When you want to perk up basics solid pieces, all you need to add is a pretty necklace.
Check out our jewelry line from Stella and Dot to find the perfect piece that will work for you!
Hi Glam Gals,
I still feel young and I’m 5′ tall with a pear-shaped body but I’ve been like this almost all my life! I search a store full of clothes, but even with tailoring they make me look like I’m playing dress-up. I want a bit of sexy/sensual, a bit of classic and a touch of inner spitfire. Can you help? Glad to have found you.
Janice
Hi Janice,
Our first thought is what is your hair and make-up like? Maybe the clothes aren’t working because you are wearing grown up clothes, but you are tiny and your hair is too girly and sweet . Have you updated your hair lately? Also, check to make sure your make-up is not overdone like a little girl playing dress-up. Keep it subtle and soft.
If that’s not the problem, then maybe you just aren’t wearing the styles that reflect the true you. You say you want sexy, but it sounds like you’ve been wearing boring. We’ve looked around and here are some classic, sexy looks, and the reasons they suit a pear’s body type.
| Don’t wear jackets that end at your widest part Why draw attention to the widest part of your body- your full hips? Pear have nice nipped in waists, so it is better to wear a shorter jacket that just touches the top of the hip and nips in at your waist to show it off. This mustard yellow pea jacket is bold and exciting. |
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| This can sometimes work too
If you are not too bottom heavy you can also wear a long jacket that covers your hips-just make sure it isn’t tight. This lightweight hooded Cayenne jacket by Eileen Fisher is sporty but sexy because of the way it wraps at the waist and gently falls open at the neckline. It is also a great length for petites- not so long as to drag you down. (Nordstrom -Petites) |
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| Play up your shoulders and neckline:
When you are bottom heavy a good way to balance things out is to create more of a shoulder. How do you do this? Instead of halters or sleeveless, choose clothing with shoulders such as jackets, or this Merino wool boyfriend cardigan by Halogen. (A little shoulder padding helps too, and be sure to leave the cardigan open to create a nice long lean line!) To draw attention to your neckline, and not your hips, choose tops with interesting beautiful necklines like this sparkly t-shirt. Don’t forget to push up those sweater sleeves for a cute, sexy look.(Nordstroms-petites) |
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| Choose accessories to point attention to your face: Similar to what we just talked about great jewelery, hat and scarves like this new ruffle wrap one will put the focus where it should be- your top half. Some scarves can overpower petites because they are so big, but this is more controlled yet still soft and easy looking. (Nordstrom) |
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| Wear lower cut boot leg jeans
Too skinny pants will make your hips look larger than life, and too wide legged pants will maker you look elephant like ( and in a petite’s case- drown you). Boot cut are just the right amount of flare to balance you out. Low rise jeans, or these Not Your Daughter’s midrise “Denim Trousers” with the wide waistband, can make your rear look shorter and yoour torso longer. A dark wash also helps make your bottom half look smaller and the built in stretch is perfect for women with hips. Don’t buy jeans with big pockets, stuff hanging off them etc. as they will only draw attention to your hips.( Nordstrom-Petites) |
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| The right skirt makes all the difference:
Short, tight are the worst because they emphasize the tights. Try a gentler wrap dress or A-line skirt that softly falls over the hips but isn’t too voluminous. Wraps are always sexy. To spice this up more add some gold jewelry or a leopard print handbag or shoes. (Nordstroms -petites) |
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Finally don’t forget this cardinal rule for pears: Wear darker colors on your bottom half, light on top:Color can do magic tricks on your body. Black and dark colors will make your bottom half look smaller. Light colors will make it look bigger, so wear dark on bottom and light on top to balance yourself out.
Has Hillary been reading our ebook – Tweak your Chic Mother of the Bride?
Quite possibly, because she really looked fabulous at Chelsea’s wedding!
We absolutely loved her choices. The sea foam green caftan she wore to the rehearsal dinner was feminine, chic and etheral. It was such a breath of fresh air to see her out of those pants and into something pretty and stylish.
Hillary’s raspberry Mother of the Bride gown was rich, but still soft..truly magnificent on her. The color made her complexion look creamy and angelic and that soft wavy hair….well, it only added to that classical Grecian goddess look. It looked like it was gently blowing in the breeze. A lesson to remember here- don’t have stiff looking hair. It will age you.
Now back to her dress choice–It really goes to show you that if you wear your right colors of clothing (and make-up) you will shine. Hillary is a summer – ash hair and cool skin and the colors she chose were perfect for her.
A wrong choice would have been if she had worn warm shades in stead of cool. For example, it would have been a mistake to wear a grass green dress ( grass green is warm – it has yellow in it), instead of the cool sea foam green.
It would have also been a mistake to choose a mother of the bride dress in a bright clear poppy (orangy red) vs. of the muted cool raspberry red. But Hillary got it right!
Both JoJami and I (Deborah), do color analysis, so if you are ever in our neck of the woods give us a call to set up a session.
Also we’re planning a Tweak your Chic day with color analysis included, and want to know where to hold it. Please let us know what area of the country you live in and if you’d be interested in a Tweak Your Chic day in N.Y. or L.A., Philadelphia or Toronto or wherever. We want to come to where you are!!
Finally, if you are going to be a mother of the bride of groom then you won’t want to miss reading our popular Ebook Tweak Your Chic- Mother of the Bride. It’s full of fabulous advice on what to wear on one of the proudest and most important days of your life. Those family wedding pictures are forever and you want to look your best. We’re happy to help.
Carrie and the girls from Sex and the City 2 - our inspiration
Hi Glam Gals,
I would love your advice on how to dress age-appropriate to go to the beach and for swimming too.
Thank you!
Liliana.
Hi Lilana,
Nothing beats a big hat, a pair of gorgeous sunglasses, metallic sandals and a fabulous coordinating swimsuit + cover-up to look chic lounging by the water.
This year we took our inspiration from the latest Sex and the City movie set in Abu Dhabi (and shot in Morocco). Did you see Sex and the City 2 with Sarah Jessica Parker and the girls?
We loved all the colorful, flowing, and draped outfits and when we went shopping online for beachwear that’s what we were attracted to.
Take a look at these gorgeous finds:
| Goddess on the Beach:
OOOh the drama! Here’s a great way to make a statement without having to put on a eensy teensy bikini! This knotted scarf cover-up is simple & elegant and the vibrant colors and modern graphic pattern add a youthful zest. This has a matching strapless bathing suit. (Saks) |
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| Peasant Jewel :
The empire waist nicely hides any flabby tummy.(Saks) |
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| Sassy Caftan:
If you’re legs still look pretty hot, then show them off in this eye catching kimono sleeved caftan from Trina Turk. We like this cover-up because it’s ” cute”, (sometimes you want something cute), and yet it’s still rather sophisticated and grown up. (Nordstrom) |
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| Elegant Seduction: Helloooo Mrs. Robinson! Don’t go near the sweet young pool boy in this number, or you may get more than your pool cleaned! (Saks) |
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| Animal Appetite:
Grrr. It’s a jungle out there and you’re the Tigress in this lush and electrifying jungle cover-up by Diane Von Furstenberg. All that yellow and warm green tends to look great on gals with warm coloring -peach or golden skin, or on anyone with a great tan.(Saks) |
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| Fun and Flirty Moroccan:
A little glitz always looks fab at the beach, or by the pool. That’s why we like this Lily Pulitzer, pearly, beaded tunic with it’s asymetrical hemline. Nice and easy, loose and breezy, and 100% pure cotton, so very comfortable!! The neutral gold sandal is the perfect choice (white sandal would be a little too matchy matchy with the white beading, so not as modern.(Saks) |
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Have you ever felt that the latest styles don’t work for you now you are over 40?
Do you keep spending money on clothes and accessories, but still feel like you have nothing to wear?
If so—you’re not alone. The fashion world doesn’t give mature women the tools and self awareness they need to look and feel beautiful.
Join us with our special guest, Carol Tuttle, author of Dressing Your Truth
Instead, we’re led to believe that no matter what your age, or size, or personality every style out there should look good on every woman, and that’s just not true!
That’s the reason we often look in the mirror and think -I am too fat!” and 2— “I am too old!”
We say… “Ridiculous!”
True beauty starts with finding out who you really are and dressing accordingly. In other words, finding a style that is Totally, Absolutely, Authentically you!!!
We want to help you with that. That’s why we recently interviewed our friend, Carol Tuttle – author of Dressing Your Truth® on the topic -Dressing the Real Me- How to find your true style at 40, 50 and beyond!
Dressing the Real Me- How to find your true style at 40, 50 Click this link to listen now:
Carol’s fabulous style tips are all part of her famous do-it-yourself makeover system for women that fundamentally teaches you how to discard the fashion industry standard of “beautiful” and, instead,embrace and bring out the natural beauty that you carry within yourself.
Ont he recording you’ll hear more abotu Carol’s makeover process which begins with discovering what “Type”of woman you are, detailed in Carol’s book Dressing Your Truth—Discover Your Personal Beauty Profile. Find out about the 4 Types of beauty: The Bright, Animated Woman … The Subtle, Soft Woman … The Rich, Dynamic Woman … and The Bold, Striking Woman
Discover the keys to unlocking your confidence and reclaiming your beauty. Click the link below and get in on the fun of Dressing Your Truth.
Orange works with our warm skin
If you tend to shy away from bright colors like orange because you think they are too loud and youthful, think again.
No color is off limits after 40. It’s simply a matter of whether it suits your skin tone.
For example JoJami and I both have warm skin ( yellow vs. pink undertones).
JoJami is an autumn and I’m a spring, so we both look good in orange.. and with a tan… watch out! It’s one of our best colours.
If you have warm coloring you might want to give orange a try this summer. We’ve found some fresh fabulous selections out there in the stores:
| Regal Orange:What a showstopper! The jeweled banded collar is enough on it’s own. Some diamond studs and you’ll look like a knock-out. |  |
| One Shoulder Sensation:
Watch out Tarzan. This “me-Jane” wrap dress is super sexy, but oh so elegant. (Nordstrom) |
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| Burnt Orange:
Tone down this satiny orange dress with red and black for a smokey, alluring look.(Nordstrom) |
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| Flirty Orange: This sophisticated silk sheath dress by Kate Spade has softly fringed ruffles adorning the neckline a thin belt for waist definition. (Nordstrom) |
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| Flowing Orange: Looks like a halter at first glance, but much better because you can actually wear a bra -important consideration after 40 when “the girls” are heading south. (Nordstrom) |
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Here’s a question from one of our readers…
I would love to see a post about cute and age appropriate sun dresses. Usually I am not a dress person, but I would like to throw something on which is not too short , but really comfortable at these temperatures right now.
Thank you so much. Nicole
Hi Nicole,
It’s only July but sundresses are being snapped quickly. Our advice to to get out there and take advantage of those sale racks. We shopped online and found a strong tropical punch theme was everywhere, so here are a few of our favorites to make you look fabulous after 40.
| Cute and Flirty:Love the modern combination of brown, red and blue which adds sophistication and maturity to this pretty summer dress. It’s nice to find a dress with a hemline with a grown-up length, and the flirty edge gives it that soft touch of summer romance. (Nordstrom)
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| Tropical Temptation : Pink with Orange is a juicy combination for this cotton sundress. Look very closely at the neckline and you’ll see the tiny white tassels along the v neckline that give it it’s magic.(Nordstrom)
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| Tropical goes Graphic :A modern twist on the tried and true tropical print. Love the vertical off centre drawstring and cool bordered hem on this artsy summer shift. If you want to look slimmer, then this is the dress because the flower pattern running from shoulder to waist creates the optical illusion making your waist look narrower and more nipped in. (Nordstrom)
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| Palm Perfect: A great dress that is easy for anyone to wear, especially pear shapes. The scoop neck draws the eye upwards to highlight the face. Wear it with a cute pair of flats. Boy, that looks cool and comfy! (Nordstrom)
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| Looking fresh and cool!
Here is a photo of one of our readers, Donna from N.J. (looking fabulous after 45) in her version of the tropical sundress, that she bought at Cache! Wow, she looks terrific! Just goes to show, that if you have great legs that you can and should show them off! |
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No mater what your style: elegant, funky, traditional or dramatic, one certain way to look more youthful after 40 is to inject a little sportiness into the way you dress. What is sporty dressing and how can you borrow from this style, but still be true to who you are. Let’s take a look
| Short and Bright is Sporty:
Trenchcoats are a wonderful staple in any wardrobe, but as they are quite traditional and conservative, they can sometimes make you look old boring after 40. That’s not the case with this one! What keeps this trench looking young and hip?…. The bold blue color (primary colors are sporty), the short length (shorter is sportier than long) and the youthful knotted belt, instead of typical flat belt. A great addition to any 40+ wardrobe! (Nordstrom) |
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| Linen is sporty :
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| Rolled or pushed up Sleeves are sporty:
Any kind of sleeve rolled up or pushed up adds a dash of sportiness to your look. It send the message, I’m ready for action, which = youthful. Some women who have always been the traditional or elegant types may find it hard to incorporate sporty into their wardrobe because it’s too casual compared to what they are used to. This dress is great for those women because, although it is sporty ( shirtdress style, bright color, woven natural belt and rolled up sleeves) it still looks very “neat and tidy”. (Nordstrom) |
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| Totes are Sporty: One way to add a dash of sporty is with your choice of handbag. Totes symbolize sporty. What we like about this tote is it is not boring-sporty. Instead of just a plain neutral colored tote this one has some personality. It’s great for someone who is on the creative side, but wants to inject a little sportiness ( youthfulness) into their wardrobe. (Nordstrom) |
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| Sporty Stripes
Just as certain materials spell sporty ( cottons, linens, natural fabrics, knits) so do certain patterns and prints, likes stripes. This fitted top with the deep v is on the sexy side. The stripes + the shorter sleeves add a definite sportiness (youthfulness) to the look. The result is sexy/sporty. (Nordstrom) |
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| Denim is sporty:
The ultimate in sporty is denim. This shirt sends the message sporty, but not in rough teenager way. The smooth soft wash on this shirt, plus the streamlined fit give it a much more refined grown-up look. The metal jewelry also kicks it up a notch. |
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Jennifer Aniston is a great example of a gal who eptiomises sporty.
With her sun streaked hair, natural make-up, sporty aviator glasses, jeans & tees or short and sexy minis she looks like the ultimate California gal.
They say rules were meant to be broken and we agree. Here’s a letter from a reader that drives home that point!
Hi Glam Gals,
Janet looks Fabulous at 55!
I enjoy your blog and glad there’s finally something for us over 40 women. I’m sending you a picture because I’m just not sure if puffed sleeves are too young-looking for a 55 year old woman. Should I donate this dress? What about the shoes– I thought they were cool looking but maybe I’m trying to look too young.
Thanks!
Janet
Somewhere along the line ( probably from us, as well as other fashion experts) Janet read that puffed sleeves were unflattering on a woman over 40 because they were too cutesy and also put too much emphasis on aging arms.
In general, that is true, but there are always exceptions to the rule! Here’s how we responded to Janet.
Hi Janet!
OH Wow, wow ,wow!! You are FAB!!! Thanks for writing us and sending us the photo! You are so fit and look fantastic in that dress and the shoes.
You should definitely keep them both! Your arms are toned and those puff sleeves are really not puffy at all. Plus, they’re on the long side which makes the sleeves look much more relaxed, so so you can totally pull them off! Love the shoes too.
We had an idea the other day as to why so many women are having problems developing their over 40 style.
It could be as simple as “been there, done that”
If you’ve reached midlife you’ve been shopping and enjoying fashion for a long time now and it may seem like there’s really nothing new. As a result it is easy to get stuck in old ways.
JoJami and I were talking about some of the negative things women say to themselves when they shop..
things like…
Oh, it’s teal green, I wore that years ago and look terrible in it.
Oh, jumpsuits – wore them in the 80′s
Oh, that will show off my 40+ veiny legs
Oh, these pants will make my menopausal stomach look big
These remind me of something I wore when I was in my 30′s
The problem is you become so nit picky and critical after 40 that you pare your choices down to nothing. You leave the store without buying a thing, and you run the risk of falling into a style rut.
It’s that old lady JELLO syndrome- ever noticed how old people become so LIMITED in their food choices. They like the same foods over and over- no variety. Meals become routine and they end up eating bland fare like toast and tea, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs and JELLO.
Maybe your wardrobe is starting to look like JELLO???
Don’t shut down your style by being closed minded to what’s out there in in fashion. Take a deep breath and start fresh, as though you’ve never shopped before. Be positive.
Open your eyes, get excited about dressing again. You don’t need to experiment like a teenager, wearing crazy trendy things, but you do need to take a fresh look if you want to stay modern, hip and fashionable after 40.
Need a kick start to some style inspiration, check out our e-book, The Glam Plan!
Let Deborah and JoJami get you out of your style slump, get The Glam Plan!
Skinny pants, leggings and everything in between. What’s the difference, are they age appropriate, and what do you wear with them so you don’t look like a giant ice cream cone? Here’s our thoughts…
Skinny pants are just that- pants that are close to the body and narrow at the ankles, sometimes even hugging the ankles. The newest versions have some stretch.
Leggings are more like tights. They fit very close to the body and end at the ankle, or mid calf. The biggest difference is that they are more lightweight than a skinny pant- almost like a thick stocking.
A good way to think of it is: leggings are an accessory. Don’t wear leggings as pants.
You can wear skinny pants with short tops, t-shirts, short sweaters and long sweaters.
You should only wear leggings with long tunics, long sweaters, long jackets, long shirts and short, but not mini dresses that are ultra short. In other words, if you are wearing leggings, don’t expose your behind. Cover it up. Take a look at what we mean…
| Long Cardigan + Skinny jeans or leggings:
This is our favorite look with leggings or skinny pants. Everything is so soft and flowing and looks so right. Black leggings are very slimming and work best in fall, winter and early spring paired sweaters. Don’t ever wear them with a t-shirt, or it will look like you lost your pants. |
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| Boyfriend Jacket and Leggings:
If you wonder whether leggings are age appropriate, get a load of JoJami’s mom (age 70!) She rocks this look. |
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| Shirt Dress + Leggings:
A shirt dress is long and would look really good over leggings. You can add a great belt and big chunky fabulous necklace to perk up this look. We find it quite drab the way it is. |
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| This gal has the idea:
A long to and jacket over leggings and ballet flats. Very cool. All black makes you look taller and slimmer. |
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| Wear leggings with a short (not micro mini) dress:
This dress is a good length to pair with tights. It looks like a tunic. Take a look at some other dresses we blogged about that are similar and would work with leggings. |
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| Leggings with a skirt:
JoJami looks great in this column of color with a skirt overtop that also has a lot of black in the pattern. The necklace also co-ordinates. See, you can wear leggings and look good after 40, 50 and beyond! |
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this legging look does not work
While we were writing this post we heard from a subscriber who sent us a picture of an outfit she had that she was wearing leggings with, and asked us what we thought. Here is the picture ( on the left) and here is our answer….
Answer: Thanks so much for sending us your photos. You are so youthful looking for your age and still have a terrific figure, wow! However, we are going to vote no to this outfit for several reasons.
We can see that you are trying to make this outfit age appropriate by adding the leggings. However, although it does make the outfit a tad more modest, the problem is that your sending the signal that you are still trying to dress too young.The basic jean mini-skirt and printed t-shirt are saying “teenager”.
this dress is far too tight for leggings
If you want to look up to date and stylish, you can wear the leggings with a long top or shirt dress. (see above)
skirt is too short for over 40 whether you wear leggings or tights!
The white sandals are trying to tie the outfit together but is not working either.
We think you need to trade in the skirt and t-shirt for a pair of Bermuda shorts (above the knee) and a fitted “v’ neck top and different sandals.The white sandals you have on will work nicely with a colorful sundress that has a white background. Good luck!
After this reply our subscriber sent us another picture of her in a black and white bandage dress and asked if she could wear leggings with this. Our reply was no because the dress was too tight for leggings. Leggings look better with a looser top or tunic.
Finally here’s a picture of a gal in blue we pulled out of our files from a party we went to. This gal is wearing a short skirt and dark stockings in summer. They don’t work.
The skirt is too short for someone over 40, whether you wear leggings or stockings. Also this is a summer outfit and her leg covering are too dark for summer.If they would have been black leggings they also wouldn’t have worked for the same reasons.
Bottom line- don’t wear a micro mini after 40! You will look silly.
Dear Glam Gals,
Please do post dresses with sleeves! I have the worst time finding warm weather dresses that are flattering and have sleeves…and don’t give me a cap sleeve and expect me to think it’s a sleeve…I know the difference! Thanks, Kathryn!
Hi Kathryn,
Dresses with sleeves. Yes it is a frustrating problem!! We don’t all have arms like Michelle Obama’s, or sometimes, because of air conditioning, it’s just too darn cold to bare arms. So we went shopping for you Kathryn, and here’s what we found:
| Wrap it up:
Wrap dresses cover the arms and drape the body to show off your best assets. No wardrobe is complete without one! (Nordstrom) |
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| Half way there:
A half sleeve is sometimes all you need to give a little coverage. (Nordstrom) |
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| Romantic sleeves:
This taffeta bell sleeve is romantic accent to the feminine tulip skirt. Love the charcoal color! (Nordstrom) |
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| Poet Sleeve:
Another wrap dress in soft jersey, but this time the sleeves are to die for. Ladylike and classy! (Nordstrom) |
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| Fashion Shift:
We were hard pressed to find long sleeves, but saw several with sleeves like this. the 3/4 length on this shift dress is actually very flattering because it makes the dress look sporty ( therefore making you look more energetic and youthful), but you are quite covered up.(Nordstrom) |
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| Fitted and Fabulous:
Instead of showing off your arms by revealing skin, show off their beautiful shape with a perfectly fitted longer sleeve. (Nordstrom) |
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Probably the main reason we are seeing so many cropped pants is because there are so many fab shoes out there and long pants don’t show them off. Still can be confusing to know what pair looks best with what pant. So here are some ideas
So you’ve found a pair of cropped pants that suit you. Now for the shoes..
| Example | Pant | Suggested shoe |
| If you do have a wide legged cropped pant at home, make sure that you are not trying to dress it up too much. These heels look a bit too fancy with that fine heel. Something clunkier would work better or these flats with studs on them.(Nordstroms) |  |
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| These basic black capri can be a great staple. Worn with a simple black flat(think Audrey Hepburn) or if it is hot a cool flip flop. These pumps look a little too dressy for this pant.(Nordstoms) |  |
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| Because the cuffs can really cut your leg in half, a better shoe choice would be a wedge. This one has the perfect height and feel for this casual pant. (Nordstoms) |  |
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| This white sandal just makes this outfit look drab. One with a dash of color can take your all white column and add some pizazz! (Nordstroms) |  |
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When pants are too hot, shorts make you feel to exposed, or you aren’t in the mood for wearing a dress, cropped pants are the perfect answer.
They’re chic and playful, and can be dressed up or down depending on the whether you’re the beach, at the mall or out to dinner with friends.
Remember Mary on the Dick Van Dyke show, and how darling she always looked?
…..Of course, Mary had a perfect body but no matter …..
…..you can look great in cropped pants too.
It’s all about finding the right style of cropped pant to suit your body type.
Here’s a few example of what to look for and what to avoid depending on your particular shape:
| Drawstring-disastrous or delightful? These drawstring cargo cropped pants look great on this gal because of her gorgeous pancake belly and thin legs, however, if you have a midlife mommy tummy the drawstring waist, massive pockets and baggy legs will make you look like you are wearing a laundry bag. Choose something that doesn’t put all the attention at the tummy. (Nordstrom) |
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| Wide Waisted and Wonderful :
Black is always Audrey Hepburn elegant, and also figure flattering to a woman’s bottom half. We love the wide waistband which pulls in and camoflages that midlife tummy bulge we are all too familiar with. The tapered leg is sexy too. (Nordstrom) |
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| Heading South:
When everything else is sagging at 40, 50 and beyond.. why would you want these pants to drag you down too? Instead of looking fashion forward, you run the risk of looking like you are wearing diapers underneath. ( Nordstrom) |
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| Cautious wIth Cuffs: Short? Don’t want to looks shorter? Then don’t wear pants with a cuff. You may think the roll up look cute but it will only cut you down and make you look stubby, and if you have a extra few pounds on you, wide too. These pants are best for med-tall gals with average legs. Any gal with bulky thighs should definitely stay from these as the huge pockets will only accentuate them. (Nordstrom) |
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| Zipper free…Yippee!:
Let’s face it. For a lot of us the answer to wearing pants and looking good in them is to wear your shirt tucked out, and these stretchy cropped pants are perfect for that. There’s no buttons, zippers or stuff to get in the way, so you have a seamless tower of white for which to place a pretty top over.(Nordstrom) |
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| Low:
O.K. loose and slouchy, but cool on the right gal. You need a flat tummy (thank you liposuction) and a low waist to pull these off. Very fashion forward and all over Paris JoJami says, based on her recent trip. (Nordstrom) |
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And finally, Here is JoJami in her new Parisian cropped pants..kinda of that loose, boyfriend style. They work for her because she is slim with no hips. So if you have that kind of slim sporty body, they’d probably work for you too!
You are stylish, but you’re also smart! What makes your female brain so unique from a man’s?
Discover the 7 sexual secrets every man needs to know about women at this week’s Blogging Boomers carnival. Visit It’s all about Aging to read this story, and other fascinating lifestyle related posts geared to boomers.
Check it out.
Our Ebook will help you celebrate the big day in Style!
If your daughter or son is getting married and you’re not sure how to make the transition from sneakers to stilettos, then here are 10 Dos and Dont’s for choosing the perfect pair of Mother of the Bride shoes.
1. Don’t buy dyeable shoes Perfectly matching the color of your shoes to your mother of the bride gown is very passé. Plus, when your feet sweat, your feet will turn color.
2. Do break your shoes in before the wedding Vacuum in them. Walk up stairs in them. Otherwise you’ll be walking around the reception with big blisters.
3. Don’t change into rubber or plastic flip flops during the reception, or even worse, go barefoot Is the dance floor a dormitory shower, or the boardwalk? Change into a lower heeled formal shoe if you must, but respect the formality of the event.
4. Don’t choose mother of the bride shoes with boxy or squared toes These heavy, clunky looking styles do nothing to elongate your leg, and are best left for more casual outfits. Fine occasions call for fine shoes.
5. Don’t buy shoes that are not your size! Too many women fall in love with a shoe that’s a half size too big and end up stepping out of it, or they buy a size too small hoping they’ll be able ignore the pain. You can’t. If you really can’t get the store to locate it in the correct size, move on!
6. Don’t wear a heel you may slip out of, or fall off A mule or a 5” stiletto heel will give you rolled ankles and swollen feet if you are not used to wearing them. Let’s make sure the limo, not the ambulance, is what transports you from the ceremony to reception!
7. Don’t opt for price over quality when buying Mother of the Bride shoes Expensive, well-made shoes are worth the investment. Scrimp on less important things. (We won’t tell anyone those earrings are faux-pearl!)
8. Do pick up a copy of our ebook Tweak Your Chic- Mother of the Bride and Look Fabulous after 40 at the Wedding!
Love reading about fashion online, but also want to know more about other hot boomer topics. Then be our guest at this week’s Blogging Boomer’s carnival. You’ll find some of the best boomer lifestyle posts on all kinds of topics at Contemporary Retirement Check it out!
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Just mail us at info@fabulousafter40.com
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Cheers!
bright colors are in
Gone are the stodgy old ideas about how a Mother of the Bride should dress. Here are the top trends in Mother of the Bride Dresses that give us hope!
1)Bright Colors
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 royal purples. Whether you love bold jewel tones or lean towards rich earth tones, there will be something out there for you. Since more saturated colors are better for aging, pale skin tones, liven up your look by choosing a color with some pizzazz!
2) Bolero Jackets
You may be sick of those boring Mother of the Bride jacket dresses, but the good news is there’s finally a fresh new take on them! Designers have addressed the
Bolero jackets have style
3) Tiered Dresses and Skirts
Tiered skirts are showing up in stores this season and are especially appropriate for formal wear for the over-40 set. They’re modern and feminine and can be very flattering if they are not too frilly. Try one before you buy, and make sure it suits your body. With all that extra material, this Mother of the Bride style is not for everyone!
4) New Lengths
Say goodbye to floor length when it come to Mother of the Bride Dresses. Plenty of different hemlines are popping up, mainly due to the huge variety of different wedding styles and venues these days. We’re seeing plenty of cocktail-length, knee-length, and handkerchief hems, as well as hi-lo dress lengths. (High in the front, long in the back). At the knee, or slightly above the knee is as high as you want to go. Remember: All these new hemlines give you one more reason to wear some fabulous, head-turning shoes!
5) “Green”Fabrics ( no, we don’t mean color!)
Environmentally responsible weddings are all the rage. Couples are using recycled materials for invitations and donating to charity instead of offering plastic, land-fill bound favors to their guests. The “green” theme even reaches all the way down to wedding attire. You may have to explore specialty stores, but organic cotton and silk dresses are growing in popularity. The best part about them is because the dresses are made with natural fibers, they are more comfortable and breathable. When you’re outside at an August wedding, you’ll appreciate why this is so necessary!
For more great tips on How to dress as mother of the bride or groom check out our ebook Tweak Your Chic- Mother of the Bride
The Halston jumpsuit I tried on
I (Deborah) was out shopping the other day and came across an elegant black stretch knit Halston jumpsuit. I was intrigued. I used to wear jumpsuits back in the 70′s and loved them! They looked sexy and chic. I hadn’t worn one in years, so was curious to see how this one would look.
After several ” what the hecks”, I tried it on. I looked in the mirror and started to giggle. I felt pretty darn good. Still, I didn’t quite like how the elastic waistband made my little mommy tummy look. Some Spanx would have done wonders, but instead I just put the jumpsuit back and said, “I’ll think about it”.
What was stopping me? Did I feel too old to be wearing something I wore in my teenage years?
I came home and went online to check out this new trend and found lots of jumpsuits, mainly black. I’m thinking that this look is worth another try, and if I can find the right jumpsuit I will buy one. I’m still pretty slim and tall, so maybe.
What about you??? Would you wear a jumpsuit???
Take a look at a few I found that I’d consider trying on, and a few that I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole.
| Maybe??
I like this one because it is very understated. The cowl neck will draw the attention up to my face instead of my tummy and I know I’ll feel better in the longer sleeves, rather than sleeveless. This should be more flattering because of the wider leg which will balance out my hips. I’d add some fab earrings. (Saks) |
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| Why would I go here?Normally I would never try on anything strapless just because I hate the hassle of wearing a strapless bra and I feel a little bare in strapless. But this is kind of a cute jumpsuit. It has a nice relaxed, ” let’s hang around the pool” feel. It might work for me with flats as shown and if if I put some kind of cropped sweater over top or wear a little wrap. You never know until you try it. ( This is not a good choice if you are really busty) (Saks) |  |
| I like the Elegance of this:
Love this. It seems very grown up and chic, but not sure if I’d feel good in those teeny spaghetti straps. They’re hard to pull off when you are more soft and fleshy than you used to be. Worth a shot. (Saks) |
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| The color attracts me:
Purple is a nice change from black, but again spaghetti straps + those tapered cropped pant legs probably not a good combination for me. I have curvy hips and I think I’ll look like a hippo in this! Have to see it in person to decide. (Saks) |
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| No Thanks:
Definitely too weird for me at any age. That sloppy t-shirt look and crazy Aladin pant is off the wall. (Saks) |
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| Art Attack:
Pass…. Way too much going on for me. I think this graphic art print reminds me of some kind of road construction sign. There’s so much going on I think it would make me look clownish. I like more sophistication 40, 50 and beyond.(Nordstrom) |
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| Can’t see it on me:
I guess if you are closer to 40 and have a supermodel body, but put this on the average middle aged woman and it could easily be a total nightmare. For me it’s got that ” desperate to be sexy” look. Too much. (Saks) |
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| Do I really need to say anything?
Lesson here- Do not go near a baggy jumpsuit unless you want to look like a giant paperbag!!! This look is frump city. (Nordstrom) |
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It’s embarrassing…. mature women who are so addicted to”cute” that they don clothes and accessories that make them look like middle aged moms playing little girl dress-up.
Now most of us love “cute” to some degree, but you really have to be careful after 40 that you don’t go overboard with what you consider cute, or that too much “cute” begins to define your look. Clothes and accessories that are too junior will not make you look younger; they will make you look older than you, are and rather silly.
Here are a few examples of ” CUTESY” things that, believe it or not, we’ve seen over 40 women wearing. Stay away from these!
| Not “Charming” over 40:
Yes they are Marc Jacobs, but don’t let designer labels make you think that anything goes. On a grown up-gal these “cute” women’s sandals will make you look like you are wearing your grandaughter’s party princess shoes. |
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| Furrrget these!
These kind of remind us of those feather earrings we all wore in the 70′s. Feathers, fur..they’re all frankly fads, and too tacky for a grown up gal. |
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| Ugg..
There’s Ugg boots and now Ugg purses. This mini alpine girl tote is cute….if you are an eleven year old. |
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| Bows, ruffles, flounce, cutesy sleeeves:
This dress has them all. Stay away from clothes that are too frilly or fussy, sweet and sappy. Check your mirror. You’re a mature woman! |
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| Time to get rid of:
Watches like this…… in a cotton candy color or with a glittery baby doll heart. They belong in teen territory! |
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| Cute and Cozy
on this sweet young thing,(who could wear a prison uniform and look good), but on a grown up gal these pancake flannel p.j.s will most likely make you look fat and frumpy. You deserve something with a little more sex appeal than bacon and eggs-right? |
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