Here is this weeks Blogging Boomer host, Barbara Weibel on a recent trip!
Do you like to travel or looking forward to doing more of it one of these days?
If you are a Boomer and want to read tips from your fellow peers on diverse topics especially for those of us who are over 50, head on over to this weeks Blogging Boomers Carnival!
This weeks Carnival is being hosted by our adventurous travel friend, Barbera Weibel at Hole in the Donut, who has all the scoop on this and other Boomer topics!
When packing for a trip, it is smart to "try out" the outfits first!
When you are off to a trip, it can be mind wracking trying to plan what to wear!
So when packing for a trip it is great to make your outfits up first and then see how many different “looks” you can create.
We found that interior designer, Heather Clawson from Habitually Chic® has done just that with impeccable taste as she prepares for an upcoming trip to LA.
To see more wonderful outfit choices, you can visit her site, here!
Thisis dramatic and stunning! Don't forget the black scarf that tops it off!
Notes:
- Flat shoes are comfortable and stylish
- Love the oversized white tote
- Simple colors all mix and match
- Heather has expensive taste, however you can achieve these looks for much less and use them as inspiration!
Layering is always a good idea when heading out west, since you can never be sure it it will be hot or cold!
Could this be you, enjoying life like this?
This week’s Blogging Boomers Carnival has real “doozy” of a story that you will want to check out, especially if you have a sense of adventure and want an out of the box, exotic retirement idea!
Read on to find out how, after 5 years of research, one amazing couple, discovered the secret to retiring and seeing the world on a shoestring!
Enjoy this story alog with other interesting blog posts at this week’s Blogging Boomers Carnival . Nancy Mehegan at VaBoomer.com is this week’s carnival host.
Hi Ladies,
This is a big challenge! I need swimsuit advice. I try to stay fit, but at 48 my abs are not as flat as I would like to be rockin’ a two piece. What are your suggestions on looking sexy but age appropriate at the pool or beach? Also, I will need to be looking good for a business trip to a beach resort which makes it extra difficult.
I checked out Victoria’s Secret and they have some great suits, but I am worried that I will see those same suits on tons of other women. Last year I found the most awesome suit and one of the other wives had the exact suit in the exact color. Bummer!
Thanks,
Ellen
Nashville, TN
Hi Ellen,
The word “swimsuit” to almost anyone over the age of 25, and definitely over 40, can send chills up the spine! However, we like your “rockin” attitude and think we can help!
Can you be sexy when you’re over 40…you bet! You just have to know the right tricks!
First off, there are no rules about how old you must be to wear a 2 piece; you just have to have to be on the thin side…
However, to be honest, most women on the back side of 40 are starting to look better in a one piece. Never fear.. you can still look sexy!!
- Show off those legs with a high cut suit
- If your legs are not looking so great either, you can always show a bit of cleavage!
- Go for a suit that has a medium large pattern. This confuses the eye and can hide bulges!
- You can’t go wrong with a all dark suit like black, navy or chocolate brown!
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The print tricks the eye and will hide small bumps and bulges (www.Soma.com)
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Black is always slimming. We like the plunging neckline and wider straps (www.Soma.com)
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This cover up can hide thick legs, but still has a peek a boo slit! (www.Soma.com)
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With the dark contoured sides, this colorful suit still flatters. (www.Newport News)
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Here is a great way to feel great and not show off so too much thigh!(www.Newport News)
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This black suit is so pretty and looks good on all shapes! (www.fashionbug.com)
I (JoJami) am off again traveling and this time, the weather is cold and dreary. Last time I was at the airport, I found a stylish gal, that ended up being from my home town in Wilmington, Delaware of all things! We have since had lunch together and I have been to see her daughter perform the lead in a local production of Carmen!
Since that was such a great experience, I wasn’t shy about stopping this gorgeous women and her husband. The only thing was that she could not speak a word of English!!! However, with a little bit of sign language and giving her my business card, I convinced her to let me snap away! The bonus this time, was as the end of our mini “photo shoot,” she was all smiles and grabbed me and gave me a nice, European double kiss on both cheeks! How sweet was that!!!
Here is our latest “on the street” inspiration from Northern Spain, looking Age-mazing™!
Check out how she got this look:
- Let the focal point be the coat (investment piece)
- Kept it simple, monochromatic, all one color for the top and pant
- scarf (of course!)
- Boots are nice fitting, hug her legs and come up right to the knee
- Purse over-sized and updated with handles and hardware instead of a shoulder strap.
This chic European is from Spain and is looking stylish and comfortable.
This bag had the right rugged but elegant feel to pull this outfit together!
These boots were made of the coolest animal skin print! They were sort of a green color!
Not your ordinary biker chic!
So what do you do when you are turning 50, your husband has just passed away and you want to do something daring and different? If you’re Janis Irwin, you go out and learn to ride a motorcycle and then ride it across the country and back…all by yourself!
Recently at a local wine tasting event in West Chester, PA, I (JoJami) spotted this Age-mazing™ women. I was drawn to her beautiful coat and entire ensemble of a turquoise necklace, snazzy boots, cool helmet and sunglasses! Of course I had to go up to her and chat her up!
She was beaming when she shared with me her inspirational story of how she packed up only the essentials (including a nice dress and a pair of heels) and went on a cross country adventure, solo on her motorcycle. 
She calls herself, a “Barbie Biker” because she has her own feminine style of biker dressing. “Many women think you have to dress like a tough girl in head to to black, Harley Davidson attire,” says Janice. ” I found the more I got into the sport, the more I realized that it’s only the beginers that dress that way. I love to be able to get off my bike and feel like I’m still me and not this alter ego.”
Well Janis, we agree that you look gorgeous and classy in your outfit!
As for her day job, Janis runs her own interior design firm.
Do you have a job with a fun hobby? We want to hear from you!
At Versailles in Vivienne Tam
There’s still a few weeks left of summer, so if you are traveling to Europe and wondering what to wear we have a suggestion for you.
Deb At The Louvre in Diane Von Furstenberg
Make your life easy and just pack dresses!
When I was in France this summer with my husband and three children traveling around Provence, and then up to Paris for a few days, I found dresses were the perfect travel wear.
It was far too hot to wear pants,and shorts would have felt wrong, so I opted for dresses which took up hardly any space in my suitcase, made me feel feminine and were cool and comfy.
For a twelve day trip I packed 8 dresses: 7 casual, 1 slightly dressier. (You could get away with 5-6, but I like to have a few extras to choose from depending on my mood that day.)
In Provence wearing Trina Turk
During the day I wore these cute sundresses with flat gold or black sandals and a carried a large black tote (to carry souvenirs I was buying along the way!). At night I added jewelry, scarves and small heels for a dressier look.
At Jardin du Luxembourg
Now, we were on a family sightseeing trip. We were driving through the lavender fields and visiting the the quaint French countryside towns in Provence. In Paris we were doing the typical tourist things – The Louvre, The Eiffel Tower,Versailles, Le Concierge, the Seine River Cruise etc.
Deb in Eli Tahari
It was not a romantic couple’s vacation where we were slipping off to fancy Parisian restaurants and night clubs. If so, I would have packed differently and brought some dressier date night things.
But for this kind of day tripping, my summer dress wardrobe worked beautifully. What a relief to open my suitcase, slip on my dress of the day and walk out the door.
If you’re looking for a cute summer dress, Nordstrom’s and Saks carries all of these favourite brands!
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!
Then send it in and let us share it !!!
