About Mode and Muse
I started Mode and Muse because most style advice aimed at women over 40 falls into one of two camps. Either it tells you to dress like you’re 25, or it tells you to disappear into something beige and forgiving. Neither of those is useful, and neither of them is what I wanted to read.
This site is for women who have figured out most of their life and would like their closet to keep up. You know what you like. You do not need permission. What you probably do need is a shorter list.
What you’ll find here
Capsule wardrobes, and the specific pieces that earn their place in one. Which items are worth spending real money on and which are not. Skincare that does something, evaluated honestly, including the products that did nothing for me. Beauty that works with the face you actually have rather than the one you had two decades ago. Style that holds up over years instead of a season.
I write about what I use and what I’ve stopped using. If a recommendation appears on this site, it earned it.
How I decide what to recommend
Most of what gets covered here comes from one of two places. Either I’ve used it long enough to have a real opinion, or I’ve done the research and I’ll tell you that’s what I did. I try to be clear about which is which, because “I’ve worn this for two years” and “this is well-reviewed and the ingredient list checks out” are different claims and you deserve to know which one you’re getting.
When something is a matter of taste rather than fact, I say so. A lot of style writing presents preference as law. I would rather give you the reasoning and let you decide, because you are the one who has to wear it.
I also try to write for a real budget. Some pieces are worth the investment. Many are not, and there is usually a version that costs a third as much and performs nearly as well. Where that’s true, I say it.
On advertising and affiliate links
This site carries advertising, and some posts contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
That never changes what gets recommended. A product does not get a mention here because it pays better, and it does not get left out because it pays nothing. If the arrangement ever influenced the coverage, this whole site would be worthless, including to me.
A note on the name
Mode is what you wear. Muse is why. The gap between those two is where most of the interesting decisions live, and it’s what I find worth writing about.
Get in touch
I read every message. If you have a question, a topic you’d like covered, or a correction, use the contact page. Corrections in particular are welcome. I would rather fix something than defend it.