7 New Looks for Spring and Summer

1. Fresh Florals

Stepping into the stores this spring will be like wandering through a beautiful garden, because fashion is coming up flowers of every imaginable kind. Bright, bold floral and botanical prints are this season’s biggest hit.

If you’re over 40 be careful not to go overboard with too much pattern, frills and flounce, when a few blooms here and there will do. You can prune back this look and make it more subtle by choosing to accent a solid piece with a garden inspired blouse or pretty pair of flower detailed shoes. Another option – try a floral print that’s more modern, like this graphic brushstroke floral shift dress by Tory Burch which looks clean and chic.

2. Say Hello to Yellow

Bored with black? Then why not add some tropical punch to your wardrobe? Bold Citrus colors like orange, lime green and especially yellow are adding vibrancy and warmth to the new spring looks. Bright yellow looks classiest on grown-up gals when combined with a great neutral. For example yellow and white, or navy, grey or black. A single pop of color like this smart sunny trenchcoatis a fabulously fresh way incorporate this trend without looking like a fruit basket.

3. Hooray for Hollywood

Get ready for your close-up this spring as Old Time Hollywood Glamour returns to the fashion forefront. Silver Screen sirens from the 40’s and 50’s like Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Munroe are the inspiration behind drop dead vintage style gowns that nip in at your waist, caress your curves and exaggerate your feminine form.

You’re bound to feel like a movie star in these vintage ladylike creations. There’s lots of gold, satin, shimmer and shine out there –just what you want for your own red carpet moment. Try a strapless style with pearls – for a classic retro look, or choose a halter dress with sexy high heels to make you feel like a Hollywood pin-up.

4. Out of Africa

Fashion is marching to a different drum this spring- specifically the tribal earth beat of exotic Africa. You’ll see lots of wild animal prints and bold ethnic patterns, rich brown shades, taupes and khakis too. Be on the hunt for practical and easy Safari jackets, dresses and suits that are much softer looking and more wearable than ever before.

Accessorize this global look with a wide belt, sexy gladiator sandals, this perfectly primitive necklace that has multiple strands of colorful glass beads made of black onyx, tiger’s eye and red jasper.

5. New Nauticals

Ahoy! The Nautical Look has dropped anchor this spring. Designers are showing lots of navy, white and red along with some very chic nautical detailing. Wide legged sailor pants are a great choice this season. Dresses and blouses with boat knots and rope accents will also make you look ship shape.

Warning to voluptuous boomer babes- watch out for horizontal stripes which can make you look like shipwreck because they widen your bust and waist. A safe bet for anyone contemplating this new look is to test the waters with a nautical style accessory. Thissporty bucket tote with gold grommets and rope trim stylishly signals, smooth sailing ahead.

6. Ombre

Call it Ombre, dip-dye or whatever you want, but to boomer beauties who grew up in the late 60 and early 70’s, this new trend looks an awfully lot like tie dye. This season be prepared for a wave of color as designers present clothes that intensify in color from dark to light.

Not sure if you are ready to revisit this look? Worried you may look like an old hippie? The key to wear ability is to choose a subtle version of this trend, instead of donning something that looks like a messy children’s summer camp tie die craft project. Forget the I’m wearing every colour of the rainbow look and try something more simple like this this elegant column dress with its softly color graduated hues from yellow to white. It’s modern and very wearable for women 40+ alone or with a pretty pashmina.

7. Prints with Pizzazz

Bright bold graphic prints with pizzazz are being thrown in to the mix this spring. Scarf prints seem to be the latest thing. Light and airy, but loud and proud these beautiful silk dresses and tops look fabulous belted or as they are. Interesting pieces like this peacock blouson look especially beautiful with a simple, fresh pair of black or white pants.

If you love this Palm Beach Look, but worry you might feel too flashy in it, then try a tidy trimmed down version. A bold printed headscarf paired with huge Jackie O sunglasses is fun and chic, or try tying a bright floaty scarf onto the outside of your purse for true jet set style.

Sartorialist inspires Real Model Trend

Interesting post at Newsweek about a new trend happening with models. It seems there’s a swing away from serious looking pencil thin young glamazons to more real looking models -everyday people of all shapes sizes, who exude their own unique kind of personal style no matter what they are wearing.

Apparently, it’s all because of bloggers like Scott Schuman, who we’ve written about before, from The Satorialist. His candid person-on-the street fashion photos have inspired the fashion industry to make the change.

First it was the Dove Pro-age ladies… now this. Looking forward to seeing many more magnificent midlife mamas and boomer babes!

(Let’s hope these real models smile and laugh a little. We’re sick of looking at photos of teenage girls with sucked in cheeks and sour faces. Life is too short to be frumpy and too short to be so serious!)

High Waisted Jeans

It’s taken nearly 3 years for us to finally find a decent pair of low rise jeans that don’t create too much of a muffin top when we zip them up. Now the word in the fashion is…

High waisted jeans are the new thing.  These jeans come well up over the tummy, right to the bottom of your rib cage. The only saving grace seems to be that they have a nice wide flared leg to balance things out a little and make your waist seem smaller.

It’s a familiar look if you grew up in the 70′s. Remember Charlie’s Angels and every girl who wore flipped up hair and platform shoes? I’ll never forget the pair of high rise blue satin pants I wore to school dances, and JoJami fondly recalls a maroon pair that she used to go disco dancing in.

< Looked great then, but now?? We’ve seen lots of young celebs like Mischa Barton, Kiera Knightly and Jessica Simpson trying them out and they don’t even look so hot.

Some of you may think that high rise will might your hold your stomach in…but only to a point. The problem is that to pull this look off, you have to tuck the shirt in, YIKES! No good for 40+ women with mommy tummies.

We have found that the best way for us gals to wear this look, is to modify it. If you can find a find wide legged pants with a mid high waist, great. Pair them with a form fitting top that can be left out and you will have a great updated look.

If you want to experiment a little with this look, the flat front nautical look is really cute.

Make sure that if you have big hips, that there are no big pockets on front of the pants to draw attention to them. If they do, and you really like the pants, you can also have the pockets taken out.

The wider the flare, the taller you need to be, and you may have to add a big wedge shoe so you don’t look like a short wide traingle.

The bottom line is:  THIS STYLE IS HARD TO WEAR, SO BEWARE of this fashion trend!

The Year of the Dress!

Oh how we are in heaven!
Shopping the other day, and what did we see, but racks and racks of darling dresses!

Yes, the little dress is back! and we love it. It is the easiest thing to throw on, and with flats or a cute heel, it can take you almost anywhere. Best of all, after years of nothing but pants out there, it’s great to feel feminine again.

One of our favorite new finds is designer David Meister.  With his clean lines and retro hip style, these dresses remind us of the gorgeous barbie doll clothes we used to drool over when we were kids. So clean, modern and chic.

How fun is this bright geometric print? Crisp, colorful and elegant, it’s a a real head turner. ( $320)

We’re also crazy about this green bucklefront sheath and love the way it cleverly emphasizes a small waist. ($300)

We also adore this white embroidered strapless dress – so pretty and polished.

It’s hard to resist and oh so perfect for a hot summer evening when you need something to wear out to dinner. ($270)

To find more great dresses from David Meister You can check out Neimans, Saks or Bloomies or go to the David Meister website for a store near you.