New Day/New Outfit: Fair-Weather Fashion

I can't remember a spring in the Northeast when the flowering trees were more spectacular than this spring. Every week, a new variety of flowering tree is bursting with rich, fragrant blooms. On Sunday, my husband and I strolled down to the waterfront for brunch. The weather was glorious and I had a strong urge to wear something, well, spring-y. In my mind, a straw hat is quintessential fair-weather fashion. So...I got up on a step-ladder and grabbed my straw hat from the closet's top shelf, where it had been hibernating since September.
On our way home, my husband and I stopped at a park to admire the flora. That's me standing under a dogwood tree above and below seated by a flower bed.
While I was set on wearing my straw hat to brunch, there was one question: How would I style it? If truth be known: I've own the hat for several years, but have never worn it anywhere other than the beach. How could I make it fashionable for brunch?
In view of my love of stylish mismatch for women over 50, I wasn't about to pair my country-looking straw hat with anything remotely rural- or peasant-like. No, no, I had to find something to wear that would look more, well, cosmopolitan. So...I chose a black lace blouse, a black camisole, a white pencil skirt and black sandals. It seemed to satisfy my need for stylish mismatch as well as my current infatuation with black and white. Did I succeed?

I'd love to know...

How do you style a straw hat?

Brides Over 50: Stylish Separates and Accessories

I have to laugh sometimes at the way my over 50 girlfriends and I fret whenever we have to put together an outfit for a special occasion. I can only imagine the fretting that would take place if the special occasion was, gulp, my wedding. I’m not talking about being the mother of the bride; I’m talking about being it--the bride! Recently, a Flattering50 reader wrote:

“My partner and I have been together for 30 years and will get married in NYC in early September. We want something beautiful, preferably elegant trousers versus dresses, but accessorized gorgeously. Our colors are dark orange and cream--not sure of the third color. Any thoughts or recommendations for us?”

First off, a huge congratulations! And secondly, I feel extremely honored that someone would ask me to share my thoughts on wedding attire. I’m happy to oblige, of course, if only to give my dear reader a little “food for thought.” Unfortunately, I have no photos of mature brides to share. I'm stuck showing young models wearing styles I believe would look smashing on a bride over 50.
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New Day/New Outfit: A Bit of Beading

First off, happy Memorial Day Weekend! In my last post, Style Over 50: Is Orange the New Neutral?, I mentioned that I've been rooting around my wardrobe, looking for garments with a little orange, one of this spring's trendy colors. Well, this week I found a linen skirt with orange beading (above) buried in the back of my closet. A girlfriend was taking me out to lunch to celebrate my birthday and I was looking for something that would suit my festive mood. I think this skirt fits the bill, yes?
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Style Over 50: Is Orange the New Neutral?

This spring, a new purse topped my shopping list. I wasn’t locked into a particular style or color. Lately, however, I had been coveting an over 50 girlfriend’s small, very lightweight red tote bought in Paris. I love the tote's bright color, of course. But I was equally drawn to its light weight. I spend lots of time running around New York City and hate being weighed down by a heavy purse.

Much to my surprise, I fell in love with an orange B. Makowsky bag (above). In fact, orange is such an out-of-character color for me that I left the tags on the purse for a few days. I couldn’t believe I was actually going to keep it. More surprising, though, was this: During those few days of vacillating, I put the orange bag on my shoulder with each day’s outfit and found the bag looked great with every outfit. It didn’t matter what colors I wore--sapphire, grey, hot pink, white, pastel green—the purse was the perfect accessory. And it got me thinking: Is orange this spring’s new neutral color? What do you think?
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New Day/New Outfit: Spring Layering

Now that May is here, I’m done with my winter wardrobe. I’m determine to dress lighter and brighter, even when the temperatures dip. I don’t appreciate being cold, though. So…these days, I’m dressing in spring layers. For instance, today, Mother's Day, the weather is sunny, but rather breezy. So...I put this layered outfit together for Mother's Day brunch with my husband and boys.
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Product Review: A Sports Wear and Swimsuit Alternative

Recently, I was invited to try activewear by HydroChic. HydroChic specializes in garments that are 50+ UV resistant and can be worn swimming. The waters off the Northeast’s coast are a bit too chilly for swimming in April, so I suggested doing a product review of the activewear’s performance on the tennis court—where I get my exercise these days. HydroChic accepted my offer and asked me to choose an outfit from its collection. The clothing line offers over 300 mix-and-match activewear garments for tennis, swimming and other sports and exercise activities. To read my review, click...
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Surf's Up! What to Pack for a Beach Vacation?

Recently, a Flattering50 reader emailed and asked: "I'm looking for some ideas on what to wear for a beach vacation. Any chance you might do a post on that?" Gladly! Other than college, I've lived in homes on the water or no more than a few blocks away. I adore the seashore! Diane Vreeland called water (for drinking or sitting by) "God's tranquilizer." I couldn't agree more. How do I pack for a beach vacation? The short answer: Simply and comfortably.

A beach vacation is the ultimate rest and relaxation experience. Formality is just plain silly when you're surrounded by sand, surf and salt air. That said, the absence of formality doesn't mean I'm going to throw in the proverbial beach towel on style and just wear anything. I still want to look my best. So...for a beach vacation, I'm going to pack a handful of separates that are easy to mixed and matched, and perfect for day or night. To see what's in my beach bag, click...
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Dove Beauty Video Goes Viral

Just in case you aren't in the YouTube loop, there's a video on women and beauty that has gone viral--over 22 million people have watched it to date. The video, entitled Real Beauty Sketches, was produced by the Dove soap people. According to Dove, only 4% of women around the world consider themselves beautiful. That's a pretty sobering statistic, albeit not entirely surprising. The question remains, however: How can women think this way? Women know better. Specifically...

• We all know how harmful those Madison Avenue bullies are, making women feel rotten about their appearance. 

• We all know that the advertisers will say anything to sell beauty products. 

• We all know that if someone discovered a product that made noses look like elephant trunks, Madison Ave. would declare: "Nose that look like elephant trunks are beautiful!" 

And yet, some of us--96% of us, if you believe the statistic--continue to accept Madison Avenue's totally fabricated definition of beauty. The sad reality is, the women in the video are all attractive women. Here, see for yourself...




Dove invites you to join the conversation either at YouTube, at their website or on Twitter at #wearebeautiful. If you view the video here, be sure to take a peek at the Dove website. The site has a longer version of the video, plus a gallery of all the sketches of the women. I'd love to know what you think of the project.

Design Your Own Colorblock Pumps

Earlier in the month, I wrote a post about this spring’s show-stopping sandals, focusing on color-blocked and embellished styles. While I was researching my sponsors for product shots I could use to illustrate the trends, I noticed that Nina shoes features Design your own shoe on Ninashoes.com- Endless style, color and sole combinations! Recently, I’ve been looking for the perfect combination of hues in a colorblock style sandal and haven't had any luck. I’ve also noticed that a lot of the colorblock sandals and shoes have crazy 4” or higher heels, which are too high for me. So...when I saw the Design Your Own (D.Y.O.) feature at Nina's, I thought: wow--maybe I could D.Y.O. a pair of colorblock pumps for a summer wedding I'm attending. The D.Y.O. feature is really easy to use and shows you instantly what your design looks like. My first design was the Paladin style above. Once I got started, however, I couldn't stop. To see more of my colorblock designs, click…
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New Day/New Outfit: The In-Between Sweater

April in New York is a weather roller coaster--one day (like today) in the 80s; the next day down in the 50s. Saturday night, I was in the city to see "Old Hats," the latest creative masterpiece by Bill Irwin and David Shiner. I wore a black lace blouse and camisole, a flare skirt, flats and a red trench, and I froze the minute the sun went down! A girlfriend in our little party wore a gold puffy jacket--smart woman. But here's the  thing: Even if I'd known the temp was going to fall to the 40s, I probably wouldn't have reached for a puffy jacket, a wool coat or even a chunky sweater. It's April, for goodness sake. This over 50 gal is tired of dressing for the cold.  My solution: a lightweight, short-sleeve sweater.

BENEFITS OF AN IN-BETWEEN SWEATER
A short-sleeve sweater offers...

• Shoulder warmth. I'm always amazed at how much warmer I feel when my shoulders are covered.

• Minimal wooliness. I don't feel bundled up for winter in a lightweight knit with an open neck and short sleeves.

• Versatility. I'm surprised at how well this sweater functions in a range of spring temperatures.

I picked up my shawl-neck, short-sleeve sweater at Coldwater Creek a month or so ago. I didn't wear it at all during the really cold, snowy weather in March. Lately, however, I've been living in it. I'm finding the neutral color goes with lots of things. So far, I like it best worn over a white man-tailored shirt. And since it's a bit boxy, I always wear it with a belt for structure.

SHOPPING SOURCES
If a short-sleeve sweater appeals to you, you'll find a wide selection of styles on the web. When I searched short-sleeve knits, I found pullover, cardigans, ponchos and shawl-like vests.  Here's two examples. Forgive the product shots with young babes. 




LOFT Petite Open Front Elbow Sleeve Cardigan ($44.99, plus 40% off at checkout) in Regular Sizes and black as well.


I love this soft, draped poncho look...



STRETCH CREPE KNITTED PONCHO-L-HEATHER CAMEL ($168)

Style Over 50: Show-Stopping Sandals

I'm on the hunt for a new pair of sandals. I still intend to wear last year's pair, which I love. But three other, older pairs of sandals got the heave-ho at the end of last summer. So lately, I've been perusing the web at home and fashion mags at the beauty parlor, checking out my sandal options for this spring. And what I'm seeing are sandals with big personalities--multi-colored sandals and ones covered with jewels, metals or beads. The Nine West Flo Sandal - Size 7 ($79 in Sizes 5-11 and 5 color schemes) at the top of this post is a perfect example. Many, many shoe designers and brands have included bejeweled and colorful footwear in their spring collections, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding them. For this post, I've included a sample of my favorite sandal styles from my sponsors--easyspirit.com, Nine West and Shopbop.com--to give you some ideas. To take a peek, click...
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Wedding Guest Attire: Hold the Hosiery?

I'm sure you're aware that nylon hosiery went out of style sometime last year and is showing no sign of coming back into fashion favor. If you wore opaque tights all winter, you were still a hip old lady. But now that spring is here (officially, though not physically around here!), women over 50 are supposed to resist the temptation to pull on nylon hose. So...I wasn't surprised when a Flattering50 reader emailed me and wrote:

I have an evening wedding to go to the last day of May. Now let me ask a question that definitely separates my generation from my kids': What about hose? Is it totally 70s to wear hose? I'm quite fair and pretty sure my legs were never intended to be seen. What to do that doesn't date me? My husband and I are very close to the same height, so I don't usually do much of a heel. If I go with a longer length and a lower heel, then that feels frumpy to me and I prefer to feel "dressed" for such an occasion. I want to look sharp because there will be family pictures.

First off, sweet reader, you're not alone! My over 50 girlfriends and I are grappling with the very same question this spring. Recently, a friend reminded me of a Hercule Poirot Mystery Classic in which the detective solved the crime by looking at the bare knees of the criminal and realizing she wasn't the young thing she pretended to be. "Ouch!!!" said my friend. Ouch, indeed. That said, I'm a big believer that one of the perks of being over 50 is that I don't have to be a fashion slave, if I don't want to. I have options. I've come up with a few, but would love to hear what other over 50 women are doing these days. For a few leg options, click...
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Style Over 50: The Colorful Jeans Show

I am sooo ready for spring and all its gorgeous colors – emerald, yellow, purple, pink. A few brave crocuses have popped out. But, alas, Old Man Winter won’t release us Northeasterners from his grip. It snowed last Saturday and again Tuesday night. Thursday was windy with snowy flurries all day. Grrr! What’s a girl to do? Well, if she lives in New York, she could go to the Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens for a dose of spring colors.

Last Saturday, my sister and I went to the Orchid Show. Did you know there are over 30,000 varieties of orchids? The NYBG does a fantastic job, displaying a sample of orchids from around the world. Though I’ve seen the show numerous times, I’m always filled with a renewed sense of awe and complete and utter joy. Mother Nature is quite the master of design! In fact, I’ve often thought that if I were a designer, I would take inspiration from her orchids.



Well, I'm not a designer, but I am a gal who likes to infuse Nature's colors and patterns into her wardrobe. This spring, there's another colorful show going on in store and online--the Colored Jeans Show. (How's that for a segue?) Jeans and slacks in bold orchid-like colors and patterns are everywhere. Take, for instance, the Women's True Slim Chinos - Velvet Orange, 14 (was $60, now $29.99. In 4 colors and 8 sizes) at the top of this post. It reminds me a bit of the "Orange Sugar" orchid above. For this post, I've put together a sample of orchids and jeans. Clearly, the jeans can't compete with the orchid's beauty, but I'm pretty excited about all these bold colored bottoms. To continue, click...
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Casual Dressing Over 50: 6 Easy Pieces

Recently, a Flattering50 reader emailed and said, "I need ideas for casual dressing. What to wear on Saturdays other than jeans?" I had to smile because I struggled with the casual dressing over 50 dilemma last fall. At the time, My Wardrobe Breakdown looked like this...
85% office-work clothes
10% domestic-chores clothes
5% miscellaneous (ie, a couple of dressy dresses and swimsuits)

I had no nice casual clothes for weekends in my wardrobe. If I wanted to look nice for a day or evening out with my husband and/or friends, I tried to dress down my work clothes. Ugh! Then, last October, my husband and I were having dinner with friends before a concert. It was a Tuesday night and I'd run home after work to change into one of my "dressed down" work outfits. At dinner, a male friend said to me: "I guess you came straight from work." For some reason, the innocent comment was a style wake up call. It was time to invest in a few garments for casual activities. To continue, click...
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Still Learning: Lace in the Workplace?

Last August, I bought a lace skirt at Ann Taylor (above). I'd just been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the "Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations” exhibit and was in the mood for a new fall skirt. (I'm always in the mood for a new skirt when I look at Prada clothing!) I loved the Ann Taylor skirt's beige lining, which made the lace stand out, and its fun flounce (see below). The thing is, as I perused my closet last weekend, looking for something to wear, I came upon the lace skirt and realized--to my dismay--that I had only worn it three times since August. I'd worn it on Thanksgiving and to a couple of December parties--that's all. The skirt seemed too dressy for most casual activities. Saturday night, I wore it out to dinner and to the theater. And I'm determined to wear it a few more times before I put it away till next fall. So...I've been wondering: Can I wear a lace skirt to work?



To continue, click...
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Skirt Alert: Dare to Flare

A while back, a Flattering50 reader commented: "I'd like to see more skirts that aren't pencil, full or maxi-length." She noted that she liked one of my flared skirts in the post because it was "nice without being voluminous." I was thrilled to get the comment because I've been thinking the same way. I'm under 5'5" and find a typical "full skirt" overwhelms me with too much volume. And while I'm very fond of my pencil skirts, they shout "office work" to me. A flared or A-lined skirt is a comfortable and fun style for casual activities. (Though, most flared skirts can be styled for work as well.)

I've been reading that the flared skirt is a trend this spring. So...I poked around the web to see what I could find. I'm happy to report I found a nice assortment of flared and A-lined skirts hemmed around the knee or just above--perfect for women over 50. Take, for instance, the Jones New York Graphic Print Pleated Skirt (Green, Size 14) ($119) above. Click "Read More" below to see the other skirts I found.
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Style Over 50: 2013 Swimsuit Trends

I like to look at swimsuits in March; it gets me excited about all things summery. I am, however, a little reluctant to post about latest swimwear trends on Flattering50. For one thing, the only place I could imagine wearing many of this year's swimsuit designs is in my worst nightmares. And, then, there’s the problem with visuals--most swimsuit models are, well, young bathing beauties. Hmm--what to do? Will the Flattering50 reader allow me to share some of the trends with photos of young women with--for the most part--realistic body shapes? Well, that’s what I’ve tried to do in this post on 2013 swimsuits for women over 50. Several of the swimsuits are on sale right now, like Longitude White Carnaby Plus Size Surplice Swimsuit (was $99, now $69.99) above from Shop Swimsuits ForAll.com. By the by, Swim4All is offering Free Shipping + An Extra 30% off SITEWIDE this Memorial Day Weekend with code MDW.

To view more 2013 swimsuits for women over50, click...
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10 Fun Facts About...Vera Wang

Photo credit: Joyce Culver


I've admired Vera Wang, 63, for a long time. I've read about her editorial beginnings at Vogue, her work with Ralph Lauren and the opening of her first bridal shop. I’ve admired her collections, from the confectionery wedding gowns to the stream-lined women's clothing. This spring, I love her dresses in emerald and gold, her use of old-timey prints in rich China blues, and her printed tunics with matching (bicycle?) shorts. What I hadn’t realized, however, was that the over 50 designer is very affable and funny in person. Last Tuesday, I heard her speak at the 92 Street Y in New York City. During a lively conversation with fashion industry expert Fern Mallis, 64, Vera was candid and very entertaining. Click "Read More" for some fun facts about Vera Wang…
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Spring Style Over 50: Bright Colors and Playful Prints

A few days ago, I took a shopping tour of the spring 2013 collection at the Coldwater Creek store on Third Avenue in New York City. A frigid February wind was blowing down the avenue as I approached the store. It was a relief to step inside Coldwater Creek and see all the bright spring colors and playful prints on display (photo above). Could warmer days be far off? The spring collection also features draped tops and dresses, comfortable knits, and colorful jeans--styles perfect for women over 50. To see a few of my favorite pieces in Coldwater Creek 2013 spring collection, click...
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Shop Presidents' Weekend Sales for Fall 2013 Trends

Photo credit: William Werber


The Fall 2013 Fashion Week in New York has come to a close. I was encouraged by the whole affair for one big reason: Many of the designs previewed were perfect for women over 50. Is the fashion industry becoming sympathetic to our needs? Hmm. Yes, yes--there were plenty of very short skirts and even some peek-a-boo tops (heaven!) on the Big Apple's runways. But there were also skirts and dresses with longer hems as well as jackets, tops and bottoms with simple, classic lines and a bit of edge. Be still my heart!

I was also thrilled to see that many of the 2012 fall trends--winter white, fur trim, colored jeans, black and white, shades of purple and burgundy, and more--were very present in the fall 2013 collections. Happy Days! Those garments I bought in September 2012 will still be 'in vogue' next year. If you're tempted to shop some of the huge Presidents' Weekend sales, you might find a 2012 bargain or two that will add to your fall 2013 style. Click 'read more' below for a few examples.
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