Fabulous Over Forty

When women reach a certain age, we walk a tightrope between being dowdy and frumpy and dressing too youthfully and looking ridiculous. Our mothers seemed to settle happily into Alfred Dunner togs and sensible shoes, but I believe that those of us who were wild children of the sixties are going less gently into that dark night of fashion abyss.

My mother’s fifty wasn’t my fifty. Actually, fifty is the new thirty. Being a grandmother used to mean abandoning fashion and looking like the late Queen mother, carrying a large black purse which closes with a loud snap and wearing hats in pastels which land on one’s head like a fluffy bird.

I want to look chic and au courante, not like a Sesame Street character. Think more Helen Mirren and less Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles’ wife.

My grandchildren call me, “GiGi” for “Glamorous Granny. For those of us who work in visual media, such as interior design, looking chic is imperative. WE are our best advertisement. As highly competitive as business has become, it is more important than ever before not to look dowdy.

Finding clothes isn’t as easy as it was in the days when I was running around London dance clubs, wearing white lipstick; perfectly willing to smash my feet into too-small high heels because they looked so smart.

Look how wonderful Helen Mirren looks in this pic.  Her make up is muted and understated.  Her hair is classic, but also young and chic.  The neckline of her dress and the jewelry choice are both working well for her.  No horsey frumpiness here...just fabulous!

Here are some of my best tips for living life beautifully through your wardrobe, gleaned from years of working towards chic and away from Grandma Moses:

Monitor and enjoy trends, but do not allow trends to own you. Your wardrobe should be filled with classic clothing which fits impeccably; basic long pants, cropped pants, skirts, dresses, and jeans that suit your figure. Keep a fresh young look with surprising accessories...this year’s trendy animal print, a fun cocktail ring or a wonderful scarf in seasonal colors.

Shop in several locations. Do not overlook stores which cater to a younger demographic, such as Banana Republic. You can find some cute things there.  The Banana Republic dress above would look wonderful on an older woman, perhaps with a little t-shirt or camisole underneath.  This is where your instinct for mixing classic pieces with a few of this year’s newest looks can blossom

Think outside the box and take advantage of shops which provide alterations. Last year I tried on a dress in Nordstrom’s with a wonderful 1960’s inspired print, trimmed in black. The dress was on sale. It looked wonderful from the hips up and terrible from there down. I had a brainstorm and had it altered into a very chic tunic that I wear all the time with classic black pants. In fact, I am wearing it in the pictures here on this blog entry, scrolling down a bit, where I'm showing you the grey purse.

Locate a good department store ally in either a professional shopper or a very knowledgeable sales person. Their advice will be invaluable and make your shopping experience more enjoyable.

If you’re wondering if you can get away with…you can’t.

Watch the décolletage, it isn’t so alluring with age spots on your chest. You needn’t be a nun, but adding nicely-fitted camisoles to your wardrobe can fill in that spot and freshen the look of a tunic or dress with a bit of a plunging neckline.  Even young women do this, it is fashion forward.

Good foundations are huge. Go to the trouble and expense to have a very good bra fitted by a professional. Don’t worry about what size you are measured. Whatever it is, you will look younger, prettier, and feel better in a properly-fitted bra. It makes all the difference.

One sentence: Spanx are your friend. If you don’t know what they are find out here: www.spanx.com.

Pay attention to hem lengths. Knees are cute on a coltish 17 year old, less so on a woman over forty. Knees tend to go all wobbly by then.

Don’t allow the fashion industry to push you to the side and settle for less of a smashing look than you would have worn in your twenties. We Baby Boomers now make up a huge demographic with buying power.  To paraphrase Johnny from Dirty Dancing, "Nobody puts Baby (Boomers) in the corner.

We have a wonderful woman’s magazine all our own, “More…for women of style and substance.” (www.more.com) If you haven’t seen it, check it out on line! More has wonderful fashion shoots for mature women using models our age. 

I had lunch with a dear friend recently.  We stopped in at Charming Charlies in MacArthur Center, Norfolk, VA.  I bought this spectacular bag with grey tulle roses all over it.  The cost was minimal, but picking up a lovely seasonal accent accessory updates my wardrobe for the warmer months  I am not in Charming Charlie's main demographic, but who cares?

Keeping my look fresh and updated is one way that I live life beautifully,

Elaine