Dear Glam Gals,
Hi, I’m 47 and I hope you can touch on one of my dilemas:
I have a coral color dress that is eyelet material with cap sleeves
and a white crop jacket w/ 3/4 sleeve.
- Would my cream color heels and purse match o.k.?
- What other color shoe could I substitute…I don’t have white.
- Would the turquoise 18″ necklace match o.k.?
- Can nylons with backless sandals work o.k. to cover white legs & varicose veins? (Tanning is not an option )
Here is a photo of my outfit, The Picture is of model and I cut and pasted the jacket and necklace.
Hi!
What a pretty dress and we love the jacket that you are planning to wear with it! Our question back to you is, where are you going? The reason we ask is that we think this is a great outfit for an afternoon lunch, work or a casual wedding.
- We think that since this is a white jacket that you should do a nude shoe with this outfit. If you put on the cream shoe and you like it, it might work.
- Your purse should be a different color than the shoe, otherwise it will look too matchy- matchy.
- Your idea to wear this turquoise is wonderful, however, you have a lot of jewelry you sent us. Pick just the necklace, or just the bracelets with the pin, but don’t wear all of them together. One more note, we can’t really tell for sure, but the necklace looks like it will be a little short and you might want to layer it with a longer gold one.
- Yes, you can wear panty hose as long as the shoe has a closed or peep toe. If it is a true sandal you will need to get different shoes. (check out this post we did on how to wear pantyhose!)
Hope this helps!
Ladies, do you have any suggestions for our reader? Leave your comments below!
Do you have a pair of these type of cage shoes? Let us know how you are wearing them!
The other night when I (JoJami) was getting ready to go out to dinner my husband looked at me and said,
“I love that outfit!” (Yes, he is such sweetie!)
LOL…the funny thing was that I was wearing a dress that I have had in my closet for 3 years and have worn tons of times yet he had never made the comment that he “loved” it before.
What made it look different?
- updated shoes
- borrowed scarf (my mother’s)
Sometimes many of us feel that we have to keep buying new things to update an outfit, however the good news is that sometimes it is just the small things, or what we like to call “tweaks”, that can make all the difference.
Since I am out in Los Angeles right now, I thought I would dare to try out my new “cage” shoes that I bought at the beginning of spring.
At first, to be safe, I only wore them with straight legged jeans, but after seeing so many women in the L.A. area wearing them with a dress, I thought this would be fun to try!
What do you think? It is a very different “look” for me but I am getting more used to it now that I see the photo! Previously I wore this dress with black strappy sandals or in the fall black tights and boots. These cage shoes are an updated accessory that breathes new life into this dress!
In addition, adding a pop of color to the outfit with the scarf was a festive way to change it up and make the dress seem totally different!
This e-book will save you oodles of money and keep you from picking the wrong things.
We love to hear from you! Comment below if you have bought something new and different and are having fun wearing it.
(If you send us a photo, please give us your permission to share it on Fabulous After 40 or Facebook, otherwise we will keep it confidential! info@fabulousafter40.com)
Like this article and want more tips? Are you trying to save money and stretch your wardrobe? Our e-book, Tweak Your Chic~ Tips and Tricks to Building a Wow Wardrobe on a Budget is one that you might really enjoy!
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Another Question from our one of our readers:
I’m really enjoying your blog this morning — your advice is wise and practical, yet fun, too! I’m a 55-year-old empty nester, and a professional freelance writer and artist. For fun, I work part-time as a background extra for feature films.
I’ve always enjoyed clothes and expressing my creativity through what I am wearing. But I can’t tell you how often I’ve been confused by the fashion advice given in magazines and books supposedly geared to women my age. (Most of the clothing for older women is still modeled by MUCH younger women.) One book I recently picked up discouraged wearing prints of any kind; another touted Pucci prints as the fashion solution to everything. So much of what I read for women my age is so contradictory that I remain confused, a little depressed.
At this age, I’ve got the time to reconnect with my creativity and am always looking for new ways to express it. My wardrobe is part of my creativity, and I look forward to exploring new ways to look like me. I’d love to learn how to incorporate trends without looking trendy, and how to wear classics without looking same-old, same-old … I’m especially interested in new ways to wear vintage clothing, as I’ve collected it for years (and often rely on it for my work as a background extra).
Thanks for your help!
Cindy L.
The Glam Gals reply:
The trend these days to looking updated and an easy way to express your creativity when dressing casual is layering. Don’t worry about all the conflicted messages out there… you have to go with your gut when it comes to dressing and if the advice just seems wrong for you feel free to just ignore it!
Now, dressing casual/creative is not as easy as it looks and requires the right basics.
Here are a few of this seasons trends and how to make them age-appropriate:
| 2 Trends that DON’T WORK!
- Drawstring shorts: Shorts with any type of string in the front are all the rage these days, but then you have to keep your shirt tucked in! Much better to go with a flat front short that will give you more options!
- Clunky Gladiator sandals: This trendy style just too heavy-looking with these shorts and they don’t fit well around the ankle. Make sure if you wear this type of sandal you pick a style that is not as clunky.
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| Oh yes!
This is how to go from the boring to FAB!
Let’s break it down:
- flat front short
- cute jacket (might not want to do the belt but the idea of layering with a casual short jacket with sleeves rolled up works well!)
- this strappy sandal is much more sophisticated or you could do a flat nude sandal as well!
- colorful tank (see it peeking out under the jacket?)
- bold necklace and watch
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| Updating your basics!
What better way to show off some of your fun jewelry than with a gorgeous, well-fitting yet comfortable top. This one is from Theory. Classy and a pretty color too! (Nordstrom)
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| Works for us!
Here’s a more casual version of a jacket to pair with shorts or jeans. (Nordstrom) |
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| Is this Pucci print top, over the top ?
Prints are sure in but this top (too short for a dress) is just too much for most to run off to do errands in. (Nordstrom) |
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| Oh Yes to this dress!
This little dress can be machine washed and will always look smart without looking gaudy. These gold shoes dress it up but a cute pair of flat sandals would look perfectly fine too! (Nordstrom)
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Trying out putting some updated trends into her wardrobe.
Here is another letter from one of our readers:
I really enjoy reading your blog and recently signed up. There is so little out there for women turning 50 and I enjoy seeing the styles, reading the questions and hearing your responses.
In Style magazine has a section on people who take an outfit from the magazine and recreate it. I’ve done that, but never send in pictures since I am not in their demographic.
I look in the magazines each season for current looks and figure out ways to incorporate them into my wardrobe. I always read the articles that say “Ten things to wear now” or something like that. I get a lot on inspiration from your website as well.
I’ve seen the two of you do the trends and really enjoy the pictures of stylish women you see on your travels. I would like to see more about woman who go for trends. My wardrobe is more classic now (I turn 50 in October), but I still really like the trends.
Today I was shopping for our trip to Hawaii in June. I wore green skinny cargos, a grey/white checked button down, and metallic sandals, a look I had seen at J.Crew. I bought a pair of wooden soul sandals, like those I wore in the 70s (but lower and amazing comfortable heels), two Ikat print dresses, and a pair of leggings that look like gray sweat pants. I don’t go all out and combine trends. I will add them to more classic pieces, but I know there is probably more I can do.
Thanks for all the advice and good humor. I makes this next transition less an end and more a beginning.
Angela Stalans
Thanks for sharing this with us Angela! You look adorable and totally age appropriate! Great Job!
Cheers, The Glam Gals
I am so excited to be in Florida for April and get a jump-start on what women are wearing when the weather starts to warm up!
So spending a day shopping for some new chairs for our new motor coach, I ran into a few Age-mazing™ women that I thought could help you find some inspiration on how to dress casual when the temperature starts rising! First here’s what I wore. Who says you can’t wear shorts after 40 or even 50!……
| Sometimes we can all learn from others mistakes! After looking at this photo I realized that these black wedges are just too much of a contrast…this outfit would have looked better with some different shoes!
Good Idea: All white flat front long shorts with white vest!
Bad Idea: Black wedge shoe.
This is an easy look, with all white flat front shorts, white short sleeve thin cotton blouse and white long cotton vest. The vest is a way to “cheat” and hide any extra middle weight. I (JoJami) tried the shorts with some black wedge heels, but do not like the way it looks.
I think a nude wedge or flat sandal would have looked better. (Shorts from H & M) |
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 All white is a big trend this summer! However, I am not happy with the black wedge heel. Would look so much better with a nude wedge or flat silver sandal. |
| Meanwhile, here is Sharon Branaman who was hard at work when I stopped her to take her photo. She was especially animated when I asked her about her shoes.
“Oh, these are absolutely my favorite! They are from White Mountain (Zappos) and I have them in several styles.”
Crisp blouse and long shorts that are a little wider
When you are trying to balance out a large bust or thick middle you want to have your shorts a little wider. These white pull on shorts are from Chicos.
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 Sharon Branaman (age 62) looking fab in her shorts! |
| Dressing up your shorts with some funky jewelry!
Layering your jewelry is a grown up way to express your sense of creativity. Love how she dressed up her casual shorts and shirt with these fun pieces. |
 Layering Jewelry is a fun trend to try at any age! |
| Better than tennis shoes!
Love these shoes from White Mountain. They are a great compromise for comfort and still stylish and even have a little heel to give you a lift! (Zappos) |
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| Finally, Babs, in her long paisley skirt was full of fashion advice for us. “I always wear a jacket or shirt open over my tops. It hides my “muffin top”! “
Long skirt and Jean Jacket
Another option to staying cool is wearing a long skirt. (Ellen Tracey) She already had this turquoise top and jean jacket. (Chicos) |
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| This jacket fits nice!
This jacket fits well and has a soft ruffle around the collar. Babs also mentioned that she always rolls up her cuffs. “It gives you an instant lift!”
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When you live in a small town and have to always drive at least 45 mins or more to get to find some decent shopping, it’s really exciting when one of your favorites decides to open up right here in your own back yard.
Yes, Nordstrom is the new darling of department stores here in Wilmington,Delaware! After three years of rumors that they would be coming to town, I (JoJami) recently had the opportunity to get a sneak peek before the doors officially open on Friday, April 7th!
With lovely food, models and a lively band jamming away, the pre-opening Gala was a big hit with the 1,700 guests! Moreover, it was with great joy that I got to mingle with them and all for a good cause… you see, Nordstrom is going to be donating all the money to local charities! That’s the way to come rolling into town and get off to a great start!
So, I snapped a few photos of some sharp-looking Glam Gals to share with you!
Looking subtly wild in animal print!
Taking a black dress and making it work for Spring!
Looking festive in this pretty flowered wrap dress, Linda Kubasek Yenshaw is one of FAF's biggest fans! Just adore her shoes and bag, too!
Regional Shoe Dept. head and JoJami (wearing Trina Turk)
Only 37, but says she loves and reads FAF! She said it has helped her to find a way to express her rocker chic look and still be age-appropriate. Great job!!
This electric blue was the color of the night! However, this gal admitted, "I'm running straight over to the shoe department to go update my boots!"
Hi Ladies,
Is it acceptable for a woman over 40 to wear the combat boots which are popular again? If so, what would be the proper way to wear them? I remember wearing them in the 90′s and how comfortable they were, but I have a feeling that these boots aren’t worn in the same manner this time around. Please advise.
Thanks!
Here is a great example of when an old trend comes around and we are feeling like, do I or don’t I try it again?
We are afraid there is no short “yes” or “no” answer to this.
However here are a few notes to think about before going out shopping.
- We have seen these on older women looking hip and cool but you must have a whole look. The most successful have paired them with something feminine like the outfit above. If you try to do it all black with leather, you a going to look like an older rocker. (which if fine if you are one, but probably not the best look for the rest of us)
- You can wear these with jeans, but again, make sure to show a bit of a feminine touch.(like wearing a dainty necklace).
- If you have a teenage daughter and she is wearing them, you might think twice about trying to do so also. Why not let her have that style and you try something a little different? This is definitely a popular trend with the younger generation and one that is not as easy to pull off as we age.
- If you live in a cosmopolitan city or have a creative job where you like to look trendy, then go for it.
- Or no matter where you live, if you just love the look and want to wear it and feel comfortable, then fine.
- Bottom line, anything really goes these days and if you have the attitude and you really want to try to wear combat boots, then fine.
For our personal taste, neither of us Glam Gals are going to be investing in a pair of combat boots. Our taste leans more to a boot that looks sleek, clean and simple. There are plenty of comfortable boots that are in style other than this trendy look.
Glam Gals say go for the combat boots if you feel like expressing your creative side, but personally we are both going to pass on this clunky trend! I (JoJami) have actually tried on a few pairs (some more radical than others) and felt that they would just not fit into most of my wardrobe. Deborah’s taste is more refined, and they are just not her style.
Would you wear this look? Comment below and let us know your feelings!!
Yippee… the sun is starting to shine again…and we can finally crawl out from under our bulky coats and turtlenecks!
Need an inspiration for transitioning a blah grey dress into Spring? Here it is! Just add a colorful cropped jacket!
So have you started to get the shopping itch yet? We have and we know that every season it’s time to find those few new pieces to perk up our wardrobe especially items that are age appropriate (you know, not too young, too old, but just right!)
This Spring 2011 is all about color…and we ADORE color!!!
Here are a few shopping tips to follow before you start out:
Comment below and let us know what you are thinking of buying or have found that you love!
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Know brands.
This blouse is by Leifsdottir, a high-end brand known for great quality and style. Is it worth the splurge?
YES, since it was at T.J. Max for a steal! |
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Don’t be afraid to add color!
Key pieces like a pair of colorful jeans will perk up any wardrobe! Wear it with a white t-shirt or try color blocking (purple or green shirt). This can be a versatile piece if you think out of the box! (Zara)
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The pencil skirt.
A staple and looks great on most body types! (Zara)
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The Nude Wedge
This one from Bettye Mueller is comfy and casual. (Zappos)
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White Handbag
A white handbag can be a dangerous purchase, because if they are not good quality you can tell.
This one from Cole Haan is gorgeous with the woven leather. (Sacs)
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