Yesterday, I (JoJami) was standing outside of Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills when I noticed this stunning woman!
When you spot a gorgeous woman with flaming red hair and a man’s dress shirt and tie, you can’t help but stare a bit!
It takes a strong and confident personality paired with a sense of creativity to dress so out of the box and this gal just had me intrigued. I could not wait to see if she would be willing to allow me to take a few photos.
She said yes. As I was snapping away, she said that she has always had a deep love of fashion with a desire to create windows for such stores as Barneys or Saks. Then she dove in with some savvy fashion advice and said, ” I combine everything, old and new. I have many designers that I love and some pieces I have had for years. Good design and quality will always hold up. If something is gorgeous from the start, it will always be gorgeous.”
Her cropped red hair set the tone for this unconventional ensemble.
The secret to this layered look is that she has kept all the elements simple and sleek.
1. Start with a crisp white blouse
2. Black loose wide-legged ankle pants
3. Added her husband’s tie
4. Long blue vest that goes over the hips
5. Thin black leather belt wrapped around a few times
6. Over the shoulder Gucci messenger bag
7. Simple gold flats
8. Bold red lips
9. Updated sunglasses
It turns out that she certainly is one strong lady. As she handed me her card she never mentioned what she did, but continued to share with me her passionate feelings and love of fashion. However, when I got home I looked her up and discovered an interesting back story. After the death of her teenage son from a brain tumor she lost her husband who committed suicide. Valerie Sobel picked herself up and turned tragedy around by founding the River of Life Foundation. This is an amazing organization that provides immediate support to single parents with urgent expenses so that they can stay at their child’s bedside during catastrophic illness.
It goes to show although Valerie has a serious side to her, by dressing with dramatic flair she can allow her creative and dynamic personality to shine.
She confessed that at age 72, although she is very busy with her philanthropic work, she would one day enjoy the chance to dabble in the fashion industry. With her spunky everyday style, it seems she already is!
Style Expert Deborah Boland specializes in helping mature women to Tweak their Chic®!
I LOVE your site and I try to read it as often as I can. About this lady,she is such a great inspiration (both the woman and her cause). I would love to see more “creative dressing” in your site! Thanks!
What a marvelous woman. I love her style!
I love her edgy and unique look and the hair, oh she is reminds me of Patricia Field!
What a great life story! Whether you love her fashion sense or not, you can’t help but admire a woman who can pick herself up from adversity and get back out there fighting with a smile and a sense of style…her own personal style.
I’ve always felt that personal style is very important, no matter what your age, it reflects your happiness with yourelf. It’s why I don’t understand women who dress for other people,whether it’s for men or for other women, I say dress for yourself, dress to feel your personal best. JMHO!
This is an inspiring story, all the way around. Would love to look as creative, spunky, and beautiful as she at 62, let alone 72! Three cheers and thanks for sharing this story. Just shows you that fashion isn’t just about clothes.
Are you saying that woman is 72???
I think the ‘woman on the street’ pics and mini interviews are my favorite part of your site. I love to see real woman living with style and flare. JoJami, thanks for your bold love of woman and fashion. Thanks also for being unafraid. Keep the camera close! I think that gal is dynamic. I am inspired!
Her face, hair and attitude are great, but sorry, I just can’t find anything flattering about the outfit. I think it’s awful.
She looks fabulous – hard to believe she is a day over 50! She is certainly an inspiration in the way she lives her life. Thanks for her back-story.
I too am surprised she’s 72! She looks like Miranda from Sex and the City!
She looks youthful and spunky and fun. The outfit works EXCEPT for the vest. Really? It’s MUCH too big and makes her look awol from Wal-Mart.
Hi Jane, I’m afraid my photos were really not the best…If you could have seen her in person, you would have seen that the entire outfit was wonderful on her. There is no way she looked like she was from Wal-Mart… she looked creatively, elegant!
She’s 72??? Wow, I hope to look as youthful and energetic as her at that age!
Hi Kathryn, No this was a just random Fashionista sighting… If you look though our Archives called FAF On the Street, you will see that we have interviewed many, many women over the years. However, when we feel that their story is special, we like to link back to them as a way of saying “thank you” and supporting our fellow dynamic woman!
What a positive way to handle adversity, I am sure she loved being noticed for her style!
WOW… I love it when women who are faced with adversity take on a challenge to make the world a better place. …and Valerie is doing it with style. Who wouldn`t want to talk to her and hear her story! Brilliant advertising although I suspect it was not intentional!
She really is stunning! I makes me want to change my hair color! I love her style and pretty smile! But when I got all the way to the end and see that she is 72…that is unbelievable! She looks amazing! I’ll be that age in 10 years….there’s hope!
72!!! She looks fantastic and I love her style!