June Giveaway: Stylish, Comfortable Earrings

“Earrings are like orgasms—you can never have too many.” Can you guess who said that? That naughty, but oh-so-witty Nora Ephron—of course. And as usual, I completely agree! I couldn’t begin to estimate how many pairs of earrings I’ve collected over the past 30 years. Still, I love them—one and all. Earrings tend to be a little accessory, but, personally, they speak volumes about my mood of the moment. Each day, I choose a pair that reflects the way I’m feeling—whimsical, demure, retro, urbane, Earthy, cosmopolitan, to name a few.  I’ve got a pair (or three!) for all my moods.

So...when the folks representing jewelry artist Shaune Bazner asked if I’d like to choose a pair of clip-on earrings to review for Flattering50, my answer was simple: “Yes, please!” And then, when they asked if I'd I like to offer a Flattering50 reader a pair of clip-on earrings of her choice, I said, "Of course!"

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!

March Giveaway: Coldwater Creek Jewelry

Editor's Note: The March 2013 Giveaway has ended. Thanks to all those who entered!

Jewelry is a great way to brighten your spirits and your look! This month, I’m offering Flattering50 readers a chance to win three lovely pieces of jewelry with emerald-colored accents--one of this spring's hot colors--from Coldwater Creek. Click “Read More” below to enter for a March Giveaway, to view more photos of the jewelry set…
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Flattering50 Giveaway: Where Do You Like to Shop?

Recently, I shared a few of my favorite places to shop in New York City in a post entitled Favorites Over 50: Shopping in New York City. Now I'd like to know where you like to shop for clothing and accessories. What's your favorite city to shop in? Perhaps, you're like me and live near a favorite city for shopping. Or maybe you visit your favorite shopping destination when you're traveling for business or pleasure. Now that we're over 50, many of us have a little more time and money for traveling (and shopping). So...for the current Flattering50 Giveaway, I'd like to know:

What's Your Favorite City for Shopping and...Where do You Shop?

To learn more about this giveaway and leave your comment, click "Read More" below... 

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Giveaway Winners: Secrets to Looking Good Over 50

The latest Flattering50 Giveaway has ended and three participants have each received a $25 Amazon.com e-gift certificate. For the Giveaway, readers were asked: What's Your Secret to Looking Good Over 50? I loved all the responses! Comments ranged from exercise and skin care regimens to the basic, but absolutely vital tip: "Laughing." To view all the responses, visit the Giveaway post. To read the randomly chosen winning responses, click "Read More" below...

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Tammy
Weight training is the secret underlying everything else I do. Having avoided gyms all my life, I resorted to weight training in order to avoid surgery and be able to walk without pain. It worked, but a spectacular side benefit was my improved shape, reduced size, and increased energy. I look better at 50 than I have since my thirties. Three to 30 pound weights can do wonders for arms, legs, and the old spare tire!

Wilma
At 58, the most powerful weapon in my arsenal is my Clarisonic skin cleansing brush. The second in command is Green Cream (available online at the Derm Store), a non-prescription version of Retin-A. They say that after using the Clarisonic your skin absorbs treatments 6x better than after manual cleansing, and I believe it. My skin looks better now than at 45,

Jessie C.
As for face, fair and clean skin with a little bit touch of tinted moisturizer, blush and gloss will do. I'm also for classic and simple dress.


THANKS A MILLION to all those who participated!!

Giveaway: What’s Your Secret to Looking Good Over 50?

Now that I'm a woman over 50, I'm focused on what I can do to help my appearance and not on what's out of my control. We can't defy aging (despite what Madison Avenue tells us), but  we can do little things--everything from the applying the perfect lipstick shade to wearing a well-cut garment--to look our best. Every woman benefits from strategies that accent her positives and divert attention away from her little imperfections. I'd like to know what your strategies are. So for my October Giveaway, I'm asking readers to tell me:

What’s Your Secret to Looking Good Over 50?

Click "Read More" below for details on how to enter for a chance to win one of three $25 Amazon.com gift certificates.
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Giveaway Winners: What’s Your Must-Have Fall Fashion?

The latest Flattering50 Giveaway ended on Sunday and three randomly-picked winners have received $25 Amazon.com e-gift certificates for their responses to the Giveaway question: What’s Your Must-Have Fall Fashion? I’ve listed to the winners and their comments below.

All three winners said they had a pair of boots in mind for fall. I thought that was interesting for two reasons. First, the fashion pundits report that the accessory markets—shoes, handbags, and costume jewelry—are doing better than the garment market in our still-depressed economy. Apparently, women are adding accessories to last year’s fashions, rather than buy lots of new clothing. I also love that the must-have boots were all so different—from UGGs, to leather wedges to moto boots. As I always like to say about women over 50… Vive la différence!

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Carolsue 
I have been wanting the UGG Australia Mini Bailey Button boots for some time now -- so it's at the top of my list!!! Age: Over 40

Cynthia 
My must...boots...black, soft leather, wedge heel...

Deborah 
What I want for fall is a pair of Vince Camuto Moto boots with gold trim. They will make anything look fantastic. Debbi from SheAccessorizesWell

Congratulations winners!! The last Flattering50 Giveaway for 2012 will launch on Friday, October 12th. 

Giveaway: What’s Your Must-Have Fall Fashion?

Last month was the hottest July on record for New York. And August hasn’t exactly cooled down. Blistering heat doesn’t put me in the mood for fall shopping. However, everywhere I go, I’m seeing “Fall Fashion Preview” issues of magazines. And I must admit the previews are having their intended effect: I’m starting to think about my fall 2012 wardrobe. Personally, I don't like to shop in stores or online without a plan. If I don't have a particular garment or accessory in mind, I end up spending too much time and too much money. So…for my current Flattering50 Giveaway, I’d like to know: “What’s Your Must-Have Fall Fashion?” What garment or accessory will you be adding to your fall wardrobe? Share your ideas in the Comment Box on this post for a chance to win one of three $25 Amazon.com Gift Certificate! Click “read more” for Giveaway details…
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"What's Your Swimsuit Strategy?" Giveaway Winners

In June, I asked Flattering50 readers to share their strategies for buying and wearing swimsuits. Those who left comments on the post Flattering50 Giveaway: What’s Your Swimsuit Strategy? were entered into a drawing for one of three $25 Amazon.com e-gift certificates. The post generated a bunch of great responses from women over 50--everything from "just avoid and deny" to tips on styles and colors that flatter the over 50 figure. To read all the comments, click on the original post's link above. To read the three posts that were randomly drawn and sent a $25 Amazon.com e-gift certificate, click read more below.
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Flattering50 Giveaway: What’s Your Swimsuit Strategy?

It’s June. For many over 50 women, that means it’s time to suit up for the beach or pool. While most of the over 50 women I know love to shop, they dread the new swimsuit shopping trip. What could be worse than standing in front of a mirror under the florescent lights in a bit of spandex with your over 50 lumps and bumps on display and trying to imagine yourself wearing the skimpy garment in public? Well, there aren’t too many alternatives, if you want to do beach or pool time, right? So…for my current Flattering50 Giveaway, I’d like to know: “What’s Your Swimsuit Strategy?” Share your ideas in the Comment Box on this post for a chance to win one of three $25 Amazon.com Gift Certificate! Click “read more” for Giveaway details…
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"Alarmed About Your Arms?" Giveaway Winners

I enjoyed reading everyone's response to my question, "Are You Alarmed About Your Arms?". Prior to that post, I'd received comments from women haranguing me for posting sleeveless tops and dresses. I was glad to see that not every over 50 woman feels the need to blacklist sleeveless.

Maybe it's because I live in a heavily populated area, but I find the aging process varies a lot among women over 50. The body parts that are wrinkling, sagging, bagging and so forth on one over 50 woman aren't necessarily the same wrinkling, sagging, bagging parts for another woman. Consequently, I don't think you can make hard and fast rules about over 50 women can and can't wear. Personally, I was never in love with my arms and these days there's less to love. But I've got "other fish to fry," like a sagging jawline. Ugh! So I don't spend a lot of time (yet) worrying about my arms. Like many of the post's respondents, I still wear sleeveless at home and in casual situations. For work or formal social situations, I tend to cover up, but mostly because I don't want to freeze in the air-conditioning. I realize my days of sleeveless are probably numbered. And I totally understand and sympathize with those of you who are already compelled to cover up all the time.

However...I still truly believe that a positive spirit and a flattering outfit can go an awfully long way to draw attention away from our little lumps and bumps, and sags and bags. When I'm with a woman I admire, I'm not studying her sleeveless arms or rippling neck or whatever. I like to think that other people aren't either.

Anyway. Here are the comments that were randomly drawn for the "Are You Alarmed About Your Arms?" Giveaway. Each winner received a $25 Amazon.com e-gift certificate. Thanks to everyone who participated and congratulations to the winners. The next Flattering50 Giveaway will be posted on Friday, June 8th. Read on for the winners' comments...
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Flattering50 Giveaway: “Alarmed about Your Arms?”

Each spring since turning 50, I’ve stood in front of the mirror and asked myself, “Is it time to give up wearing sleeveless tops and dresses?” When I was in my forties, I read an article that instructed all women over 50 to ‘just say no’ to sleeveless. The author was pretty emphatic, saying it didn’t matter how toned the older arms were: cover them! At the time, it sounded like an absurd mandate. Instead of exposing one’s over 50 arms, the article’s author recommended wearing shawls and three-quarter sleeves. I pictured women over 50 everywhere, covered up in shawls and long sleeves, having heat strokes during 90 degree weather. What I’d like to know for the current Flattering50 Giveaway is…"Are You Alarmed about Your Arms?”

Obviously, we need our arms and can't lop them off like a store mannequin. But are you dismayed by your over 50 arms? Or are you comfortable with them? Share your ideas in the Comment Box on this post for a chance to win one of three $25 Amazon.com Gift Certificate! Read on for all the details.
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Amazon.com Gift Card Giveaway: The Winners are...

I wanted to let you know the $25 Amazon.com e-gift cards have been sent to the three winners of my first ever Flattering50 Giveaway. Their names were randomly drawn from those who responded to the question: “What’s Your 2012 Fashion Resolutions?” It was so much fun to read the 2012 fashion goals of other women. Thanks so much to everyone who shared their ideas with Flattering50. I plan to do more Giveaways and hope you’ll enter again.


$25 AMAZON.COM e-GIFT CERTIFICATE WINNERS:
Here are the names of the winners and the comments they submitted for the Giveaway.

Mellowmomo My 2012 fashion resolution? Start wearing color (bye-bye, black!), and tweaking my personal style by combining my much-loved scarves with longer earrings and bolder jewelry (I'm 5' 11", so I've got alot of body to dress). Being retired and almost 53, it's time to bust out and have fun!

Rosie After dealing with cancer I am rejoicing in the sheer joy of being able to shop! One of my resolutions is to quit buying so many black clothes. black, black, black, blah, blah, blah. I want to have to have fun with color, fabric and design.

Anna Pry I'm 28 and just had my 2nd child. I resolved to fix my style by getting rid of all my teenager-ish clothes that i've had forever. My closet is just about empty now except for nursing clothes. I'm going to have to redefine my style once that stage of my life is over!


FREE e-NEWSLETTER
Meanwhile…One of my 2012 resolutions for Flattering50 is to shoot out a twice-monthly e-newsletter to alert readers to:

• my latest posts

• hot fashion sales

• my current Giveaway offer

If you’d like to get the Flattering50 e-newsletter twice a month, click on SIGN UP. It's FREE--of course. By the by, your email address will only be used to send the Flattering50 e-newsletter. It won’t be published or shared with anyone.