Wednesday, July 31, 2013

New Day/New Outfit: A Flattering Neckline For Women Over 50



If you've been reading this blog, you know I don’t like to tell women over 50 what they shouldn’t wear anymore. That’s a very slippery slope since women over 50 vary tremendously. So…instead, I like to focus on the positive, sharing fashions and styles that I see working well for women over 50. One style I consistently love the look of on over 50 women is the top with an open neckline across the shoulders. This includes the classic boat-neck as well as wider necklines. While on vacation in Vail, I bought a wide neck sweater (above). I’d packed a lightweight cardigan and jean jacket, but that wasn’t always enough to keep me warm on the cool, wet Colorado nights. The wide neck sweater was perfect—warm enough and nice enough for evenings out in Vail.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Summer Vacationers: To Pack Light, Pack White



Planning a vacation any time soon? Want to pack as lightly as possible for the trip? My advice to women over 50 traveling in summertime is simple: Pack white. Is there a more versatile color in summer? I don’t think so. Here in Vail, Colorado, where my husband and I are currently on vacation, I’ve seen over 50 women in head-to-toe white, in black and white, in white by day and white by night. For casual summer evenings, a black and white look, like the woman above, is so simple, yet sophisticated.

This is the third post on what I packed for my mountain vacation (for more, see Packing for Summer Vacation in the Mountains and Mountain Casual: Summer Style at 8,000 Feet) and what I saw other women wearing. For this installment, I'm focusing on what to wear in the evening. The answer: White!

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Mountain Casual: Summer Style At 8,000 Feet



I'm happy to report my husband and I are having a fab vacation in Vail, Colorado. The town of Vail is like an international fairyland. The architecture is a playful mix of buildings inspired (or so it seems to this reporter) by the classic Swiss chalet and homes along Amsterdam’s canals. In addition, everywhere you turn, you hear someone speaking with a European accent.




In my last post, Packing for A Summer Vacation in the Mountains, I shared the garments and accessories I packed for Vail. I focused on the items I chose for our planned outdoor mountain activities. For this second installment, I'm focusing on the garments I included for more leisurely activities--shopping, sight-seeing and restaurant going--as well as what I saw other women wearing.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Packing for a Summer Vacation in the Mountains


 
Greetings from Vail, Colorado! My husband and I slipped away for a little R+R this week. Have you been to Colorado? It's my first time and I’m absolutely awe-struck by the majestic mountains and the super-friendly people. I know I'm not in New York anymore! In fact, it almost feels like a different planet—and not just because of the altitude!

Whenever I travel to a new place, I wonder: What will the over 50 women be wearing there? How should I pack? A while back, a Flattering50 reader asked me to do a post on packing for a beach vacation. I've taken at least one beach vacation every year all my life, so that post was a snap. I've also taken a fair number of ski trips. But I've never taken a summer vacation in the mountains. So...this is the first post in a series on what I packed for our mountain vacation and what I saw other women wearing on their vacation. For this first installment, I'll focus on mountain style in the daytime.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Designer Sunglasses For Less That You Can Virtually 'Try On'



Editor's Note: This post is a product review of designer sunglasses by SmartBuyGlasses.


Do you have a favorite “age defying” product? I’ve lost track of the number of supposed wrinkle-reducing, eyes-brightening, skin-illuminating, hair-smoothing products I’ve tried since turning 50. Suffice it to say, I’ve tried a lot. At this point, my favorite “age defying” product is one I’ve been wearing since college: Sunglasses. I’ve yet to discover a more effective or faster way to conceal the pesky effects of aging and sleeplessness on my eyes than with a pair of dark shades. So…when the folks at SmartBuyGlasses asked if I’d like to review a pair of their designer sunglasses, I said, “Yes, please!” The online company offers designer sunglasses for up to 60% off their original prices.

A few days ago, I received a pair of Marc By Marc Jacobs sunglasses from SmartBuyGlasses (photo above) and can’t get enough of them. That’s me in my dad’s front yard, on the way out with the family to celebrate dad’s 88th birthday!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

New Day/New Outfit: The Longer Short Sleeves




By now, I figure anyone following Flattering50 knows how ga-ga I am for 3/4 sleeve tops. (See my recent post entitled Arms Over 50: The 3/4 Sleeve Solution for details.) I'm not, however, suggesting that all over 50 women should burn the sleeveless garments in their closet--as some style pundits insist. Heavens, no!! (I'm actually pretty down on style pundits who tell us what we can't wear now that we're over 50.) There are plenty of over 50 arms that should celebrate their great limbs by flaunting them in sleeveless fashions. Unfortunately, I'm no longer a member of that particular club.So...this summer, I planned to rely on my 3/4 sleeve T-shirts, blouses and sweaters any time the temps dipped below 85. But this spring, I discovered a new sleeve length: The Longer Short Sleeve Top.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Still Learning: 7 Things to Know about Basal Cell Cancer

Though Flattering50 is a style blog, I feel compelled to write a little about my recent run-in with a basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. (Good health is flattering, yes?) For this post, I’m sharing what I learned in case it helps Flattering50 readers.

First off, let me state the obvious: I am not a doctor. For the clinical facts (ie, definition, symptoms, treatment, etc.) about basal cell carcinomas, I refer you to your highly-trained dermatologist. Or...for a few immediate insights, you might take a peek at a reputable online medical source on basal cells, like the Mayo Clinic.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

New Day/New Outfit: The Draw of a Straw Handbag



Editor's Note: Before I begin this post, I just want to say, "Congratulations!" to Wilma, the winner of Flattering50's Giveaway of a pair of Shaune Bazner clip-on earrings. Enjoy!

I'm not a gal with a bottomless wardrobe or an unlimited clothes allowance, so to keep my "New Day/New Outfit" Project rolling along, I often have to rely on an accessory or two to create my "new outfit." Recently, I picked up a straw bag (above) at an estate sale. I almost felt guilty buying it. "How could anyone let such a fab bag go?"

Last Saturday, my husband snapped this photo of me by the railroad station in Mattituck on Long Island's North Fork. I thought my straw bag would look great with a weathered farm building in the background. (I love weathered farm buildings!) We were on our way to lunch at the Love Lane Kitchen. (By the by, if you're ever on Long Island, the North Fork is a picturesque destination with charming towns and hamlets, vineyards and farms. Unlike the South Fork, where you'll find those tony Hamptons, the North Fork is laid back and unpretentious. But I digress.)