17 End-of-Season Cyber Sales

Editor's Note: Unfortunately, most of the "Winter Clearance" sales have ended. However, I've updated this post with sales that are ongoing in February 2013. For dated discounts or "flash sales," be sure to check the sale promotions in the left margin of Flattering50. Happy Shopping! 

Have you had enough shopping? I thought I had. But then, all these mega end-of-season sales keep popping up on my computer screen and I'm suddenly tempted to shop some more. The winter sales are a great opportunity to replenish a worn-out basic, like a trench coat, with the new one, like the Jones New York Trench Coat (Brown, Size L) (was $199, now $119 with an additional 40% off at checkout) above. Or, perhaps, you'd like to add a designer dress that was out of reach three months ago, but now has a more pleasing price tag, like the Diane von Furstenberg New Julian Two Dress (was $345.00, now $207.00) below.




In case you're planning to do a little bargain hunting, I've assembled a sampling of the current end-of-season cyber sales. While many of these sales continue through New Years Day, some of them will end before the 2013 ball drops. Click "Read More" to see the entire list of 17 End-of-Season Sales.
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$59 Dress Sale at Jones--But Hurry!

Editor's Note: This sale ended July 12, 2012.

I just wanted to let you know that Jones New York is having a fantastic dress sale right now. It's a $59 Dress Flash Sale Event, now through July 12th. For instance, the Jones New York Mock Fly-Away 2 Piece Dress above was $119. But right now it's only $59! There's a nice selection of $59 dresses and many offer all sizes up to size 16. I didn't see any plus sizes on sale, but you might want to take a peek at the JNY site. Click on the dress or hyperlink above to shop. To see a few of my other favorite JNY dresses for only $59, click "read more" below.
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Mother’s Day Sale: Spring Dresses Under $50

My birthday is in May. And though I'm still "safely in my 50s," as my husband likes to says, I don't look forward to celebrating the day of my birth the way I did, say, 40 years ago. Instead, I prefer to focus on Mother's Day. I welcome any and all expressions of appreciation for dear-old-mom, including breakfast in bed, brunch at a favorite restaurant, a barbecue, a bunch of tulips--whatever. In fact, I don't mind basking in the glory of motherhood all weekend. This weekend, I may spend time in the garden, go see "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" movie or do some shopping. With all the Mother's Day sales over the next few days, I pretty sure I'll do a little bargain hunting. If you need of a pair or sandals or a beach cover up, I strongly recommend you check out your favorite shopping destinations. Chances are you'll find some great savings. Take, for instance, the Connected Apparel Peacock Print Tie Waist Dress (was $70, now $42) above for Beall's online department store. Take 40% off our entire stock of womens dresses on BeallsFlorida.com from 5.3-5.13! Choose from over 300 styles of dresses including sundresses, cocktail dresses, and lace dresses. Beall's has a nice selection of comfortable dresses with or without sleeves for women over 50. Read on for a few more examples.
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Spring Forecast: Bright Blue Dresses

In my neck of the woods, people were astounded last month when it was evident that winter had passed with little more than a dusting of snow. Even so, months of the same drab color scheme--every shade of brown and grey--outdoors made me long for spring's bright colors. Bright blue is one of my favorite hues, so I was thrilled to find many bright blue garments in a recent web search. I've collected a few well-price blue dresses, like the Anne Klein Cowl Neck & Asymmetrical Hem Dress ($124) above, to show you some of the possibilities.
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Style Over 50: The Maxi Dress Movement

I'm loving the range of hemlines this spring. Not only are there dresses and skirts of every conceivable length--micro, mini, midi and maxi--but there seems to be many more choices for each length than in recent seasons. Case in point: the maxi dress. Clothing sites are showing a nice selection of both dressy and casual maxi dresses in neutral colors as well as brilliant ones, plus stripe and floral prints. One of my posts that attracts a lot of readers is Dresses Over 50: Let'm Flow. Recently, I was updating that post and found a lot of new flowing dresses online.  A maxi dress like the Petite Getaway Gauze Dress - Blue (was $79.95, now $19.99 in limited sizes and colors) from Soft Surroundings Women's Apparel is ultra-comfortable and easy. The off-the-shoulders style might not be for everyone, but I've seen over 50 women wear it and look great.  All you need is a pretty statement necklace and a pair of flat sandals, and you're ready for a get-together with family or friends.My favorites for women over 50 are...
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Shirt Dresses: Retro to Metro

This spring, the fashion world is once again in love with 1950s fashion. In the stores and online, I’m seeing 50s-style floral prints dresses, full skirts, gingham shirts, and more. It’s pre-Beatlemania styling! Personally, I’m getting a huge kick out of the return of the 1950s shirtwaist dress. The dresses have the classic styling—the collar, the button front, the belt or tie—you’d expect, but they've been updated with this season's favorite prints and colors. Take, for instance, the Jones New York Cotton Shirt Dress ($129). It's a great choice for women over 50 because it's easy, comfortable and flatters the over 50 figure, which benefits from a little structure. Some of this season's shirt dresses have straight skirts, others are quite full. You'll have to try a few to determine the best one for your body shape. Throw a blazer over the dress and you're ready for work or running around the city. If you're reading this post before Friday, March 16, 2012, you might want to check out the dress sales at Jones New York (50% off) and Anne Klein (30% off). Below is a sample of this spring's styles…
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Max Studio Dress Sale: Perfect for Leggings!

One of my 2012 fashion resolutions is to find comfortable dresses to wear over leggings or jeggings. I love the look because it hides my less-than-flattering thighs. And leggings/jeggings are warm like tights, but can be thrown in the washing machine. (I hate hand-washing tights!) This week, I bought the Max Studio jersey dress shown above (though not online). I'm loving the ultra-comfortable elasticized empire waist and the jersey material, which isn’t bulky. The sleeves are bell—very 70s retro—and the perfect 3/4 length. The v-neck is a little low for me, but that’s okay. I’m used to adding a camisole or little pin to avoid exposing cleavage or worse. (I seem to have a short chest or something.) I’ve worn it with a red short sweater and short boots so far.

If you're looking for a dress to wear over leggings, you might want to take a peek at Maxstudio.com dresses. Right now you can take advantage of Max Studio's 20% Off ALL Dresses sale (2/10-2/14). I saw a handful of dresses I thought would look great over jeggings, including the JERSEY DRESS; STRIPED JERSEY DRESS; 3/4 SLEEVE SWEATER DRESS; COTTON YARN DYED PLAID DRESS; ELASTICATED DRESS, and the TUNICA DRESS. If you're reading this post after Feb. 14th, you might want to click Maxstudio.com anyway. The designer often has dresses on sale, like these below.



COTTON YARN DYED PLAID DRESS-M-BROWN, GREEN PLAID







3/4 SLEEVE SWEATER DRESS-M-HEATHER CHARCOAL






PADDED SHOULDER PLAID DRESS-M-BEIGE/CHOCO

Web stops: TDF Dresses, Stylish 50+, more

I love to lounge. I know people who are constantly on the run, but not me. I need time to kick back, recharge. My favorite lounge time activities are reading a book or magazine, exploring the web, or maybe, watching a movie. Before heading out for a Super Bowl party (Yeah, Giants!) on Sunday, I had time for a little lounging plus web exploring. Here are three web stops I made. It’s a rather eclectic trio, meant to awe, inspire and make you laugh out loud…

DECADES OF DRESSES
It’s hard to think of fashion as art when I’m throwing on jeans and a T-shirt to do yard work. But I have to admit I feel a sense of awe when I see a woman in a wonderful outfit (either beautifully made or creatively styled or both) that is very close to the awe I feel when gazing at, say, an artwork by Cézanne. For this reason, I love the annual exhibits at the Costume Institute at the Met (this year Prada!) as well as the exhibits at the Fashion Institute of Technology, one the Big Apple’s secret treasures. If you love to look at beautiful clothes as much as I do, take a peek at OMG that dress!. This "blog for fashion and history” posts the most beautiful dresses from different periods in history, one more lovely than the next. I’ve bookmarked the page. When I’m looking for a quick fix of creative inspiration, I click on and drool. Enjoy!


STYLISH STORYTELLER
Blogger Jonathan Daniel Pryce recently wrote about Varda Ducovny, an author and psychologist of a certain age living in Paris. In Superior Interior, Behind the Street Style: Varda Ducovny, on the blog AnotherGarcon, Mr. Pryce says he admires Ms. Ducovny’s sense of style as well as her wonderful gift for storytelling. His post offers a lovely portrait--told with words, photographs and even a short video (see below)--of Ms. Ducovny. He also shares some of her stories. I see a lot written about older women becoming invisible to society. But, perhaps, we’re only invisible to those who walk around with dulled sensibilities, their noses buried in their digital devices. If so, why should we care? Bravo to Jonathan for noticing and celebrating a woman with spirit and great stories!





PARKING ETIQUETTE
And now for something not so high-minded...Do you have a Whole Foods supermarket in your area? If so, does it “get real” in the parking lot? Maybe you have to live in West LA or metro NY, but this video made my girlfriends and me howl.




To leave a comment about this post, click HERE (or the post's title) and scroll down to Comment Box.

Old Navy Dresses + Leggings = Comfortable Styling

I'm always on the lookout for dresses that can be worn over leggings or cropped pants. It's just such a fun, comfortable look. Today, I found some very reasonably-priced dresses online at Old Navy that I think would look great on over 50 women. The Old Navy Women's Dolman Top Dresses ($32.99) above has received lots of positive customer feedback, including reports that it works well with leggings. I'd love to see it styled with a long patterned scarf, leggings or cropped pants, and ankle boots. Below are a couple more Old Navy dresses that caught my eye. Right now, they're marked down from the prices shown here. If you're lucky, you'll find them still on sale.


Unfortunately, I can't show you a photo of my favorite Old Navy design, a Women's Cowl-Neck Dresses ($29.94) in grey or black, for leggings. But I've linked the dress's page, so you can take a peek.

Here are two other cowl-neck designs that caught my eye...




Old Navy Women's Cowlneck Sweater Dresses ($46.94)




Old Navy Women's Plus Cowlneck Sweater Dresses ($44.99)


Looking for more ideas? You might want to check out Dresses Over Leggings

Happy Holiday Dresses

During the first 15 years or so of marriage, I bought a new dress for the holiday season every year. They were a present from my mother-in-law, who wanted me to have something nice to wear to the la-dee-da Christmas dinner-dance at her country club, the annual charity dinner-dance she supported and, of course, Christmas dinner with her family. It made my mother-in-law happy to see me turned out nicely (for once!) and so I happily obliged. However, I always felt a twinge of guilt, knowing I'd probably never wear the dresses again. Generally speaking, I'm not a formal dresser. I stopped buying "holiday dresses" after my mother-in-law passed away. Since then, there's always a little black dress in my closet to shimmy into on those rare occasions when I'm invited to a fancy holiday affair. But that's me. I know some women absolutely relish the opportunity to dress up for the holidays. For them, the online stores are brimming with dresses in festive colors and with glittery embellishments. Since colors look wonderful on women over 50, I'm drawn to dresses in the trendy jewel tones, like the Jones New York Matte Jersey Dress (was $124, now $59) above. For this post, I've selected some of the different dress styles in jewel colors that I think will flatter women over 50. These aren't formal dresses for a Christmas gala, but rather pretty designs for sipping spiked eggnog at cocktail parties. I've also included a few in basic black because black is always sophisticated and stylish.


JEWEL COLORS RULE
There are two reasons I love the Jones dress above: 1) it's styled perfectly (fitted and feminine around the bust, with a comfortable flared skirt) for over 50 women, and 2) it's on sale. If you're reading this post before Nov. 15th, you might want to click on the Jones dress photo to see all the dresses currently on sale.


Or, take a peek at this scarlet Connected Apparel Pleated Faux Wrap Dress (was $60, now $42) from Beall's. The wide scoop neckline, 3/4 sleeves and side gathering are all flattering elements for women over 50. Add a glittery necklace and a knockout pair of shoes and you'll be ready to deck the halls. This dress is also available in eggplant.





Here's a pretty purple (machine washable!) sheath called simply L.A. ($84)





I love everything about this next dress--gorgeous color and a ultra-feminine, flowing design.





Halston Heritage Wrapped Bodice Dress with Sash ($295)


This next dress comes in a blue similar to the dress above. Yellow makes me look jaundice, but what a gorgeous color!




Nanette Lepore Love Story Shift Dress ($378).




Garments with trendy lace or embroidery are also perfect for the holidays, like this sapphire Sue Wong Passementerie Embroidered Dress Women ($416)






BASIC BLACK
Here are a few of the many, many little black dress styles for 2011. Naturally, your body shape will dictate which dress is right for you. For example, women over 50 with hourglass figures or womanly shaped bodies will probably look great in this Jones New York Mock Neck Dress with Sash, (was $129, now $59.99)







The woman with a pear-shaped figure will probably want a dress with a fuller skirt like this Jones New York Satin Pleated Dress, ($119). Pretty jewelry and a colorful shawl and shoes will add a holiday splash of color.





Or this Nantucket dress ($76) from Shabby Apple. Now through November 24th, Save 15% on All Black Dresses at Shabby Apple When You Use Code BlackOut.





Dresses with a peplum like this next one are great for tummy concealment.



Alice + Olivia Victoria Peplum Dress ($264)



This fall, every time I opened a fashion magazine I saw Stella McCartney's little black dress with the sheer and polka dot sleeves. Here's an equally beautiful Diane von Furstenberg Enny Dress ($375). I think this would look smashing on a petite or tall and trim 50-something woman.