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!

Look at the before and after photos.. Conclusion  …Behind every frumpy woman is a goddess.

Click on the picture below to see the outcome:

Congratulations to Veronica Cruz from Albany, NY

She wrote in:

I would love an opportunity to win a ticket to the More Convention.  What an opportunity.  It could not happen at a better time.  Here is my story.

Right now, I’m coming out of a 14 year relationship that derailed many of my dreams.  Fortunately, I found the strength to find my way back to me.  In my wildest dreams did I imagine fifty could be so good?   After my divorce, I thought I would spend most of my remaining years raising my children and whatever was left, hope I would have enough money to manage my way through to eighty.  Today, I can’t even believe that is what I limited myself to.   I’m in the best shape I’ve been in years, I have a fabulous new boyfriend, and the cloud of apathy that followed me for a decade, is gone.  In past two years, I’ve focused much of my energy on reinventing my life, my work and my looks!  You be the judge!

This Age-Mazing gal (Veronica Cruz) is our winner!

Every chance I get to push the boundaries of my second act, I take it.  I long gave up the word NO.  That word is just wrong.  It should be banned.  Teenagers don’t like it, kids under the age of six use it too much, and most of all, like a vampire who’s just seen a cross, opportunity crumbles at its very mention.  I focus on positive relationships that respect my desire to be my best!  the Take my marriage for example.  Some might say it wasn’t all that bad.  I had two beautiful kids, nice clothes, a beautiful house, and no facial wrinkles!  But the foundation of my marriage was based on my unhappiness, and that is not the way to Athens.  I was always working double time hoping things would be different.   It was time to accept the brutal reality of my situation and move on.   And the best part of act two, was giving up second place.  I know, I know, today everyone’s a winner.  Hello, this is just not true.  Second place meant everyone else came first; everyone but me.  No matter what people tell you, everyone is not a winner and second place is not just as good as first.  Consistently putting others needs before yours leads to three things: resentment, frustration, and unhappiness.   And, I might add, poor aging.  If I’m good, the people around me are good.  And who are those people:  my kids.  Outside of that, first place is reserved for me to take care of me.  If there is any left over, well, I’m happy to share.

I wish I could share my story with more women.  Part two of our lives can be as interesting and energy filled as part one.  There is no denying there are more issues to manage, but overall, the second half is an opportunity to build on your first act and be even more incredible.  And how lucky are we to have all groups and organizations of women to turn to like Fabulous after Forty and More [magazine].  An opportunity to go to the More convention would give me the chance to expand my thinking on this topic and give me ideas on how I can further push the boundaries of my second act:  not to mention inspirational!

We are looking forward to meeting you and thanks to you all for sharing your stories! Feel free to keep on chatting, below! We want to hear from you all!

Cheers,

JoJami and Deborah

Katherine sent this photo and asked, "Does this look good on me?"

The grey and black layered and belted look, shows that she is up on her fashion trends, however we felt that we could dress her cute figure to flatter it a bit more. So we sent her some homework and asked her to send us what she came up with.

Here are the other options she sent us, for round 2:

	Even though it is an informal event, we think this outfit is way too casual if Kathryn wants to dress to impress! The layers hide all her curves, and the checker shirt and clunky shoes make her look very masculine. The long, light colored top is the wrong proportion on the body, and makes her legs look very short in comparison. This is definitely not a look we’d recommend.
	This look is much nicer! It looks classy and crisp, and the shapes flatter her figure.  The only point we’d make is that it’s just too conservative!  From the first outfit to this one, we’ve lost all Kathryn’s style sensibility.  Where’s the funky trendiness we saw in the first outfit?
	Finally, we think this outfit is a slam dunk!  The black belt pulls in the narrowest part of Kathryn’s body, and the fact that it’s all one color makes her look longer and leaner.  We have the boots again, however she had another pair in her closet that fit nicer and hug her leg, which adds a little sexiness to the outfit.  She added back in some of her personal style with the necklace and bracelets.  We believe this is the best outfit yet! Our only suggestion would be to add a little color into the ensemble.  Perhaps wear a bright colored blouse instead of the white to give your face some color.  Maybe try wearing a colorful scarf or holding a colored bag.  Adding a pop of color will give her outfit some visual interest, and help her stand out!
	Kathryn also sent us a picture of her coat.  Isn’t it adorable?  We love the winter white wool trench with the cinched waist and decorative vintage pin.  The A-line is a perfect cut for her too.  That just goes to show that even in sub zero weather, you can still look hot!

Here is a video about it.

We also have a Fabulous After 40 Special discount!!! (discount code: FAF)

When checking out just put in this code: FAF

and you will get $10.00 off your entire purchase!

Also, if you buy their breast shaper, you will get free shipping on your entire purchase.

If you have used this product, please comment below! We want to hear your feedback!

Jill before and after 100 pound loss

Here is her letter to us:
Hello Glam Gals
My name is Jill Knapp. I found you on Facebook and had a long visit at your web site. I love it!! My Birthday is on my 15th and I will be 42. I recently celebrated hitting 100 pounds of weight-loss.  I am still in shock. I would love to share my story about how I lost the weight, if you are interested.
Thanks,
Jill
Well, as we all know losing weight is never easy, but  for Jill the hard work has really paid off and she is living her dream.
To get the full story you can go to her blog called, Get Up and Get Moving and read her inspirational account of what motivated her to just do it!

So, Happy Birthday Jill, and thanks for writing to us!  We’re are all celebrating with you!!!

Jill in the Mrs. Idaho America pageant

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.

To keep things interesting, we invited 4 women to dare to try a new look!

The hair was done by Cristy, who is Co-owner of the  Robert Cris Salon, in Wilmington, Delaware andiod make up was by Nicole, from Mix the Studio in Hockessin, De.

If you are ready to make a change, check out our online consults!

Here are the results:

First off all  the gals met with me  had me do a color analysis on them, so that they had outfits to be shot in that were

Make over #1,  was letting her hair grow out, but it was too long and had lots of split ends. We trimmed it up, and gave her some soft layers and long bangs. She did not like to wear makeup, so we did a light makeup to even out her skin tone! Simply gorgeous!

Makeover #2: This gal (art teacher) had let her roots go too long. Also she confessed to never wearing make up and wanted to learn how. Her hair was in desperate need of a trim. After styling her curly hair to make it more updated and straight, she looks certainly looks more  polished and professional.

Makeover #3 Had just had her color done, but we felt it was washing her out. We went with a richer color and her eyes just popped! She has called and reported that she LOVES her new cut and color and has gotten rave reviews.

Is there a part of you that you have always wanted to express to the world, but just never have? Do you have an inner biker chick or something else just waiting to emerge?

Then it’s time to get in touch with your wild side and bring some fun back into the way you dress, so you don’t end up looking and feeling like a dowdy little old lady.

Why not get noticed for the delicious dynamite that you are – and use clothes to do it! Here are 5 easy tips to help you find the real you!

1) Trail blaze a path to you inner style

First, you must be open to a change now, not 10 pounds from now. Finding clothes that fit the body you are currently sporting is important and can help improve self-esteem.

Next, do your research. Look around for inspiration. Do you know someone who always seems pulled together and looks great? Take note of what she has on and shop for something similar. If you feel out of touch and don’t want to end up looking like your 14 year old daughter or 90 year old grandmother, then hire a personal shopper to help show you which current styles would look good on your body type. If it is not in your budget, try asking a friend whose style you admire to go with you.

Are you feeling too conservative and want to try something sexy and and different. Why not try adding a leather jacket, skirt or pants. If leather is just too way out for you, try suede. It has a softer look and feel. Leathers and suede come in lots of colors. Pastel suedes mellow what normally might be considered edgy. When pairing your new item with a conservative counterpart, the look can be surprisingly classy and perfectly acceptable at work. Better still – on the weekend leather or suede, can be worn with jeans and a quality t-shirt.

2) Shop somewhere new

If you’re still shopping at the same stores, in the same departments, why not shake things up a bit? Step out of your comfort zone and try shopping somewhere new. Small boutique stores tend to carry the most current styles and updated merchandise. They also carry small designer brands, so when you buy something, you are sure to look unique in your new outfit.

Chances are that even if you spend a bit more than you’re used to, you will find something you love and adore. You will wear it many more times than just another cheap, boring item from a sale rack. We like to call this price per wear. If you average the amount you spend on an item by the number of times that you wear it, it can justify the original expense.

For example, you may find a funky faux fur vest at a local boutique. Try pairing it with some jeans to run around town in. This one piece may be a bit more expensive than what you would normally purchase but if you absolutely fall in love with it you will wear it frequently. It will be worth the price.

Be careful of sale items that end up hanging in our closet with the tags still on them? Sale items are the trickiest to buy, since the price can woo you into buying an item that you don’t necessarily love and adore and then never wear. It’s always better to hold off and find that next special piece.

3) Life should not be about blending in

It’s time to sizzle, not fade away. Why not shake things up and shoot some color into your wardrobe? This spring you’ll see lots of bright and cheery hues vying for your attention. This is an easy way to add some much needed punch to your closet. Even if you love black, with just a dash of color from a new spring top, purse, shoes or scarf, you can go from dull to dashing in an instant. However, buyers beware! Not all colors look good on all people. If in doubt, drape the item near your face and analyze how it complements your hair, eyes and complexion. Still not sure? A good rule of thumb is that the color should not wash you out, or be so loud you see it before you see you. This is important in making an outfit work for you.

4) Fear of letting go

One of the biggest hurdles to overcome can be all those clothes stuffed in your closet. It’s time to pull up your bootstraps, roll up your sleeves and start kicking booty! We mean get rid of all those old, boring, tired and ill-fitting things. Most women have a closet full of clothes they don’t like or never wear. If you remove those items out of your closet, you’ll have a much better idea of what you really need to buy to keep your closet fresh and inspired!

5) On the road to a great hair day

Let’s face it, if you are still sporting a style that you’ve had for the last 15 years, think again. It just might be time for a change of gears! You can buy the latest clothes and accessories, however if your hairstyle is dated, you will look dated. How do you know when you need a new do? Your first step is to make an appointment with a reputable hair salon.

Ask to book a consultation with one of the top stylists. It might take a few weeks to get a space, but it will be worth the wait. Don’t be shy to go for some color and a new cut or style. If you’ve been sporting a short look for a while, it might be time to let your hair down and grow it out!

Finally, dressing like a biker chick isn’t for everyone, but you probably have a wilder side to you that is waiting to be expressed. With a little effort you can rev up your wardrobe and start dressing with more flair and pizazz. Dress like you are a force to be reckoned with and see if you’re not feeling stronger and more ambitious each day. Embrace all your style…It’s not about just one look. It’s about finding a style that reflects the inner you. Have fun!

It was so much fun, seeing these women transform before our eyes. With just a new updated hair do, and a new outfit, these ladies were just glowing afterwords!

Here are the results:

Joelle Norwood, TV producer: Joelle said she has been growing her hair, but found that she just ended up putting it up all the time. “I’m ready to have some style, back into my life!” she said. Norwood confessed that all she had was black and white in her wardrobe.

We fixed that and found her a color that let her confidence shine!

Laura Day, Financial Professional (owner of Laura Day and Associates)

Before we made over Laura, she really did wear her hair in a clip like this every day to work. She agreed that she had been wearing it this way since high school and that it really didn’t look that professional. As far as her wardrobe, she wanted to break out of her comfort zone of solid suits and try something fun! Here was her comment, ” I felt like a princess today, its been just the best day ever!”

Jackie Ivy is an architect and also  has been working on a project for work, where she is finding herself being interviewed by the press all the time! She has 2 small children and with her busy schedule, just never took the time to shop or take care of her self. She has always wanted to see what she looked like with long hair, so we gave her her wish and added some extensions. Her wardrobe was baby proof, which ment all grey and black,and she had not put a dress on in years. Jackie was so pleased with her outfit, and she said, “I used to buy clothes like this, but I just have not done so in so long, I forgot what it felt like to look feminine and pretty!”

To see more Glam Gal makeovers, go to: Delaware Today