And Now, Herself: Style, Freedom and Starting Again

There is a particular pleasure in getting dressed and feeling like yourself. Finding a shape, a colour or a combination that feels right, and enjoying the person looking back in the mirror. Fashion can be such a powerful part of our identity, and spending time with Georgie a couple of weeks ago got me thinking about just how much it can influence the way we experience life.

Georgie is the woman behind By George Personal Styling. After retiring from the corporate world and moving from Newcastle to the Gold Coast, she began pursuing something she has always loved. Creativity was already there, in her beautifully curated home and her own sense of style. Now she has time to explore styling further.

Just over two months ago, she started an Instagram account to share her journey and connect with other women. Already, she has gathered over 1,000 followers and is finding her audience around the world. What she’s sharing is resonating, and I really love that she's putting herself out there in that way. 

Georgie is passionate about catering to women in midlife, a community so often overlooked by the fashion world and I feel the world in general. She is making space for their interests, their style and their enjoyment of getting dressed, and building a community around that.

She reached out to us over email, and we organised to meet and film some content together. In person, I was struck by her graceful way of speaking and her openness to experimenting and trying new things.

Our style was a little new to her. Some of the pieces she tried on were things she would have overlooked online, yet on her they came alive. She spoke about the value of trying things on, playing with form, layers and proportions, and giving herself room to explore.

I loved seeing someone with an established sense of style discover something unexpected. A photograph can only tell us so much. Once a garment is on, there is its movement, its shape on our particular frame, and the feeling of wearing it. A different proportion or an added layer can change the whole impression.

That process can be such a source of enjoyment. There is curiosity in it, and creativity. We get to express something about ourselves, discover what we like and decide how we want to present ourselves to the world.

And how we feel in our clothes matters.

Feeling good in how we look can shift our mood. Feeling strong, powerful, beautiful or elegant can affect how we carry ourselves and how we approach the day. We might feel a little more at ease, a little more open, a little more willing to strike up a conversation or go somewhere unfamiliar.

That shift can change the way we see the world, and the experiences we have within it. When we feel good, we tend to notice more to enjoy. We interact differently. A conversation happens that might otherwise have passed us by. Those small changes become part of the reality of our day.

We hear about this through our customers. Countless women have called, emailed or told us in person that they were stopped in the street while wearing our clothes. Someone noticed a piece, asked where it came from, and a conversation began. That is how so many of our customers have found us, and how they’ve introduced others to us in turn.

One woman sharing something she loves with another. There is trust in that exchange, and I think it has a lot to do with why our customers are so loyal. I love that clothes have been the beginning of so many connections around this business.

For someone who has felt overlooked, being noticed can mean a great deal. A compliment in the street might be the first in decades. Someone has recognised an expression of her taste, her personality, something she chose because she enjoyed it.

To be seen, to be known, is to be loved and appreciated. Our sense of ourselves is shaped in part by the people around us: the company we enjoy, the interests we share, the conversations in which we feel understood. Fashion can be a lovely way into those connections.

This is part of what I admire about Georgie’s work. She is bringing attention to women who have so much personality, experience and curiosity, and creating a place where their style matters.

Midlife can hold real freedom to explore identity. There may be more room for personal interests, a clearer sense of what feels right, or a desire to try something entirely different. Fashion offers a tangible, enjoyable way to explore that. Tastes can evolve. New interests can emerge. A woman’s sense of herself can keep growing through every chapter of her life.

Georgie’s own story shows what reinvention in midlife can look like. She has left one working life, moved to a new place and begun learning something she loves. Her creativity is finding a new expression, and through sharing it, she is meeting people who connect with her.

I’ve grown up surrounded by women older than me, through my mother, our team and our customers. I haven’t reached this chapter myself yet. My appreciation comes from knowing these women, listening to their stories and enjoying their company. I find their individuality, independence and willingness to explore enormously inspiring.

Spending time with Georgie was another lovely part of that. I’m looking forward to seeing where her passion takes her. You can find her at By George Personal Styling, and we’ll be following along.