Fashion over Fifty: Five Style Tips
April 17th, 2008
Think Modern Classics
Aging doesn’t mean that you need to sacrifice style–and it doesn’t force you into matronly looks. The same rules of figure flattery still apply, so don’t fill your closet with shapeless tops and dresses. Even though you’re more mature, you’re encouraged to keep current with (some) trends–but you’ll wear them differently. While you may have gotten away with that nautical inspired minidress in your 20s–and those high-waisted sailor pants in your 30s, a better way to interpret the seafaring trend in your 50s would be through a well-cut navy blue structured jacket and white wide-leg pants.
Invest in Quality
Buy fewer pieces, but purchase better quality ones. These quality items will not only hold up better over time, but they’ll also drape more beautifully on your figure. You don’t have to spend a million to feel like a million dollars, but you have to know what brands fit you.
Camouflage Strategically
You know what parts of your body you want to reveal and which parts you want to keep covered up. Dress accordingly. Rule of thumb? Pick one area of your body to highlight, and construct your outfit around it. So if you have a great pair of legs, highlight them with a knee-length skirt and a killer pair of shoes. Or if you’re blessed with a gorgeous face, frame it with an oversized collar.
Play with Color
Since the styles you’re wearing will tend to be simpler (modern classics), you have more room to play with color. Basic black is safe, but blood orange or cobalt blue are so much more fun! Monochromatic looks are often figure flattering, so why not choose a more interesting color? We dare you.
Add Statement Accessories
When it comes to a great bag or a wonderful scarf, it doesn’t matter whether you’re twenty five or fifty five. A single statement accessory, such as a pair of dramatic oversized sunglasses, can turn a plain outfit into something special–and is so much more stylish than a quieter accessory (e.g. a string of pearls).
Have a great tip about fashion over fifty? Share it with us in the comments!
Entry Filed under: How To,Shopping Guide,Women,Women's
10 Comments
1. Yvonne | April 17th, 2008 at 5:16 am
Thank you, thank you, thank you. It’s not as easy to dress over 50 as one would think…the choices are not so good unless you know how to walk through the ton of minidresses out there and either use them as a tunic or pass them by. I like the idea of punching up the color on the basics.
I think there’s a baby boomer group waiting for fashion advice on a regular basis.
Again, many thanks for adressing this issue so well. Hair and makeup could be next???
Yvonne
2. Trisha | April 18th, 2008 at 3:27 am
Glad to help, Yvonne! Hair and makeup would make for excellent articles as well….is there anything else in particular that you’d like to read about?
3. Mimi | April 18th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I love that yellow Diane von Furstenberg Adella printed top.
I think Spanx and/or Lipo in a Box can make any outfit on us “ladies of a certain age” look and feel smoother.
4. Yvonne | April 19th, 2008 at 7:19 am
It might be good to address shoes and bags that don’t look dowdy if you’ve got the notion
Thanks again, Yvonne
5. Fab50Plus | April 27th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Wonderful post ladies!
We post 50 gals are often a forgotten group when it comes to the styles offered in stores – so the more info out there which gives tips on how to make what we see in the stores work for us the better!
I’m pointing to this one over at my blog – I don’t want my readers to miss it!
6. Trisha | April 27th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Great–thanks for your ideas! Shoes and bags–we’ll add that to our editorial calendar
7. sharon | June 16th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Do you address tops to wear for larger busted women over 50
8. Trisha | June 16th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Sharon–we haven’t done this yet, but we certainly can. Thanks for the story idea!
9. Ginger | June 17th, 2008 at 7:38 am
I just have a couple comments,observations actually.
Women,you,over 45 let’s say,please do not wear t shirts,they’re manly in shape and really do nothing for you.Then paired with a manish short hair do…and no make up or in the least no feminine lip stick and mascara to hoghlight your face,so that you do not remain masculine looking…please,be feminine,put on make up,a bright blouse color…with a collar a great hand bag…you’ll be much more attractive.Truly.
10. Duchesse | February 27th, 2009 at 8:52 am
You’re invited to visit my blog, Passage des perles, http://www.passagedesperles.blogspot.com, which is devoted to style for women 50+