Saturday, July 26, 2014

Summer Pearls: Going Long



I love scarves and basically live in them from early fall till late spring. As a result, I always feel a little incomplete style-wise when summer rolls in and it's too hot for a scarf. I have lightweight scarves that work on those unseasonably cooler summer days, but for the rest of the time, I'm loath to wrap anything around my neck. As Ella says, "It's too darn hot." I've tried statement necklaces as a scarf alternative in summertime, but even those seem too burdensome when it's 90 degrees Fahrenheit. What's an over 50 gal supposed to do?

This summer, I pulled out a string of faux pink pearls (above and below) from my bobble box. I can't begin to tell you how old the necklace is--several decades at least. For the most part, these pearls have been collecting dust for years. Now, though, I'm wearing them a lot. They aren't suffocating like a scarf and they aren't heavy like some statement necklaces.



I am fortunate enough to have a couple of inherited short strands of real pearls, but I like a longer strand much more right now. Since turning 50, I'm a little uncomfortable in anything that is supper conservative or demure, like sweater sets, boxy suits and short strands of pearls. Unlike a short, pert strand of pearls, a long string of pearls falls carelessly from the neck. And as Coco Chanel (below) has shown us, gobs of long, looping strands of pearls add drama to any outfit. It's something to aspire to!




Saturday, July 19, 2014

Style Over 50: A Vest Above the Rest

Vest for women over 50


These days, I'm on the lookout for longer tops--sweaters, tunics and, yes, vests. Tops that end at the hips tend to accentuate the hips, the bottom and thighs. Who needs that? So...when Pauline Durban, founder of the clothing company Covered Perfectly, wrote to say she'd added a Cascading Vest (above) to her collection, I was excited. As the name suggests, the Cascading Vest is a draped piece that falls well below the hips, creating a flattering look for women over 50. Psst! Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post for a special Covered Perfectly offer for Flattering50 readers.

Friday, July 18, 2014

New Fall Socks: Rich Colors, Vivid Designs



Is it too early to start talking about fall? Believe me, I have no desire to hurry time. Time is moving much too fast already. However...clothing companies are beginning to share their Fall 2014 collections and I'm seeing garments and accessories that I think might jump start my fall wardrobe. One such company, Ozone, recently sent me three pairs of stunning socks from its Fall 2014 collection.

Living in the Northeast, I wear socks a lot--9 out of 12 months. I get pretty tired of wearing ho-hum black, navy or grey socks day after day. So...I'm always on the lookout for socks with personality--even if I'm the only one who sees them. If you feel the same, you might like to take a peek at the fall sock collection at Ozone. The company has a large collection of gorgeous, colorful socks. Take, for instance, the pair of Floral Angora ($14.00) I'm wearing (above and below). The socks, which are made in France, are decorated with bright flowers, dots and...a row of purple beetles.



Saturday, July 5, 2014

Still Learning: Videos About Women, Older & Younger

Sometimes, I feel like I'm the last to learn about a recent media event or endeavor. In case I'm not, I'd like to share two videos with Flattering50 readers.

The first is a music video, entitled "Older Ladies," by Donnalou Stevens. Donnalou sings about love at a certain age. It should pick up the spirits of any woman over 50 who is feeling a little low about her changing appearance. Not only does Donnalou have a great voice, but her lyrics are clever and humorous. And I mustn't forget her wonderful backup singers--what a fun bunch!  This video made me laugh out loud. If you haven't seen it, take a peek...




Meanwhile...

Friday, July 4, 2014

When In Doubt, Belt It Out



A while back, I read a post by a young fashion blogger who said that it is important for women to a have a "uniform." A uniform, she wrote, is an outfit you can turn to when you need to get out of the house in a hurry or just don't know what else to wear. The go-to outfit should consists of flattering pieces that make you look like a million. Well, at the time, it sounded like good advice, but I honestly couldn't think of an outfit or a way of styling my wardrobe in a way that I could call my "uniform." Boy, has that changed!

This spring I started wearing a belt to work over a sweater with a skirt or dress almost every day. In the morning, I would put together an outfit without a belt and assess the way it looked in front of my full length mirror. Then, I would add a belt and think: I like the outfit with a belt better. The belt added feminine shape to my over 50 figure, which seems to be losing its shape daily. Above, I've paired a thin belt with a Gap sundress and a LOFT lightweight, 3/4 sleeve sweater. It gives the illusion of being a little more hourglass-shaped. Needless to say, the look became my spring work uniform.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Holiday Heating Up with Summer's Semi-Annual Sales

Womens Gloriee

Happy Fourth of July Weekend! On July 4th, my father-in-law always used to sigh and say, "Ah, well, the dear old summer is over." It always got a laugh from the family. For me, July 4th always feels like the start of the summer, especially the beach season. This weekend, the family is gathering at the beach house and I'm looking forward to several days of barbecuing and sailing and probably a few fireworks. Since I'm usually the first one to rise in the morning, I also intend to go online and take advantage of some of the super Fourth of July sales. Traditionally, this weekend kicks off semi-annual sales. Clothing companies are anxious to unload their spring/summer inventory to make room for the fall fashions. Take for instance, the Madden Girl Gloriee from Shiekh Shoes (above). Right now, the patriotic pair of sneakers is 35% off (was $39.99, now $29.99). A 35% off sale is very nice, but I'm seeing lots of clothing and accessory sites with up to 70% off the next few days.