The Glam Gals (Deborah and JoJami) would like to thank all of you wonderful ladies out there for reading our blog, writing in with your comments and for getting out there and trying new styles and products!
Cheers to you and hoping you have enjoyed all our tips and tricks to keeping looking Fabulous!
We are excited about the new year and will be bringing you lots more ideas and ways to update your style!
Here are our New Years Eve tips you can try tonight:
If you plan to wear black, find some way to bring some color to your outfit! A colorful necklace, pin, scarf or shoes will do the trick!
Keep your lipstick handy! Make sure to stop in the middle of the night and refresh those lips. Bare lips can make you look faded and older!
Make sure to wear your shapewear! No matter what your size, don’t leave home with out your Spanx. Shapewear will smooth you out and keep pantylines at bay!
Instead of clear hose, try some nude fishnets! Your loved one will find it super sexy if you pull on the fishnets instead of the plain old panyhose!
Make sure you hair is shiney! Run out to the drugstore and find a can of spay shine (we are not saying “sparkles”, just shine). Nothing like a healthy looking head of hair to make you look fresh!
It is easy to feel frumpy after 40, especially when life in general is all about dressing casually. I (JoJami) was out on a group hike over the weekend, and was chatting with a fellow hiker about her frustrations with her everyday dressing techniques.
Dresses are a great summer option to shorts or capris
Hiker Sue: I am petite and my middle has spread, even though I exercise and eat moderately. I am not interested in looking fashionable, I just want to dress age appropriately.
JJ: I understand how you feel, we hear the same story from our FAF readers all the time who write us and complain that they can’t find anything at the store anymore.
Hiker Sue: What I do now is wear the same “uniform” that works for me. I love khaki pants and simple t-shirts. I also find that I don’t wear heels much anymore, because I like to be comfortable when I walk around town.
JJ: Well, have your tried putting little dresses into your casual wardrobe? They are so wonderful, you feel more feminine and you can wear flats or heels with them.
Hiker Sue: You know, a lot of women have given up wearing dresses because of chaffing! Their thighs rub together and it makes wearing dresses really uncomfortable!
JJ: Actually, I have not really thought about that!!! Thanks for bringing it up!!
Oh my, chaffing thighs under dresses is a terrible problem. But ladies, there is a solution! If you find wearing dresses uncomfortable, we highly recommend that you wear some shapewear under your dress. The little “bike short” style is just perfect to go under any sundress and will totally eliminate the chaffing problem. We found a ton of these over at Bare Necessities in a variety of styles and sizes. Make sure you grab the thigh slimmers that have a flat band around the leg opening so they don’t roll up, and long enough for comfort (probably right above the knee). Not only will they stop your thighs from rubbing together, they will smooth out your legs and midsection too!
So we hope you will go out and try on a new dress and add it to your casual wardrobe. Find some cute flats and also some matching heels and see how you feel!
Most of us have it… that darn donut! It’s right there in the middle between our bust and our hips and it’s hard to avoid after age 40 and a baby or two, short of liposuction. How can you dress to hide that stubborn midlife tummy that annoys you to no end?
Here are our 5 top suggestions.
1. Slim down with Shapewear
If you’ve been resisting trying shapewear because you think it is like wearing an uncomfortable girdle, you need to try some on.
Shapewear is the best solution for over 40 tummy bulge. It’s stretchy and lightweight and the newest versions are ultra thin and therefore super comfy.
Whether your muffin top is big or little, shapewear will give your figure a flawless look! Here’s one from Spanx that flattens the tummy and shapes the thighs too. If your tummy bulge extends up above the belly button then you could add a shapewear camisole.
For years we’ve been asking why doesn’t someone make a high-waisted thong? Now Spanx has answered our call and more. Their new high-waisted
thong has a lace shapewear panel to hold you in at the same time. Grab these. They’re going to sell out fast!
We love tips on how to play up our best parts and camouflage our not so favorite parts … so here is another one….
We were recently guest bloggers on the site Yummy Mummy, where we found some fun fashion advice from writer Lillian Canini. Lillian has very practical and comical suggestions for dressing when your life revolves around your children. She urges us to laugh loudly and wear a plaid bra! Oh, and don’t forget the shapewear for that post-baby body!
The Yummy Mummy Club is the online destination for modern mothers looking for guilt free adult stimulation. The Yummy Mummy Club speaks to the woman in every mom.
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 shapewearfrom Sassybax. If you have never worn shapewear we promise it will be your new best friend!
How do celebs over 40, like the gals from Desperate Housewives, manage to look so figure perfect on the red carpet? Diet, exercise? Yes, to some degree, but no woman is that flawless! Their real secret is something as simple as great shapewear.
The original tummy toner was the girdle. Unattractive and uncomfortable, it vanished from the scene around the 1970’s. Support pantyhose came next, but didn’t do much to solve our problems with flab. Now there’s a high-tech version that is taking the lingerie industry by storm. It’s called shapewear.
Shapewear simply holds you in and smooths you out wherever you need it, eliminating visible lines and bulges and making your clothes hang beautifully on you.
Here are a few of the problems shapewear solves:
Bra Bulges
Shapewear gets rid of those pesky bra lines that make you bulge over the sides and make your back look lumpy.
Old Lady Arms
Can’t stand the flabby bit hanging off your arm? Shapewear makes you look toned and terrific.
Panty Lines
Hate thongs and want to wear fuller panties, but worried your panty lines will show? Try shapewear to boost your bottom and conceal ugly elastic showing through.
If you haven’t tried Shapewear yet, you are in for a treat! It’s lightweight, super comfortable and works under anything from a wrap dresses to pants, an evening gown or even fitness clothes. It’s the hottest thing on the market, and you may be surprised to discover that there are dozens of different brands, styles and price points out there!
So, here are a few that we have actually TESTED on our bodies and what we thought:
Slimpressions
Would you like more shape on your top half, but worried that shapewear might actually flatten out your bust? Slimpressions is one of the only lines that we have seen so far that has a solution to this problem.
Their peek-a-boo top tones and smoothes out any lumps and bumps on your back, sides and tummy without squashing you like a pancake because you can still wear your own bra. Plus, your arms look great also with no jiggle under form-fitting sleeves.
All Slimpressions products work on women size 4 to 22. We found them very comfortable with just the right amount of support, tight but not too tight.
Also, the fabric is very comfortable and of high quality!
We find wrap dresses are often too low to feel comfortable in, so recently we wore a Slimpressions full front top with scoop neck underneath a wrap. It worked perfectly to cover up cleavage a little at the neckline.
Cass and Co.
If you want top of the line in luxury Shapewear then Cass and Co. is well worth your money. This shapewear is so fine it can be worn underneath your clothes or simply by itself, as clothing.
The high-tech fabric is extremely comfortable and has been scientifically developed for maximum support in specific targeted areas (such as tummy and back). It also has cooling ventilation under the arms!
We have found that after multiple washings it has not lost its shape or color.
Made for women size 2-16, it comes in many colors and styles such as camisoles, full dress, biker shorts, etc.
The top we show here is one of their most popular styles, since it features a wider strap (for better comfort and support), full back for maximum coverage and a nice plunging “v” so you can wear it under most tops!
I (JoJami) wore it recently on a trip to Aspen, on the plane, on the slopes and out to dinner and I didn’t need to wear a bra. I was really comfortable the entire time!
Colors include: brown, violet, cream, and white, black, nude.
Sassybax
Sassybax is another great line that is high quality, comfortable and figure enhancing.
The long leg panty lifts, rounds and separates the derrier. (Watch out J.Lo!) They also sell padded shapewear bras for those of us who would like a little extra size and shape, without having to resort to breast implants.
They also have a wonderful backless bra that Laura Dern just wore to the Golden Globes underneath her black chiffon designer gown.
One final note: Sassybax comes in plus sizes!
Spanx
a href=”http://www.spanx.com/”>Spanx was not the first company to create comfortable shapewear, but it sure was the first to put it on the map! It has most recognizable name in the business, and have the largest selection of styles to choose from.
From their famous Higher Power (high waisted mid-thigh shaper), to their Bra-lellujah (all hosiery comfort bra), to their Tight-End Tights (reversible, high waisted body shaping tights with tummy control), Spanx has had women around the world singing its praises.
We find Spanx great for those with a little extra pudge to control. However, if you need some major sucking in, this may not be the brand for you. Deborah loves the Slim Cognito Mid-Thigh Shaper and Sleek Capri Smoother, especially under white capris.
So, there you have it – Try some shapewear! You’ll fall in love with the way it makes your midlife body look and feel.
One more quick note… to put on shapewear, it’s always best to STEP INTO it! Don’t try to put the tops on over your head. Shapewear is pretty tight and can be tricky to get on and off unless you do it this way.
Now that a lot of us might have that holiday pudge around the middle, what is a girl to do? Invest in some fine shapewear!
What is shapewear? Well, its the modern day version of the girdle, but much better! You see, even those women in the finest shape after 40 start feeling uncomfortable, that there are certain little lumps and bumps here and there.
I recently met, Susan Ledyard, designer and founder of Cass Luxury Shapewear. Ledyard started her company five years ago, after feeling frustrated at how her body looked in clothes after she had her second child.
So she developed and engineered “Invisupport®”, which is the invisible support that comfortably lifts and enhances the bust while slimming and smoothing the torso – no bra necessary! With her line of shapewear, Cass’ tops and dress slips visibly slim and smooth the back area.
I (JoJami) recently tested the “V” Neck top on a recent ski trip and found that it was really comfortable! I wore it on the plane and on the slopes and loved not having to wear a bra! I also wore it out to dinner, under my sweater. How freeing!
So where can you find these?
Look for Susan on Shop NBC:
Verizon FIOS channel 157
Comcast channel 283
Direct TV channel 316
DISH channel 316
or online at www.shopnbc.com
Here are some ideas on how to wear shapewear:
• Motivate your diet and exercise with shapewear by looking 5 lbs lighter before you even begin.
• Gives you a little extra slimming under your body hugging clothes
• Wear it to the office under a jacket and even after hours
• Great for travel – comfortable, versatile
Thinking ahead to Christmas and wondering what to wear? Here are 4 Holiday Dressing Tips to make you look fabulous after 40.
Try not to buy black
By this time in your life, haven’t you bought enough little black dresses?? Why not break out of the rut and dare to buy something with some color in it! That way, you won’t be just one more dress in a sea of black, and you will look festive and fun! We would love to challenge you to just go out there and “try” not to buy black. You will find it’s harder than you think!!
Don’t reveal too much skin
The biggest mistake we see mature woman make is that they buy holiday outfits that are in style, but that don’t look good on bodies that are aging. That means the ever popular strapless dresses are generally a No No! As we age, our arms are one of the first places to start sagging. Be aware of this and take action! Go for a deeper neckline, but see if you can find a dress or top that has wide straps, or that has some fabric over the shoulders that covers up the arms.
Think Legs
This season you can get overwhelmed with the choices of dress lengths. What should you do? We think you should be honest with yourself about your legs! If your legs are still looking great, don’t cover them up. Show them off! Don’t hide under long skirts that make you feel matronly. However, if your legs are not your best feature, just skip the dress and go for a wonderful pant suit. You can still look festive and hip in a pant suit if you look for a fabric that is elegant and shiny. Be sure to wear the right shoes and accessorize it!
Invest in a Shaper
If you choose a dress made of clingy fabric or that is body hugging GREAT! However, make sure you keep the bulges to a minimum! There are so many brands of shape wear out there, you will be thrilled with the choices and instant smoothing results! Most boutiques carry the ever popular Spanx line, but there are many more out there too, like Cass and Co, Sassybaxand Slimpressions.
Have you bought a holiday dress yet? Do you have some fancy events you’re going to be going to?
You probably have thought to get the shoes, the handbag, and pantyhose, but what about a shaper to keep the body smooth? Shape wear is the hottest thing going since the girdle!! Different shapewear is designed for different needs.
Just 3 weeks ago, the new affordable shapewear line launched, called Sculptz. We could not wait to tell you about them… this line is better for woman with over 40 bodies, since it doesn’t squeeze as much as other brands and is very comfortable to wear. If you’re budget conscious, (and who isn’t these days… ) they are a great price starting at around $22.00.
OK Girls, here is another new product that you are going to LOVE!!!
It’s so crazy that Deborah and I were just chatting the other day about how nice would it be if someone would create a great line of women’s sexy lingerie that would shape us by holding our tummies in!
Here it is..its called Yummy Tummies.
According to founder and Celebrity Stylist Heather Thomson, “Every woman of every size deserves sexy shapewear that can be worn underneath her clothes or that’s meant to be seen!”
Here is their long sleeve t-shirt>
It is nice and long, so can hold you in and hide your muffin top!
From what we can tell, we like the way it slims both the tummy and the hips!
We love inspiring you gals to UPDATE your wardrobes but still keep things fun and sassy…
Today Let’s talk THONGS! (no, not the sandals, ladies. We’re talking panties here!)
(JoJami) -An interesting point about thongs was brought to my attention recently by a friend of mine. She said, “Can you believe it has been 10 or 20 years ago when a lot of us started wearing thongs, and just think about it… our little tushies were a lot perkier then, than they are now!”
Honestly, I hadn’t really ever thought about it.
She went on to mention how she was in Target the other day and found some fun “boy shorts”. She got them home and tried them on and fell in love!
They’re really a compromise between a panty and a thong.
They’re comfy because they have the wide sides, but the back actually comes up and a bit and shows a little tushy! So, its a nice compromise between a thong and a panty.
Another great line of shapewear is TC Shapewear. Image Consultant and Hollywood Stylist, Lori Ann Robinson was quoted recently by the LA Times on these, and she said they are the original shapers, before Spanks, and are much better. What makes them unique is their silicon edge that keeps them from riding up. They’re also a good option if you want a more serious, action-oriented type of underwear.
This line also has a support thong that comes up to smooth the waist. These little numbers are said to be the secret to looking good on the red carpet!
Bottom line….thongs are great, but a boy panty is other option worth checking into!
The Glam Gals (Deborah and JoJami) would like to thank all of you wonderful ladies out there for reading our blog, writing in with your comments and for getting out there and trying new styles and products!
Shapewear gets rid of those pesky bra lines that make you bulge over the sides and make your back look lumpy.
Would you like more shape on your top half, but worried that shapewear might actually flatten out your bust? 
If you want top of the line in luxury Shapewear then 
a href=”http://www.spanx.com/”>Spanx was not the first company to create comfortable shapewear, but it sure was the first to put it on the map! It has most recognizable name in the business, and have the largest selection of styles to choose from.
From what we can tell, we like the way it slims both the tummy and the hips!
She went on to mention how she was in Target the other day and found some fun “boy shorts”. She got them home and tried them on and fell in love!
