Fashion and Beauty Advice to Help You Tweak Your Chic™
Are you looking for an updated hair style and color that matches your over 40 lifestyle?
Then visit this week’s Fashion Flash, an advice column written by some of the best over 40 fashion and beauty bloggers on the web, to find the latest and greatest in summer hair trends for women over 40.
Tamera Beardsley’s funky style over 40
I always say that when you look good , you feel good and life is so much more fun! And don’t we all want more fun in our lives?
Tamera Beardsley thinks so! She’s a great example of a woman who is having a ball with fashion! Tamera writes a personal style blog that I first heard about when she submitted some photos that I ended up featuring on my How to Wear the Color Linen post.
I immediately fell in love with Tamera’s unique, eclectic style. She’s got that fun, artsy look that many women over 40 are searching for.
Tamera, who is also a jewelry designer, is a natural at putting together playful, creative outfits that reveal her joyful spirit. I asked her to share her fashion philosophy with us because She’s Got the Look! 
Deb: Tamera – How would you describe your style of dressing and how has it evolved?
My personal style is made up of chic sportswear with a heavy dose of fun and dramatic accessories. As I have gotten older, I have become just as interested in fun and energizing clothes as those that I feel and look good in.
Deb: Tell us a bit about the 3 looks you sent in and where you wore them?
| Look # 1 – Daily Uniform
I have several versions of this daytime ensemble. Living in southern California, this denim tunic and white jeans have been my go-to pieces for years. They let me get done what I need to at home and in the studio as well as leave the house in style. I always have a daily outfit and a collection of accessories (hat, sunglasses, scarf, jewelry, a bag, and a fun, walkable shoe) at the ready so that I can leave the house in style. |
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| Look #2 – Shopping and Cocktails
I wore this bold stripe on stripe maxi dress to Laguna Beach for a day of shopping and sunset cocktails on the beach. The brooch necklace is a piece I made using flea market finds and some childhood keepsakes. It’s a fun project to make out of varying collections. You can find a DIY tutorial for the necklace on my blog.
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| Look # 3 – Altitude Design Summit Mini Parties
The Summit is a very creative crowd. Wearing this particular outfit made it one of the most favorite ensembles ever! I bought the tulle skirt in Paris with these parties in mind. I grounded the outfit with jeans as a base. I loved the juxtaposition of the elements!
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Deb: What’s the best style tip you’ve ever received?
“Life is too short to wear boring clothes.” Researching the quote, I found no definitive source to attribute it to. I first heard it from my therapist when I complimented his shirt. Obviously, he turned out to be the perfect therapist for me.
Thanks Tamera for letting us peek into your closet. To see more of Tamera’s inspirational style be sure to visit her blog Tamera Beardsley.
My readers have great style over 40 and these photos prove it. Thanks ladies for sharing some of your favorite looks with me.
Derby DarlingEveryone knows the Kentucky Derby is cause for celebration. Whether you are part of the crowd at Churchill Downs or are celebrating at a private party, the ladies wearing the dresses and hats are the real winners.
Donna shared a photo taken at a Kentucky Derby themed wedding anniversary party that was held on the same day as the Derby. She says, “Hats were required, which instantly adds sophistication to any outfit.”
Guests donned their “most dapper attire”, which included brightly colored cute party dresses for women and pastel shirts and ties for the men. And of course, there were lots of traditional derby hats!
Donna, you take the prize in that dress and hat!
One of the things I’m always cautioning about leggings for women over 40 is that leggings are not pants. Leggings are an accessory, and should be worn accordingly.
Sheri, 49, from Midland, Texas gets that message. While searching for a top to wear with capri leggings, she came across this little dress which paired perfectly with the leggings.
Sheri also let us in on a little secret, “Of course, the dress was too low-cut for me in front, so I used the “Cami Secret” I bought to cover that area.”
Great idea, Sheri!
Check out more great tips on how to wear leggings over 40.
Balancing Black with ColorIf are addicted to black then you likely have ABD (Abundant Black Disorder). You can’t stop buying or wearing it because it’s a safe color, so you think!
The problem is black is harsh against aging complexions. It casts dark shadows and emphasizes our little wrinkles.
Adding color to your wardrobe is a great way keep you from looking like you are tired and drained.
Sheri sent along another picture of herself in one of her typical work outfits. She wanted to perk up the black so she added a colorful, patterned scarf, and voila! Her entire look was transformed.
She says, “The open jacket and scarf actually seems to draw attention away from my middle!” A fabulous look for you, Sheri!
Read more about ABD and how you can easily cure it.
I would love to meet more of you FAB Ladies. Don’t be shy!
Please send in your photo, your age, where you are from, and any details about your outfit to: myphoto@fabulousafter40.com . You’ll be featured on the Facebook page as well as in an upcoming What I Wore. I love hearing from you and cheering you on, Glam Gals!
It’s as if fashion has finally tuned into what our crowd has been wanting for a long time…. fab shoes with a lower heel that don’t hurt your feet, but still looks stylish. and chic. Welcome block heels!
Although I’ve always loved high, skinny heels and wore them throughout my 20′s and 30′s, when I got into my 40′s things changed. My lifestyle shifted and became more casual. I was working from home and being a mom and didn’t have any reason to wear heels unless I was dressing up for a conference or business meeting.
These days I find that I’m a little out of practice walking around in skinny heels, and in truth, I’m not really interested in them so much anymore, except to wear on special occasions. That’s because they’re just not comfortable or practical for running errands, shopping, meeting friends, etc.
However, on the other hand, I don’t want to feel like an old lady wearing flats all the time, either. Shoes with block heels are a great in-between.
Typically they’re low to medium height (although there are lots of higher ones out there too). The advantage is that no matter what the height, because the heel is wide, square and chunky, these kind of shoes feel better on your feet and are much easier to walk in.
They also give you those extra few inches that you don’t get from flats, elongating your legs and making you look taller and slimmer. Yay for that!
Very practical, I’d say and they can be quite lovely. I say “can” because while some look totally chic, others make me think of my Nana’s shoes. Yup, my Nana always wore these type of shoes (so does the Queen). Maybe yours did too?
They’re kind of 60′s/70′s mod which means the young gals have never seen them before and think they are so cool. Me, I do like some of them very much, while others give me flashbacks and turn me off completely.
Here are some interesting block heels I came across researching this trend. Please comment below and let’s do a poll, do you like block heels over 40? Will you be wearing them this spring?
| Pretty Proper
Here’s what I have been talking about. These might work for you, but for me, too grandma. I’m not one for bows and frilly stuff and I like a bit more of a heel. These Ron White Zoey pumps are a little too proper for my taste and lifestyle, but maybe these are perfect for you? |
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| Sexy Slingback
I’ve always had a soft spot for slingbacks. There is something really sexy about them, especially when they also have a super pointy toe. That pointy toe really elongates your legs and the gold color acts like a neutral and goes with everything. Don’t know if you noticed, but the heel is silver, so you have that color block effect of gold/copper/silver which makes these J Renne Sophie Pumps very modern. |
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| Playful and Fun
Here’s a more dramatic version of that color block shoe I was mentioning. This New Egizia Slingback Sandal comes with a higher heel too. You’ve got a platform and a large heel on which to spread out your weight, so if you do prefer a heel, this one is better than a skinny minnie one. Tip: Keep your pedicure understated, even neutral with this shoe. Can you visualize red toes with this shoe? It would be too much and compete with the shoe. Remember great style is a balancing act. |
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| Winter White
It’s summer but these winter white shoes are a great choice. White shoes haven’t been in for a long time but suddenly they are back and that’s a good thing because they look really fresh. I prefer this off white shade. White-white can be so stark that they often make the shoes look cheap. These Diane von Furstenberg Taite Sandals are a great all-round practical shoe that will go with everything and any color. |
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| My Faves!
I really like these. I know I was complaining about high heels but again, it ‘s the skinny ones that hurt your feet. These heels are chunkier and more balanced, so they’re more comfy. I love this caramel color that looks so good on your foot whether you are tanned or not, and that touch of orange just sings summer. The tropical weave on this Aerin Toiny Sandal is classy and relaxed. |
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| Conservative, but Not Boring
Here’s a block heel shoe that is a sleek and sophisticated choice for the woman who wants a really minimum height and total comfort. These Naturalizer Xavier pumps would be a great choice for the office. |
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| Crystal Clear Choice
Do you see the little crystals on the block heel? Kind of different isn’t it? This Delman Covet Pump satin pump is on the dressy side for sure, but I think it would make an excellent mother of the bride or groom shoe. That is a day when a woman really wants comfort more than anything, but she also wants to look memorable. These shoes will do the trick. |
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| Block Heels with a Rock Vibe
If you want to add a little bit of a casual rock n’ roll vibe to your outfit then these block heels are a great choice. The studs give these Marvin K Demi Sandals a slighty tough look. It’s always nice to add a little edginess to an outfit that is too perfect because perfect is boring. These are fun. |
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| Quality Counts
Quality shoes speak volumes and these Cole Haan Minetta Sandals are a good example. They’re casual but rich looking which is the look many stylish women over 40 are aiming for. |
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Send us a photo of you in your block heels and I’ll post it. Email myphoto@fabulousafter40.com.
Judy Goss, Founder of Over 40 Females
If Judy Goss looks familiar it’s because, she is! For years Judy was a top Ford model gracing runways and magazine covers. She then went on to become an editor and TV spokesperson for More Magazine.
Today Judy is the founder and driving force behind Over 40 females a nationwide networking group that connects, encourages and inspires its members. I have known Judy for several years and every time I see her she looks so gorgeous and pulled together that I asked her to share her fashion sense with us.
Jane Seymour is a favorite over 40 celebrity, and for good reason. She’s beautiful, successful, and unstoppable!
Visit this week’s Fashion Flash, an advice column written by the best over 40 fashion and beauty bloggers, to read about Jane’s reinventions both personally and professionally, and how she always manages to come out on top.
This week’s Fashion Flash is hosted by Deb from the No-Nonsense Beauty Blog. Here are some of the other juicy topics on this week’s line-up.
Enter your name and email in the boxes below for your chance to win a Swimsuit from BLEU|Rod Beattie.*
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This sweepstakes ends at 12 noon EST on Friday, May 31, 2013. The winner will be notified by email.
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Enter your name and email in the boxes below for your chance to win a Swimsuit from BLEU|Rod Beattie.*
Love them or hate them, acid tones have been a huge color trend the last few months and seem to be going strong this summer. We’ve seen electric pink, fluorescent green and in particular lots of acid yellow.
Many celebrities have shown up at award ceremonies and galas in this shocking shade. Sometimes it’s worked and sometimes it’s bombed. If you are tempted to try this color here are a few do’s and dont’s for wearing neon.
| DO Keep it Simple
One of the keys to wearing such an in-your- face color is to let the color reign. Here’s Julie Bowen at this year’s Emmy awards. Part of the reason she looks so fab is that her dress is very classic and unfussy and doesn’t complicate or fight the color. This dress has a classic silhouette and there isn’t a lot of detail. It’s strapless and draped and she looks like a Greek goddess. The color simply gives it that modern edge. [Read more...] |
Forty and beyond doesn’t mean frumpy! Now is the time to have fun and explore your personal style. And this week’s readers have done exactly that.
Take a look at the photos of funky clothes our fabulous over 40 ladies shared with us this week.
Funky Style Clothes - The MaxiMaxi dresses are still in full swing this season, and there’s a good reason for that. They’re super flattering on over 40 ladies.
Jyothi, a yoga instructor, is excited about breaking out her funky dresses this season. One of her favorites is this colorful ethnic print maxi which she’s paired with wedge sandals and a cool pair of sunglasses. Loving your boho chic look, Jyothi!
If you think you can’t wear a maxi, because you’re not as slim as Jyothi, think again. Maxi’s look great on plus size gals too! So, if you’re looking for plus size funky clothes, try a colorful maxi dress in one of this season’s hottest new abstract or digital prints.
Funky clothes for women over 40 come in all sorts of prints including an all time favorite, camouflage. Camouflage pants have been around forever but now just about anything you can think of is available in this combat print.
Sherri, a fun-loving 49 year-old, looks ready for action in this sleeveless top, that she’s paired with skinny, side-zip black jeggings. She’s added some serious booties and some oversized shades to create an outfit that commands attention.
Ela is the owner of Delacor Studio which means she has the fun job of trying on all the latest looks that come into her store, including many funky style clothes.
Here she’s wearing one of the season’s hottest trends, the striped top, with loose, flowy pants. The top’s asymmetrical cut and her huge sculptured earrings give her outfit a very creative look.
Ela, we love your hip, classy style!
Swastiwara, who hails from tropical Indonesia, snapped this playful photo while visiting Madrid, Spain last fall.
Swastiwara normally covers herself from head to toe, whatever the season. However, this doesn’t stop her from doing it in style.
Here she is in a veil, or hijab as it is known in Indonesia, mid-calf boots with opaque tights and a bold striped dress.
Her black leather motorcycle jacket puts a hip edge on this traditional look.
The result is an eclectic mix of some pretty funky fashion clothes!
Want to wear bold black and white stripes, but don’t want to look like a jailbird? Here’s how to bowl them over with black and white stripes.
I would love to meet more of you FAB Ladies. Don’t be shy!
Please send in your photo, your age, where you are from, and any details about your outfit to: myphoto@fabulousafter40.com . You’ll be featured on the Facebook page as well as in an upcoming What I Wore. I love hearing from you and cheering you on, Glam Gals!
In our What to Wear to Mother’s Day Brunch “Pin It To Win It” contest we invited readers to unleash their creative side by designing Polyvore creations for outfits for women over 40 that were ideal for Mother’s Day brunch, whether going out on the town or celebrating at home with the family.
Today, we are featuring the grand prize winner and the first and second runners up!
Winners were chosen based on the number of repins each collage garnered. The pins that were most popular with our Pinterest followers were the ultimate winners. Only the collages were considered during judging. Pictures of individual items were not considered. Each winner deserves a big round of applause for her wonderful collage.
It looks like Emily was inspired by both the bold black & white and the zigzag trends that have been so prominent this spring. For her creation she chose a flowing maxi dress which she paired with a jean jacket and casual black, braided sandals, complete with silver metal studs. A sleek clutch and silver hoop earrings uplevel this casual, boho, Mother’s Day look. I can see this outfit working for Mother’s Day brunch at a trendy outdoor urban café.
Emily, congratulations for being our grand prize winner!
You lucky gal. You have won a $185 credit to shop FabrizioGianni.com. Fabrizio Gianni is our favorite designer of clothing for women over 40. Visit their website, ladies and check out the fabulous selection of tops and pants for women over 40. We love the quality, colors and fit of their clothes. They’re perfect for women of any age!
Here’s a pretty choice for mom on her special day. More on the dressy side, this outfit with its burgundy and cream color combination has a very elegant vibe. Elizabeth added a lot of feminine touches including a dainty lace top, pearls and ladylike bow tie sweater. Cream oxford pumps add a fun quirkiness and the burgundy sunglasses tie the whole outfit together. Congrats Elizabeth.
Carol was thinking casual and chic when she created this smart, sporty look. It sure looks like summer is on its way!
First she paired textured shorts with a leather belts and added a cute t-shirt. Next came the fun accessories including: a navy paneled drawstring bag, cute wedges, a leather and bead bracelet, and fun, chunky jewelry. There’s lot of texture and plenty to look at and the whole outfit has a very nautical feel to it. Cute for moms who want to look stylish in a Casual way on their very special day. Thanks Carol.
For specific designer and pricing information for the items in the winning collages and to take a look at all the other wonderful creations submitted, visit our Pinterest board Mother’s Day Brunch – What To Wear?
Copyright © 2013, Deborah Boland. All Rights Reserved.
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Style Expert Deborah Boland specializes in helping mature women to Tweak their Chic®!
As host of the global online style community Fabulous after 40, Deborah believes that “Life is too short to be Frumpy!”
She's on a on a mission to help 40, 50 and beyond look more stylish and feel more confident because when you look good, you feel good and life is so much more fun!
Check out her Tweak Your Chic Style Ebook series and webinars. They're your guide to looking more vibrant, sexy and Age-Amazing™.
With over 20 years of experience in TV and Fashion Deborah brings boundless enthusiasm and fresh, fun approach to dressing at 40, 50 and beyond.
Learn More About Deborah Boland.
