This belt is not flattering and the bow is too cutesy for my taste!
Here is a dress that I (JoJami) have had in my closet for a while. I love how comfortable it is, but the self belt made this dress look too cutesy pie, looking for me. Also, it sort of made my tummy look fat. So I tried it with a wide leather with stretchy in the back belt that I bought recently and it updated the dress immediately! It is also much more figure flattering!
So, why not go in and see what dresses you have that you can change out the belt and look better!
Lucky me, (JoJami) was off to Paris for Mother’s Day and just got back!
My mother JoBee and JoJami in Paris!
Paris is one of my all time favorite cities and I have not been back in a few years so I was super excited to see what women over 40 were wearing these days!
Here we are…my mother in her new Cop Copine jacket and me in my orange, BCBG jacket that I bought last month (see post)…This jacket ended up being my everyday go to piece.
Even though it was May, it can still be cold there, so everyone was usually bundled up the entire time and layering and throwing on a scarf for warmth and style!
We found a charming and colorful scarf shop called Mandalas, and picked up a few there! (JoBee has her new scarf on!)
One morning, I stopped these two Fashionista’s for a quick photo shoot.
Ended up they were from Seattle, WA on a girlfriends trip to shop vintage. (The gal on the left was on a quest to find a weddingdress, Marilyn, on the right is a jewelry desinger!).
Gals on the street!
These two gals were looking stylish for being past 40 and 50! I was so surprised to find out that they were not French but Americans!They were sporting the all black look,that is so prevalent over there!
Vintage Prada
I saw shiny metallic shoes, handbags and tops, all over the place…on the young and not so young!
Talent and Style:
Chunky statement jewelry! Bigger is better on the streets of Paris. This is Marilyn’s own design, from her wholesale company, MB Beads!
Sequins go from day to evening:
It is hard to see in this photo, but under her lightweight ruffled jacket,she had on a gorgeous black sequin top that she had layered with a black long sleeved t shirt. It was one of their vintage finds…
Leggings and low heels:
How FAB are these little low heeled shoes with her leggings!
Dark skinny jeans and comfy flats:
Paris Hilton flats look perfectly great on her with her skinny dark jeans and sparkle top!
The best accessory is always a pooch!:
I could not believe all the women running around in high heels… This wonderful, Age-mazing gal came into the restaurant with her Burberry trench, oversised handbag, high heeled black pumps, large sunglasses, leggings and a dog!
She had just had her hair done at a local salon, it was short and very sassy! JUST LOVE the entire look!
Even the food is dressed up!
The women were lined up in all the pastry shops.How they stay so thin is a mystery to me!
This yummy cake was topped with sweet, wild forest strawberries.
When packing for a trip, it is smart to "try out" the outfits first!
When you are off to a trip, it can be mind wracking trying to plan what to wear!
So when packing for a trip it is great to make your outfits up first and then see how many different “looks” you can create.
We found that interior designer, Heather Clawson from Habitually Chic® has done just that with impeccable taste as she prepares for an upcoming trip to LA.
To see more wonderful outfit choices, you can visit her site, here!
Thisis dramatic and stunning! Don't forget the black scarf that tops it off!
Notes:
Flat shoes are comfortable and stylish
Love the oversized white tote
Simple colors all mix and match
Heather has expensive taste, however you can achieve these looks for much less and use them as inspiration!
Layering is always a good idea when heading out west, since you can never be sure it it will be hot or cold!
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 gets the “Glam Gals” seal of approval, from our new collection of Stella and Dot jewelry! We have priced this jewelry and compared the style and quality to other brands and can confidently say that we think this is the best value out there!
Have fun and try a cuff!
They make a chic fashion statement and sure can 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 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!
I would love your advice on how not to look frumpy when I have to wear clunker shoes because of foot problems. Because of an old skiing injury, I have been unable to wear heels since I was in my 20’s, which makes it hard to look and feel sexy, or even professional, when I want to dress up. I’m limited to certain brands of shoes recommended by my foot doctor and orthopedic surgeon so it’s not just a matter of being able to wear flats.
For example, I’d love to wear leggings this Fall as shown in the photo on your website, but I can’t wear heels.
I’d appreciate any advice you can give me. Many thanks!
- Nancy
Dear Nancy,
We sure wish we could wave a magic wand with your problem, but it is not that simple. However, your problem is one that many women face. We get letters all the time from women that can not wear heels.
That being said, you can still look fabulous but just have to try styles that might not be the latest trends.
The good news for you is that with styles changing so often, almost anything goes when it comes to pant styles.
When you are stuck having to wear clunky shoes, there are several things to make sure you do not do. First off, is leggings will be out of the question for you. Since the style is really a “pencil” shape, no matter what you do, legging will just not look good with a clunky shoe. Instead, you will need to opt for any pant that has a wide leg and (or) has some flair at the bottom.
This will still be stylish, and you can wear almost any shoe. Also, there are some great brands of shoes out there that do sell some comfortable shoes that don’t look orthopedic.
Here are some styles from Zappos.com that we suggest:
These Taryn Rose flats are comfy and stylish
Actually if you can wear this type of flat shoe you could still wear it with a skinny jean and look great!
This is good with pants only!
Once you have to start wearing more orthopedic looking shoes like these, you can easily see that style starts going out the window.
Another simple but elegant choice
However once again, if you wear these with the right style of well-fitted pants, you will still look great!
So what do you do when you are turning 50, your husband has just passed away and you want to do something daring and different? If you’re Janis Irwin, you go out and learn to ride a motorcycle and then ride it across the country and back…all by yourself!
Recently at a local wine tasting event in West Chester, PA, I (JoJami) spotted this Age-mazing™ women. I was drawn to her beautiful coat and entire ensemble of a turquoise necklace, snazzy boots, cool helmet and sunglasses! Of course I had to go up to her and chat her up!
She was beaming when she shared with me her inspirational story of how she packed up only the essentials (including a nice dress and a pair of heels) and went on a cross country adventure, solo on her motorcycle.
She calls herself, a “Barbie Biker” because she has her own feminine style of biker dressing. “Many women think you have to dress like a tough girl in head to to black, Harley Davidson attire,” says Janice. ” I found the more I got into the sport, the more I realized that it’s only the beginers that dress that way. I love to be able to get off my bike and feel like I’m still me and not this alter ego.”
Well Janis, we agree that you look gorgeous and classy in your outfit!
As for her day job, Janis runs her own interior design firm.
Do you have a job with a fun hobby? We want to hear from you!
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!
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!
The skirt is Carole Little and this blouse came from Express! (the blouse is a halter wrap around, so you you don’t have to tuck it in!)
The shoes are Via Spiga…they are so comfortable!!!
This Fab statement piece is by Stephanie Greenfield
Your necklace really makes your outfit! Is there a story behind it?
LOL… Well I just bought it on my trip and the funny thing is, I was reading Cosmopolitan Magazine on the plane just now, and here it is featured on page 65!
Well, I love Paris and last time I went I treated myself to one special thing… you know this bracelet probably cost more than my entire outfit, but I like to mix things up!
Lalique bracelet...a treat from Paris
One last question, do you always dress nice like this?
You know, I find that it is just as easy to put on something like this on than a pair of jeans, and I’m actually more comfortable. You don’t have to spend a lot on clothes to look nice!
Well you look terrific!
So ladies… the proof is in the pictures! By injecting some linen and wonderful accessories into your wardrobe, you may be a little wrinkled but you can still look FAB!
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!
Well, as you might have heard, I, (JoJami) was in NYC last week when the rain totally blew my plans to visit the Botanical Gardens, however… not one to complain, I decided to check out the shopping!
When in NYC I always love to check out Bergdorf Goodman for just the plain decadence and to check in on what the creme de la creme of society is buying. With classic labels such as Chanel and Armani surrounding you on one side and the hottest newcomers on the other, the entire experience can really get your creative juices flowing and have you seriously contemplating getting a second job!
Anyway….I digress… what I wanted to share with you was the highlight of my BG experience was chatting with one their sales associates. She was super friendly and looked so gorgeous I had to ask her if her dress was a Missoni!
How old do you think she is?
YES it was but she got it last year! (BTW, She is 52 and a grandmother). She had updated it with a big chunky necklace from Anthropology and the shoes are from Zara.
It’s amazing how many places you can find to wear some of this summer’s best dresses! We found a ton of great styles at Nordstrom’s, all under $150! Check out how you can wear them to all your summer destinations.
At the beach.
Accessorize with: A wooden beaded necklace and sunscreen.
To a barbeque.
Accessorize with: Flat, embellished sandals and a sauce stain.
As a bathing suit cover up.
Accessorize with: A big floppy straw hat and shades.
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?
I wear glasses and love to wear jewelry but I always worry that the look is too heavy. What are the rules for eyeglass wearers?
Thanks,
Timas
Hi Timas,
This is an excellent question. Your eyeglasses are definitely an accessory and need to be recognized and counted.
Here are some rules to follow:
Take note of what color your glasses are. Are they silver, gold, or bronze? The rest of your jewelry, belt and purse hardware should coordinate.
Do your eyeglasses match your wardrobe style? If you like to wear traditional clothes, your glasses should be traditional. If your style is more modern, then your glasses should be modern too. If you live a double life and dress one way for work and another on your days off, consider having several pairs in different styles! There’s lots of funky colored and patterned glasses out there that are fun for weekends.
Glasses and earrings should not fight each other! Since glasses are more prominent than earrings, let your earrings just be a nice accent. They should not compete for attention.
Are your glasses competing with your face shape? Balance is the key here. If you have a round face, try glasses that have a boxy or more rectangle look to them. Have a long face, then try a rounded lenses. Oval? You’re lucky, most any shape of glasses will look good on you!
What about necklaces and glasses? If you like bold necklaces, keep the earrings to a minimum. Once again, keep your look harmonious. If you have fun funky glasses, you will be able to pull off clunky jewelry. Fine jewelry, works best with the rimless types frames.
Love jewelry and don’t know where to draw the line? One easy rule of thumb is: if you think it looks like too much, it probably is. However, if you’re really stumped, send us a photo of your look and we will analyze it~ info@fabulousafter40.com
In a previous newsletter, we talked about how a simple thing like updating your accessories can take you from Frumpy to Fabulous in 10 minutes. This week we have another great example of that for you. Take a look at the subtle changes we’ve made to this all black outfit and how they make a world of difference to the overall look.
BEFORE THE TWEAK Conservative, safe. She looks very average and out of date.
AFTER TWEAK YOUR CHIC Much more fashionable, hip and up to date. She radiates confidence! Let’s take a closer look at what we’ve done, below…
Before Necklace:
This wooden chunky necklace is lovely on its own, but paired with this outfit, it’s not the best choice. Notice how the gold on the necklace fights with the pewter on the belt…not a harmonious look. Also the jacket has such a beautiful neckline that this necklace detracts from that. It’s a little too short.
After Necklace:
Much better now. We’ve switched the gold necklace for the pewter necklace to work with the pewter belt. We’ve also gone with a different style of necklace. It’s longer and has multiple strands- which is very in vogue right now. Notice how the multiple strands mirror the draping of the fabric at her neckline. Also the combo of cool brown and pewter is a very modern combination.
Before Belt:
This first belt is a little too thin and the rhinestones make it look dated.
After Belt:
We replaced the thinner belt for this wide pewter belt. Wide belts are a hot item this year. It makes the outfit look much more modern, and really shows off her shape.
This Chanel style handbag is very ordinary and on the small side. The gold hardware is too shiny to go with the pewter belt and necklace.
After Handbag:
This large, textured purse totally changes the feel of this outfit from conservative to fashion forward. Now this outfit has personality! Pewter hardware synchronizes the look.
Before Boots:
We see many woman trying to wear 3/4 high boots with skirts and dresses. These boots hit the leg at a funny place and are not very flattering. Better to wear them under pants or a long skirt.
After Boots:
These stretch boots come fit like a glove, up to the knee are both flattering and comfortable. We suggest you invest in a pair of tall boots that fit the calf nicely. Choose a refined heel like this if your outfit is dressy.
We find that many women fall into a style rut and start looking really frumpy but they can’t figure out what they’re doing wrong. It’s not always that you need a complete makeover. Sometimes, it’s the little things, like your accessories, that you just need to update. A simple change of accessories can instantly take you from Frumpy to Fabulous.
Here’s How to Tweak Your Chic with the Right Accessories:
Before All Brown
This is the classic button down shirt dress. Our model is wearing it exactly how they sell it with the matching belt. The accessories are pretty plain, basic. We call this the lazy way to accessorize. You just match everything up, not much thought has gone in to it. It is very drab and predictable.
After All Brown
This outfit has attitude. It’s got a safari theme going on and the accessories are up to date and modern. They are also larger and more in proportion to this gal’s size and shape. The punch of color in the accessories gives it life.
Before Necklace
We all some version of a plain gold necklace like this in our jewelry boxes left over from the 80’s. They’re sentimental usually, and real gold after all, so that’s why we like to wear them. But a necklace like this looks too fine, elegant and basically lost on her neck, and on such an earthy dress.
After Necklace
The Safari feel of this dress calls for chunky, earthy jewelry. This necklace is much more adventurous. It has lots of color, interesting, irregular beadwork, and the gold is weathered and more rustic. The nice thing about the colored beads is that they add some brightness to her face and open the door to introduce color into this outfit in other places.
Before Belt
This is the belt that comes with the dress, same material as the dress, thin and floppy. Women assume that’s what they should be wearing with it, when it really just a suggestion. Don’t feel locked into this. Changing the belt will kick your dress up a few notches.
After Belt
This belt not only looks ten times better from a style point of view, but it gives our model and amazing figure. Look at the waistline! The belt has stretch in back and braiding in the front –almost rope like –like vines in the jungle. The color makes the dress pop as compared to a belt of the same color and the texture gives this flat shiny dress a big style boost. The touch of patent on braiding makes it very current as compared to just a braided belt with no shine. Of course, the wideness of this belt is very much now too. Lesson here-change the belt.
This is classic quilted Chanel style, very 80’s and too elegant and ladylike for this dress. Also it’s very small for her –more of an evening purse. The black color does not enhance the brown. It just drags it down.
After Handbag
This bag is much more substantial and works well with the big heavier belt and more adventurous feel of this dress. This bag is current because of size, and because it has lots of hardware and is finished with sophisticated patent leather. The earthy moss color is a fantastic complement to the brown. It’s nice to have a pop of color in your purse. You don’t have to match belt to purse. That’s a very old rule.
Before Shoes
These brown wedges are sensible and too generic. You want something sexier to match with the bag and belt. These shoes would go better with a patterned dress than a plain dress. This plain dress needs livening up.
After Shoes
These are a wow shoe. They have personality. With a plain dress you need a focal point and if you have good legs play them up with a pair of head turning shoes. These are colorful, textured (suede and snakeskin-very jungle like) and very sexy.
So in summary, take a plain dress and decide on a theme. Punch it up with current accessories that are colorful and have texture to give your outfit more personality.
Tweak Your Chic by making these simple adjustments and you’re sure to look fabulous at any age!
Dear Glam Gals,
