Tuesday, December 31, 2013

New York's Empire State Building puts on a light show on New Year's Eve


HAPPY NEW YEAR!
WARMEST WISHES FOR 2014!
~ Susan
Flattering50

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Shoe Shopping: Anything but Black, please!



Exhibit A: My humble fall/winter shoe collection. Notice a pattern? I thought a visual was the easiest way to sum up my attachment to black, ho-hum footwear. An astute Flattering50 reader saw the pattern just by reading past posts. She left a comment, challenging me to "spice up" my shoe collection. I welcomed the challenge. Little did I know, however, just how challenging it would be! I'm still hunting, but I thought I'd share my first attempt. Hint: My new pair of shoes is pictured above and isn't black.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Style Over 50: Plaid Déjà Vu



Recently, my husband and I attended a bowling birthday party for a friend who was turning 60. Shortly after arriving at Bowlmor in Greenwich Village, I noticed that other than my husband, a girlfriend and me, everyone—male and female—was wearing a plaid flannel shirt. Apparently, the style staple among Brooklyn hipsters had become a must-have for all New Yorkers, including over 50 hipsters. Since then, I've seen colorful plaid coats, shirts, skirts as well as handbags and shoes. No longer is the Burberry plaid the only plaid in town (thank goodness!). Lately, I've been dabbling in plaid. I must admit I’m enjoying the trip down plaid memory lane. The last time I wore a plaid flannel shirt was in college and the last time I wore a plaid skirt (like the kilt above) was in middle school or younger. For this post, I’m sharing a few styling ideas I’ve had since embarking on my plaid déjà vu.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Style Over 50: Sweaters with Leather Accents

Leather-trimmed sweater for women over 50


I’m a sweater collector. It’s been a necessity, more than a style choice: I live in the Northeast and I hate being cold. (Though, I do appreciate having lots of sweaters to mix and match with separates.) As a sweater lover, I’m always on the lookout for a new style. One of my favorite trends this season for women over 50 has been the sweaters and jackets with leather accents. I recently added the Ann Taylor Collegiate Sweater Jacket (above) (was $129, now $99 with additional 50% off right now.) to my sweater collection. It’s styled like a jacket, but the lightweight tweed knit feels more like a sweater.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Jumpsuits Over 50: Ring in the New Year in Comfort and Style




In the past few weeks, while doing my holiday shopping online, I’ve come across several well-priced jumpsuits. These jumpsuits are not your airplane mechanic’s jumpsuits, nor the one-piece garments you might have seen Devo wearing on MTV in the '80s. Hardly! This season’s jumpsuits are soft, feminine garments designed for women of all ages. Black jumpsuits with feminine accents, like the lace in the Topshop Glitter Lace Jumpsuit ($96) above, are perfect for evenings out on the town.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Holiday Gifts Under $60: ‘Tis the Sparkle Season

crystal-studded iPhone accessories


There’s something about re-living all my favorite holiday traditions that brings out the girl in me and makes my spirits bright. Is that the reason I have such a craving for all things glittery, shiny, twinkly and sparkly at this time of year? Or is it because everywhere I look I see sequin, rhinestone, jewels, and metal accents? Just this week, I gave an over 50 girlfriend a set of iPhone 4s accessories studded with pink crystals for her birthday (above) ($45) (there's a purple set for the iPhone 5). I couldn't stop giggling as I wrapped it. Have I lost my mind? It's at least debatable. For now, I submit for your review some of favorite shiny and sparkly accessories under $60 for you or for an over 50 girlfriend.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Holiday Gift Idea: Designer Scarves Under $100

Diane von Furstenberg Braden Scarf

I feel fortunate to have some wonderful women in my life, including two sisters, two nieces, my son’s girlfriend, several close work colleagues and some pretty special girlfriends. Naturally, I’m looking for special holiday gifts to show how much I appreciate them. I’ve been poking around the web since early November, looking for inspiration. The first gift idea I considered was a scarf. I know, I know--not the most original gift. Still, a scarf is a great wardrobe pick-me-up. During my online search, I came across a Diane von Furstenberg Braden Scarf  (was $185, now $92.50) (above) at shopbop.com. A DVF scarf for under $100? Who knew? I got pretty excited and started looking elsewhere. And guess what? I found other designer scarves for under $100.