good after 40.

They want to share, they are friendly and warm and positive. You can ask them anything and they will help you. Sylvia has created a safe and supportive environment that has resulted in a tight-knit community. She also provides a lot of style tips, crash courses and examples. You can experiment and get help along the way as you discover what styling choices work for you.

I now know which styles are on trend this year. I can recognise them in the shops. I have chosen which trends I want to adopt. I now know what I have to obtain to create a spring and summer capsule that will give me lots of outfits to wear.
I would recommend this club to any woman that does not want to be gray mouse. For women who want to be confident in the way they dress, who want to be vibrant. It does not matter witch size you have or how old you are. You can shine and stay true to yourself.

This course is lots of fun, very informative and easy to follow. I think that having interaction is very encouraging. I like that we have unlimited access when finished with the course.
I learned a lot about body shapes and what is right for me, while at same time I was allowed to be me. This course respected that.
I would and have recommended it to my girl friends.

As a 70 year old junior senior citizen who had a basic colour analysis done 30 years ago I thought it might be time to spruce up my looks. Time and gravity has had its affect. So I pushed the enter button on a computer search and found Sylvia. She was offering a free course which I found very informative. When the 21 step course was made available I hesitated. But the price of the course is really only a few magazines thrown into the weekly shopping cart. 😉
What a fortuitous decision. I have gone from okay to fabulous with the instruction, insight, helpfulness and kindness of everyone involved in this club. The course provides instruction for dressing ones body type, ones colouring, and most enlightening to me, ones personality. For me, the change has been slow which is why I will happily do this course again. I am looking forward to continuing my style journey which includes Fashion, Friends, and FUN! Won’t you join us.

Although I didn’t have the time to really spend on this course, I was able to read each step’s material and took a lot of the information to use each day. What I enjoyed the most is this information has made me think when I’m putting my outfits together. One example is that I wore a long necklace with my work outfit recently and I had so many compliments on the necklace with my outfit. I rarely wear necklaces. This told me to do it more often. It made me think about my outfits. Thank you Sylvia for offering this course. Next time I will put more time into the homework!

A great fun learning experience!

This course has made me feel more confident about myself and given me direction for the future. Sylvia provides excellent support as well as great material to work through. It was a lot of fun and meeting people from all around the world who, like me, want to improve our style was a big bonus. Thank you, Sylvia.

Standing ovation!

Great job! Thanks for all your hard work in putting this course together. I enjoyed it immensely!

Self care for me!

Sylvia provided content and guidance in all of the 21 Steps.I truly feel more confident about my style and understand myself better. It is a stellar style course….hands on and fun. Exactly what I needed at this time in my life. Thank you, Sylvia!

Great course. I learned a great deal!

The course is well planned and organized. The units follow a logical progression and are very informative. I learned how to define and refine my style. I especially like the comments from other members and feedback from the instructor, I highly recommend this course. I had fun completing the units. The only downside is now I’m obsessed with fashion!

A GREAT JOURNEY TO WAKE THE SENSE OF PERSONAL STYLE
This is exactly what I needed to learn and to become aware of certain aspects of fashion, styling and getting confident in myself! The big plus is that the course is on-line, so available nearly everywhere, is no-time restricted and that is so polyvalent, applicable to so many figures, styles and personal preferences!