With almost 1,000 blog posts to date it can be overwhelming to wade through our site! So if you are new to Fabulous After 40 or might have missed a post or two… here is our round up of this year’s most popular posts of 2011!
Please let us know which one is your favorite and comment below!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!!
XO
JoJami and Deborah
Dear Deborah and JoJami,
The older I get, the more my shoulders and back of my neck slump. I feel I look better in collared shirts but have trouble finding a dress that will give me a similar look. Any suggestions besides always wearing a jacket?
Thanks,
Laurel
Shirtdress by Diane Von Furstenberg
Hi Laurel,
While having shoulders that slump is common as we age, you still need to talk to your doctor about it. Meanwhile, you are right to wear collared shirts. They give your shoulders more structure.
We suggest you try a shirtdress. There are many out there and most are very short and designed to be worn by young women who want to show off a lot of leg. Mature women can still wear them as a long shirt over a pair of leggings or Capris.
Me (Deb) in the same shirtdress with a cool belt, leggings and flats.
Many shirtdresses like the one I’m wearing above by Diane Von Furstenberg come with a matching belt, which is rather boring.
We suggest you get rid of the matching cloth belt and buy a nice leather belt to go with your shirtdress like this brown one here I ( Deb) am wearing. This gorgeous belt is adjustable and sits nice and loose, below the waist to form a V shape. This v shape helps to de-emphasize your tummy and make you look slimmer.
If you have a flat tummy you could also try a wider belt with some elastic in it that cinches in at the waist. Just be careful that when you belt in your shirt the shirtdress does not become too short! That throws off the look.
<<<This is a gal I met recently wearing a similar look. Doesn’t she look sharp?
Here are are a couple of other shirtdresses we found that would fantastic with leggings. Good luck and let us know what else you find!
| Make mine Orange !
Here’s another great Diane von Furstenberg shirtdress that will look fabulous this summer. You can wear The Laney dress, as it is named, with leggings that go to the ankle or just below the knee, and you will look fab. The best shoes for leggings are either ballet flats or stilettos. (Saks) |
 |
| Don’t be blue..
that you can’t wear a mini dress like this at your age. Simply add black leggings and pair of fab cage heels to this Milly shirt dress and you will look chic and sexy. (Saks)
|
 |
| Green Dream
Here’s another very cool and fresh looking shirtdress by Diane von Furstenberg that has a nice strong shoulder. If you pair it with white leggings be sure your leggings are not see through, or it will you will look like you are wearing white stockings which looks horrible. (Saks)
|
 |
| Have you tried the shirtdress/legging look? |
Send us a photo and we’ll post it! |
|
|
|
|
Hi Glam Gals,
Should I wear my hair up with this outfit? Should I wear the necklace or scarf? I found this dress for $12.99 at Ross and tried it on with my daughters leggings after reading your articles.
Thanks,
LaAnja Gough (age 50)
You have permission to print my photos on your web page if you would like to.
Does this outfit look better like this or....
Boy, you got a great deal on this dress and it looks terrific on you. We think this outfit works either way and you should enjoy mixing it up whatever your mood.
Or with this scarf and my hair up?
BTW, you really can’t be 50, can you??? You are Age-mazing™ (our special word for looking amazing for your age!)
Thanks to YOU…2010 has been our biggest year ever with over 55,000 unique visitors a month!
We’ve appreciate that you’ve spread the word about FAF to grow our amazing community. It’s been so much fun chatting with all of you and seeing everyone become such good friends.
Just in case you missed any posts, here are this year’s most hotly debated ones! Keep the comments coming…we love to hear from you at Fabulous after 40!
- Back in first place again this year… we followed our friend Jill Knapp on her journey of weight loss. She hit her one year mark and has still been able to keep the weight off and even made an appearance on to the Dr. Oz show
|
 Jill before and after her 100 pound weight loss!
|
| 2. This year Gray hair became a surprise fashion trend! This opened the door to discuss the “to go or not to go gray” topic, here at FAF! Read more…
|
 Helen Mirren looking radiant in her gray hair! |
| 3. Over the knee and Thigh high boots, are they age appropriate?Many of you said that you had the hankering to find your inner biker chic and this article sure got the sparks flying!! |
 |
| Clogs.
Another fashion comeback this year and this time they came with heels!
The Glam Gals weighed in on this controversial topic with lots more comments from you!!! |
 |
“Dainty and feminine” or “young and tacky” were a few of the comments we heard when we dared to chat about ankle bracelets!
|
 |
| Can I wear Leggings after 40? Find out how our readers weighed in. |
 |
We just adore it when you all send in photos of yourselves looking Age-mazing™! (that is our made up word, for looking “amazing” for your age!)
Here is a gal that we think looks age appropriate and updated in her leggings:
Hello Glam Gals:
I’m been reading your blog for around one month now and have really enjoyed your style tips. I wanted to forward a picture of me taken on my 48th birthday, November 14. I’m wearing beautiful and comfortable Pikolinos boots with black jeggins, Kenneth Cole sweater, patterned Banana Republic scarf with Coach Legacy Satchel. The black doesn’t photograph too well but my husband said I looked great as we headed off to church.
Keep up the great work – it’s so much fun to read your articles.
Thank you very much.
Christine Leasure
Hi Christine,
Thanks for sending this in… Happy Birthday and you did this look up just right! Glam on!!!
P.S. We love hearing from you! Pictures always welcome , please send to: info@fabulousafter40.com
Thanks to our readers for sending in your fabulous photos!
This looks is updated and age appropriate!
Depending on the weather, long or short is fine with leggings!
So now that we’ve talked about what to wear up top of leggings and under leggings…here is the next step:
What to wear as an overcoat?
Here is Deborah in her long Eli Tahari leather jacket. This was a piece she bought this year and she swears it is her “go to” piece… one she will have for years in her closet, because of its simple and classic style.
JoJami on the other hand, like things a little more trendy (if you could see the back, her jacket has a little peplum that flairs!) This short jacket is lightweight yet warm to travel with and wear around town.
Good news is that it is easy to figure out what coat to wear with leggings because either length is fine, as long as the short jacket covers your rear!
You can copy this look for less for sure, just stick with the simple lines or faux fur!
Here is a fashion question that we keep getting:
These leggings are too bold to be classy...
Hi Confused in Cleveland,
Wearing leggings after 40 is one of those questions that is not a “one size fits all” answer.
Check out some of the past posts we’ve done on this tricky topic!
The short answer is, you’re never too old for leggings, but you have to put them with the right outfits, shoes, etc….
It sounds like your tunic sweater with boots and leggings works just fine, but here are some more ideas and pictures of real women over 40 in leggings to help inspire you!
One more note… we just read in the NY Times Style section that this fall that wild print pantyhose like these will be popular! We know some of you will have fun with them, while others may frown upon them. Personally, they’re way to loud for us- more like a costume than a fashion look. Glam gals need to be classy, not flashy.
What are your thoughts? Would you wear leggings like these? Are we being stuffy?
We know that we love to preach how NOT to buy black, but we could not help but share this Age-mazing Grandmother, who we saw shopping the other day with her over 40 daughter and grandson! The daughter was from NYC and so they had been shopping recently and bought the same shirt. Here is how they both took this simple black piece and made it age appropriate for themselves. Not only that, we have gotten many letters from you all that are asking the question, “Can I still have a more creative or funky look and not look silly?” We say,” but, of course” !!!
All black is easy to wear, when you off for a day of shopping
Here how theses gals got their hip and “funky” but casual looks:
- Start with an good quality t-shirt dress, that hits above your knees. Notice that the sleeves are on the long side, so cover arms but will still keep you cool. Also, the v-neckline is wide and flattering. If it was a rounded neckline, it would not look as hip.
- Add leggings (see or post on leggings)
- and fun flats, like these pretty pewter ones.
- Don’t forget a dramatic light weight handbag.
- If you have a thin figure, you can belt the shirt
- Add tight straight legged jeans, and the latest flats.
Here is a step by step look:
|
Updated pewter flats
|
 |
|
This handbag is lightweight and makes a statement!
|
 |
|
Her glasses are updated and hip |
 |
This is her daughter, in the same shirt, but belted with jeans.
(The daughter is also over 40) |
 |
|
Thin double belt.
|
 |
|
Love her cool boots, so comfy and updated.
|
 |
