The Godis Sweater is a great way to update your casual wardrobe!
Fall is the time for warm knits and cardigans! We fell in love with this variation of a cardigan from one of my (JoJami’s) favorite stores, Houpette Boutique in Greenville, Delaware. It’s called a “Godis Sweater,” and it’s so easy to just throw on! It’s very drapey and goes over anything.
I’m going to be dressing it up with a pair of colorful corduroys and a white button up blouse.
And for a more casual look, I paired it with some jeans, boots and a long-sleeve tee shirt.
In fact, I find that I am working this sweater into tons outfits these days! It’s totally hip and the silhouette is so in this season.
The ladies at Houpette are offering our readers a discount on this sweater. Originally $175, it’s now priced at $140 for our ladies. That’s a 20% off savings. I hope you love and wear yours as much as I do!
Here at Fabulous After 40, we’ve been reporting about upcoming Fall fashions for the last few weeks. What if you want little bit of something in every category, and don’t have the time to shop around? We’ve found one designed that has it all!
Tory Burch‘s new Fall collection includes pieces that are so trendy and age appropriate, you can’t go wrong. Here is a re-cap of our the Fall trends reviews in the last few weeks, and Tory’s take on them.
Alright, I know you’ve seen this dress before (you can see our “Tweak Your Chic” model wearing it in this post, and me in it again right here), but a neutral shirt dress is a staple. That means it never goes out of style, and you can keep updating it to fit the current trends. Below is a video showing how I used this season’s layering trend to breathe new life into an old dress…and I didn’t have to buy anything new to do it! That’s the easiest way to shop on a budget – treat your wardrobe like a store and keep reinventing outfits!
For more ways to update your wardrobe on a budget, check out our eBook Chic on the Cheap!
Our new e-book on How to Update Your Wardrobe on a Budget
Recently, we read this article about wearing one of this season’s hot item – a leather biker jacket – without looking literally like, well, a biker. We love the ideas, but what happens if you want to get into the leather jacket trend, but just can’t make the biker-style jacket “you”? Even if you still feel too tough wearing a leather jacket (even if it’s with a pink dress underneath), there are tons of options for purchasing leather this season. It’s absolutely everywhere this fall! Below are some leather jacket ideas that you can embrace this season that will really make a statement – without that statement being “Where’s my Harley?”
Try…
Blazer:
This suede jacket from Forzieri is a great alternative to a regular blazer. Wear it as you would to the office, and modernize your suits and skirts!
Ruffles:
If wearing leather makes you feel too tough, then try adding a feminine detail like ruffles like this great coat is from Saks.
Trench:
Look instantly glamorous and sophisticated in a trench coat. like this fantastic, movie-star inspired trench from Forzieri.
Touch of leather:
You can even work leather touches into your everyday wardrobe. This leather jacket from Saks is trimmed in soft tan leather, giving it an edgy look.(of course the skirt should be a longer…but you get the idea!)
Color:
Black, tan and brown are very versatile, but color is always so much more fun! Even with motorcycle-ish styling, this leather coat from Forzieri is a great statement piece, and softer than a harsh black jacket.
Add fur:
A touch of fur around the collar or sleeves is another way to add personality to a leather jacket. Also, it’s sure to keep you warmer in the upcoming winter! Check out this one from Forzieri.
And for those vegan dressers, there is sure to be a lot of “pleather” or imitation leather and fur jackets. Not only will they be less expensive, but also animal friendly!
I (JoJami) am excited to announce a private event that you are invited to:
If you live in the Delaware/Tri-State area, please join me for the First Annual Wine/Design and Fashion/Film VIP Party to ring in the opening night of the Newark Film Festival! Here is the schedule of events:
Opening presentation at Newark Cinema Center 3 (a short walk from the Wine House)
401 Newark Shopping Center, Newark DE
7:30pm
Feature Film: Valentino: The Last Emperor (a documentary about the legendary fashion designer)
This networking event is a great opportunity to meet other fashionistas and arts supporters in the area. For only $20, you get a night of networking, wine tasting, h’ors d’oeuvres and tickets to Valentino, at the opening night of the Newark Film Festival.
We’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about invigorating your wardrobe while on a budget. The best advice we can give is: accessorize! Accessories can range from very inexpensive to sky high, but when you’re shopping to update your wardrobe, you should be able to find inexpensive, modern pieces to add flavor to your outfits.
We recommend having several scarves to tie on now and again to dress up a plain tee-shirt, add interest to a boring suit, or even loop onto a handbag for a pop of color. Scarves are easy to wear and fun to find! Depending on your budget, you can splurge for pure silk or pashmina with designer prints, or save with synthetic or gauze fabric, or knock-offs (we won’t tell). Here are some inexpensive ones we found:
So suppose you are already on the scarf bandwagon – you have a closet full of them, but no idea how to wear them! We put together this short, fun video to show you a chic, European way to tie a scarf. Now you can wear them with anything!
Here is a great offer… free shipping on purchases over $75.00 at Kohl’s. We recommend this cute sundress from the Elle collection, and it’s under $40!
This Vera Wang jacket is a great transitional piece from summer to fall, especially for petites!
And, if you need a pair of new shorts before the summer ends, these Vera walking shorts are cute and on sale.
In fact, all these items and many more are on sale now at khols.com!
These are just a few money-saving suggestions. Right now, we’re working on a new e-Book “Tweak Your Chic: Chic on the Cheap,” to get you looking great on a budget!
It is easy to feel frumpy after 40, especially when life in general is all about dressing casually. I (JoJami) was out on a group hike over the weekend, and was chatting with a fellow hiker about her frustrations with her everyday dressing techniques.
Dresses are a great summer option to shorts or capris
Hiker Sue: I am petite and my middle has spread, even though I exercise and eat moderately. I am not interested in looking fashionable, I just want to dress age appropriately.
JJ: I understand how you feel, we hear the same story from our FAF readers all the time who write us and complain that they can’t find anything at the store anymore.
Hiker Sue: What I do now is wear the same “uniform” that works for me. I love khaki pants and simple t-shirts. I also find that I don’t wear heels much anymore, because I like to be comfortable when I walk around town.
JJ: Well, have your tried putting little dresses into your casual wardrobe? They are so wonderful, you feel more feminine and you can wear flats or heels with them.
Hiker Sue: You know, a lot of women have given up wearing dresses because of chaffing! Their thighs rub together and it makes wearing dresses really uncomfortable!
JJ: Actually, I have not really thought about that!!! Thanks for bringing it up!!
Oh my, chaffing thighs under dresses is a terrible problem. But ladies, there is a solution! If you find wearing dresses uncomfortable, we highly recommend that you wear some shapewear under your dress. The little “bike short” style is just perfect to go under any sundress and will totally eliminate the chaffing problem. We found a ton of these over at Bare Necessities in a variety of styles and sizes. Make sure you grab the thigh slimmers that have a flat band around the leg opening so they don’t roll up, and long enough for comfort (probably right above the knee). Not only will they stop your thighs from rubbing together, they will smooth out your legs and midsection too!
So we hope you will go out and try on a new dress and add it to your casual wardrobe. Find some cute flats and also some matching heels and see how you feel!
We have had a great time participating, hosting and blogging in the past year, with a group of expert bloggers, better known as The Blogging Boomers Carnival.
Each week one of the members hosts and this week it is our turn to introduce you to our members. So here they are, the infamous BBC #126 and a short blurb about the topics they are discussing this week:
Bathing suits–let’s not kid ourselves says SoBabyBoomer–are underwear, but worse. For, unlike underwear, they do not work behind the scenes. Bathing suits are the whole show. Now, especially for boomer women, new innovation is emerging in bathing suit design.
Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Hole travels to Chicago, the home town she fled oh so many years ago, and discovers that her toddlin’ town is an awesome city!
Can’t remember the last time you spent a day without your cell phone, email or even a clock? Janet Wendy at GenPlus found a day at Whistler, BC, really was a reminder of our need for connection to Mother Earth.
Yes, you can be 51 years old and still learn new things, like how to play the violin. This exciting news you can read more at the The Boomer Chronicles.
Mediation lawyer Laurie Israel tackles affairs, “training marriages’, marital mediation and a whole slew of other topics in her latest article on LifeTwo.
Midlife crisis has killed many a marriage. But what if there were a way to turn that crisis into an opportunity and save your marriage. Dina Eisenberg shares what happens when one wife ‘just saysno’ to divorce and saves her marriage. Andrea J. Stenberg at The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur asks “Doesn’t anybody follow up any more?” This little rant about lack of follow through should be a warning to business owners.
And here at Fabulous After 40 the Glam Gals post the question, Do comfortable shoes have to be ugly? You can see some good examples and you might win a free pair to!
Our reader Kathryn recently wrote us to ask what to wear to an informal class reunion to be held at the local pub, in the dead of winter (it is winter for our readers in Australia) .
Katherine sent this photo and asked, "Does this look good on me?"
The grey and black layered and belted look, shows that she is up on her fashion trends, however we felt that we could dress her cute figure to flatter it a bit more. So we sent her some homework and asked her to send us what she came up with.
Here are the other options she sent us, for round 2:
Even though it is an informal event, we think this outfit is way too casual if Kathryn wants to dress to impress! The layers hide all her curves, and the checker shirt and clunky shoes make her look very masculine. The long, light colored top is the wrong proportion on the body, and makes her legs look very short in comparison. This is definitely not a look we’d recommend.
This look is much nicer! It looks classy and crisp, and the shapes flatter her figure. The only point we’d make is that it’s just too conservative! From the first outfit to this one, we’ve lost all Kathryn’s style sensibility. Where’s the funky trendiness we saw in the first outfit?
Finally, we think this outfit is a slam dunk! The black belt pulls in the narrowest part of Kathryn’s body, and the fact that it’s all one color makes her look longer and leaner. We have the boots again, however she had another pair in her closet that fit nicer and hug her leg, which adds a little sexiness to the outfit. She added back in some of her personal style with the necklace and bracelets. We believe this is the best outfit yet! Our only suggestion would be to add a little color into the ensemble. Perhaps wear a bright colored blouse instead of the white to give your face some color. Maybe try wearing a colorful scarf or holding a colored bag. Adding a pop of color will give her outfit some visual interest, and help her stand out!
Kathryn also sent us a picture of her coat. Isn’t it adorable? We love the winter white wool trench with the cinched waist and decorative vintage pin. The A-line is a perfect cut for her too. That just goes to show that even in sub zero weather, you can still look hot!
Andrea got her first modeling job at the age of 40!
We are so proud of our reader Andrea, who was inspired by our teleseminar with Judy Gross, author of Break Into Modeling for Under $20 to pursue her lifelong dream of modeling. Well here she is, gracing the covers of a Land’s End catalog, in all her fabulous after 40 glory!
We think Andrea looks great, and is such an inspiration for women who want to start their career in modeling, but think it may be too late. We are always excited to see real women, as opposed to super tall, super skinny, teenage string beans modeling clothes meant for the masses. The beauty industry seems to be starting to embrace mature models, as evidenced by the new TV Land reality show She’s Got The Look, which features women over 35 attempting to break into the fashion world a la America’s Next Top Model.
We encourage any woman with a dream to go after it! Here are a couple of photos of our reader, Lisa, who has always wanted to be a model. Isn’t she gorgeous? For a 44-year-old single mother of a college grad, she doesn’t look a day older than 25! We wish you the best of luck!
You may remember our friend Jill Knapp, who lost 100 lbs and entered a beauty pageant at the age of 40. Jill was kind enough to share her inspiring story with us in our last teleseminar, and helped motivate us to “get up and get moving!”
But motivation will only get us so far. How do we actually go about shedding that midlife bulge? That’s where a personal trainer comes in!
We asked our friend, fitness trainer Lisa Crisalle, if she would share with us some tips and techniques that women over 40 need in their regimen to keep them on track to a healthier, fitter lifestyle. Lisa, herself, underwent a lifestyle transformation that made her an award-winning Figure Competitor… at age 45! She has developed the program Over 40, Fit & Fabulous, which helps women over 40 work towards their fitness goals. In her program, Lisa breaks down mental barriers and provides her clients with the best workout and nutrition strategies to achieve their best bodies.
Lisa is going to share a few tips with us next week in our new teleseminar “Take the Pounds OFFF: How to be Over Forty, Fit and Fabulous!” This is a free teleseminar – all you have to do is sign up! We will provide you with the number, your code, and the specified call-in time.
Using thin materials in natural fibers will also keep you fresh and breezy. Fabrics like linen, cotton, and silk are infinitely more breathable than synthetics that make up some summer clothes. This summer, we love that the long peasant skirt is back in style, beware these can make you look matronly. A much better option is a maxi dress, paired with some flat sandals. For ladies who are tall enough to pull it off, try a long, flow-y patterned skirt with a sleeveless scoop- or v-neck top. Just make sure you opt for wider straps if you choose to show off your arms – it will cover your bra straps and look much more age-appropriate.
(These styles are from Kohl’s.)
Finally, add some accessories to formalize and freshen up your outfit. You can wear all those stylish, clunky jewelry pieces to really add some flair! Wear a signature jewelry piece like a strand of chunky jade, a stretchy stone bracelet, or dangling earrings depending on the formality of the affair.
Layering these pieces can be fun too.
Here is a woman we met recently. She has on coral necklace that she bought years ago and has layered it with a thin crystal necklace.
A splash of bright color works well with grey and white!
layering necklaces can help spice up an outfit
Don’t forget your feet! No matter what your size or shape, any woman can have fun with her shoes. Summer is the best time to find colorful heels or embellished sandals. Don’t forget the toes! Look elegant from head to toe by getting a great pedicure. In summer when you’re wearing less clothing, every detail counts!
Last week I (JoJami) took off to NYC for some culture and good food! After getting so many letters from you ladies on how hard it is to come up with outfits to wear that you can be comfortable in and not look frumpy, here is a quick peek into what some of your options might be!
First off, you have to really plan ahead. We had planned on spending the entire day walking around the city. Our first stop was going to be the NYC Botanical Gardens and afterward we planned on visiting the Frick Museum. The next day we scheduled a walk in Central Park and were off to rent bikes in Chelsea. On top of everything, rain was in the forecast!
My friend Lisa called me the week before and was worried that all she had was flip flops to wear. I told her to make a quick trip to the discount shoe store DSW and find some cute walking tennis shoes.
These Sketcher tennis shoes are comfy and cute!
Meanwhile, I took my own advice and found some updated Converse that had a little more support than the normal flat ones.
JJ looking comfy (the rain had not started yet!)
Well, our plans did change since it started raining like crazy…but we did make it to the Frick and HIGHLY recommend it! More over we walked our booties off all day and the next in comfort! (However, our hair didn’t do as well as our feet!)
Share with us your favorite photo of your “summer touring” outfit and we can share it with everyone!
We are sad and disheartened to say goodbye today to one of our generation’s most prominent fashion icons.
Pin up model, movie actress and Charlie’s Angel star Farrah Fawcett lost her 3 year battle with cancer at 62 years old. She was the face (and hairstyle) that defined an era in American pop culture in the 1970s, and won over the world with her beaming smile and bombshell beauty.
She was a true Boomer Babe, and she will be missed.
What a relief to see that those old misconceptions about how a mother of the bride – or mature woman attending a special event – should look, are finally changing. America’s biggest bridal retailer, David’s Bridal, is forging the way for moms and wedding-goers to look hipper, younger and cooler!
Here are some trends we have seen in the bridal industry in the past few seasons that give us hope!
1) Color
It used to be that Mother of the Bride dresses only came in four colors: blah, boring, beige, and blech. Pastels and navy blue are only part of the selection nowadays! Finally, the industry is starting to show a spectrum of different colors, from spring greens to rich purples.
Whether you love bold jewel tones or rich earth tones, there should be something out there for you. Since more saturated colors are better for aging skin tones, liven up your look, and go for something with pizazz!
2) Bolero Jackets
We’re sick of those boring, frumpy jacket dresses too, but with the rising popularity of bolero jackets, there’s finally a fresh new take on them! Designers finally addressed the need for a removable, arm-covering piece that is also fashionable.
It’s a perfect combination of style (with different sleeve lengths, they can be very sharp), practicality (take it off when you’re hot, and you will still have a great dress underneath), and modesty (wear it to cover up during the ceremony – no one will guess you’re trying to cover those wobbly chicken wings under your arms!).
3) Variety of lengths
Say goodbye to floor length! We’re seeing plenty of different hemlines popping up, maybe due to the variety of different wedding styles and venues. We’re seeing plenty of cocktail-length, knee-length, handkerchief hems and hi-lo (high in the front, long in the back).
Just stay away from anything above the knee – that’s way too short. All these new hemlines give you one more reason to wear some killer shoes!
We love that David’s has come up with stylish, more age-appropriate ways to appeal to the new generation of boomers! To get more tips about how to dress for your son or daughter’s wedding, check out our eBook Tweak Your Chic: Mother of the Bride!
Audrey Hepburn. Jackie O. Grace Kelly. All of these timeless, elegant beauties have that intangible “je ne sais quoi” about them, making them classic figures in fashion. You too can clutivate a style that is sophisticated and timeless, with a little research and a lot of observation! Check out our (The Glam Gals) newest featured story on the fashion page of More Magazine’s website, and find out:Can Taste be Taught?
It’s amazing how many places you can find to wear some of this summer’s best dresses! We found a ton of great styles at Nordstrom’s, all under $150! Check out how you can wear them to all your summer destinations.
At the beach.
Accessorize with: A wooden beaded necklace and sunscreen.
To a barbeque.
Accessorize with: Flat, embellished sandals and a sauce stain.
As a bathing suit cover up.
Accessorize with: A big floppy straw hat and shades.
Congratulations to our fabulous reader Libby, who won May’s Beau Bain Bath Bomb give-away! She was so excited to tell us about how much she’s been enjoying her prize, especially considering her thrilling week. We want to congratulate her on winning and on her upcoming appearance in Prevention Magazine! Check out what Libby wrote to us…
…This has been a great week for me–I was selected for an “Over 50 Hair Makeover” story for Prevention Magazine (we did the shoot yesterday–it will be in the October issue and online then, too). So, after a wonderful day at the salon w/stylists, makeup artists, etc., I came home and tossed a lavender bomb into the tub and just relaxed! My skin DID feel great afterwords, too. I have been sharing the wealth with my two co-workers and I gave two to my wonderful housekeeper. I think you will pick up a few new fans! Where can we find the Beau Bain products? Are they online or in stores ?
Well, Libby, they are available at exclusive salons and spas, but you can also find them right here, on beaubain.com!
A self-proclaimed beauty hound, Libby has this tip: She’s found the best skin care results come from Oil of Olay face cream available at Drugstore.com
Still, Libby is interested to know what everyone else thinks. Are there some big ticket creams are really as good as they claim to be? Have you ever used an expensive skin care line, but found a cheaper brand that worked better? We’d love to know ourselves!
Thanks for your kind email, Libby – and at 63, you truly are Age-mazing!
With spring in full swing and summer around the corner, you can’t help but notice all the adorable, crisp white fashions popping up everywhere. Finally, the sun is out and we don’t have to cover up anymore! Here are some from White House|Black Market that we LOVE!
This little white top has just enough of a subtle ruffle to be feminine but not overdone!
A white pencil skirt is a super way to cheer up your wardrobe. You probably already have tops and shoes that will match so you will be good to go with just one piece!
So, after a winter full of long sleeves and long pants, what do you do when your skin is just as glaring white as your new clothes? Many of you have asked us what to do. We say, get a glow – in a healthy way, of course! There are so many tanning products out there that help, but here are two that we can recommend.
For a subtle tan, try a product that is super easy to use, like Coppertone Endless Summer Sunless Gradual Tan Lotion. You just smooth this on every morning and night and your skin gradually darkens (FYI, it does takes a few days to really see the results!).
Can’t wait to wear white and need a quick tan? You can use a self-tanner like Neutrogena Sheer Bodytint for an instant, temporary tan.
These products are all on super sale over at Drugstore.com… not to mention free shipping!
Don’t forget these little tips for suntan success:
All self-tanners recommend exfoliating the skin first.
After your all buff, do not use any lotion.
Pick up some rubber nurses gloves to put on the tanner. That way your hands won’t turn orange!
Make sure the color is totally dry and developed and then rinse off before putting on your white top, though…if you put clothes on before the mousse or lotion dries, you will have brown stains on the inside of your clothes!
We are sad and disheartened to say goodbye today to one of our generation’s most prominent fashion icons.
