At the beginning of Spring this year, I (JoJami) decided to give away all my old summer casual skirts that I have been wearing for the past few years. They were the soft , flowing kind, that have been popular, but I felt it was time to move on and update them!
Here are a few ideas on how to update you casual skirt wardrobe and what to give away:
| Just right, this bold print, stiff cotton is Age-mazing!:
Just bought one like this at the J. Crew outlet! What I love that I can dress it down with a casual t-shirt or up with a nice blouse! Flat or strapy heels work just fine! Love these nude shoes they are showing with it, here! |
 This skirt from J.Crew is a great one to update your skirt wardrobe! |
| Too Young Looking :
Do you have a skirt like this? It might be time to give it away. The gathering will cause your middle to appear larger than it is and it is too short for most gals over 40, unless you are wearing it as a coverup for the beach. P.S. Make sure your not “tucking” in your top, it can be aging as well! (Nordstoms) |
 This is too young and short
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| Beware! The Long Hippy Skirt can be aging:
If you are still trying to wear this look, be careful! There are a few problems with trying to look like a hippy. First of all, if you want to do long, you should go one of the newer long dresses not a skirt. Next, this look is one that has circled back from our past and our daughters might be wearing it. We over 40 gals, if you want to look more sophisticated should try something more a-line or pencil style, depending on your body type. (Nordstrom) |
 This skirt can be aging!
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In a recent post, I (JoJami) mentioned that my colorful skirt was a few years old and “not that in style any more.”
So that being said…you are probably asking the question, so what is in style?
Although we’ve seen a ton on pleated, circle skirts with a lot of volume that usually hit above the knee, that’s a style best left to younger ladies. As far as skirts go, if you’re ready for a new one, go with a pencil skirt or one that is a little straighter. The knee-length classic pencil or slimmer A-line skirt is flattering on most body types, and has been around for a few seasons now. The popularity is growing, so not only are they all over the place, but pencils don’t come in just black or gray anymore! Even though they have a more streamlined look, but you can go for fun colors and jazzy prints to liven them up a little.
Here are a few that we suggest: What we like about these are that you can start wearing them now with sandals and then as we transition into fall, you can add some tights and boots!
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Here’s one from Boden. It’s a slimmer A-line skirt with a bold pattern that can be worn with neutral wedges, or boot like in the picture. We love the colors in this, and it’s a great example of how you can transition from summer to fall with boots. |
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This skirt is from Nordstrom’s. In the picture, it’s dressed up with heels, but pair it with gladiator sandals for casual or brown knee-high boots in fall! The fact that it has a brown pattern in it makes it a no-brainer for choosing matching shoes. |
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Here’s another example from Nordstom’s. We usually find black and white to be a little boring, so make it more fun with a bright top! We’ve been seeing a lot of plaid in stores this season, so make sure you wear plaid in a sophisticated and feminine way (not those shrunken flannel shirts that are all the rage among teen girls). |
Dear Glam Gals,
I will be attending 2 bridal showers this spring and have no idea what to wear. Please help. I am overweight, an apple shape with excess weight in the tummy. Please give me some options, since I’m clueless about looking stylish.
Thanks!
JMC
Dear JMC,
Style is all about finding what looks good on your body type and what type of look you want to project. Are you preppy? elegant? fun? trendy? or chic?
Start with finding the style that will flatter your figure. You need to balance out your apple shape by wearing a pencil skirt and sweater set on top. No belt. Some nice pumps will make you look taller and leaner.
You can also do a top with a “V” neck to make you look thinner. Keep the top out, and make sure it is form fitted. Too much loose fabric will only make you look top heavy. For tummy control, we highly recommend some shapewear from Sassybax. If you have never worn shapewear we promise it will be your new best friend!
 Solids make you slim |
 For the wild at heart |
 Elegant and sexy |
We also love the full figure flattering dresses, above, from the site Lola and GiGi. Here are a few that would be great for this occassion: a cute green wrap dress , a giraffe print style and an elegant brown frock.
Good luck!
We’re always on the lookout for stylish women to inspire you, so thought we’d pass along the news that model Yasmin LeBon (married to former Duran Duran front man Simon LeBon) has been named by Good Houskeeping magazine as the Best Dressed Woman over 40.
It’s no wonder because we’re told that this half Iranian beauty always shows up looking stylish and put togther. She has a lot of pride in the way she dresses and we think she does a great job.
Take this cute outfit she is wearing on the left. It’s a classic look – a pencil skirt and sweater with a pop of bold color. She’s added multiple necklaces for a modern look and her sporty bag tops it off.
There an ease to her elegance. She’s not stiff and that is what makes her look so great. And she’s smiling. Keep in mind that that after 40, a smile goes a long way to help brighten you up. So say cheese!
Now that fall is here, we’re seeing a lot of pencil skirts popping up in the stores. For us, nothing says sexy better than these shapely little fitted skirts that hug your hips and bottom and say, Yes, I’m a woman. They can be your secret weapon if you want to walk into a room and look and feel powerful.
Now, before you start moaning and groaning that it is impossible to wear a pencil skirt unless you are as skinny as a pencil, listen up!
There are styles and ways to wear your pencil skirt that can still work on a softer, rounded more mature body.
If you are still fairly slim but have a bit of jelly belly or a flabby behind, then this look on the right is not out of reach. Really! You can wear a sweater tucked in with a belt if you just buy yourself a good pair of Spanx! They work like a girdle but feel like pantyhose. Firming but extremely comfortable. We’re hooked.
If you’ve tried Spanx but there’s still a little more of your belly showing than you’d like, try wearing your top pulled out. For example a vest or a sweater set with pencil skirt looks really great and takes the emphasis off the tummy.
O.K. so now what if you are full figured? – Is it possible to wear a pencil skirt at all? Sure, just wear a jacket overtop– a jacket that is longer than the widest part of your body. So if your hips are your widest part, then wear a jacket that skims below the hips. You’ll still be able to see the pencil skirt peeping out the bottom, and with a sexy pairs of heels you’ll look like the boss lady!
Want to caution you about one thing no matter what your size. Pencil skirts with detail at the stomach (buttons, pockets, gathering, trim) are a no no if you carry your weight there. This skirt here on the right with the buttons looks darling on this young skinnie minnie, but if you are a mummy with a tummy you’d look like you are wearing a suit of armor around your middle.
One final trick for wearing a pencil skirt, try one that has a flared bottom. This way everyone’s eyes are drawn down to your pretty hemline and legs you don’t have to feel self-conscious about your not so perfect middle.
