Over 50 and fabulous
July 7th, 2008I saw a very stylish lady walk into our flagship Seattle Nordstrom store last week. She was probably in her late 50’s or early 60’s, petite and perfectly polished. She wore dark wash skinny jeans, a cropped, tailored grey and black micro-check, double-breasted jacket and black, round-toe ballet flats. She carried a simple, flat black patent tote and wore a chunky gold watch. Her hair was short, dark red, bobbed and with fringe. She wore dark red sunglasses with hooped gold earrings, and just a spot of make-up.
Wearing skinny jeans over the age of 50 does not give you instant style. But this lady happened to look really good in them and pulled off a smart casual look with taste and refinement. She embraced a few trends and made them work appropriately for her age and body type. The timeless and current aspects of her look blended perfectly. She did not come across as “trying too hard” or “dressing too young”. Her style was effortless, chic, put together and comfortable. I walked straight up to her and told her that I thought she looked fabulous.
I’m inspired whenever I see older women with a superb sense of style. It makes me look forward to evolving my own style over time. The most stylish women in Paris are in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. This is also true of my own clientèle. If you are over 50, please share your style wisdom with us.
This Polyvore creation captures a similar feeling to the ensemble I describe above. Remember that the person’s dark red, bobbed hair was an accessory all on its own. It complemented the seemingly subtle, almost bland grey jacket really well. I dedicate this post to Judy and San, our stylish YLF forum members who are over the age of 50 and rock a pair of skinny jeans with the best of them.
July 7th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Thank you so much for this post. I’m over 60 but, thanks to this site, I’m trying skinnies and shorter skirts and feeling great in them. Over the weekend I shopped sales and bought J Crew Matchstick clamdiggers, the Ann Taylor white denim a-line skirt (although it hits above the knee and borders on too short for a 60+) and a comfy pair of J. Vincent bronze metallic flat in a alligator texture that should also be great for fall. I learned that I wear a 26 or 27 in Euro-sized jeans. I really want a polished, age appropriate look and hope to figure out how to post pictures to get help.
A question..any opinions on cardigans on the over 50 set? I seem to be having problems getting the right look with them. I bought three different ones at Ann Taylor (long sleeved yellow with enamel buttons, short sleeved white, and cropped short sleeved bolero in navy) The navy works with my sheath dresses, but the others don’t seem right. I’m wondering if jackets are a more polished look for us older gals. Is a heavier weight knit (but not chunky) better than cotton?
July 7th, 2008 at 8:23 am
This is a fantastic post! I’m still in my 20s, but I’m looking forward to adapting to all the fabulous styles that still look great on women in their 50s and beyond. My grandmother was one of the most stylish women I have known, even into her 70s.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:42 am
This is a very chic outfit. I would love to wear it about town. You know that ad for a gym where the woman can’t figure out what to wear so leaves naked and the tag line is “a good body never goes out of style”? I think this is the key to having endless options for outfits. I need to look a little harder for those perfect skinnies or work out a little harder so I can wear whatever I want.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:49 am
This is so inspiring, Angie. I aspire to be this stylish in 9 years when I am 50.
Thanks for inspiring me everyday, Angie! What a meaningful job you have!!
Jane
July 7th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Angie,Wow. Thankyou for this post. You are so great to give a shout out to women in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. You’ve made my day. We don’t have to feel like we’re trying to hard.
Ana thankyou for letting us know that a woman in her 20’s views age as a good thing to grow into. It feels so good to hear a young woman validate us as worth being stylish in our own right.
Joy, when I read your post I thought, “Good for you”. You sound beautiful and I love the choices you are making in your clothing.
Joy if you have your digital pictures in your My Pictures folder on your computer, just go to phontobucket.com and open an account. There you will get an option to upload pictures from your My Pictures folders. When you have them in photobucket, click on where it says ‘direct link’ next to the picture and then go back to your forum post and click on the blank spot, then paste there. Hope it works for you. I know we’d all love to see pictures.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Joy, I’m tickled with your response! It’s a good idea to post specific cardi questions on the forum as you’ll get a more informed response that way. (The right jacket is ALWAYS the no brainier route to a polished appearance).
Ana and Jane, I’m glad you responded to this post and I hope that more woman in our age group do. We have loads of style to look forward to in the next 20-30 years. I guarantee it. ( Ana, your grandmother sounds like a fine example).
San, YOUR style makes our day.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:07 am
I am 50 and a great fan of YLF. I read it everyday in order to keep up! I find it so difficult to “dress my age”. I am so drawn to the current cute styles all the younger girls are wearing. I am constantly asking myself “does this look to young”. I must find my own style. I am also a fan of the skinnies and straight leg jeans. In addition,I love wearing cardis over tops. I have discovered the longer cardis better suite my long waisted body. I am a size 6, 5′4, my shape is an elongated triangle. I love to wear high heels and clamdiggers. (not together) The summer color combos everyone contributed was a great help to me. I am looking forward to seeing color combos ideas for fall and winter.
Thanks!
July 7th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I’m 66, and, thanks to YLF, feel like I am finally figuring out how to dress with style. Don’t laugh. I was always too busy, too rebellious ( In 1968 I got married in bell bottom Navy surplus pants and a white brocade blouse I made) too financially challenged, too principled (cotton only), had to wear a uniform, or was just plain clueless.
Now, I find that I need to avoid certain clothes that might work on younger gals, but look frumpy on a grandmother. Cardigans might be one of those things. Forget small prints, ruffles, short skirts, and cleavage. I always look for tailored, fitted garments. Most ethnic and boho stuff, unless it’s an accessory, makes me look sloppy. I’ve given up sleeveless because I don’t work out. I don’t wear something that’s going to cling to my belly.
I think color is the older woman’s best friend, not necessarily bright colors, but the right colors, up-to-date and flattering. Trying to look young and trendy just makes us look silly. Mature women who get my admiration are those who embrace timeless classics, add their own personality and current spin, and look like they are comfortable and enjoying themselves. We don’t want to be posing, tugging at shirt tails, living in Spanx, overdoing the makeup, or wasting our Social Security checks on uncomfortable shoes that are going to go out of style next year. After all, style should be effortless at our age, or at least look that way.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Babe, you said it al! I’m 53, and also rely on YLF to help make sense of some of this fashion stuff. Effortless fashion or look that way - that’s what I’m going for.
For the most part, I try to embrace the classics, and put my spin on them. Often, I’ll wear the “trend” by adding the color, print or thing of the moment in with my more classic items. For instance, I’m the one who doesn’t do the whole jeans thing. But I made a great funky type jean that looks great on, with a longer printed top and a cropped jacket, some flats and a neat bag - ladies have come up and complimented me on my great look.
I think it’s important to keep fashionable as you get older, as it keeps you looking and yes, feeling youthful. It seems the girls who just get tired and let themselves go, or “I don’t need Fashion anymore” do themselves (and yes, others) a disservice as they do almost, if anything, get older than their years.
I thank you, Angie for YLF. Here’s hoping I do!
July 7th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Oh Angie, what an inspiring blog post! I love it. Thanks for the shout out, too!
It’s great to see the responses from more of us trying to find the balance between trends, style, body type AND age. Who knew there were so many others here?…who are not giving up on themselves or fading into the woodwork.
I love the way you walked right up to the woman in Nordstrom’s and told her how great she looked. That encourages me to do this more often when I feel the urge. We could all support each other at any age with a few genuine “wow, you look fab”’s!
July 7th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Don’t you find that the closer you get to a certain age, the less “old” that age seems? I’ll be 40 in half a year–I remember what I thought about 40 when I was turning 30. I’m sure the next decade will go by faster than the last–and I will be just as concerned with my style quotient as I am now, if not more so. My observations have led to the realization that age has nohing to do with looking your best and feeling good about yourself. I see women half my age who put no effort into their appearance, and women twice my age who ooze with style and confidence. I’ll take style over youth any day!
July 7th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I turn 52 on Wednesday and, although I’ve always loved clothes, feel more confident now in putting together things that look good on me, thanks to Angie and “What Not To Wear.” If I have any doubts, I ask my daughters, ages 20 and 17, and they honestly tell me if something is too young or too frumpy. After reading Angie’s description of the lovely lady, I felt rather proud of myself. My “traveling outfit” for air travel this summer has been: dark wash jeans, white wrap blouse, animal print sweater, straw bag, Via Spiga tan sandals with a touch of animal print, chunky gold watch, gold hoop earrings, and pink Juicy Couture sunglasses. I’m missing the red bob, though! After sporting a bob for many years, and loving it, I decided to grow my hair long one last time. My dark hair is just longer than shoulder length, cute in layers that I curl, with fringe. I get lots of compliments on it and my kids love it and don’t ever want me to return to the bob. I’m sure I will one day, when I get to be an “old lady!”
I don’t often comment, but I do reading everyone’s responses on the blog!
July 7th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Angie, thank you, thank you. I am 55 and I am so anxious to peruse today’s blog as well as the responses. I have company right now and I can’t wait until they leave so I can do it justice. My goal in life is to never look matronly! I hope that some of us can pick up this discussion on the forum. I would love to communicate more regularly with those of this certain age.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Bravo Jennell, Babe, Rhonda and KL. Your experiences and sense of style are inspiring. I love some of the phrases that have been used thus far:
o “Mature women who get my admiration are those who embrace timeless classics, add their own personality and current spin, and look like they are comfortable and enjoying themselves”. Brilliant. And the operative words there are CLASSIC and CURRENT.
o “….more of us trying to find the balance between trends, style, body type AND age”. This is precisely what dressing well is about at ANY age.
o “I’ll take style over youth any day” True, true words. Style is not an age, dress size or budget. It’s so much more than that. It’s how the inside you and the outside you relate and reflect to each other and everyone else.
Rhonda, your Summer travelling outfit is music to my ears! ( And we share the same birthday by the way. I turn 38 on Wednesday).
July 7th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
I love it when a fashion article actually applies to me! I’m always “tweaking” the advice I read to fit my 58-year-old reality. I have an apple shape which is not the perfect hanger for the clothes in the magazines. Colorful jackets, over a neutral look good. I also love neutral colors with bright scarves, pashminas or jewelry to bring attention to my face. When I was a skinny 30-year-old, I had a waist but no chest. Now that I’m softer and rounder I like to bring attention away from my middle up to my prettier cleavage. A fabulous haircut is my accessory of choice, and I always wear earrings and lipgloss. I’ve found that Bare Essentials mineral makeup looks more youthful and natural than a liquid base.
The comments here have been great. Thanks to Angie for a great blog.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I’ll be joining the 50 and over crowd next year.
What I am particularly loving about fashion now is that ladies of a “certain age” don’t have *a* look, there are many looks for women to choose from. I am striving to find comfortable investment pieces that are not going to be quickly dated. Accessories go a long way to update them in a flash.
July 7th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Another excellent blog post Angie!
I have just hit 30, which I have followed by adjusting my style. I am now looking forward to any age, knowing that one can look good no matter what it is if you make right choices.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Angie, I too love to wake up with a cup of coffee and read your blog. I have learnt so much. This one is so exciting to me, since I am in my mid-fifties. In addition, I am petitIe, so it is doubly hard finding appropriate clothes.
I went to France earlier this year, and it changed my attitude even more regarding clothes and older women. Nowhere did I see a woman in white sneakers (or any.) I did notice that older woman in Europe wear hose. (This was February, however.) Most European women like to wear perfume. This is something I enjoy. Lastly, it appeared to me that while the European women are very well dressed, they are not worried about their wrinkles. In fact, they seem to exude a self confidence that gives them an outer beauty.
Regarding an earlier recent blog of yours, Angie, you addressed the difficulty of finding casual (not business casual) trousers and pants in a variety of fabrics. Add to that petite sizes, then needing to wear flats because of a foot problem, and you can see the difficulty.
I love jeans, but I am trying to wear more casual fabrics. As an older woman, I like simpler styles, which also work on a petite. Solid colors, I think, can be more timeless than prints. I like classics, and I think the cut and quality of the outfit can make a difference on an older woman.
Earlier this year, I treated myself to the most expensive bag I’ve ever bought. It is a black, simple style Longchamps leather bag. You can buy them at Nordstroms. I’m hoping it lasts a long time.
A good haircut, (and if you dye your hair, a good hair dye job) helps enormously. I’ve heard it said as far as makeup goes, emphasize the eyes and go easy on the lips.
Modernizing and updating with accessories can bring a classic outfit right into the present. You don’t have to spend a lot doing this.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
This is a wonderful topic that really strikes a chord with me. Women with style are authentic. They exude casual confidence. They know who they are, and it shows. Trying new things is fun when you have a strong sense of self and an established fashion personality, and I’m trying to take this to heart. A 45-year-old will never look 25 again, no matter what we do, and being OK with that may very well be the ultimate fashion accessory. When you try too hard to be something you are not (fake body parts, fake hair, fake nails, etc.) it tends to look desperate. And that’s not fashionable at any age.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Thank you for posting this Angie! I am looking forward to developing my sense of style as I get older. When I was a student in Paris I also observed that many of the older women there were very stylish and elegant in how they dressed and carried themselves. I found them more inspiring than the young women my own age. In the Atlanta suburb where I live, well dressed women (of any age) are much less common, and it’s a shame!
July 8th, 2008 at 10:21 am
this is fantastic. My mom is 70 and is just recently discovering that she’s been wearing clothes that are way too big (and shlumpy) on her petite frame. I’ve been trying to tell her for years but she’s finally ready for the change and its wonderful to see her excitement as she discovers what looks good on her. We went shopping yesterday and i asked her to try on some things she normally wouldn’t. One of the things was a sexy black v-neck top with a gorgeous wrap detail in the front, under the bust. She was hesitant because she told me “everything she buys must have some cotton in it”. Well, she came out of the change room beaming at how great she looked. It was so much fun to see her delight. And i’m so pleased to say she bought it!
July 8th, 2008 at 10:28 am
You know, before I read this post I would have said that skinnies were NOT for anyone over 45. I may have just changed my tune. You have created an image in my head - of exactly how a women over 45 should wear her skinnies. LOVE IT!