Dresses for Over 50: Let'm flow

Editor's Note: This post was updated in March 2013. 


The other day while shopping, I spotted a woman over 50 in a long, straight, sleeveless cotton dress. The fabric had a trendy grey, black and white “tribal” pattern. The neckline was somewhat plunging, so she wore a matching pale grey scoop-neck, sleeveless cotton shell underneath. The lack of excess fabric perfectly suited the woman, who was slim and petite. I actually went up to her and told her, “You look fabulous.”

I’m seeing more long dresses than I have in a while and I find it wonderfully refreshing. At the risk of sounding like a crabby old lady, I find the very short skirts and shorts coupled with spiked-heel sandals on young girls in the city a little creepy, more than a little hooker-esque. This post features a sample of maxi dresses online, like Jones New York Printed Maxi Dress (Green, Size 12).

But first, here's a list of why I love long dresses, especially those in light-weight fabrics...

Light-weight, long dresses have several advantages for women over 50:

• They hide less than perfectly shaped legs and/or varicose veins and other skin imperfections.
  

• Long dresses, especially those that fan out below the torso, are ultra-comfortable and offer freedom of movement.

• The continuous fabric color or pattern from shoulder to ankle makes a woman look thinner and distracts the eye from a widening waistline or hips.

• Long skirts and dresses actually make shorter women look longer. As a 5’ 4” woman, I have found that I look best in hems just above the knee or hovering near the ankle. (A hem only an inch or so below the knee makes me look like gigantic parasol mushroom!)

RING IN SPRING 
Are you ready to make a statement with a long dress this spring? If so, there are some very lovely dresses for women over 50. For example, there's a Anne Klein Dot Print Maxi Dress (Black, Size L) 






AND THEN...SUMMER
Not surprisingly, most of the summer maxi dresses are sleeveless. I, like many of my over 50 friends, aren't crazy about our upper arms. But I'm not going to stop wearing sleeveless, especially when it's 80 degrees outside! My thought: If I'm dressed nicely in a flattering style and I keep smiling, people (unless they have an upper arm fetish) aren't going to be fixated on my aging limbs. And if I'm feeling self-conscious, I can always throw on a little cover-up, such as my beloved jean jacket or a short, light cardigan. The next two dresses are from Willow Ridge. Yes, I know: The second one is long, but not a maxi. Still, anything below the mid-calf is long and flowing in my style book.





Printed Maxi Dress









Fresh-Picked Sundress



There are lots of jersey maxis. Though they're a bit clingy, the length seems to make jersey maxis work for women over 50.








Stripe Belted Tank Maxi Dress







Tbags Los Angeles Off Shoulder Maxi Dress. This dress is available in Size S only. Still, I thought it was such a perfect maxi style for women over 50, I had to include it.




GET YOUR FALL FLOWING
Looking for an ultra-easy, comfortable outfit for going out on a fall weekend? Here are a couple of dresses you can buy now and hide for the fall. Take, for instance, the lovely Jones New York Belted Dress below. Once you are committed to the lovely long sheath, you can go crazy (or not) with layers and accessories. For me, a jean jacket and scarf would be a must. Or, perhaps, a statement necklace. I might also add my own belt and a light cardigan under the jacket.






Just can't see yourself in a sleeveless dress? How about trying this next dress with your jean jacket?




Women's Regular 3/4-sleeve Knit Drapeneck Dress - Rich Eggplant (was $79, now $44.99) in Sizes XS thru L.


I love this knit midi. Add an animal print belt, a nice necklace, perhaps, a cozy suede jacket and presto! And it's got sleeves!!