The Military Jacket, is it for over 40 women?

Hi Ladies-

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.

Let us know if this is helpful, comment below!

Cheers!

The Glam Gals

Fall Fashion 2009 – The Bold Shoulder

After laughing about those big shouldered outfits we wore in the 80′s, they are suddenly back in style.

This fall we’re seeing lots of volume and width at shoulder, reminiscent of  the 80′s ( and 1940′s) silhouette. But don’t go thinking you can hunt down one of your old Dynasty jackets and it will look new again.  Things have changed a little, and shoulder pads are only one way designers  have created shoulder focus. Check out what we mean:

Padding: True enough, shoulder pads are still quickest way to give the power message. Bold shoulders are great for  us gals over 40 with softer bodies who need some structure. Great piping on this jacket  adds extra emphasis. How do you wear a padded jacket like this so you look modern and hip?..with the new slim pants or a slim skirt. (Saks)	strong shoulders send a powerful message
Draping: Strategically draped fabric is soft and feminine, but strong too. (Saks)	Draping creates shoulder emphasis
Cinched Waist: The smaller your waist the bigger your shoulders will look. The main difference between the Dynasty 80′s shoulder and the new 90′s strong shoulder is that the styles nip in at the waist instead of being overall boxy. (Nordstrom)	a cinched waist balances things out
Necklines: The sweeping neckline on this cowl neck sweater adds volume to the shoulders. (Nordstrom)	necklines like this create the illusion of wide shoulders
Miltary Styles: naturally lend themselves to squared off shoulders which signal authority. (Saks)	military jackets make shoulders stand at attention
Gathered Fabric: Another way to get shoulder definition is to have folds or gathering at the shoulder. If you already have strong shoulders, this look will only make them look wider, as if you have wings and are about to fly away! Also cap sleeves like this look best with toned arms. (Nordstrom)	gathered fabric can bulk up shoulders