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Our reader Cheryl with a friend
Ever since we started Fabulous after 40 we’ve had lots of email from Gals out there who have always had a dream to model, and never did, or who have fallen into modeling since turning 40.
Once such reader is Cheryl , 45, who was actually approached by the North American Modeling Association to do some shots. Here is Cheryl looking fab. She says she works at, it and does a lot of jogging, weights, rollerblading, snowboarding, tennis etc. Inspiring isn’t she?
If you have a passion to model, or would just like the experience of being a model, then we have some exciting news. We’ve become good friends with world-famous model and businesswoman Clarissa Burt.
Super Model Clarissa Burt
Clarissa Burt’s journey to entrepreneur, TV/Video producer, public speaker, author, writer, inventor, award-Winning actress and entertainer has all the makings of a best selling novel. At 18, Clarissa Burt was a top model with the Wilhelmina modeling agency in Manhattan. Soon after she moved to Milan and quickly began appearing on hundreds of magazine covers such as Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and Cosmopolitan.
Read more
If you’ve dreamed of being a model, but figure it’s too late. It’s not! The demand for 40+ models is on the rise.
- Calling all models (even over 40)
Just ask Judy Goss, MORE magazine booking agent and author of:
Break into Modeling For Under $20.00
Judy, a former FORD model is our guest on a one hour podcast that teaches you how to get into the biz without getting ripped off and to answer all your questions about modeling.
This call is not limited to mature models. If you have a daughter, younger friend or co-worker who would love to be a model too, be sure to tell them about this exciting podcast.
How to Break Into Modeling, No Matter What Your Age!
To buy this recording click here!
We’ve been updating our popular ebook: Tweak Your Chic- Mother of the Bride with some lovely new photos, including this one, of a mother of the bride in a one shoulder dress from David’s Bridal.
This is the latest look for special event wear such as weddings, parties and other celebrations.
The one shoulder look is great for 40+ because it is sexy in that it reveals some skin, but not so much where you feel uncomfortable or look or like you are trying to hard. It’s a very beautiful and elegant look. Think Grecian goddess.
At the same time we were oohing and ahhing over the purple David’s Bridal dress we received this interesting email from our reader Wendy who was wondering how to accessorize a one shoulder dress. She wrote:
Hi Glam Gals,
I’m wondering, should only wear earrings (large enough to be noticed, with some sparkle) if I’m wearing a dress with only one shoulder?
That’s a great question and we’re pleased to say our reader is right on with her thinking. If you are going to wear a one shoulder dress you want to keep the emphasis on the shoulder.
If you wore a necklace with the dress you would destroy the look. The necklace would be competing with the beautiful one shoulder feature. The one shoulder draping is a stand alone focal point.
As for earrings, yes, perfect. It’s nice to add some sparkle up by your face. You really have to experiment with earrings because a lot of it depends on how you wear your hair. The main thing is, when choosing earrings, you don’t want your earrings to overpower. Scale is important. They need to work with your size and bone structure.
For example, if you are petite and fine featured, then large, heavy chandelier earrings could ruin the balance. On the other hand a tiny stud or button earring could too uptight and daytime for a party dress like this. A small-medium drop or chandelier earring on the fine side would work best in this case.
Our reader Christyne in a sexy one shoulder
Now, Take a look at this photo. By co-incidence we had another reader, Christyne, email us a photo of herself in a fashion show and what is she wearing but a one shoulder…. but see, no necklace. Doesn’t that look nice?
Finally, one last thing.
The necklace detracts
No necklace works best with this unique neckline
There are a few dresses or tops out there that may seem like a one shoulder, but really aren’t. Here’s an example. This is from our popular post, How to Look like a Knockout in a Necklace.
In this case you still need to forget the necklace. The neckline is so beautiful and being asymmetrical, it doesn’t need anything else. So the bottom line is when you have an unusual neckline like a one shoulder it should be your fashion focal point. Don’t ruin the effect with too much jewelry!
Have you ever worn a one shoulder dress? We’d love to see your photo! Please email us at info@fabulousafter40.com and we’ll post it!
Note: Since this post, one of readers, Kate, sent us a photo of her in a one shoulder she wore last summer.
She tells us she debated about the necklace but in the end decided on it. We think the necklace looks lovely and tasteful.
It seems to work in this situation because the dress looks more like strapless with a bit of a one shoulder than a true swooping asymmetrical one shoulder dress. Well done Kate. You look beautiful!
Hi Glam Gals,
I am probably too old to feature on your blog…
This glam gal is a natural beauty!
I am 66 have long hair and for the first time when nearly 64 I entered and won a model competition to go on the catwalk with footballers.
Won another a couple of weeks later after submitting a recent photo. Last year was selected to represent Miss Germany in an International Pageant and came 2nd in the Mrs Commonwealth UK.
Have had no cosmetic surgery or face filler etc to date.
To me age is just a number and I just make the most of what I have I am also a positive thinker and to me the best is yet to come.
Regards,
Christyne
Thanks Christyne for sharing your story with us and no one is too old to be on our blog!
Many woman are wanting to get into modeling after 40 and it sounds like you are having fun with it!
You say a few things that we like to point out:
- “I have long hair” Your hair is a great length for you. We love that you have a simple cut that shows off your healthy hair!
- “Have had no cosmetic surgery or face filler etc to date.” You look amazing and are obviously a natural beauty!
- “To me age is just a number and I just make the most of what I have I am also a positive thinker and to me the best is yet to come.” This is the kink of attitude that serves you well!! Good luck with your future!
Can you write us back and tell us more on how you found these types of competitions? In the U.S. we don’t seem to have them.
We love to hear from all of you… please comment below! (Below, Chrystine, modeling on the catwalk!)
Wow~ it's hard to believe that she is 66!
We’re going to make a confession that some of you may not want to hear…. We’re not big on gray hair. Sorry, we know it’s vogue to say how wonderful and sexy it is, but we just feel on many women it tends to wash them out and can make them look older.
We do admit, there are women where it works and their gray hair can look stunning, but that’s usually because the woman is usually so darn attractive to begin with, she could wear purple and orange striped hair and still look good! She is also the same woman the color industry labels as a winter or summer, whose hair, when it turns gray, turns that striking silvery white color.
This former model revived her career because she went gray!
On a more positive note, we recently met this beauty, who had modeled professionally and then retired to have a child. The good news is that this over 40 model (actually she is over 50) was able to revive her modeling career, simply by being one of the few to be so bold as to sport her gray locks! She is another one of those gorgeous silver foxes!
It wouldn't matter what color hair this gorgeous woman had, she still looks great!
But that being said, we still feel that being gray can definitely be tricky to pull off.
We know coloring your hair is a pain, yes it totally is!!
Moreover, some of you may say, who cares if you look old(er), you are not a young woman anymore -fine then go gray. We’re just saying if you want to stay looking youthful ( youthful- not ridiculously young) think long and hard about going that route.
We know we’re going to get some flack about this one but that’s o.k. There is no right or wrong in this “gray area”. It’s just our opinion.
One of the most perplexing question we get is:
What do I wear to be casual?
I thought I would share with you what I (JoJami) am up to getting ready to start dressing for fall!
A few months ago I mentioned that I had bought an Orange Jacket from BCBG.
Here is the BCBG jacket as shown on a model
Here is what it really looks like dressed down for casual:(JoJami is with over 40 model, Andrea Bond)
Here is the same jacket in real life!
Just adding a colorful jacket and bright scarf some dark wash jeans can help expand your casual wardrobe!
Having a friend take your photo outside is not the same as getting a professional to do it! Photo credit/ bargainbabe.com
Whether you are working or not, it seems like these days you need a great current picture of yourself!
Are you looking for a new job?
Are you active on a dating site?
Have you have been passing out business cards with your photo on it from 5 years ago? (Time flies, It might be time for a new one!)
What does your Facebook photo look like?
Everyone needs a headshot. There will come a time when you will need one, so you should have it ready. What you might not have realized is how much staging , strategy and preparation needs to go into the perfect headshot.
How do you send out a message about yourself and your business in an authentic and professional way? That is your homework!!! Feel free to call up a few friends and get their input.
What you wear in your head shot is incredibly important.
Here are some things to think about:
- Your outfit should match your brand (if you are a wealth coach, don’t have a picture of yourself on the beach with shorts and t-shirt on)
- The color of your outfit should match your cards and website
- White background is usually the best. Going outside by a tree says amateur!
- Please have your picture re-touched. That means always make sure that the photographer you hire can do “re-touching”…that means they will slightly smooth out your photo so that it will look more professional. You want to make sure you still look like yourself, but just a little better.
- Make sure to wear make-up and if possible, have it done professionally!
Here is one of our clients BEFORE photo... pretty gal, just needed a little "tweaking"
AFTER ... We had her update her hairstyle and wear richer colors that made all the difference!
So to recap head shots:
~think about what color you will wear, so it will match your website
~have a make up person and hair appointment for the day of your shoot
~bring photos of head shots that you like with you to the shoot.
~lean forward in your head shot… you won’t look so stiff (practice in a mirror and see what angels you look best)
~make sure you are dressed in the outfit that will best project the image you want to convey
If you need some coaching to make sure you are ready for your next photo shoot, check out our on line coaching.
Say Cheese!
These over 40 models are from the UK
Dear Glam Gals,
I am really enjoying your blog and the information that you provide. I was just wondering why you continually use young models to display the clothes and styles you suggest women wear who are 40 and over? It seems counter intuitive to suggest that we embrace our age and aging bodies, yet all the styles are shown on young models, who have no bodies and are not anywhere near the age of 40! Of course we all know that clothes look better on models without curves, but doesn’t that just make it harder to embrace our age, our style, and reality? Just wondering…:-)
Thanks. I would love to hear your thoughts!
Sincerely, Wendy B
Hi Wendy,
We get this question all the time and we are frustrated too… you see to there are just no photos of “real women” out there in current clothes that you can buy! We want to be able to show you things that you can go out and buy, but all the stores insists on using ultra young and super skinny models!
A few years back, we were excited to start working with a NYC modeling agency for women over 40, but they went out of business!
That is why we try to find women on the street photos, but it can be frustrating for our readers, since most of the time the outfits the women are wearing was purchased a last season and can’t be found now.
One note, most of the styles that we suggest can be worn on most body types, it is just that they are being modeled by young, thin women!
If anyone has suggestions or ideas we would love to hear them!
