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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DYI Home Spa: 4 Simple Ways to Relax, Soothe and Repair

By Michelle Pino, guest contributor

Everyone knows that a day at a spa can be costly. And with busy schedules, it’s not always easy to coordinate a time for a spa appointment, especially when you want to bring a friend along. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend lots of money or even leave your house to enjoy the benefits of a spa. There are many treatments you can do in the comfort of your home. Here are a few inexpensive ways to create a home spa experience.
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Fashion Goes to the Museums

It won't surprise you to know that as a blogger on style for women over 50, I spend a good chunk of my time looking at fashion trends, particularly in and around New York, where I live. I also enjoy reading articles and books about fashion in culture and history, since I don't think you can be a fashion observer without thinking at least a little about how fashion influences culture and vice versa. And, on those rare past occasions when a NYC museum has taken a cultural look at fashion, I've run to the exhibit. In the last couple of years, however, fashion-related exhibitions in city have become anything but rare. Now, I know a lot of people think about fashion—what to buy and wear--but this fashion-goes-to-museum trend makes me wonder: Are more people becoming interested in fashion as a cultural study? I'd love to know what you think. To continue reading, click…
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May Giveaway: HydroChic Activewear

This month's Flattering50 Giveaway is for an activewear garment from HydroChic. As the name suggests, HydroChic specializes in garments for swimming. But the company has over 300 mix-and-match tops and bottoms that are suitable for a wide range of sports and exercise activity.  In fact, in a recent Flatteirng50 post, entitled Product Review: Sports wear and Swimsuit Alternatives, I described my experience testing an HydroChic activewear outfit on the tennis court. I was very satisfied with the outfit's performance.

For this month's Flattering50 Giveaway, HydroChic will give the winner an activewear garment--a top or bottom--of her choice. (Scroll down to enter.)

SWIM, SUN AND HAVE FUN
 I've included a few sample garments in this post, but you can view the entire collection at the HydroChic website. The exercise pants above look perfect for yoga, don't they? And here are a top and bottom that can be worn swimming. (Sorry about the young model. I hope you can imagine the outfit anyway.) The brand's swimwear collection, which is 50+ UV resistant, now includes garments that are Chlorine-resistant for swimming in pools.







ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN
For a chance to win the Giveaway, Flattering50 readers can either enter at... HydroChic's website page OR enter at HydroChic's Facebook page. If you enter the giveaway on the Facebook page, you'll be asked to like HydroChic.

**This contest is open to Flattering50 readers in the United States and Canada.**

By entering the the Giveaway, you'll automatically subscribe to the HydroChic newsletter, offering the latest HydroChic specials and promotions. HydroChic respects the privacy of Flattering50 readers.

The May Giveaway's Deadline is Friday, May 31, 2013 at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will be notified by HydroChic on the next business day. 

Good luck!

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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