This soft stretch dress was comfortable and perfect for shopping and touring!
Are you planning a trip to NYC and don’t know what to wear?
If you are not from a big city and you are worried about traveling back east have no fear…there is an “anything goes” vibe in the air when it comes to dressing.
That being said …if you are a fashionista, it is certainly exciting to do a little research and see what you might want to bring to wear for your upcoming visit.
I (JoJami) was just in the big apple last week and will be doing a series of posts to share with you some of my wonderful adventures!
First item to discuss: What to wear for a day of shopping and tea!
- This snake skin print dress is from Etcetera and is made of jersey knit.
- I could throw it on and off in a dressing room and yet feel good to go out to tea in in.
- If you plan on doing a lot of walking you could always wear a pair of black flat boots and opaque hose instead.
- Most people wear black here…so you can pack all black, throw in a scarf and feel right at home!
- A black cape or heavy sweater (in black or a fun color) would be perfect to top it off!
- If you are coming in the next few weeks make sure to bring gloves and a scarf!
First stop was tea at the Inn at Irving Place . I highly recommend it, the setting was small and intimate and the tea was outstanding! Make sure to book it early it is very hard to get a reservation!
This was a cozy setting and the food scrumptious!
If you have your favorite travel outfit, make sure to send us your photo and we will share it with everyone or just comment below!
What’s worse than dressing too old and frumpy? …Dressing like you’ve shopped in your teenage daughter’s closet! There’s a fine line between looking fabulous or foolish. Here are some Christmas cocktail dresses we found to illustrate the point. (All dresses are from Nordstroms)
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Don’t |
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| Red satin is a bold and dazzling choice so be sure to wear it with class.
When you are young and firm you can get away with most anything, but after 40 more coverage up top and a longer length skirt will ensure you don’t end up looking like aging cocktail waitress. |
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| Baby Doll dresses have been popular in the last few years but on a grown up gal will make you look like you are playing dress-up.
You can still enjoy the ruffle look by wearing a dress with simple clean lines and no cutesy short or puffed sleeves. |
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| The draped look can be very elegant if it’s not overdone. Less is more if you are 40, 50, or beyond. |
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| We love these big collar dresses because they can put beautiful emphasis up by your face.
But at midlife you need to keep this look understated. Not too bright, short or exaggerated. Caution: don’t even go near this look if your arms aren’t in good shape! |
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| What gal can’t resist a bit of sparkle, but this mini on the left with it’s winged shoulders will make a woman 40 or better look like an desperate fashion victim.
We prefer the shift on the right with only a hint of shimmer peaking out from behind some sheer material. You can have fun with this trend, but not in a garish way. |
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| Grrr.. need we say more? If you like animal prints you might as well be a sexy cougar, rather than a baby cub. |
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| Pretty in pink? You can be if you choose to express the color in a sophisticated way.
Keep the cut clean, lean and modest. Stay away from the prom queen look. |
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| Bows. They’re tricky but they’re in style.
Forget the strapless, mini style and go for the regal Jackie O style. The tailored bow on the model on the right gives you much more presence and power than a floppy satin one. |
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| There’s a lot of green out there and it looks fabulous this Christmas.
Thin dress straps look lovely on a gal with perfect shoulders and decolletage, but after 40 they are too harsh. Also, avoid youthful fashion statements like these heavy black hose paired with a cocktail dress.
Opt for a dress like this one on the right with its stunning portrait neckline. It flatters most figures, especially 40+ ones that have experienced a little middle age spread because it balances out hips and shoulders. |
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| If you want to go sheer, do it in a tasteful way. Just a hint will do you. Be sure the rest of you is well covered up. |
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Shopping for our Christmas cocktail dresses we couldn’t help but notice that Black Lace is a huge trend this holiday season. Here’s a few of our favourites:
| For pear shapes:
This beautiful neckline broadens the shoulders and balances the hips making your bottom look more in proportion with your bust.
(Nordstrom) |
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| Tiger Lace:
If you want to look a little more chic than pretty..Love this simple sexy look. The lace is actually underneath the sheer netting that is draped to look like tiger stripes. (Nordstrom) |
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| Elegant:
She almost looks like a ballerina! This is very ladylike and alluring with the lace just at banded waist. Don’t try this look if you are shortwaisted or you will be all band!(Nordstrom) |
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| Romantic:
Very pretty but make sure this isn’t too short on you or it will look like you are wearing a nightie. (Nordstrom) |
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| Pink and Black Lace:
A flirty hinit of pink underneath this easy to wear sheath is great if you wory that all too much black lace will wash you out.(Nordstrom) |
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To accentuate your waist:
The scalloped edging is a gorgeous detail, and we like that the band and bow are not overpowering. (Nordstrom) |
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Do you dress to express your personality?
Every Monday, we share with you some out of the box topics from our friends called The Blogging Boomers. This week we had so much fun reading about a couple from Florida who has taken the word “whimsical” to a new level!!
Here is their home, fondly known as the Bowling Ball House, since it all started when they were at a flea market and took home a pile of free bowling balls!
Do you agree, there is a good chance that the owners are probably just as colorful?
This might be an extreme example, but it got us thinking on how so many women have forgotten how fun it can be to dress in a way that is more colorful and festive!
Today, we challenge you to look in the mirror and ask yourself, do I dress in a way that really expresses my personality?
Please comment with your thoughts below.
This weeks Blogging Boomers Carnival #142 host is Wendy Spiegel, at Gen Plus,where you can read more wild articles on sex, business, and science.
Nothing is more energizing than running off to NYC to attend the More Magazine Reinvention Convention.
We Glam Gals had a great time connecting with old and new Age-mazing™ women who as usual thrill us with their sense of style and joy!
Here are a few of the women who stood out in over 500 attendees!
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Mika Brzezinski from MSNBC’s Morning Joe was the emcee. Looking fine in her outfit from J McLaughlin she stood out as a shining example of how mixing color can be so effective. |
 Judy Goss, reporter for Better TV, looking hot in this leopard print dress |
Judy Goss (author of How to Break Into Modeling for Under $20) was there looking stunning in this leopard dress, reporting for Better TV. |
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Kim rocked this simple yellow dress with the perfect accessories. Her layered strand of pearls, gray pumps, black cardigan were all pulled together with her gorgeous new Channel glasses and red lipstick! |
 Author Sherrie Mathieson with her newest book, Steal this Style |
Here we are with our buddy Sherrie Mathieson who was promoting her newest book, Steal This Style. She had on a gorgeous cashmere sweater coat that she belted and pared with leggings,a scarf and flat boots. (and yes, that is a Hermes bag she is carrying…YUMMY!) |
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These types of wraps were all the rage. Looking comfy but certainly stylish was this lovely lady from NY. We also featured this necklace in a post few months back. For buying info click here. |
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Lauren-Crowell-Nugent from Talbots was sporting a blue cape fastened with a feather pin. Wow! Did she look gorgeous! Her pants also from Talbots were there signature brand and they fit her great! |
 Deborah, More editor-in chief Lesley Jane Seymour, JoJami |
Here we are with Lesley Jane Seymour, Editor of More Magazine. Deb has on her Tibi dress and I have on my Tibi skirt! Lesley shared that she has not been inspired to shop this year and have found most of the clothes in the stores these days “dreary”. Instead she has bought a few new accessories like the pretty bronze, chunky necklace that she has on to update her current wardrobe. |
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This years event was packed and we sure enjoyed all the speakers! Congrates to More’s staff to pulling of another wonderful day of reinvention, inspiration!
Tags: Age-Mazing Women, Better TV, dress, Fashion, Glam Gals, Judy Goss, Lauren-Crowell-Nugent, Mika Brzezinski, More Magazine, More Magazine Reinvention Convention, Style Events, Talbots, Tibi
At Versailles in Vivienne Tam
There’s still a few weeks left of summer, so if you are traveling to Europe and wondering what to wear we have a suggestion for you.
Deb At The Louvre in Diane Von Furstenberg
Make your life easy and just pack dresses!
When I was in France this summer with my husband and three children traveling around Provence, and then up to Paris for a few days, I found dresses were the perfect travel wear.
It was far too hot to wear pants,and shorts would have felt wrong, so I opted for dresses which took up hardly any space in my suitcase, made me feel feminine and were cool and comfy.
For a twelve day trip I packed 8 dresses: 7 casual, 1 slightly dressier. (You could get away with 5-6, but I like to have a few extras to choose from depending on my mood that day.)
In Provence wearing Trina Turk
During the day I wore these cute sundresses with flat gold or black sandals and a carried a large black tote (to carry souvenirs I was buying along the way!). At night I added jewelry, scarves and small heels for a dressier look.
At Jardin du Luxembourg
Now, we were on a family sightseeing trip. We were driving through the lavender fields and visiting the the quaint French countryside towns in Provence. In Paris we were doing the typical tourist things – The Louvre, The Eiffel Tower,Versailles, Le Concierge, the Seine River Cruise etc.
Deb in Eli Tahari
It was not a romantic couple’s vacation where we were slipping off to fancy Parisian restaurants and night clubs. If so, I would have packed differently and brought some dressier date night things.
But for this kind of day tripping, my summer dress wardrobe worked beautifully. What a relief to open my suitcase, slip on my dress of the day and walk out the door.
If you’re looking for a cute summer dress, Nordstrom’s and Saks carries all of these favourite brands!
It is easy to feel frumpy after 40, especially when life in general is all about dressing casually. I (JoJami) was out on a group hike over the weekend, and was chatting with a fellow hiker about her frustrations with her everyday dressing techniques.
Dresses are a great summer option to shorts or capris
Hiker Sue: I am petite and my middle has spread, even though I exercise and eat moderately. I am not interested in looking fashionable, I just want to dress age appropriately.
JJ: I understand how you feel, we hear the same story from our FAF readers all the time who write us and complain that they can’t find anything at the store anymore.
Hiker Sue: What I do now is wear the same “uniform” that works for me. I love khaki pants and simple t-shirts. I also find that I don’t wear heels much anymore, because I like to be comfortable when I walk around town.
JJ: Well, have your tried putting little dresses into your casual wardrobe? They are so wonderful, you feel more feminine and you can wear flats or heels with them.
Hiker Sue: You know, a lot of women have given up wearing dresses because of chaffing! Their thighs rub together and it makes wearing dresses really uncomfortable!
JJ: Actually, I have not really thought about that!!! Thanks for bringing it up!!
Oh my, chaffing thighs under dresses is a terrible problem. But ladies, there is a solution!
If you find wearing dresses uncomfortable, we highly recommend that you wear some shapewear under your dress. The little “bike short” style is just perfect to go under any sundress and will totally eliminate the chaffing problem. We found a ton of these over at Bare Necessities in a variety of styles and sizes. Make sure you grab the thigh slimmers that have a flat band around the leg opening so they don’t roll up, and long enough for comfort (probably right above the knee). Not only will they stop your thighs from rubbing together, they will smooth out your legs and midsection too!
So we hope you will go out and try on a new dress and add it to your casual wardrobe. Find some cute flats and also some matching heels and see how you feel!
Then send it in and let us share it !!!
Have you ever looked at something in the store and thought, “Nah,I’m not going to try it on. It’s probably not for me..I don’t think?”…. and then you walked away?
Well, this summer I (Deborah) nearly walked away from two winners.
 Looked kind of baggy on the hanger |
 Deborah in her new favorite comfy dress! |
The first was a simple navy blue Diane Von Furstenberg dress with a nautical feel. It had a cute scoop neckline, billowy sleeves and a darling rope belt. I liked it, but I was sure it would be too loose and billowy, and would make me like I was wearing a big old bag.
But then I thought…. what the heck, I’ll try it.
To my surprise, it was actually very fitted through the waist and hips and looked really cute on me. It’s so comfortable too, and looks great with my red canvas Ralph Lauren wedges.
 I wasn't sure about this one |
 Deborah says, "You can still feel glam even going casual!" |
The second near miss was another Diane Von Furstenberg dress…..this one had a simple cut and the material had a wild colorful pattern. Now, normally I don’t wear many patterns, but I was really attracted to the colors in this dress. I also like things that nip in at the waist and this looked more just a straight up and down style. It didn’t have the greatest rack appeal but, but I just had a feeling.
It’s now become my new favorite dress. It’s cute and comfy and I can dress it up and down. I have had a million compliments, and most important of all I feel fantastic in it. Here’s me on my way to my girlfriend’s new country house for a casual summer dinner.
So what’s the lesson here? If you’re not sure, try it on anyway. It sure worked for me! Oh, and do check out Diane Von Furstenberg. She’s on of my favorites. Saks carries a lot of her clothes.
