Welcome to The Harper Girls! We’re and aunt/niece duo offering a multigenerational perspective on all things style and beauty. We’re 25 years apart but we both feel that you can be fabulous at either of our ages – and actually, at any age!
That’s why we created out signature series, “How To Wear it at Any Age” where we “walk the walk”. The inspiration for the series and for the blog is our mom/grandma, who was our proof behind being fabulous at any age. She was a fashionista well into her 80’s! At The Harper Girls, we plan to do the same!
Dianne
Always match your bag to your shoes.
Don’t wear white after Labor Day.
You can’t wear black to a wedding.
These might not be the rules anymore, but they are the ones that I grew up with. The ones that my mother taught me. My mother was always dressed to a T. This was largely in part to where and when she grew up. Born in New York City in 1930, she grew up in one of the most fashionable cities in the world. It was her goal to instill the same love of fashion in me. From the first Barbie she bought me at age seven, to our annual girls-only shopping trips, she taught me just as much about family tradition as she did about fashion.
For me, fashion has been in the background of my life and now I’m ready to bring it to the foreground. Working in corporate America in the 80’s and 90’s, things were different. In those days, the entire “dress for success” thinking was always in play (I’m not just talking shoulder pads). I remember running through the airport trying to catch a flight in three-inch heels and not thinking twice about it. Can you imagine that today?
My work in promotions and advertising at my corporate job gave me many opportunities where it was important to know what to wear. This was especially true when working on promotions with magazines such as Glamour, Vogue and Self (which I loved.) I also had the opportunity to attend events such as the Grammy’s, CMA Awards and the Olympics. How to be “appropriate” was always key and a great lesson to learn.
The next evolution was moving from a Fortune 5 company to a small business. As the Marketing and PR Manager of a small handbag company for 12 years, I had to know what was going on in the fashion world. It went from being a hobby to being more front and center in my life. My subscription to InStyle went from being a casual weekend read to scouring it for the latest trends to keep the company on the right fashion track. Combining all of my experience, I’ve learned how to accessorize every look, every season, on all body types and across all price points, top to bottom for over twenty years.
And now today I get to combine all that in our Harper Girls blog and share what I’ve learned. I get to work on this every day and I couldn’t be more thrilled. This blog is about family to me; it’s about sharing the lessons that we’ve all learned from our mothers, grandmothers and all the special women in our lives. I believe that generational learning should be shared – it should be passed down from mother to daughter, from grandmother to granddaughter, from aunt to niece and from girlfriend to girlfriend. It’s what keeps our legacy alive.
Oh, and as I write this, it’s after Labor Day…and I’m wearing white.
Jennifer
I’m not an influencer. I’m a full-time working wife and mom in my mid-30’s. Trying to balance family life and advancing my career in business. I love making loose plans – I know what I need to do, but I’m adaptable when things change (and they always do). Doing my makeup is my happy place, and I’d like just 15 minutes alone to do it (wishful thinking).
We’re all searching, in one way or another, for our “why”. It’s probably pretty rare for someone to love their job, day in and day out. So what is it that makes me get up every day, and work, and make progress toward my goals?
Recently I was promoted to management, and around the same time Aunt Dianne and I decided to start “The Harper Girls”. Both are equally exciting to me, and I realize both give me the opportunity to connect with people. I’ve been fortunate to learn so much from my family and those I’ve worked with and for, that it should be shared.
I want to clear the path, and remove obstacles in your way to build your best life, piece by piece. With some laughs and self-deprecating humor along the way.
I’m fortunate to be at a place in my life where we own our home and cars. Can afford to buy a new bag occasionally, and frequently overspend at Target.
I’m always on the hunt to learn something new, like can I really wear faux leather leggings? Or how did my Grandma’s nail polish never ever chip, no matter what? I share what I’ve learned with family, friends and people I work with every day – and now I get to share with a wider group of new friends.
When you combine over a century of family wisdom with 37 years on earth, 15 working in business, 7 as a wife, and 5 as a mom, I’ve got some stories to share!
