If I (JoJami) had to pick one type of item to update my jewelry box, I would pick a cuff style bracelet.
Here are a few ideas that are Glam Gals approved from our new collection of Stella and Dot jewelry! We have priced this jewelry and compared the style and quality to other brands of and can confidently say that we think this is the best value out there!
Have fun and try a cuff. We think you find that they are an easy way to add some pizazz to your wardrobe!
This silver cuff is so simple and lightweight, you can wear it everyday!
This beautiful cuff will make a statement weather you dress it up with a pretty dress or wear it with jeans!
This airy style is says, "Spring/Summer"
This cuff is a great basic and will be able to transition you from winter into Spring!
We recently posted a photo of Meryl Streep looking Age-mazing™ in her recent film, It’s Complicated.
It led to this email…
Hi Ladies:
My husband and I recently went to see the movie It’s Complicated. Loved everything about it. Loved Meryl’s fashion style. But really noted her Jewelry . Would you ladies have any idea who makes it? Would love something similar.
Susan F.
We are proud to present a brand new handbag, hot off the press… The Ellen Allen Bag!
When you want to carry a bag that is a great value and be the first one on the block with one, check this out!
Wow, what a great look for Spring!
When handbag designer, Ellen Allen talks about her navy striped Murray Hill bag, she can hardly contain herself. “It’s big, organized, and sleek. It’s a sexy way to schlep.” Ellen’s enthusiasm for this tote is warranted, considering her name is on the silver logo plate that has women all over Annapolis talking. As an interior designer and a parent of two young boys, Ellen found herself constantly looking for a multifunctional bag to suit her on-the-go lifestyle. But she wasn’t willing to sacrifice style. “It was most important for me to have a bag that was chic yet practical,” she said. “Women have been choosing between fashion and practicality for years. Why can’t we have both?”
You can’t go wrong with this festive roomy bag, that has a couture look at a fraction of the cost.
Best of all, you won’t be seeing yourself coming and going.. this exclusive bag is new to the market! Either color just $180.00
Buy it here and you will get FREE SHIPPING in the U.S.!
Out at a restaurant the other day I saw this lovley women sitting by herself enjoying a cup of soup reading her Kindle. What is a Kindle? It is the new way to store books and have them ready to read via a small little screen you can take with you!
Nothing like a well dressed women who is up to date with her electronics!
We were inspired to share with you this latest tip from an article we saw on this weeks Blogging Boomers Carnival #141, hosted by none other than our 2 favorite wild and witty women over at Menopause Musing!!
Click below on the box and see a great video demonstrating the Kindle!
This over 40 model says, " I'm just running around doing errands today"..."Looking fab", we say!
We recently found a wonderful site called Atlantis Home that we wanted to share with all you more daring fashionistas out there.
The author (shown here) is over 40 and just so happens to be a former model. However, even if you are not tall and rail thin, you can still take some fun tips on how to dress a little more funky but still age appropriate!
What makes her looks so great?
The jacket is updated with 3/4 sleeves and chunky buttons and is a good length on her.
The gold necklace is bold like the jacket and softens the black top
Love the neckline of that mini dress
These jeans are slim all the way down, but not too tight, they give the legs an extra long lean look.
Even though she is tall she is still rocking platform boots. Believe it or not, these types of heels can be really comfortable.
She looks sexy with out having to wear tight clothes
So, how can you pull off this falls biggest fashion trend, like these slouch leggings from Nordstroms?
Read our article over at More Magazine, and find out some of the do and don’ts of this fun and easy look!
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!
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
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!
What is your burning fashion question? We asked and you told us…
How can I look updated and chic and NOT spend a lot of money.
Deborah and I didn’t know if it could REALLY be done… so we went out and put it to the test.
Here am I (JoJami) with one of my lovely clients Linda S. Linda is over 40, a wife, mother of 4 kids, and a nurse. She told me she loves to see her teenage daughters looking hip and felt like those days were over for her. She rarely takes the time to shop for herself and when she does she never knew what to buy that was age appropriate.
Client Linda and JoJami looking to dress chic on the cheap!
Linda realized that her first problem was that all these years she never really had the tools or plan she needed.
“One of the best part about the book was the chapter on Finding your Style Personality” says Linda. “That helped me keep my focus and opened my mind to try new things!”
Linda also confessed…
“I had a great leather skirt that I bought on sale last fall and never wore it because I didn’t have the right shoes.
After reading the book, I learned so much!! You, Glam Gals put in so many strategies that I could start using right away, and I had no idea of how many costly mistakes I have been making all these years!”
"Get Chic on the Cheap, it change my wardrobe, Yippee!"
Are you ready for Fall? Do you have a plan on what pieces to add or how to update your wardrobe?
Here is how you can start building your new dream wardrobe and save hundreds (for some thousands) of dollars, not making the same old mistakes!
Would you go to NYC and buy a “knock off” designer handbag?
We don’t think it’s a good thing to do, but we have friends who couldn’t resist the temptation and ended up buying a knock-off or two for themselves, or their teenage daughter who was dying to own a Coach or Gucci bag. These brands are being copied and sold on the “infamous” Cannal Street in New York City . Recently, the NYC cops have been cracking down on these “knock off” vendors.
To read about a first hand experience on of our Blogging Boomer friends had, and to readother Boomer related lifestyle stories, check out the Midlife Crisis Queen. She’s the host of this week’s Blogging Boomers Carnival!
Here’s the dilemma: I seem to have managed to pare my wardrobe down to good classics that fit me, an excellent assortment of accessories, jewelry and a few good purses…BUT…what to do about shoes? I find it hard to find ones that are comfortable!
Thanks for your help.
Laura
Hi Laura,
We do agree that it can be a challenge to find shoes that are both comfortable and have some style.
If you are trying to update your shoe wardrobe for fall, we have found that there are reliable brands out there likeNaturalizersthat have styles that can be both comfortable and stylish.
For a casual flat, try crocodile loafer under a pair of wide legged trousers:
Here is a two tone pump that would spice up your boring suit for work
Have you updated your handbag lately? Are you ready to step up your game and have a gorgeous designer bag?
Want something that if you invest in it, can be updated?
Well, you can do it right here!
We love this leather handbag by Kara James. The cool thing about this bag, is that the straps can be updated and changed.
We featured these bags a few months ago and got so many letters of women wanting to find out where to buy it that we are super excited to bring you our first Sample Sale!
First of all, Kara James is a hot new designer out of Canada who is taking the states by storm. Already seen on the arm of several celebrities,now you can get one for a fraction of the original price.
You will love this well made all leather bag and get lots of compliments on it!
We only have a limited supply of them, so hurry and don’t miss out!
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!
If you’re over 40, chances are you’ve bought at least one item of clothing from designer Sigrid Olsen.
Last night, I (JoJami) had a chance to met up with Sigrid, who was one of the speakers at the Smart Talk Series in Wilmington, DE.
Olsen (age 55) said she started out in her career as an artist and morphed onto the fashion scene 25 years ago, heading up her name brand clothing empire. She designed for “real” women, using bright colors and simple classic designs that became her trademark.
However, a few years ago that all changed. With the economy sinking, Sigrid left her business to start fresh. “My company had become so large that I did not get to do what I loved to do, which is creative based.
“I ended up just being the head of my company and doing meetings all day. I had lost touch with my roots and doing my passion which is art…. I am much happier now.”
ISLA beach house
So what does that “now” look like?
Olsen, who lives in Gloucester, MA, now runs a retail boutique, called ISLA Beach house, just a few steps down the road from her home, where she sells her sunny, beach-inspired art, pottery and other unique finds.
“I like to find new artists and help promote them”, she said with a twinkle in her eye. She is obviously passionate about her new venture!
Not to be one to sit still, Sigrid, found Yoga soon after her “retirement” and now runs her Yoga/Art fusion retreats all over the world.
A self professed “doer” Sigrid Olsen is living her passion and thanks to her creativity we can now bring a piece of her colorful world into ours!
Deborah (circa 2004) in her favorite Sigrid Olsen outfit
A cute story… Deborah tells me that back in around 2003 after having two babies two years apart, she was feeling rather frumpy. She went to Florida and discovered Sigrid Olsen in Burdines and bought a ton of her bright fun clothes.
Deb was so thrilled she even emailed Sigrid to tell her how happy her clothes made her feel, and what a perfect fit they were. Here’s Deb a couple of years later in those same Sigrid Olsen clothes that she wore and wore.
Doesn’t the robin’s egg blue and peach go beautifully with her Spring complexion?
Let’s have a reality check. Do you look old? How can you tell?
Here are 5 common mistakes of women over 40 that make that make them look older than they are. Could you be guilty of these mistakes?
1. Your shirt is too baggy
Many women walk around in loose oversized clothing because they say it is hard to find things that fit. This is partially true, but no excuse to looking frumpy. In truth, the real reason most women wear baggy clothing is because they fear fitted clothing will expose all their bulges. Not true! Fitted clothing made from quality fabrics skim your curves and therefore fit and look 100% better.
2. Your blush and eyeliner are too heavy
Those cheekbones are not going to appear, no matter how many tons of blush you apply. Less is more with makeup as we age. As for eyeliner, be careful to make sure it looks well blended and is not a hard line. Don’t wear black. It will look too harsh at least during the day. Try brown for a softer look. Once you apply your eyeliner, go over it with some powder on a thin angled brush and blend in the line.
3. Your sunglasses look outdated
Are you wearing out of style or scratched sunglasses? You can spend a ton or a little, but no matter the price, oversize sunglasses with wider sides will make you look current and Age-mazing! Throw out all your old ones and get an update! Find a new pair that make you smile and you will feel and look younger instantly!
4. You are dressing too sexy
That might sound like a shocker to some…but dressing too young, CAN actually make you look older! There’s a fine line once you hit 40, between sexy and silly but FAB after 40 will keep you on track!
5. Your hair is dry and brittle
As we age, our hair starts loosing its luster. To help rejuvenate it, make sure you get a good cut on a regular basis, condition and don’t use too many drying products on it, like moose or hairspray. Finally, buy a SHINE spray to apply styling. Shiny says healthy and vibrant!
Oh and one extra…… YOU ARE STARTING TO LOOK LIKE YOUR SPOUSE!!!!……. see above, YIKES!!!
To make sure you’re on track with the rest of your look, check out our FABULOUS e-book, The Glam Plan. It will give you all the steps you need to start looking young and hip!
The Glam Gals have some tips for you, so you don’t make these top 4 fashion mistakes on your first date!
1. Avoid over or under dressing! Dress appropriately for the activity. Most first dates you will be going out to eat. Do your homework and go online to find out the type of restaurant you’ll be going to. You don’t want to feel over or under dressed!
2. Make sure your wardrobe is up to date. Now is the time for a reassessment of your “look”. If it’s been awhile since you have been on the dating scene, make sure your hair, makeup and clothing are up to date. Don’t go crazy. Just be yourself, but the best and classiest, you can be.
3. Avoid dressing too sexy. This might sound obvious, but it actually can be tempting! Remember, you want him to like you… not just your cleavage!
4. Don’t wear a drab color! What color looks best on you? Try wearing a top or dress or sexy shoes in a lovely fun color! You will feel pretty and that way you can stop worrying about how you look and concentrate on being your charming self!
Just chatted with a friend who is turning 49 about about how great she feels and how her mom is still going strong in her 70’s.
We are living longer and looking great longer…why not dress fun forever!
Here are two Age-mazing™ gals from different coasts…both over 70 and looking fine!
JoBee in L.A. (photo by Tessa Tyler)
You might recognize this glamorous woman… this is my (JoJami’s) mother, and my mentor!! Here is JoBeea few weeks ago, getting ready to go out with my daughter to dinner. She has on a BCBG sweater dress that she is wearing as a top with a pair of Vince classic straight legged pants. She threw on a long light weight jacket over it all. Her suede short boots have a platform, so the heel is high but comfortable!
Helene looking Fab in NYC
Next, this 70 plus artist is one of our readers from NYC. Helene has a cool site about wonderful NYC art exhibitsin NYC and gives tours!
Here she is sporting a gorgeous chunky necklace and great hoop earrings, looking happy and radiant. (If you need more info on how to update your accessories check out our post)
Moreover, we love their hair! Both of these gals have gone blond instead of grey and look great doing so!
These women are inspiring and prove our theory, that…”Life is too short to be frumpy!”
Now that we’ve had a glimpse of some warm weather, I’m sure many of us out there are chomping at the bit to get out in the garden and start the planting, pruning and other gardening chores. But who wants to be digging around in the dirt wearing huge, moldy gloves with a frumpy bucket hat?
That being said, I (JoJami) could not help but squeal with delight when, on a trip to the Philadelphia Flower show, I came across the designer of these precious gardening accessories. Kara Buttimer of Angela’s Garden has created a line of beautifully designed, but extremely practical, gardening gear.
The fun prints and fresh colors are reminiscent of Vera Bradley or Lilly Pulitzer, and the dyes are SPF-protected so the colors won’t fade as you’re in the sun! Angela’s Green Garden collection is also getting a lot of buzz, as all the items are made from hemp and organic cotton. Check out this tote – it might just upset you to get it dirty with your gardening tools! And the gloves actually fit and make your hand look lady-like instead of those big, hot, manly ones that always slip off.
Let’s have a reality check. Do you look old? How can you tell?
Are you back in the dating game again?
