What are you going to wear this New Year’s Eve?

Dressing for a formal event is tricky when you reach a “certain age” since many of us are starting to see our bodies change.

Here are a few things to be on the look out for!

Strapless or over the shoulder dresses can be tricky!

Strapless or over the shoulder dresses:

• .  If your arms are still tone this dress is perfect (Nordstroms).  However,  beware that your skin does not come over the edges, it can be aging.

Too Fussy:

• Another faux pas is a dress that is too frilly or fussy. Much better to go for something sleek and simple, plus it will make you look thinner.

This dress is too fussy!

This would be much better (Nordstroms)

We would love to see what you are planning to wear this News Years Eve?

A nice change from black on New Year's Eve

<<Here’s what one of our readers is planning. Marvelous in mauve!

Please send us your photo with your outfit and if possible where you bought it and we will post them.

Looking forward to hearing and seeing you!

Cheers,

JoJami and Deborah

This year, I (JoJami) will be in Los Angeles for New Years. I have worn this dress on several occasions and but since I will be with all new friends I will wear it again!

JoJami will be wearing a BCBG black lace dress for New Years~

Shoes that are age appropriate

Hi Deborah and JoJami,

My friend and I  met you a few years ago when we attended the More Reinvention Convention.
You wanted to photograph us for your blog, but we had to leave before you had time to do it.
We have been following your blog ever since. Thanks for all the great info.

I saw your post about dressing too young and you mentioned extreme platforms as being too young.

This shoe has great style and is age appropriate for any age!

I wanted to know what you thought of this shoe for a women at my age of 53. I have a bronze colored sheath
dress that is very simple and am looking for a pair of shoes to wear with it. I found these at Nordstrom and
thought they had some style, but wonder if they might be too much for my age. I don’t want to look silly.
I don’t know why, but I struggle with this issue lately. (I am size 4 petite.)

Looking forward to hearing your opinion.

Thanks,

Donna McArthur

Hi Donna,

Your  shoe is absolutely fine and certainly age appropriate. We really like platforms like this because it gives the illusion that you are wearing a very high heel, but the platform makes it more comfortable!  The shoe below is similar to yours, but would look too young for a nice cocktail party.

This shoe from Steve Maden, looks a little young.

Since we wrote that article about extreme platforms being too young, platforms have become so much more “mainstream” and so are not as trendy as when they first came out. Funny how that styles that seemed  extreme when they first come out, once they are around a while, don’t feel so wild and become more mainstream.

Shoes are one accessory that can really help you look more youthful. We think it is easier to make a mistake of buying a shoe that is too matronly vs one that might be too young.

Have fun at your party!

Make-up video for women over 40~

Here is a great video on how to apply make up for over 40 skin!

Where did the term mid-life crises come from?

This week the Blogging Boomers is being hosted for the last time by Life Two, where they are exploring the term “mid-life crises”.

It seems that  Galil Sheehy’s book , Passages was the first to put the term in the mainstream and that books on the subject are on the rise!

Find out more on this and other boomer topics at this weeks Blogging Boomers Carnival!

Holiday make-up after 40!

Thanks to the team at Houpette, I'm ready for my holiday party tonight! photo by Carroll Laurence

I always am interested in how to update my make-up and  so it is always a treat to stop into Houpette (a local store here in Wilmington, DE)! This time we played with products from Laura Mercier from the new Sparkle and Shine collection.

Make-up that is updated will help us keep looking age-appropriate and not too young, too old, but just right!

Here is what I learned:

• Make sure your foundation is a little lighter in the winter. On aging skin it will brighten you up!
• Fill in those eye brows. Thinning brows need a little help!
• Make sure to add some highlight right under the brow to help pop the eyes!
• Go easy on the frosted eye shadow, it can be aging, however a little on the inside of the lid can add a little twinkle to your eyes!
• Exfoliating is so important! We should all be using some type of scrub at least twice a week. Taking care of our skin is a must!
• A few little false eyelashes added to the edges of the top lashes can add some glam.

Here is what to stay away from:

• Glittery blush (too young)
• All over powder. (too old) Don’t be afraid of a little glow around the cheeks!
• Too much black eye liner (you need to soften black eye liner with some powdered eye shadow.)
• Too bright of red lipstick. (try to keep everything even so your lips don’t become the star attraction!)

Our Most Talked About Fashion After 40 Posts of 2010

Thanks to YOU…2010 has been our biggest year ever with over 55,000 unique visitors a month!

We’ve appreciate that you’ve spread the word about FAF to grow our amazing community. It’s been so much fun chatting with all of you and seeing everyone become such good friends.

Just in case you missed any posts, here are this year’s most hotly debated ones! Keep the comments coming…we love to hear from you at Fabulous after 40!

Back in first place again this year… we followed our friend Jill Knapp on her journey of weight loss. She hit her one year mark and has still been able to keep the weight off and even made an appearance on to the Dr. Oz show	Jill before and after her 100 pound weight loss!
2. This year Gray hair became a surprise fashion trend! This opened the door to discuss the “to go or not to go gray” topic, here at FAF! Read more…	Helen Mirren looking radiant in her gray hair!
3. Over the knee and Thigh high boots, are they age appropriate?Many of you said that you had the hankering to find your inner biker chic and this article sure got the sparks flying!!
Clogs. Another fashion comeback this year and this time they came with heels! The Glam Gals weighed in on this controversial topic with lots more comments from you!!!
“Dainty and feminine” or “young and tacky” were a few of  the comments we heard when we dared to chat about ankle bracelets!
Can I wear Leggings after 40? Find out how our readers weighed in.

How to fit better into your clothes… eat healthier!

If you eat healthy your clothes should fit better!

We are all about fashion here… and one way to look great in your clothes is to feast on foods that are fresh, local and home cooked!

Check out this weeks Blogging Boomers Carnival for a yummy new take on cooking zucchini and yellow squash and a yummy recipe for a creamy corn soup with no cream! Eating foods that are prepared in a tasty manner, should fill you up and not leave you craving  sweets! Now that’s our kind of diet!

Hosted by one of our newest members, Ann Maxfield The Accidental Locavore.

Purse + Briefcase = Coakley Bag

Worth the Splurge? review by JoJami

Item:

Coakley Briefcase

Verdict: It’s FAB!

Why?: In a corporate world where everything seems to be black or navy, there is now a choice

to have a wonderful well made and functional bag that acts like both a purse and briefcase

in one! But the best part is that it comes in a variety of  gorgeous colors to choose from! You can finally feel “unique” and express your personality with your briefcase!

I have owned my Coakley for over 2 years and use it all the time and it still looks brand new.

>Special Sale!: Put in FabFourty in the Special Code box and get a 30% discount

and Free Shipping!

Go to www.coakleybags.com and pick out your favorite style and color!

We are affiliates for this product but only post about things we use and love and think you will too!