Every month we have a contest and this month we are super exited to introduce you to a new line of beauty products that are all natural and made specificly for womens skin that is 35 plus!
La Isha skincare founder, Sharon Gnatt
La Isha products were founded by the lovely Sharon Gnatt who started her company after her son had been exposed to toxic chemicals and needed help healing his skin. She happened to work with a docotor who used only natural oils and his son was like new in no time. This prompted her to do more research and the result has been her new line of beauty products made of all natural products and features essential oils.
We have tried the entire line. My (JoJami’s) opinion is that your first reaction is that it smells so clean and natural and heavenly! Then I love the way the products feel on my skin! The oils give your face a nice “glow” and really hydrates!
These products get this Glam Gals seal of approval!!
One of the products we found to be really interesting is the SOS Breast oil. The testimonials are impressive for this product that is the first natural, synthetic-free topical serum designed to support the beauty and health of the breast and décolleté.
To enter the contest click here and find out more about this amazing skin care line.
Welcome to our Fabulous After 40, community!
We are The Glam Gals, Deborah Boland (the blond) and JoJami Tyler (the brunette), over 40 fashionista’s and image consultants here to help you “tweak your chic™“. We talk fashion here and try to keep it light and fun while encouraging and educating you on how to find flair after 40!
We hope you will sign up for your bi-weekly newsletter and come back often to share your comments and insights with us! We look forward to hearing from you!
Pictures don’t lie! It is amazing how many of us imagine ourselves one way and in reality look another! Nothing like a reality check!
Take for example one of our readers Janet O. who thought she might have to give up this dress…
Hello Glam Gals,
When is short too short? I have several dresses that hit me above the knees. I am not a fan of my knees (I call them “thnees” – thighs that merge into my knees with no definition) but these dresses are so comfy I continue to wear them.
What do you think? Time to hang them up?
~Janet O
HI Janet…LOL..love your new term! However, you don’t have “thnees”, you have nice knees and you look great in your dress!!!
Keep on keeping on! Your wedge shoes, long necklace and bangles, really look updated too!(so does your hair, the little that we can see of it!)
Your dress is much better than a boring pair of khakis and a polo shirt yet you look totally comfortable and chic.
Thanks for sending us your photos!
The Glam Gals
Can Janet pull this dress off? She thinks she has ugly knees!
Yes, she can! Her legs are beautiful!
This Glam Gal has an updated look and great style!
So many of you have written to us with the age old question, “Can I still wear long hair when I am over 40?”, that we thought we could get everyone to chat more about it!
Glam Gals say, "yes!" to long hair, as long as you keep it groomed!
The Glam Gals take on long hair: We are not against ladies wearing long hair, but we don’t think we can just make it a blanket statement. Here are some guidelines that we suggest:
Long hair looks “nifty” if:
You have super healthy hair
You have the right face shape for long hair (oval or long)
You keep it trimmed up regularly and don’t let it go too long
Long hair is “iffy” when:
You hair is too thin
You wear it with those “puffy” bangs or “wings”
You wear it down to your waist
You end up wearing up in a bun all the time or using clips to hold it back.
If you have super thick hair, beware it can really drag your face down and be aging if you wear it too long! (but don’t cut too short either)
Here is one of our readers, Julie Srhir (age 51). She is an excellent example of someone who is wearing long hair and rocking it!!
One more note…
Long hair is a very “romantic”, soft look. If you are working in a corporate environment or one that is very competitive, you might consider a shorter style or keeping it pulled back for those times that you want to look more professional. Check out some of these makeovers on long hair.
Too see more examples of great hair ideas, check out Christopher Hopkins book, Staging Your Comeback!
If you have a question about your long hair, send us your photo or comment below!
Is your closet running out of room for shoes? There is a good reason for that! Because many of us LOVE to buy them, if we don’t get rid of the old ones, they can start piling up pretty fast!
When you think about it , if you just buy 4 or 5 pairs of new shoes every year, in 10 years you could have over 50 pairs of shoes!!!
(Almeda Marcos…we totally understood your shoe fetish, if we had all your money, we might have 200 pair too!)
So, if you can relate to this, then we are going to give all you shoe loving gals some homework…
Get into that closet and toss out the old, out of date ones that you are not wearing anymore! And don’t forget to get rid of the ones that are hiding out in those dusty boxes on top of your closet!
We are going to show you what shoes are in style and so when you go out shopping you can bring some home and have a place to put them!
We recently had a chat with Philadelphia shoe diva, Sherri Guggenheim of ViVi G shoes, in Glenn Mills, PA.! This Glam Gal gave us great tips on what to look for to update your shoe wardrobe!
We asked Sherri what styles are selling well for women over 40 this Spring.
Here are her tips:
It is all about the wedge! They are comfortable and give those of us who would like a few more inches, some height!
Because of the strap, this shoe will stay on your foot!
The wedge is comfortable and stylish!
Cork, raffia bottom. Patten leather are all the rage! You can wear them day into night with long shorts or a skirt or with skinny jeans
If you need an “upscale” casual flip flop, metallic is very popular and neutral!
You won't be sorry if you buy a pair of metallic or animal print sandals. They will go with everything!
This is a colorful preppy look that is age appropriate!
Fabulous flat Spring colors.. Purple, berry pink,turquoise, pale pink , coral, baby blue suede in spring…can carry you into fall.
Little wedge sandal flip flop is stepped up with a love knot.(by Dianne Von Furstenburg)
Snakeskin is IN, and it can be a winner with a basic black or a solid colored dress or pants!
Because there is so much color and pattern out there for Spring, the Nude Shoe is a must have.
Or you might see snakeskin, a lot, it is very current. It can also be be worn as a neutral.
Finally, if you are not wanting to wear color all over or just want to really jazz up an outfit, try popping it with a color!
This is suede and it can be worn from Spring into Summer and transition into fall nicely too!
If there is one item in the closet that must be super comfortable and yet fashionable, it has to be your shoes!
Join JoJami for, Shoes, Chews and Chocolates, too! Thursday, May 20th, 6:30-8:30 pm
Do you have your favorite or have you updated your “go to” shoe for Spring?
Well, if you are ready to perk up your shoe wardrobe and get the tips of what will look best on you, join me for my upcoming Private Shoe Event!
Shoes, Chews and Chocolates, too!
We are going to eat, sip and try on shoes at Philadelphia’s most unique shoe store! All shoes are from unique European designers, that you won’t see in department stores!
Come join Glam Gal, JoJami Tyler, for this Special Shoe event!
Does it make you look, too old, too young, or just right?
Then email a picture of yourself in the clothing in question and we’ll let our readers be the judge. We’ve got a whole community here waiting to give you their opinion on How to Look Fabulous after 40….., and of course we’re happy to share our GLAM GAL opinion too!
We’d love to hear from you because it is our pleasure to help guide you, and have some fun with fashion.
Just mail us at info@fabulousafter40.com
(We’ll never let anyone post a nasty comment, and we certainly don’t bite!)
This week we are hosting The Blogging Boomers Carnival #156 and we are excited to introduce you to our blogger friends! The one thing this group has in common is that we all blog on a variety of Boomer topics. So here they are…Enjoy!
SoBabyBoomer tells us that the decision not to remarry is part of the fastest-growing subset of cohabiting couples in the U.S. nowadays — those permanently engaged boomers.
On her long-term backpacking trip, Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels begins her adventure in Mexico’s fabulous Copper Canyon, but first she has to get through an eight hour bus ride that is stopped and searched five times by the Mexican Federal Police.
Should the expression ““Happy Wife, Happy Life” be changed to “Happy Life, Happy Wife”? LifeTwo’s columnist Laurie Israel thinks so and says why.
Vaboomer welcomes Spring. Watch live cam of a bald eagle nest in New Jersey with mama eagle and babies!
It’s All About Aging wants to know if you know what’s in the finance reform bill that could hurt entrepreneurs? Check out the new proposed regulations for angel investors.
You’ve seen hundreds of those lists of 10 top cities to retire to. Here’s another one the Boomer Chronicles likes.
Janet at Gen Plus brings you an inside perspective on life coaching.
Finally, in case you missed this one from us Glam Gals:
Catherine Zeta-Jones always tries to look her best!
Here is an inspiring headline we saw recently:
Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones doesn’t dress down – even when she does the food shopping.
Catherine Zeta-Jones commented: I owe it to my fans to wear my best when I go to the supermarket.
The Glam Gals have chatted endlessly about what to wear to the grocery store and we feel the same way as Catherine does; there is no reason not to try to look your best when you go out.
That being said, you can still look great and be comfortable, but it takes some strategy.
First you need to have your “going to the grocery store” outfit all ready.
This outfit should consist of:
cute but comfortable shoes or flat boots
stretch pants or stretch dress
coordinating stretch top
if your having a bad hair day, then you will need a cute cap
The fun part is gathering all the pieces, and then finding a special hook or spot where the entire outfit is always ready to go.
Most women don’t need more than 1 going to the grocery store outfit per season, since you rarely run into the same person when you’re out.
However, If you shop a lot ,you may want to have a 2 or 3 slightly different versions of your shopping outfit. So instead of creating one going shopping outfit you would create a going shopping module. Modules are a way of dressing that save you tons of time and money while giving you more versatility. To find out more about how to create your own wardrobe modules you can read our ebook Chic on the Cheap- How to create a wardrobe on a budget.
We recently tried this new body butter from ecoTools and we absolutely loved it!
This body lotion smells wonderful and is 98% natural!
ecoTOOLS has introduced a brand-new line of environmentally-friendly bath & body care products. The liquid line is 98% from nature, paraben-free, phthalate-free, dermatologist-tested and cruelty-free.
It really did moisturize, soften and we loved the clean fresh smell!
We all have to moisturize, so why not do it with products that are good for our skin and the enviorment.
This product gets the Glam Gals seal of apporoval!
How about those matching oven mitts! photo: www.washingtonion.com
In a recent story fromwww.washingtonian.com , they showed this age appropriate outfit as “What to wear to a Christmas cooking party”
They also suggest, “For a casual meal at home, stick to comfy flats, cozy cardigans, and cheery kitchen accessories [those cute oven mitts!]. Short sleeves will stay out of your way in the kitchen, a tweed skirt adds both texture and a touch of class to the ensemble, while a cranberry-based color palette keeps the whole thing holiday-oriented.”
What a great idea…first off, we love that is it NOT Christmas themed.. PLEASE …we women over 40 and have had enough of those darn ugly Christmas sweaters! AMEN!
Also, this printed t-shirt is a bargan at $48.00 from Torn Cristy.
The Tory Burch flats (Zappos.com) could be any brand and still look nice!
One note, we usually DONT like the tucked in look on most over 40 bodies..so beware of that!
That being said, how about tucking it out with a nice hip belt and some tight jeans!
Get inspired…what a great mix of neutrals and color!
Moreover, you can have fun looking in your closet to see if you can pull a classy, but casual outfit together!
FAF reader, Cindy Mellow, in her recent wedding on the beach
Where do you turn to for advice when you are getting married for the second time and you want to make sure you look age-appropriate? Call on the Glam Gals, of course!
Looking Age-mazing™ for a wedding or any special occasion can be a challenge when your over 40 and want to make sure you not trying to look too young or too old.
With our e-book, Tweak Your Chic™,Dressing for the Mother of the Bride, we have a plan on how to approach shopping for any special occasion not just weddings! This e-book is packed with tips and a worksheet to make shopping a breeze for any upcoming event.
Here is are just a few of the issues we solve:
Finding the right dress for your body type
How to pick the perfect accessories
Where do I start?
For all of December, when you buy our e- book, we will be happy to answer up to 5 style questions (via e-mail) that you might have. Just write and e-mail us photos for us to review to: info@fabulousafter40.com
It’s no secret that the Glam Gals adore and are inspired by anything French. We have both traveled the country extensively and find the allure of the French woman so fascinating with the way they always seem to to be sexy, sophisticated and effortlessly put together.
What I enjoyed so much about this book was how the author, who happens to be English, delves deep into the mysterious realm of the day to day habits of the French woman and discovers some interesting wisdom and practical advice on how to achieve that ooh la la style with maximum effect with minimum effort.
Funny, honest and some shocking facts makes this book a good read.
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!
Mika Brzezinski from MSNBC’s Morning Joe was the emcee. Looking fine in her outfit from JMcLaughlin 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
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!)
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.
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.
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!
I am so glad I found your wonderful website. I have a question that relates to what is “age-appropriate”. I am 43 and very petite. I am in love with a trend jacket that is big for the Fall, although I usually stay away from trends. The jacket I am talking about is the Alice + Olivia shrunken military jacket, a picture of which is attached.
My only concern is the age-appropriate perception of this jacket due to the adornment? My idea would be to wear it with some nice fitting jeans, a simple white top underneath and simple sleek black or metallic heels. No excessive accessories. I have tried the jacket on and it fits beautifully.
Your thoughts on the age-appropriateness of this ensemble is greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Gail
Hi Gail,
We have been seeing this look around and we agree it is so FUN!… but here it the thing… this is definitely a trend and what we call a “statement piece”. That means that you really will not wear it all the time and if you do, people will definitely remember that specific jacket.
Also, we know that this piece is rather expensive and is in the price range that we would call an “investment piece”. We suggest that you keep looking and find one that is similar with the military look, but perhaps not so dramatic as this one.
Moreover, if you buy it, because it is so trendy you might get tired of it soon and wish you had put your money in a high quality coat that is still fun, but one that you feel good in and can enjoy for a long time. An example of this would be this one we’re showing by Tory Burch.
To answer your question if it is age appropriate, we say that yes, someone over 40 can pull this off, but it is almost “costume-like”… so you would really have to be in a funky, fun job or live in a very cosmopolitan city or environment to wear it enough to get your moneys worth.
BTW… we think it would great left open with a red plaid flannel shirt under it with blue jeans.
What if we told you, Stop worrying about the way you look…that after 40, you should just relax and stop caring?
That’s what they’re saying at this week’s Blogging Boomers, on The Joy of Aging. We’re horrified by the tips they are giving out, especially this one, below:
1. No one cares how I look, so I don’t need to primp or go clothing shopping.
We could NOT disagree more!!! Not “caring” is not an excuse to walk out the door looking sloppy.
As many of you know, The Glam Gals’ favorite saying is, “Life is too short to be frumpy”…
To start a discussion about this, and read other posts on a variety of Boomer topics, visit the Blogging Boomers Carnival. This week’s host is The Boomer Chronicles.
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!
Do you have a simple shirt dress and want some easy ideas for how to make it look WOW? Accessories are a fun way for to easily update your look. Here’s a video we just shot in New York for Better TV that will inspire you to take a very basic dress and transform it from Frumpy to Fabulous! Check it out!
