Fashion Over 50: Paint It White

Photo credit: William Werber


White as a trendy spring 2011 color hardly seems like news. White is always associate with spring, especially spring weddings, and summer—isn’t it? There are two things, however, that make white a little different in 2011. First, designers have envisioned women wearing white head-to-toe or combining a solid white pair of pants or skirt with a solid bold (especially yellow or orange) top. Designer Alexander Wang showed almost an entirely white collection for spring 2011. And secondly, the designers don’t want women to stop wearing white after Labor Day. The fall 2011 collections unveiled this month during Fashion Week in New York City were heavily populated with bright white fashions—such as dresses and pant suits. (The photo at the top of this post was taken at a fall 2011 show.) That means women over 50 may be wearing this season’s white straight through to Halloween and beyond. Interesting.

Chances are you’ve already got a good base of white spring and summer fashions. But if you’d like to freshen up your white wardrobe, below are a few trendy ideas. If, like me, your color season is "winter," then white should be flattering choice. However, now that I'm in my fifties, I tend to lean towards the brighter shades in the "winter" palette. For example, when I wear a long, white tunic, I love to wrap a thin, icy blue scarf around my neck.

WHITE TUNICS AND OTHER TOPS
Long tops are a flattering choice for women over 50 and tunics are still a trend this spring.



Pure Hemp Tunic






Pure Hemp Tunic


No doubt, your favorite shopping sites will have tons of white blouses and shirts. I like the pocket details and tailoring on this Anne Klein Roll Sleeve Shirt Roll Sleeve Blouse (White). If you're pear-shaped like me, you don't want a boxy top. And, of course, wearing the shirt out is slimming. I don't think I've tucked a shirt in since I turned 40.







Silk/Cashmere Wrap Cardigan from Hessnatur





Jones New York Drape Front Cardigan (White)






Laundered Linen Scoop Neck Top





Linen Jacket



WHITE BOTTOMS
Again, I'm not surprised if your wardrobe already includes a white denim skirt, white trousers or white cotton flirty shirt like the ones I showed recently in What To Do With Floral Shoes. If you have a white linen jacket and a pair of white linen pants and you've never worn them together, this is the season to start. Or if you've wanted to add a white bottom to your wardrobe, now is the time. You'll find lots of choices across the Internet. If you've got skinny legs, you might want to try white denim shorts--tres adorable--as an alternative to the white Capri or jeans. Or just grab a good quality, fitted cotton Tee and a pair of white Capri pants for the easiest, trendy look.




Organic Cotton Roll-up Jeans





Organic Cotton Jeans





STRETCH POPLIN CAPRIS-8-WHITE




WHITE DRESSES
I can't tell you the last time I wore a white dress. I like these two a lot, however.



Pure Linen Safari Dress





Bonheur

Spring Dresses for Women Over 50

Photo Credit: William Werber

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


Did you see any of the live streaming of runway shows during Fashion Week in New York City this month? I watched a few and got a kick out of "the scene." The thing that really struck me was the variety of designs, not only from designer to designer, but even within a single designer's collection. When I read the fashion magazines, I'm led to believe that there are definitive trends dictating the season's fashion. I think fashion editors focus on certain trends because there's no way they can cover the collections of all designers--there are way too many. But the truth is, there are lots of different styles each season. That's good news for women over 50 who are looking for fashions to flatter their age and body shape. Here's a sample of dress trends for Spring 2013. Click on any of the photos (except mine!) for dress details or to shop.

STRUCTURED DRESSES 
The tailored or structured dress is often a flattering choice for women over 50 because it defines the female shape. This spring there are lots of structured dress styles to choose from. I'm a huge fan of the wrap dress, for instance.Here's a photo of me (heavens!) modeling my new spring dress--a wrap dress from Coldwater Creek. 






Many over 50 women look fabulous in a structured sheaths or shifts. The secret seems to be in the cut and fabric. A sturdy fabric, like linen or other heavy cotton, often work well. I also like the bottom half to flair a little, like this Anne Klein Color Tipped Honeycomb Outline Sheath (Size 14). And I love the way this dress is styled with the animal-print pumps!





A flattering choice for women who want to downplay their waist area is a peplum dress. Here's a very feminine peplum dress from Ann Taylor. 





Pintucked Asymmetrical Peplum Dress





And finally, there's the retro shirtwaist, like this Jones New York Printed Relaxed Shirt Dress (Blue, Size 16)





DRESSES WITH FULL SKIRTS
A dress with a full skirt is a comfortable choice for over 50 women, especially those with a "pear-shaped" body.  These dresses are fitted around the torso, where the "pear" is thinnest, and then fan out over the hips and bottom.





Women's Regular Pattern Surplice Dress - Orchid Petal Washed Floral, 14








Ultra Soft Jersey Dress





MINIMAL STYLING
Ultra-simple dresses, like the ones below, are so comfortable looking you may want to sleep in them. These are perfect for casual times. The trick, of course, is finding a style that doesn't make you look like you're wearing a potato sack. The uneven hem and the color blocking with a trendy emerald vertical panel keeps this next dress, a BCBGMAXAZRIA Adeleine Dress, looking streamlined. 








A simple dress like the Knit Tank Dress below is just begging for your personal styling. Add a statement necklace or silk scarf and you're ready to go.









Happy Spring!