Favorites Over 50: 12 Ways to Shop Smart at Big Sales

One thing I’ve learned since beginning Flattering50: There’s always a women’s apparel sale going on somewhere. Most often, the markdowns are in the 10-50% range. Twice a year, around January and July, the savings go mega—50-80%--when merchants want to unload end-of-season apparel and accessories to make room for the next season's collections. (You'll find a sample of the current sales in my last post 17 End of Season Cyber Sales.) While 50-80% off is very appealing, shopping right after making all those holiday gift purchases might be a little taxing on your patience and your wallet. Needless to say, if you're going to shop, you want to shop smart. So…I did a little research online and talked with my smart shopper girlfriends over 50 and came up with a list of tips. Most of the tips are basic common sense, but a few I hadn't heard before. What's your favorite shopping strategy? Click "Read More" to view my Favorites Over 50 shopping tips and leave a comment with yours. Thanks!

17 End-of-Season Cyber Sales

Editor's Note: Unfortunately, most of the "Winter Clearance" sales have ended. However, I've updated this post with sales that are ongoing in February 2013. For dated discounts or "flash sales," be sure to check the sale promotions in the left margin of Flattering50. Happy Shopping! 

Have you had enough shopping? I thought I had. But then, all these mega end-of-season sales keep popping up on my computer screen and I'm suddenly tempted to shop some more. The winter sales are a great opportunity to replenish a worn-out basic, like a trench coat, with the new one, like the Jones New York Trench Coat (Brown, Size L) (was $199, now $119 with an additional 40% off at checkout) above. Or, perhaps, you'd like to add a designer dress that was out of reach three months ago, but now has a more pleasing price tag, like the Diane von Furstenberg New Julian Two Dress (was $345.00, now $207.00) below.




In case you're planning to do a little bargain hunting, I've assembled a sampling of the current end-of-season cyber sales. While many of these sales continue through New Years Day, some of them will end before the 2013 ball drops. Click "Read More" to see the entire list of 17 End-of-Season Sales.

FOF: 5 Best Looks Over 50 in Glitter, Sequins & Metallics

Not surprisingly, this fall's love fest with the shiny stuff—glitter, sequins, metallics—has reached a feverish pitch during the holiday season. Glittery garments have been making the scene at night as well as during the day (gasp!). On a recent afternoon, I saw a young woman strolling the beach in a solid sliver sequin top. It was a bit blinding, needless to say. Personally, I prefer the twinkle of glitter and sequins by candlelight or moonlight--at night, that is. A sparkly garment, like the Sequin Skirt (Brown, Size SM) (was $129, now $59) above, can rescue me from the winter doldrums, energizing me for a night on the town. (I'm ga-ga for those chocolate brown sequins!) So for this week's Favorites Over Fifty (FOF), I've assembled my favorite looks in glitter, sequins and metallics for over 50 women.

Whether you’re thinking about adding a little twinkle to your New Year’s Eve look or for an upcoming 'black tie optional' wedding or to just wipe away the winter doldrums, click "Read More" below to see my favorite glittery options. I've included current marked downs where applicable and the text hyperlinks, so you can learn more about the garments or shop.

Favorites Over 50: 10 Gifts Under $100

For those of you who celebrate Hanukkah, happy holiday!! For those of you who celebrate Christmas, are you still shopping? I’m pretty much done. But this weekend, my husband asked: “What do you want for Christmas?” I’m so busy at holiday time, I don't given "me" much thought. But my husband really appreciates some gift ideas. So yesterday, I starting making a list of gifts under $100. When it comes to buying gifts for me, my husband likes it “when I draw him a map,” so I went online to see if I could find photo examples. Naturally, there's lots online and much of it on sale. Below is a sample of my favorite gifts under $100. For instance, I'm crazy about belts this season and would love to get a fun belt like the Exotic Leather Skinny Belt ($34) above.

What are you hoping "Santa" will leave under the tree? I'd love to know.

Click "Read More" below to view nine more favorite gifts under $100...

Shopping the Holiday Market for Over 50 Girlfriend Gifts

I love the holiday season in Manhattan so much that I don’t even mind the crush of holiday shoppers. I’m particularly fond of the holiday markets that pop up around town; they often solve my gift-buying needs for girlfriends, female relatives and acquaintances. Yesterday, I stopped by the Union Square Market and was quite surprised to see that skull fashions had taken over the holiday gift market. Originally seen as edgy “skater fashion,” clothing and accessories adorned with skulls seems to have become as mainstream (at least in NYC) as skinny jeans tucked in tall boots.

I don’t know any skater girls over 50, so I was glad to find some more age-appropriate girlfriend gifts among the maze of vendor stalls. Click “Read More” to see what I found. I've included web links when available. Also, if you have a second, please leave me a comment and let me know: Are skull fashions all the rage where you are? And what are you giving your girlfriends this year? I love hearing other women’s gift ideas...

HBO Special: Coddington and Others Talk Fashion

Promo

As part of the celebration of Vogue's 120th anniversary, HBO will be airing In Vogue: The Editor's Eye, tomorrow night, December 6, 2012, at 9:00 PM. It's a celebration of the magazine's famous fashion editors such as Grace Coddington, Tonne Goodman, Polly Allen Mellen, Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele, Camilla Nickerson, Phyllis Posnick and Babs Simpson. A few years ago, the September Issue, a documentary about the magazine's annual super fall issue, gave us a bird's eye view of Grace Coddington's creative process. She stole that movie in my opinion. Anyway. Just wanted to give you a "heads up" about this latest project featuring Grace and other talented women over 50.

NeriumAD: A Product Review

In October, Amy, a Nerium International product representative, emailed and asked me if I’d like to try NeriumAD, an anti-aging skin care product. Apparently, the night skin cream is formulated to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, skin texture, and aging or sun-damaged skin. Since all those pesky signs of aging plague my over 50 skin, I said, “Absolutely!” Click “Read More” below to learn the results of my 30-day trial.

Holiday Gift Ideas: Japanese Kimono Necklaces

Over the weekend, I had brunch with a long-time friend. She’d moved away from New York City several years, but was back in the area making a presentation at a quilters’ conference. My friend, Susan Faeder, has an expertise in Japanese fabrics and leads shopping/cultural tours of Japan. I admired the necklace (above) she was wearing when we met. She told me it was a handmade Japanese Vintage Kimono Silk necklace. She’d fallen in love with the necklace during a recent trip to Japan and brought a bunch of the necklaces in different color schemes back home to sell online. With the holidays nearing, I thought the unique necklace would make a nice gift. Click “read more” to learn more about this necklace.

15 Cyber Sales for Holiday Shoppers

Editor's Note: Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Holiday shopping has come and gone, but the sales continue. For current bargains or "flash sales," take a peek at the left-hand margin of Flattering50.

It seems like a lifetime ago that I stood at the school bus stop with my boys after the December vacation and listened to a couple of moms bemoan what a lousy job a certain mega toy store had done the first year it offered shopping online. At the time, I was awed that these mothers had tried shopping online--it seemed so high tech. Now, of course, the thought of shopping any other way on the big sales weekends--like Thanksgiving weekend---seems insane. I much rather shop on the couch in my pajamas. Here's a rundown of some of the sales this weekend as well as a few holiday gift ideas, like the Fownes Cashmere Lined Leather Glove (was $75, now $49.99)...


Ann Taylor ~ 








Anne Klein ~ 


Brooks Brothers ~ 


Hessnatur - 

Jones New York -




Land's End ~ 

Loehmann's ~

LOFT ~

Max Studio ~  

Michael Stars ~  

Nina Shoes ~ 


Nine West ~


Old Navy ~ 


Pure Collection ~




Shabby Apple - 


Shopbop ~ 




Soft Surroundings ~


SwimSuitsForAll ~ 


Happy Shopping!!

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!!

Holiday Gift Ideas: Jewelry to Match Your Style

There are few things more rewarding in life than having a business that reflects a lifelong passion or dream. Jewelry designer Linda Hollen knows this first hand. She began learning to make jewelry when she was a child. According to her website, Linda's grandmother taught her. That experience turned into a passion. For years, Linda gave her beautiful creations to friends and family. Eventually, they convinced her to share her pieces with the world and LJ’s Distractions, Linda’s jewelry design business, was started. Today, with over 30 years of experience, Linda has created a wonderful collection of unique necklaces, earrings and bracelets. To learn more about Linda’s jewelry, click “Read More” below…

10 Best Fashion Quotes by Designers Over 50

I have tons of admiration for designers in their 50s, 60s and beyond who are still finding inspiration and turning their visions into bold, new fashions for women. Consequently, I get excited when I discover a new quote about fashion and style by one of them. Some quotes are inspiring, others are whimsical, and still others seem to put fashion in proper perspective. I like to jot these quotes down. Here are my current favorite quotes by some very amazing women over 50.


Fashion is all about happiness. It's fun. It's important. But it's not medicine. ~ Donatella Versace

Women always try to tame themselves as they get older, but the ones who look best are often a bit wilder. Thinking about age all the time is the biggest prison women can make for themselves. ~ Prada

You have to hold onto your fantasy. ~ Betsy Johnson

I think dress up begins at age 5 and never truly ends. ~ Kate Spade

I am convinced that there can be luxury in simplicity. ~ Jill Sander

Fashion is a tool... to compete in life outside the home. People like you better, without knowing why, because people always react well to a person they like the looks of. ~ Mary Quant

The best thing about women today is they no longer strive to be men. For men, it’s still about power. Women, I’m delighted to say, are about energy. And energy is what we need for a better future. ~ Donna Karan

Embrace your body shape! ~ Vera Wang

I am attracted to people who make this effort in knowing what suits them - they are individual and stylish. ~ Vivienne Westwood

The biggest mistake a woman can make is not to be herself in public or private. ~ Diane Von Furstenberg

Holiday Gift Ideas: Wearable Art

“I believe jewelry is wearable art and an expression of our inner essence,” says Anita Fernandez-Velazquez, the creative force behind Embellished Essence Gemstone Design. Consequently, each of Anita’s jewelry designs is one of a kind. Anita responded to my recent invitation to artists to share their holiday gift ideas. However, her designs are so lovely you might want to give yourself a gift as well. Click “Read More” to learn more about Anita’s jewelry and see a few other designs...

Wedding Style: What to Wear to “Black Tie Optional”?

A Flattering50 reader recently emailed and wrote: "I’m going to a wedding in December and the invitation says ‘black tie optional.' How should I dress?” There's no getting around it: ‘Black tie optional’ signals that a formal affair is planned and that family, friends and honored guests are encouraged to dress up. For women, appropriate formal attire consists of either an evening gown or a fancy cocktail-length dress or glamorous suit. If you occasionally attend black tie affairs, such as fund raisers, you may have an evening gown or two already in your closet. For the rest of us, a dressy suit or cocktail dress may be the more reasonable choice.

Still, the question remains: How do you know if your outfit is “dressy” enough for a black tie optional or BTO affair? Lucky for me, an over 50 girlfriend recently attended a 'BTO' wedding and agreed to let me share the dress (above) and accessories she wore with Flattering50 readers.  Click "Read More" to continue...

Holiday Gift Idea: Mix Media Jewelry

Editor’s note: In October, I invited artists specializing in fashion and accessory design to contact me. With the holiday season approaching, I thought it would be nice to share some creative gift ideas with Flattering50 readers. Over the next few Wednesdays, I'll feature one of the artists who responded to my invitation. I hope you'll visit these artists’ websites to view more of their lovely creations.

If Caprilicious Jewellery sounds familiar, it might be because I featured Neena and her jewelry in a post entitled Statement Necklaces From Across the Pond last April. Neena is a doctor and passionate jewelry designer living in the United Kingdom (hence, the British spelling of jewelry). She creates jewelry from a wide range of materials, such as gemstones, beads, crystals, wire, and clays. Her collection of moderately-priced pieces includes statement necklaces, earrings, bracelets, pendants, hair combs, and more. To continue reading, click "Read More" below...

Hurricane Sandy: Life After the Storm

Obviously, the photographs in the New York Times tell Sandy’s story better than anything I can do. But I thought I’d post a few words from my perspective. In the wake of Sandy’s destruction, I feel incredibly blessed. Everyone in my extended family is safe. Only one member, an elderly uncle living alone, had a truly terrifying experience. His house burnt to the ground after a tree fell on it, crushing it and igniting the gas heating system. Fortunately, a neighbor and his son were able to rush in and carry our uncle to safety. A miracle! There are stories like this (or much worse!) being repeated all over New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. My heart goes out to all who’ve suffered because of the storm. To continue, click "Read More" below...

Katie Interviews Designer of Fashion for Over 50 Women

 My recent post about Marla Wynne Ginsberg, a new designer of fashions for women over 50 (Fashion Over 50: At last, A Designer for Us!) has gotten a lot of traffic in the past week or so. I thought I'd share the video clip of Katie interviewing Marla for those of you who missed the show, but are interested in the woman behind the Marla Wynne Collection. Enjoy!


 

An Evening Wrap: Elegant Solution for Aging Arms

What do you do when your arms are aging, but you're not ready to stop wearing sleeveless dresses or tops, especially to evening weddings or holiday parties? That's been one of my fashion over 50 dilemmas lately. I find  plenty of good-looking long-sleeve dresses and tops for daytime, but they're not stylish and sophisticated enough for evening. For once, I'm happy to say there's an elegant solution: the evening wrap. An evening wrap is dressier than everyday shawls. They're made with luxurious materials--chiffon, satin, velvet, to name a few--and often have a little shimmer from sequins or metallic embroidery.  Because they're so many choices in evening wraps, it's easy for the woman over 50 to find one to match her personal style. Click "read more" for more on evening wraps and where to shop.

Glittery Shoes Say "Special Occasion"

Last weekend I attended a wedding at an elegant old mansion-turned-conference center. It was an evening affair and just about every female guest, regardless of age, was "dressed to the nines" in a beautiful cocktail dress. It was a warm autumn night, so I wore my favorite sleeveless LBD with black sequins and strappy black heels. As it turned out, I was one of the few women over 50 who wasn't wearing glittery, silver shoes. I hadn't "gotten the memo," as they say. I wish I had.

Glittery shoes are perfect for an evening wedding because they say "Special Occasion." What's more, they look lovely with most cocktail dresses--regardless of style or color. At the wedding I attended, no two pairs of glittery silver shoes were alike. The women over 50 wore flats, kitten heels and low heels. And every girl under 30 was elevated in 6" glittery heels--naturally. I don't have any other weddings coming up, but I'm looking for a pair of glittery shoes for holiday parties in December. When I went online the other day, I was happy to find a nice selection of styles, like the EVITA SILVER BABY GLITTER ($89) above. Click "read more" for other styles in photos and weblinks.

Fashion Over 50: Katie Couric to Interview New Designer

Editor's Note: Katie's interview with Marla Wynne Ginsberg, the new designer of fashion for women over 50, was broadcasted on Wednesday, October 24th. But I've posted the videoclip of the interview HERE.

This is just a quick follow-up post about Marla Wynne Ginsberg, a new designer of clothing for women over 50. If you liked reading about Marla and the MarlaWynne Collection in my recent post entitled, Fashion Over 50: At Last, A Designer for Us!, you might want to tune in or set your DVR for the Katie Couric Show on Wednesday, October 24th. Katie will be interviewing Marla. To find the time and channel in your area, visit Katie. Enjoy!