Don’t you LOVE those reality shows, like, What Not to Wear, or 10 Years Younger.
Its really amazing that the women who get picked for the makeovers, usually have NO CLUE that they look bad.
In case you haven’t taken a look at yourself in a while, check out this list below to analyze your chic factor and make sure you not guilty of any of these style faux pas.
Frump Factor
Are you stuck wearing your favorite old t-shirt and jeans? Time to trade them for something else. Believe it or not, it IS possible to look good and still feel comfortable. Just getting a cute running around sports outfit that matches will make you look and feel better.
Boring Coat
If your outer coat is boring, you’re missing some fun. Your outer coat is where you should show your personality. If you find one you like, buy it and then enjoy all the compliments that will come your way!
Yellow Teeth
Say no more… that’s a no brainer. Especially if you like to wear red lipstick, your teeth will even look more yellow! Ouch! FYI. Those white strips at the drugstore work well, so no need to spend a lot of money.
Dated Sunglasses
Ask your kid or if you don’t have one, find one around to ask. They will tell you if you’re hip or not. Big is in, so you should have some that are large with wide sides.
Petite Purse
We are seeing a lot of women over 40 out there with very dated looking purses. Ladies, wake up and get a fun new bag. Oversized is in and will perk up your outfit and hip factor instantly!
Ugg, its Uggs
If your wearing Uggs, just know that so is every other teenager out there. Yes, they are comfortable, but there are other styles and boots that will achieve the same thing. Stay clear. At your age you don’t want to be competing with the younger crowd.
Make-up, too much, too little, just right?
Here is what we are seeing: The bad: Too much eye-liner, frosted lipstick, blue eyeshadow. Too Little: Not wearing makeup is just as bad as too much. At least, please use under-eye concealer, a natural lipstick and draw in your eyebrows. Just right: You should be natural looking but still wearing make-up. That means foundations, blush, lipstick, mascara, eyebrows, etc…. Yes it’s work, but its worth it!
Skip the jean skirt
Do you still have a jean skirt from years ago? Are you still wearing it? Toss it and get a great pair of dark jeans instead.
The tiny necklace
We know… your husband, friend or parents, gave you that tiny necklace and you still wear it for sentimental reasons. This year, especially, is the year of the chunky and large necklace. Keep your tiny one in your jewelry box for now.
Chewing gum is not an accessory
When you chew gum in public it is not attractive and can ruin a great outfit! It will totally ruin any look you’ve worked so hard to put together.
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I’m a man….figure that might be worth noting. I know women dress for themselves, but at least part of fashion and the reason some (not all, some) women dress up is to look attractive to whatever gender they are interested it….so why is it that so many fashion trends are so freakin ugly?
1. Big Sunglasses. These are hideous. No mercy at all from me or any man I have ever spoken to about it. Sunglasses are there to shield your eyes, not cover up half of the face that you presumably spent half an hour plastering with mud
2. Makeup…I think its well known that the vast majority of men hate makeup. We just hate it. Its ugly and feels gross to the touch. We basically draw the line at a thin layer of foundation and lipstick…I’ve never had a girlfriend, female friend, or relative I thought looked better with makeup on. Wearing makeup is like saying your face is wrong. Really wish our culture would tone it down because it would be great to see more women embracing their natural beauty.
3. Yoga pants. Girls wear these everywhere and they are just not meant for it. Even as a guy who can’t resist looking at a pretty lady I don’t find them to be flattering on almost anyone. Yoga pants should be kept in the gym. Same goes for guys and their skin-tight compression clothing or torn up gym tank tops.
4. Animal prints. You might think its cute, we think you look like a middle-aged cougar on the prowl. Only women in their mid 30’s to early 40’s are the only ones who come even remotely close to making animal prints look good. They are just bad, bad, bad.
5. Glitter. I hate it, your friends hate it, your family hates it, your co-workers definitely hate it. Let the teenagers and kids keep the glitter ok?
6. Booty shorts and boots…Seriously one of the first things I learned in life was that short boots do not go with shorts. The only women who can pull this off are pretty enough they could wear anything they damn well please and still look good. Of course, a skirt and thigh highs is a totally different matter.
7. Super long shirts. These make you look like a child wearing one of your dad’s shirts. Enough said.
Tight buns in your hair. Absolutely horrid look. The tension, the taught skin, overly sleek and shiny head terminating in the forehead…it makes you look like an alien and can cause hair loss….just stop, please. Wear it a bit looser and it will look more natural and approachable.
8. Colored in eyebrows. Don’t know why anyone thinks these look good. They add too much intensity to most people’s faces. Even worse are the shaved and tattooed on eyebrows. Gag!
This is the point at which I stopped caring and decided to go see a movie. Call me what you will ladies (I can’t imagine any response to a man criticizing women’s fashion would be gentle or amicable) but men make up about half the world. I figure our input should be at least somewhat important to fashion. Plus, there seem to be no end to the women with opinions on what men wear nowadays online.
Dude, I totally agree with #4,. Nothing screams “cougar on the prowl” more than animal prints. Especially anything leopard print, which I totally despise. When I hit the big 4-0 last year I made a vow never to wear animal prints.
Some if this is silly. Uggs can look nice on over 40s if they wear them right. I have some and so does my friend. We have both lost 120 lbs together and she’s a 6 now and I’m a 10 (I’m way taller) and we both look great in our TIGHT skinny jeans and uggs.
Plus, chewing gum? Really? That has nothing to do with fashion. Gum is my desert. Its part of how I lost weight.
The sexiest thing to wear is confidence anyway.
I am 41 and feeling the effects of ALOT going on. Fashion, well, not so much. I’ve never really been one of these women who wear heels, dresses, etc. so jeans, tees and teeny shoes usually do me just fine (besides, you’d be surprised at how you can dress up jeans and a tee shirt). Ladies, we DO NOT have to be wrote off and dress frumpy because we are aging…I say age gracefully and keep your sexiness, afterall, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Never loose sight of who you are inside and out. My Grandma always told me that there is one alternative to aging and I am not about to let a few gray hairs or fine lines ruin my life and cause me to spend every dime we make on creams, dyes, etc. Why not make “do” and simply enjoy your family and the blessings that God has gave to us while we are here. Yes, I stand behind Oil Of Olay faithfully and Cover Girl will always be my “go to” make-up because through the years I’ve realized that you do not have to spend your life savings to look AND feel like a million bucks (if any of you have kids then you understand what I mean when they tell you just how pretty you look). No amount of money can be placed on that. Too much emphasis has been placed on perfection through the media, etc. and it is very unneccessary. If I could be air brushed even when I felt like crap there would be no need, right? Point being, relax and let go ladies. You are all beautiful and never let anyone tell you differently. It does’nt take make-up, creams or dyes to make us all beautiful, just a positive attitude and that is free. Ask most men what they really want in a woman and most, if not all, will say “someone who is nice, a genuinely good person who I can talk to and share my life with”, not “someone who is beautiful” and if that is what any man wants then he is trully superficial and not worth your time anyway. Just my thoughts and views about beauty as it pertains to our aging and how we can overcome our fears.
Beautifully said!!!
I am very pleased with all the content on your blog. I get lots of suggestions to help me.
Your #9 is off base, out of line and insulting. There are more important things than just looking “fashionable” and I’d say that not insulting a significant other by not wearing a gift he gave you is one of them. Also, some of us have deeper purposes for wearing our ‘small necklaces.’ This past April, I converted to the Eastern Orthodox Church. It was one of the most significant events in my life apart from when I got married and graduated from college. In the comnversion process, I was given a smallish cross to wear at all times…and I will NEVER take it off! I don’t care what anyone says having this expression of my faith is far MORE important than anything.
Hi Sabrina
A cross is one of those items that never goes out of style, can be worn at all times and is a great layering piece, too. Thanks for mentioning that!
I totally agree with you. I have a tiny chain that I wear a gun on. I will never take it off. I wear other necklaces with it
I hope you added the frump factor of wearing floral polyester printed tops in oud and pastel colors. These scream matron. It may be a low maintenance fabric but it is not becoming at all.
HI Trish,
I’m in the same boat, stuck at the computer all day! (I am going to check out your ten, next!) That being said, the days I do get dressed I feel more energized and creative.
Today I have on a great easy dress from J. McLaughlin. It is a stretchy shirt dress that I have a wide stretchy belt with . I can pop out to lunch or pick up some groceries and still look cute and be comfortable..because after all…that’s the key! Will try to post some photos of examples.
Could we also please add 3/4 pants with tight fitting t-shirts…the ‘Great Australian Uniform’ as I like to call it. Do you have one in other parts of the world? It seems to come out in plague proportions when women over 40 go travelling as well…another form of tourist trap perhaps?
Hi Anita,
LOL..YES, let’s add that to the list! Can you send me some photos from your neck of the woods! It would be fun to compare them to here, although I think with the way the world is so connected on a global scale, I bet we will see similar faux pas!
Also, your site is a great resource for anyone looking for great looking casual clothes… Ladies check out http://www.sequinsandsands.com
Add to the list of worst mistakes made by women over 40: A short skirt that barely hides the crotch when sitting. Ugh!