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Glasses with evening wear is not easy to pull off!
We recently posted some amazing before and after photos of several “average” looking women who in 12 short hours turned into eye popping goddesses!
With that, several of you commented that some of the women wore glasses in their “before” photos and then had them off in the after!
Well, one of the reasons that none of the women were wearing eyeglasses in the “after” is that they all had on evening gowns.
Let’s face it, wearing your everyday glasses with a formal gown in not an easy look to pull off, unless you’re Sophia Lauren!
However, you can still be fabulous with glasses on a daily basis.
Here are our tips on this eye popping subject!
1) If you wear glasses on a daily basis, make sure you have a pair that is updated and looks good with your style of dressing.
2) Decide if you want your glasses to be a fashion statement or not.
You hardly notice that Sarah Palin is wearing rimless glasses!
Rimless glasses are a conservative choice and literally “disappear”. Sarah Palin is a good example of how to wear this style of eyeglasses.
3) If you are going to a formal event and have to wear your glasses, make sure to pick a dress that will be simple and not compete with your glasses.
4) If you have had your glasses for over 2 to 3 years, you should think about updating them.
Tina Fey looks chic and smart in these updated frames.
5) Glasses can be a way to express your creativity. If you are ready for a new pair, why not go out on a limb and try something that is colorful or a new style.
6) Know your face shape. Try on frames that will contrast with your face shape to balance you out. (e.g. If you have a long face, a more rounded frame will be best for you)
Just because you wear glasses does not mean that you can’t look chic or stylish. Just make sure that you have an entire look that is harmonious and that fits your lifestyle!
With updated hair, makeup and clothes, wearing glasses can be festive and fabulous!
Never say never!
Just when Jane Fonda said she would never get cosmetic surgery again, she sneaked in and did it. ..I guess it’s that new boyfriend she has!
You don’t see a lot of difference at first, until you look down at her neck. She looks pretty good!
You know our stand on all of this; it’s such a personal thing. There’s no right or wrong. It’s all up to how you feel. We know some of you may disagree and that’s why we throw this post in. It makes for lively conversation.
We’d love to hear your views and experiences, pro and con. What do you think of Jane’s decision to have more cosmetic surgery at 72?
Is there anything wrong with wanting to be a “Glamorous Grandma”, as Jane calls it?
It’s probably thanks to Michelle Obama that cardigans have become so popular, coming close to replacing jackets in many cases.
<<Remember her famous sparkle one, or
when Michelle wore a cardigan to meet the Queen?>>
We like cardigans for many reasons:
1) they’re comfy
2) they’re a great cover -up for our arms which are chilly because of all the sleeveless tops out there
3) cardigans hide any arm flab
4) they brighten up a plain outfit by adding texture, color and interest.
There are frumpy cardigans out there, for sure, but there are also so many cute ones to choose from… long, short, fitted, loose, in all kinds of knits.
Here’s a few we discovered that are only slightly different from the classic 1950’s type, but look totally modern today because of a simple tweak.
| Sweet Sweater:
It’s called the Diamond disco sweater, and we agree this “disc go really well with dis skirt!” (LOL).. Just enough glam without being over the top. What a pretty complement to the floral skirt which is so in this spring. (Nordstrom) |
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| Grrr..eat!
A sexy animal print and we love the modern color combo……… O.k. Here’s the “dump the frump” lesson for today.. the style of this sweater alone may scream old, but the mix of the brown and turquoise with a touch of yellow is what zips it up and transforms it into a hip and updated great find. (Nordstrom and Saks ) |
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| Ruffle:
Ruffles are in right now and this cardigan has just the right amount to look pretty but not baby- girlish on a grown up gal. Love this color! (Nordstrom) |
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| Rosy touch:
Soft and romantic this feminine cardigan stand on it’s own with jeans or be dressed up with jewelry and a pretty skirt for a night out. (Nordstrom) |
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| Modern Mix:
Coral and turquoise combine in modern floral pattern that brings warm skin tones to life. (Nordstrom) |
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| Honeycomb:
Simple and elegant.Now isn’t this nicer than wearing a big old sweatshirt around the house? (Nordstrom) |
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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.
So ladies… here’s a great site we found that gives you the scoop on what a celebrity is wearing and where to find it!
It is called:
I Saw It In (www.isawitin.com)
This site will show you where to find celebrity fashions
Have fun and please let us know if you found what you wanted. Also, let us know of any other similar sites you like!
Catherine Zeta-Jones always tries to look her best!
Here is an inspiring headline we saw recently:
Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones doesn’t dress down – even when she does the food shopping.
Catherine Zeta-Jones commented: I owe it to my fans to wear my best when I go to the supermarket.
The Glam Gals have chatted endlessly about what to wear to the grocery store and we feel the same way as Catherine does; there is no reason not to try to look your best when you go out.
That being said, you can still look great and be comfortable, but it takes some strategy.
First you need to have your “going to the grocery store” outfit all ready.
This outfit should consist of:
- cute but comfortable shoes or flat boots
- stretch pants or stretch dress
- coordinating stretch top
- if your having a bad hair day, then you will need a cute cap
The fun part is gathering all the pieces, and then finding a special hook or spot where the entire outfit is always ready to go.
Most women don’t need more than 1 going to the grocery store outfit per season, since you rarely run into the same person when you’re out.
However, If you shop a lot ,you may want to have a 2 or 3 slightly different versions of your shopping outfit. So instead of creating one going shopping outfit you would create a going shopping module. Modules are a way of dressing that save you tons of time and money while giving you more versatility. To find out more about how to create your own wardrobe modules you can read our ebook Chic on the Cheap- How to create a wardrobe on a budget.
Sometimes we meet women and tell them we write a blog called Fabulous after 40,they say, ” I’m well over 50, or I’m over 60, can I visit your blog?”
The answer is, “of course!” We’re here to encourage 40, 50, 60 and beyond to dump the frump and have some fun with fashion.
40 is just the starting point where your body starts to change, your lifestyle changes, it get harder to find places to shop and the role models get fewer and farther between.
So, just in case you gals over 60 may have been feeling left out.. take a look Helen Mirren here, and other inspiring celebrities from a great post we just ran across about the SAG awards, and looking
Fabulous after 60 !
There’s a new study that says full lips make you look younger.
Makes sense…Just think of babies with their plump, round plump lips. Softer bigger lips are more youthful….but only to a point!
Your lips have got to match your face!
The problem is many women see their lips thinning and rush out and get lip fillers only to end up with “trout pout”…you know, those crazy lips that make you look like you’ve been sucking on a sour lemon and had an allergic reaction! Totally bizarre, unnatural and not youthful or attractive at all.
| Just look at Nicole Kidman. |
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| Daryl Hannah |
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| Melanie Griffith |
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| Cher |
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The list goes on… Can fillers like this ever work? Are we being unfair and just highlighting the bad cases?
If you’ve ever had your lips enhanced, let us know how they worked out. Did it work for you? Would you do it again?
Our feeling is, what’s so wrong with thinner lips? Just like, what’s wrong with smaller breasts? They’re beautiful and elegant. If you keep your lips moisturized and soft, use pretty lip glosses and soft lipstick shades, they’ll look beautiful.
This frenzy around having to have humongous breasts and lips the size of overinflated party balloons is actually gross. It’s bound to pass in a few years, and then we’ll all be looking back and laughing at how trashy and cartoon-ish women looked.
Bigger is not always better. Subtlety and elegance is the key to looking fabulous in Chapter 2 of life.
Meryl Streep is looking Fab, in her new movie, It's Complicated photo credit: Universal Pictures
With the new hit movie It’s Complicated out, we were recently called upon by Rita Truschel of The News Journal, to get our input on the subject of dressing women over 40.
The author states, ” For women of a certain age, chic and fashionable hits a fresh line between matronly and too youthful.”
Deborah and JoJami were asked what they thought of Meryl Streep’s style of dressing in the movie.
We loved it! They gave her an upscale bohemian style. She wore lots of scarves and flowing, fabric in lovely muted colors that really flattered her.
Her hair was on the long side, and we liked it on her that way. Her make up was clean and fresh looking too!
Read more….
There’s been lots of buzz about Demi Moore on the net lately. First there were nasty comments about her Age defying, wrinkle free ads for her new perfume, “Wanted”.
Then, A Twitter controversy about her possibly airbrushed hips for W magazine.
and just recently she got a cruel response to pictures she posted of herself on Twitter. Demi was told that she looks old.
The gloves are off and she’s fighting mad! ” I’m 47, How am I supposed to look?” she angrily twittered back.
Do you think Demi should have even bothered to respond to comments about how she looks for her age? Has she set herself up for all this by trying to stay so youthful, or are there just a lot of jealous people out there? Tell us what you think.
Deborah and I are big fans of award shows and we can’t help but enjoy the parade of glamorous starlets down the red carpet… but after checking out the photos of this years Emmy’s we realized that we can learn a lot from them as well! Moreover, we were pleased to see that this year’s show had lots of Age-mazing™ over 40 women to wow us!
Are you going to be going to a formal affair or on cruise in the next few months?
Here are some great examples of how to (or not to) dress for a formal affair and WHY we think so!
 Chandra Wilson looking great! photo: www.WireImage.com/Steve Granitz |
Trying to wear strapless after 40:
Here ya go… here is a women with curves that is just rocking this dress! Love the plunging “V” and bold design at the bottom of the dress. If you are going to wear strapless, make sure the dress is cut so that it is not straight across. Many strapless dresses tends to push the breasts up and squish them. She has kept her accessories simple with just a necklace and earnings and no bracelet. Great job!
Lesson: Curvy women can wear strapless! |
| Say No to the Bat Wings:
Let’s not put a number to age, but here’s a reality check. We don’t care when your birthday is or what the tag on your dress says, the bottom line is make sure to look in the mirror before buying a dress.
Here you can see that this dress is just not flattering with her skin bulging out under her arms.
Lesson: Look at yourself in the mirror front and back to make sure nothing’s pouring out! |
 This dress is just too tight! |
 This dress,Kyra Sedgwick, is just too much! photo: Wireimage.com/Jeff Vespa |
You will always look elegant if you go simple:
Look what happens when you try to make the dress the star and not you. Black shoes, with that dress? Even though the heel matches, the black pump is way too heavy for this flimsy dress – a sandal would have worked much better. (And the red nail polish is clashing too!)
Lesson: Look for a dress that does not overpower you but plays up your best features. |
| Black can look harsh on aging skin:
Black can help make you look thin, but it can also age you… We actually think the style of this off-the-shoulder dress is quiet flattering and lovely, it is just that the color (or rather the lack of it!) makes Glenn look harsh.
Lesson: Black is too easy of an option. Take the time to try to find a dress that is a pretty color! |
 Glenn Close we love the dress, but not the color. photo: Getty Images/Jason Merritt |
 Sigourney Weaver , looking stunning in this simple, yet elegant gown! photo:www.wireimage.com/Jeff Vespa |
Use color to stand out and have fun:
Sigourney rarely strays from dresses that are more streamline yet feminine. Yes, her body is a temple, but her taste is great too!
Lesson: Simple lines and simple accessories equal class and elegance!
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Don’t forget the proper undergarments can make a huge difference, Shapewear from Sassybax or Spanx is our favorite secret weapons!
If you need more detailed info on how to choose the right gown for a wedding or formal affair, get our eBook, Tweak Your Chic: Mother of the Bride!
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.
Does your hairstyle make you look old?
We recently posted a lovely picture of an over 40 gal looking hip and chic.
After seeing this, one of our readers asked:
“I [have a question] about the old lady hair problem…maybe you could follow up with some more hair thoughts? Techniques? Products? Pretty please?” M.N.
So M.N. we took your question to who else, but The Makeover Guy, Christopher Hopkins!
Here is what he said…
“Dear M.N,
I am currently tackling this problem myself. (I am irritated that my grays are not as smooth as my regular brown).
But what I’m doing is taking medium hair and going back to the curling iron - Eva Longoriaish.
Also…the blonde on Desperate Housewives is sometimes straight sometimes curled…and that is a very relate-able current look for women over 40.
Long hair: Iffy. Even though that is not the popular sound byte, nor what women want to hear, so you don’t tell them because you want them to buy your product, it’s just true. Once hair is past the clavicles if your face isn’t young looking and your hair isn’t luxurious it is often just not flattering.
But extensions do help, and can make over 40 hair look a little less over 40.
The problem is the texture. Texture changes (as does face/weight/body proportions) and just blow and go hair isn’t as easy as it once was. So you kind of have to create the illusion of ‘blow and go’ with products that have protein in them (to strengthen the hair). I like Nigelle’s Blow Make Smooth Essence. This gives a little more strength and polish so you can style it easier.
Also, a reason why shorter hair tends to work better is because it not only looks like you didn’t have to work so hard, but it still looks good later in the day.
But if it is longer, making sure it’s shiny (using the curling iron, flat iron etc) helps. Can look sort of Farrah if you don’t’ start curling at the base first and click the hair through rather than pulling the curling iron to the ends and wrapping it up.”
Thanks Christopher, for your expert advice!!!
P.S. If you haven’t bought it yet, check out his book, Staging Your Comeback... it is one we keep on 
recommending, it’s that good!
Over the years, has your daughter ever “borrowed” your clothes or shoes? Well now the tables have been turned with our friend Sherrie Mathieson’s new book, Steal This Style ~Mom’s and Daughter’s Swap Wardrobe Secrets. We like this book because it is the perfect guide on how to borrow from younger generations (pieces that are hip yet appropriate) as well as past generations (classic items that are forever cool) – and attain great style in the process. Inside are lots of wonderful photos that make the tips easy to imitate!
Listen below for 3 quick tips from Sherrie’s new new book!
Be sure to pick up a copy of Steal This Style.
We are not surprised that there is a site that is keeping track of what Michelle Obama is wearing. Check this out, Michelle Obama’s Look Book for an up-to-date photo gallery of what she is wearing.
You can learn so much from just studying this site, from what styles flatter her figure to what colors look best on her. Also, what styles are good for work as well as age-appropriate. Apply these tips to your own wardrobe and see how they work for you!
Here are some of our picks and why…
- In Paris: We have been saying how white is the hot color for summer and here is Mrs. O in Paris looking very fresh and pretty!
Photo by Yves Forestier/Getty Images
- Updated suit dressing : This suit is so updated, with the 3/4 sleeves and thin belt. Her black and white flower pins are so fresh and fun!
- Next up: Putting color into your look can bring some much needed life to your wardrobe. Also, the large pearls are a classy way to dress up any outfit! The simplicity and fit of this dress with the just right “v” neck makes it an easy style to try. This time she has paired it with a wide belt, also in fashion today!
- Finally, this pink gown was worn early in the campain, but has been one of our all time favorite formals that she has worn. We just think it is so feminine, simple and elegant. This spring, florals are still a popular choice and this large print is bold yet the monotone color combination keeps it subtle.
Need some inspiration? There’s a great article at The Huffington Post with pictures of 6 of the world’s most beautiful women. Take a look and see if you would agree with their choices and let us know.
We’d like to add Diane Lane. She’s such a natural and always looks so happy and peaceful.
Diane Lane - a natural beauty
Diahann Carroll is another favorite. She’s classy and glamorous. Loved her in the TV show “Julia” in the 60’s and on “Dynasty” in the 80’s.
Diahann Carroll - always classy
I ( Deborah) have been reading her book called The Legs Are the Last to Go: Aging, Acting, Marrying, and Other Things I Learned the Hard Way, and it’s terrific. She’s a true fashionista. She loves clothes and all the the drama that goes with dressing up. It’s a fun read.
The second most important thing to think about when buying earrings is:
Bone Structure
Do you have:
 Fine Bone structure – fine earrings
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Small, fine bone structure? (Meryl Streep/Sharon Stone)Choose earrings that are thin, fine, flat and delicate. Imagine someone with fine bone structure like Sharon Stone in chunky wooden hoops. They would overpower her gentle beauty. |
 medium boned - medium size and weight earring |
Medium Bone structure? (Terri Hatcher, Madonna. Liz Hurley)Opt for medium weight and thickness. |
 heavy bone structure- heavy earrings |
Heavy Bone Structure? (Oprah, Donatella Versace) You can carry off heavy, chunky earrings. |
Other things to consider when buying earrings…. Check out our next post.
If you are new to Fabulous after 40, you will start to notice that each week we write a post that has links to a Blogging Boomers Carnival. What’s a Blogging Carnival? Well, it is a group of bloggers who blog on a variety of lifestyle topics that are all “Boomer” related. Each week one blogger from the group acts as “the host” and puts up all of the blog posts up on their site.
This week it’s our turn to host. We’re thrilled to introduce you to each of our Blogging buddies, so you can see who they are and what they write about!
Piracy is in the news. Did you know there were women pirates? And Sir Francis
Drake was actually a pirate? For more pirate stories visit Vaboomer.com
On Mother’s Day, Dina at This Marriage Thing asks boomer women, ‘what did you say to your mom?’
Barbara Weibel, that intrepid traveler at Hole In The Donut, is in Key West, where she’s ferreted out an interesting story about the USS Vandenberg, a WWII decommissioned navy ship that has been rescued from the Ghost Fleet to serve one final mission.
Many hospital emergency rooms are becoming overloaded by people concerned about the spread of the swine flu. SoBabyBoomer.com tells us why this influenza isn’t so scary.
Over at Don’t Gel Too Soon, how about a preview of some wonderful street music turned into a message of hope! Norman Lear is behind it, which should tell you all you need to know.
Want to know what the Midlife Crisis Queen learned from spending a day hanging with the unemployed? She learned the importance of asking for exactly what you want!
Do you have a personal social media usage policy? Andrea Stenberg at TheBabyBoomerEntrepreneur.com gives some examples of why you should have one in her post: Do Religion and Politics Mix with Social Media Marketing?
Trying to beat the economic heat in LA? Janet Wendy at GenPlus ponders the power of optimism.
LifeTwo welcomes Bradley Foster as it’s newest contributor. Bradley works with men going through mid- life transitions, and writes that the stereotypical male midlife crisis with sports car and extra martial affairs is in reality, far from the norm.
Have you ever spent the first week of a two-week holiday or vacation sleeping? Ann over at Contemporary Retirement takes a look at how a similar thing can happen to people on retirement.
Many women remember reading a life-changing book called “The Women’s Room” by Marilyn French. Read more at The Boomer Chronicles.
And last but not least, we Glam Gals asked the question this week, Do you plan to have any cosmetic surgery in the future, and if you already have, did it change your life in any way? We would love your feedback and thoughts on this!
The cosmetic surgery debate continues…..
There’s a good article over at Entertainment & Showbiz.com that says filmmaker Cheryl Hines, who directed Meg Ryan in “Serious Moonlight”, says she has no problem with older Hollywood stars getting cosmetic surgery. “If it makes you happy, do it. I don’t care. Whatever works,” says Hines.
Now we’re putting that question to you……
How do you feel about cosmetic surgery?
Are you for it, or against it, and why?
Do you plan to have any cosmetic surgery in the future, and if you already have, did it change your life in any way?
Do you think Meg has had any cosmetic surgery, and how do you think she looks?
Do you think all this talk about cosmetic surgery is nobody’s business?
We’d love to hear from you!
Are you back in the dating game again?
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!
For more tips on dating after 40 and to read lots of other great articles on current Boomer topics, visit the Blogging Boomers Carnival #113. This week’s host is The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur!
Susan Boyle
So, of course you have seen Britain’s newest, hottest talent Susan Boyle?... We did too, and we’re cheering on this 47 year old, Britian’s Got Talent, vocal sensation!
Still, there’ no denying that although she’s a fabulous singer, Ms. Boyle is a little behind the times when it comes to her fashion sense.
Recently, The Fashionator from iVillage asked the Glam Gals, “If you could make over Susan, what would you do?”
Here’s how we’d help Susan look Age-mazing™ ( Amazing for her Age):
When we saw Susan we just wanted to throw our arms around her and give her a big hug! She has an adorable, frisky personality, but it does not match the way she dresses. If she wants to be a performer and a star, she will need to class up her act. We would LOVE to be the ones to do it!
- She is dressing too old and matronly and we would like to help her in this area.
- We would give her an outfit that is age appropriate, elegant and stylish.
- Then of course her hair needs color and style (We would work with the over 40 hair expert, Christopher Hopkins, The Makeover Guy, on this project)
- She seems to like to wear blah beige. We would like to brighten her up in a dress with some color to it, to fit her sassy personality!
- Also, she has a cute figure that we could show off better and we need to get those breasts into a good bra!
- She does not wear makeup and we would like to see her made up naturally, not too heavy.
- And last but not least, we would take care of her bushy eyebrows!
photo-iVillage
SUSAN needs to get rid of the Frump! To read Ysolt Usigan’s (aka The Fashionator) full story on Susan Boyle and other makeover tips go to iVillage.
This week over at the Three Tomatoes we found a great article on what Michelle Obama wore on her recent trip to London.
She had some hits and some misses…so we wanted to put our spin on this. WHY does an outfit work or not!
Let’s all learn from her hits and mistakes together….
1.This is the best look of the week. WOW! The bright yellow color looks great on her. It is very today. The simple black overcoat gives the illusion of thin. Simple pointy toed shoes look elegant and elongate her beautiful legs. Look at how simplicity works, no extra jewelry needed. Also, the dress length is perfect on her, not too old, not too young, but just right.
2. This cream and mint green outfit was from J.Crew. It looks great in this photo, but not so great on the news. One problem was the skirt was made of a shiny fabric that showed all the wrinkles.
Remember, fit and fabrication is very important and you always want to play down your tummy area. Normally, Michelle can really rock a pencil skirt when she wears it in a darker fabric that is not shiny.
3. Oops. Lots going wrong here! First off, let’s talk style. Gathered skirts make hips look bigger! This is just not a flattering style on Michelle who has a lovely shape. Preppy meets cocktail?
When dressing you should stick with one theme. If you’re going preppy, you should be at a casual outing, not in London with the Prime Minister’s wife! P.S. Sarah Brown could have used some SHAPEWEAR with that tight blue dress or better yet, a totally different dress. This did NOT flatter her at all!
Anytime you are going to be photographed, try a test shot at home and see how your dress looks on you. You will be shocked at how you look in person vs. a photograph!
4.Here we go again, this time not as much gathering in the skirt, but still not so flattering.This black and white outfit is way too safe and boring. We agree with the Three Tomatoes on this comment… ” The queen, looking lovely in pink, outshone her here!”
5. When your bow is bigger than your head, you can be sure you have gone overboard with the accessories! Subtle is better, if you think your dress or outfit is overpowering you, then try something else.
6. Yeah, we love this dress! The design is perfect. Not too sexy, with the wide straps on the top and perfectly placed ‘V’ neck. Nice and fitted around the waist and hips. Just feminine and classy.
