I am over 50 and looking for some great summer fashions. I am searching for outfits that are stylish and that I will enjoy wearing without looking too young—you know, the “trying too hard” and “no she didn’t!” look.
Yes, what I want is breezy, easy-to-wear fashion that is on-trend but will carry me through the summer. I want some panache in my wardrobe. There are plenty of women like me who have put on a few pounds over the years, and the cuts and styles that once looked amazing on us suddenly look frumpy, highlighting all the wrong places.
So, what to wear? I’ve been trying to find some great looks and readjust my clothes, makeup, and hairstyle to emphasize my best features, which have changed a lot from when I was 20.
Here are some tips that will hopefully help you on your journey to summer elegance. May we continue to grow, thrive, and find what makes us look great.
Fashionable summer look with capri pants
Summer Fashion Tip
Wear clothes that skim your silhouette. Don’t try to hide your body—streamline it.
Summertime Colors
Summer colors are fresh and bright, so choose clothes that reflect that. Say goodbye to the darker colors of fall and winter, and say hello to fresh pinks and purples, sunny yellows, and spring greens.
Brights and Jewel Tones
Summer is perfect for bright colors. Going monochromatic with brights is always a super flattering look for women over 50. It creates long lines and elegance with very little effort. Don’t forget to smarten up your bright clothes with a fabulous, eye-catching accessory. A chunky necklace or patterned scarf does nicely.
Jewel colors like emerald and cobalt blue are classic, fresh, sharp, and crisp—especially for women with gray hair. Pink almost always works for older women. Also, using fresh and unusual colors is flattering and so stylish. Lemon yellow and purple? Orange, mango, and turquoise? Absolutely marvelous!
Of course, you don’t have to stick with citrus colors. Try adding some aqua and turquoise to your summer wardrobe. A word of warning: be careful of wearing blush and beige, they can wash you out and make you look unwell.
I love this yellow and turquoise combination!
Classic Color Pairings
When thinking about summer, I always picture nautical styles. Navy and white with yellow accessories is classy and flattering on most skin tones.
Gray with a contrasting bright color always looks chic. In fact, I think gray is the new black for us in the summertime. We can wear it anywhere. Be careful to pick a gray that suits your skin tone. Even though it’s a neutral, gray can be a warm tone or a cool tone, so pick the one that makes your eyes sparkle and your skin glow.
An easy go-to color combination that is always a classic is black and white. I like to wear it when traveling because mix-and-match pieces extend your wardrobe choices. Black and white looks sophisticated and crisp—important considerations for hot, sticky days in the city.
Monochromatic gray can be slimming.
Neutrals
Summer neutrals are a classic, and they’re so versatile, going from morning to night with ease. No worries about mixing and matching while traveling either. The main thing about neutrals is the fact that they often look casual or sporty, which is a look that suits me fine. For someone who loves drama, however, neutrals may not be ideal. Color means drama in most cases, and strong contrasts add to that type of look. So if neutrals are not for you, look into building your wardrobe with strong contrasts like navy and white or strong splashes of color. I find I often wear neutral, gray, or tan. To freshen the look, add orange accessories—something with spice or pattern.
All-over denim is another one of my favorite slimming looks. It creates one long line and draws more attention to your face. It’s comfortable, and you can wear either shorts or long pants. I have a couple of lightweight denim shirts (one with short sleeves and one sleeveless) that I can’t wait to incorporate into an all-denim look. This look goes from working in the garden to grocery shopping to grabbing a bite to eat with friends.
Collection featuring an all-denim look
Patterns
The color-block trend is one of my favorite ways to wear a pattern. It’s simple, bold, and unusual—think Mondrian. Keeping to two or three really big chunks of color will give you the look. It is a pattern that women over 50 can easily wear without being too busy. It’s also great to use when traveling. I think that is why I lean towards color-block choices for my summer wardrobe.
Like Metallics?
They make a big splash every summer! I don’t feel very comfortable in metallics myself, but if you like them, summer is a great time to use metallic accents.
Building Your Outfit
I usually choose my top first, then match the shoes and the pants to complete the look. For example, a soft peach top and capris in a bright mango would look fabulous with striped ballet flats.
Boho looks are one trend I really like, and the flowing blouses and skirts are flattering on most body types. Loose dresses in summer are airy, cool, and just make you feel good.
How to Build the Perfect Outfit
Scarves are Your new Best Friend
One way to accessorize your look is to find a great, lightweight scarf that you’ll want to wear everywhere. Scarves are a versatile fashion accessory, quickly adding color and disguising a less-than-youthful neck. They’re also great for finishing a look and tying it all together.
I love the Van Gogh iris-print scarf pictured below. I would wear it with yellow and turquoise pieces, then choose sandals or flats that work well with the look.
Van Gogh iris scarf
Scarves come in many shapes and can be tied in unique ways. Bring a flattering color close to your face.
Fashion Tip
Keep shoes refined-looking and classy. Heels need not be too steep or trendy.
My idea of showing off is relatively conservative, but like most women, I do like fashion-forward shoes. Shoes are an easy way to make a statement without your entire outfit screaming, “Look at me!” The most important thing for women in their 50s is for their shoes to be comfortable. I won’t last ten minutes in high heels if I have to do any walking. So something with a low heel keeps a smile on my face.
I like a bright orange or radiant orchid-colored shoe. Both colors are appropriate for a dinner date, but they’re also nice for casual shopping trips and being out and about. Sneakers with a new and unusual look can also be a fun way to make a statement without compromising comfort.
Mules are one of my favorite types of shoes to wear in the summertime. They come in many colors, and they are so easy to slip on when you’re in a hurry. I personally like them to have some fancy details and a bit of a romantic feel. With some flair and sophistication, mules are still a classic summer look. If you have good-quality shoes in a classic style, they will look chic for years.
Summer Fashion Tip
Say goodbye to baggy clothes. Flowing and breezy is much more flattering.
This summer Fashion’s Top Wearable Trends
Full of neutral colors, textures, and very wearable shapes for older women. Note the looser silhouette, especially regarding pants.
Longer, Wider, Looser?
Tips to Make the Most of Your Look
Find a great-looking pair of glasses or sunglasses. Your face will look stylish every day. Nothing says chic more than a pair of beautiful sunglasses.
Don’t get carried away with the bling. You don’t want to become a caricature. You want to accentuate you.
Add pops of color to neutral outfits.
Dress for your body shape and dimensions. Always try to draw attention to your best features (an important fashion rule!).
Go for darker jeans that are narrower and fit well. Jeans are important in your wardrobe, so take time to get the ones that fit your shape nicely.
Find some good shoes. Don’t underestimate the value of a great pair of shoes.
Use the best and most flattering skirt length for your body. Mine is right around the knee.
Today there are many celebrities with gray hair, who look comfortable in their skin, wrinkles and all. Helen Mirren was one of the avant garde in allowing signs of age become integrated into her style and personal brand of beauty.
This gave me the idea that I could personally glean some tips on how to age gracefully and remain more attractive as I proceeded into my senior years.
In this article, find:
Fashion tips for older women
Makeup colors and products for older skin
Inspirational pictures of Helen Mirren and some of her bio
Silver hair tips
The Beauty of Helen Mirren in Maturity
Gorgeous shorter hairstyle and the dress is a deep blue she favors.
Read on for inspiration from Helen Mirren’s beauty as a fascinating example of aging gracefully. Embracing silver hair, a face with character and loveliness, she has inspired these beauty tips for makeup application, fashion for over fifty, and maintaining good looks.
Good Sense in Aging Gracefully
We live in a “forever young” society, and no one mirrors that more than our celebrities. Tucks, lifts, color, creams, in a never ending carousel of age defying attempts to remain youthful. However… When I looked at the results of artificially maintaining a “youthful look”
I decided at a certain point to slip more comfortably into my age.
Then I started looking for examples of hair style and makeup that works for the now me – new would be a bit of a misleading adjective.
The woman whose mature looks I most admire is Helen Mirren, and I am not alone in that admiration.
Interview With Helen
What About Her Style Can We Emulate?
I found it hard to make the transition to live in my older appearance… I needed different makeup colors, different application methods, different clothing styles (and sizes), and a different hair style to accommodate the new texture of my now gray hair.
Here is what I could glean from the lovely Helen Mirren.
No Ordinary Pose
Mirren carries off this shirtdress in navy with particular panache. This is the power of personal confidence.
Helen Mirren’s Beauty Style Analyzed
Helen Mirren, a spokesperson for L’Oreal Paris, has been quoted as simply “cleaning my face… and putting on moisturizer”. But of course, when showing up publicly, there is more to her regimen.
lipstick and lip liner – red and berry colors, currently.
I took some photos of her medium bob into my hair stylist to get my style as close as possible. (We each have different types of hair, but the bob is classic). My stylist said she appreciated two things about that: (1) a clear idea of what I wanted, (2) and that she had freedom to interpret the look for my hair.
How often do we want a look for thin hair when ours is thick, or vice versa?
It helps to desire to create your own style and simply use another’s as a guideline to experiment with your own variation.
In the Makeup Mirror
Mirren’s pink shades in lipstick ranging to a light ruby lip is great for the lighter coloration of Caucasian mature skin. A matte look for the face in general, and an emphasized, but not heavily made-up, eye with soft colors is kind to the appearance.
She Epitomizes Classic Fashion
Her clothing is always praised… she is classic with an edge. Soft and natural, like her hair, she wears nothing boxy or harshly structured.
Soft, casually stylish, healthy… and gray.
Helen Mirren is beautiful with a soft wavy bob hairstyle
Helen Mirren keeps the style classic and soft. I think that is a great direction for many older women to consider in their hairstyles. I like how she keeps length, but has control and a classic look.
Her Silver Hair
in my own experience, since letting my hair grow into its gray these things made the difference between frumpy and lovely: Hair SerumAlberto VO 5 for silver hairSpecially formulated silver hair conditioner and shampoo Smoothed, healthy, and moisturized hair has a sheen that reflects the light,
Without conditioning, gray hair can be frizzy and dull.I like leave-in conditioner and serums now. A hair straightener (a mechanical type, not chemical) for those who want straight styles gives a professional finish.
Helen Mirren has soft waves, but a smooth and conditioned surface. Her haircut is a classic bob, cut into a loosely layered look. Sometimes she has a fringe of bangs and sometimes not.
The Picture Of Style
A picture hat frames her face and allows a peek at her silver locks at the same time.
Mirren Fashion Points
Her hair is in healthy, good condition.
Her hairstyle is classic.
Lack of fussy details makes the most of her overall attractiveness.
She uses clear colors in her wardrobe to highlight her skin and hair coloring.
She also makes use of an overall subtle palette as a contrasting look.
Her clothing is usually classic and always well fitted and flattering.
She has a confident vibe, and a spirit of youthfulness about her.
Sleek and pulled together is how I would describe her.
Mirren seems to go by the adage, “Choose clothes that fit”.
No muffin tops.
Helen Mirren’s Beauty Style = Best Haircut
The directions for getting the style as interpreted by “the Hairstyler.com”:
Apply Mousse Apply styling mousse to damp hair, using your palm as a measuring guide, and evenly distribute it along the hair shaft. Styling mousse will add hold and can help achieve better results. (I use Paul Mitchell styling mousse)
Use a Medium Radial Brush A medium radial brush is used on medium to long hair types to smooth out wavy or curly hair textures or to add body to straight hair. When selecting a radial brush, always use one with a pure bristle as this will not tear or damage the hair.
Blow-dry the Back Under To blow-dry under, start at the nape/back and place your brush under the section of hair close to the nape. With the dryer held up over the hair, pull the brush from the roots and continue to the mid length’s, keeping the blow-dryer following over the top. Once you reach the ends, curve them under. Repeat this step until the section is completely dry.
Blow-dry the Sides Under To blow-dry the sides, take out a small section of hair from the front and clip the rest of the hair away. Next, place the brush under the section and then pull the brush and hair forward around your face (this curving motion creates body). Place the hair-dryer on top of the brush until you reach the ends and then turn the ends under. Repeat until dry.
Hairstyle Variations
-The sleek side-sweep One of the ways to give gray hair star power. -A soft side-swept fringe and graduated bob; heavily-kohled eye; pink lip. This is probably my favorite look- and one that I try to imitate for a polished and pretty presentation.
Gray hair can be dramatic and elegant. Keeping it in good condition is key.
Beauty Products for Gray Hair – Gray hair care
Keep Your Silver Shining
I don’t know what hair products Helen Mirren uses, but she always manages to look fabulous. whether tousled, or with smooth waves, or slicked back- her hair is always great looking.
Try some of these great products for keeping your gray lock looking healthy and amazing. If you wish for more in depth look at what keeps silver hair looking as stunning as this famous celebrity…. learn to be a star in your own right: Silver Fox Hairstyles.
Since going gray I’ve learned that the best shampoo and conditioner is one that is mild, has yellow cancelling and conditioning properties.
Other sources of information on keeping gray hair in top condition and looking gorgeous:
Top selling shampoo and conditioner for gray hair on my articles. What’s to love?The ingredients are mild and paraben-free. I don’t know the exact products Helen Mirren uses on her hair, but for anyone who wants her sleek hair to look its best would do well to use the Pravana line of hair care.
Beautifully Blue
Helen Mirren’s beauty: Her color choices range, but some of the most flattering are clear primary colors or their pastel versions. Clear and vibrant which is pretty with gray hair. Navy and clear dark blues have become a signature look for her- which sets off her silver locks.
Her colors range, but some of the most flattering are clear primary colors or their pastel versions. Clear and vibrant which is pretty with gray hair. Navy and clear dark blues have become a signature look for her- which sets off her silver locks.
Makeup for the Look – Look Naturally Fabulous
Tips for Mirren’s Makeup Look
Analyzed as wearing “a little blush, pink lips, and brown eyeliner”, her look is summed up as a healthy glow and muted lip and eyeliner colors. Accentuation without any garishness.
Leave the heavy eyeliner and bright colors to the younger woman. For the more mature woman it only looks harsh and unbecoming. These products will give you a fresh and attractive look you are aiming to achieve.
Bring out your eyes with the colors of nature. A range of neutrals to shape your eyes and accentuate them in a flattering way.
A pink shade of lipstick can give you Helen’s soft natural look. Pink lip color is one of the best daytime looks for a more mature face, it is soft and youthful looking.
Rich rosy pink is the perfect complement to silver hair and the coloring of a mature woman.
Soft Natural Color Highlight Helen Mirren’s Beauty
Helen Mirren’s beauty has nothing harsh or garish, but has a bold glamour befitting her celebrity status.
Effortlessly Gorgeous Helen Mirren- at least her natural glow seems effortless!
Helen’s Usual Makeup Style
-a soft, neutral shadow, a strong eyeliner on the upper lid, no bottom lid liner and a medium colored lipstick.
Remarks on Helen M:
“The most interesting thing about Helen Mirren’s style is that while other actresses can look ridiculous trying to look young into their 60s, Helen pulls it off by looking natural and effortless.”
Helen Mirren Makeup Look – Get the top makeup tips
Her eyes have a range of neutral and sable brown to softly highlight them. Lighter on the lid with deeper brown in the socket area bring out her eyes without an aging, crepey look that glimmery colorful shadows can produce.
Her eyes have a range of neutral and sable brown to softly highlight them. Lighter on the lid with deeper brown in the socket area bring out her eyes without an aging, crepey look that glimmery colorful shadows can produce.
Best Eye Cream – For Your Anti Aging Arsenal
3 ingredients are important in new products: Argireline, Matrixyl-3000, Retinyl.
Consumer Guides gave “City Views” its top rating. The Shiseido LX came in second.
These aren’t products that Helen Mirren would use, necessarily, but they will help the rest of us attempt to look as good as she does. Good facial creams are the one essential (next to a good night’s sleep) to keeping ones skin looking and feeling beautiful.
After we look to our health, some of these products give results that help make us shine.
Classic Mirren
Her Makeup Style
“Helen uses blush on her cheeks to add a vibrant, healthy glow, and she keeps her eye makeup design minimal, but elegant, with the focus on eyeliner rather than lots of eyeshadow. She knows how to vamp things up with classic red lipstick and strategic shine on Oscar night, but she also plays around with other flattering lip colors for everyday wear.” – Makeup for Women Over 45
Rich, rosy lip and blush give a glow of health. Firming, and it reduces age spots, this is the night cream that Helen Mirren is quoted as using for her own beauty regimen.
“I don’t want to wear a frumpy jacket over a sleeveless dress”
“I love cleansers and I like using body creams and face creams, but I don’t honestly know if they do anything for you. I like the way they make me feel – fresh, comfortable, clean and ready for the day. I do love L’Oréal Age Perfect Rehydrating Cream Night; it makes me feel good when I put it on. I am a great consumer of all that but I am realistic about what it can do. It’s more about how it makes you feel and and your feeling about yourself.”
“I look 70 with a lot of makeup on and nice hair, I do totally look 70!“
A woman’s love for shoes is well known, but what about the beauty of those feet inside the shoes? The finishing touch for a pedicure, the toes peeking out from sandals, and otherwise unadorned feet on the beach all deserve a little attention that comes from pretty polish.
Top Trends for Spring
In spring and summer those sandals shod or otherwise bare feet are on full display.
FOR fall/winter 2017
During the winter season, hands take center stage with bling, deep color, contrasts, and matte looks..
What colors are trendy? Which ones are classic? Nothing is easier to change and experiment with than nail polish.
So I thought I’d gather together a few of the thousands of choices available.
Whether you give yourself a home pedicure, or book a professional salon, these are the colors and looks to get for this year.
Trends
https://youtu.be/-YbxcAU7jKs
My Favorite Nail Polish Color
What is your favorite manicure style?
photo by lloria
Trendy Colors
What’s The Newest Fashion?
For 2016, gray and metal have gone to chrome. Ombre is taking the Pantone duo of Serenity blue and Rose quartz and mixed them one into the other. Yellow appears for spring.
Going into fall, matte looks and geometrics with bling are on trend. Take the ombre idea and make it matte with your fav wardrobe colors.
~~~~~~~~~
2015…
There are always seasonal changes, deeper colors for fall/winter and lighter ones for spring/summer, but what about fashion forward trends?
The buzz: BLUES are big. For 2015, it was cobalt, specifically. Freshen up your blues with this strong color that fairly sings (like a bluebird?). It will make you feel happy.
Autumnal shades are also a beautiful look. Try them in sheers or marbled looks.
Then there is the true gray color that has the same effect as the Gothic black (which is still popular), but looking newer.
For Spring?
Look for pinks, gray and neutrals, pastels on a sheer base for an almost nude look.
found on topteny.com
Lots Of Matte Look
Some say adding eye shadow or cornstarch to polish gives you the effect. For 2016, it is back to black
Tantalized?
These were the Top Ten looks for 2016:
Navy with sparkles
Milky white, Creamy Beige opaques
Unusual French Nail Colors
Nail art.
Silver Metallics
Apple Red
Seafoam Green
Glitter
Gloss finishes
Geometric and Abstract designs
For 2017: Keep the Navy, Get Edgier With the Art
Found on wewomen.com: this deep blue was popular for 2015. Update the design with vintage or geometric asymmetry.
Past Looks, Which Will Stay?
How it looks in 2016:
Gorgeous Red takes on a pure red apple look.
Nail Art goes to the art museums for abstracts, 3D, and geometrics.
For 2015: Gorgeous Red…. Dreamy Creamsicle Orange…. Super Natural…. Ballet Pink….
Get the picture? Classic reds, chic corals, soft pastels, and nudes are 2012’s colors. For 2013, the reds are tempered with art effects: half moon, racing stripes, and blood dripping art.
Get with 2015Â and use sheer colors, tribal or marbled painted look. Or sophisticated gold stripe across every nail.
Nudes which are strongly blush pink and milk white, nail art.
Black is still strong …Pearl effects …Skin matching …Racing Stripes … the verdict is IN.
New Looks
Pantone’s color of the year: Rose Quartz
Blues are navy.
Grays are charcoal.
Greens are seafoam.
Reds are apple.
Matte is Strong for 2016/17
DKNY matte nails
Green Tips
Monique Lhuillier, IMAXTREE
French Manicure – Is Back! But Different
The look of a French Manicure is classic and elegant. A natural colored nail with a white tip that is given a satin glaze.
The History of the French Manicure
Some stories tell it that Max Factor invented today’s “French Manicure” in the 1930s for Hollywood stars. It is one of the most requested nail designs.
This polish style had fallen out of favor with fashionistas, and the natural nail or black nail replaced it. The variation of the “American nail” with an off-white tip is considered more fashionable than stark white tips, today. And this is the basic way it has re-emerged.
For some, it was always be the favorite choice, and they will be happy this year.
The newest way to use a French nail look is with the edge stripe in pastels of green, blue, or pink. Fantastic art effects can also be found.
In 2016
It takes a new tack: tips are done in color. Emerald green made an appearance…
Give yourself a manicure?
The Frugal Way To Be Fashionable
Gather together:
Pack of cotton balls
Paper towels / Makeup removal pads
Nail polish remover
Nail polish
Emery board
Nail trimmer
Cuticle remover
LUSH has some of the most delicious products that are good for you and smell heavenly.
Soak hands in warm soapy water
Remove Nail Polish
Trim your nails
File your Nails
Remove Cuticles
Apply 2 Coats Nail Polish
Apply Lotion
A paraben-free formula with 14 natural oils including Jojoba oil, Almond oil, Evening Primrose oil and now Argan oil and Borage oil. Zeva creates this luxurious emollient in a convenient pen applicator.
Keep your cuticles cared for – These are the best beauty buys for nails
Reading the advice of top manicure experts, you will no doubt come across recommendations for the best nail care products. The implements and time saving ways to keep your nails in top form. Take some time to look over these selected nail care products for gift ideas or to give your own nails the care they deserve.
Best way to Accessorize?
Cute manicures and pedicures!
Sanitation Is Important
At home, but especially when using a salon, remember to keep implements clean and sanitized for good foot health.
When was the last time you had your nails done?
Maybe its time to get a pretty pedicure
Maybe you are like me and tend to forget about your nails until there is a special event… like a wedding or a vacation where you will wear sandals, and you think, “Oh no, I need to do something for my nails!” Now, with all the pretty nail polish colors available, and the relaxing experience of a pedicure or a manicure, maybe it is time to put an appointment with a salon on your schedule a little more often. It isn’t a big thing, or an expensive thing, but the time spent grooming and painting your nails can add a little good feeling into your day.
photo by “Multiple fragments of tissue”
More than just a chance to pamper yourself, it can be a part of your health regimen. Cleaning with proper cutting and clipping of the nails can prevent ingrown toenails and infections. This is doubly important if you suffer from a condition like diabetes. If you opt for the professional pedicure or manicure, a massage is often included which improves the blood circulation.
Probably the most important concern is not the choice of a pretty polish color, but of the sanitation practices of the salon. You can always bring your own polish color, but the conditions of the facility is far more important for the health of your feet.
Blue – Can still be found, but the newest trend is Navy
Pretty Colors From OPI
Love their colors, their quality, but admitting that their whimsical color names have something to do with it,too!
Look for blushy pinks, matte neutrals, and bold metallics
Try their “local” color collections: Hawaii, San francisco, New Orleans…
Best Colors in a Mini Collection
No need for a big bite out of your budget when you want to experiment with the trends in nail color.
Small sizes of polish give clear opportunity to try out a look before spending money.
Prettiest summer colors including trends of the right red and the new green.
Vintage Trends through the Years
Polished with Color or Natural? – Which manicure would you opt for?
Which do you think is better? Polished or natural nails?
How to Manicure Your Nails
When Only Sexy Deep Red Will Do – A dark red nail may be the classic sultry look
Oxblood is still IN. You might want to step up the brightness to an Apple red for summer and in keeping with the latest fashion looks.
What if you want to go lighter, but still give your nails a rich color? The color of the year is “Rose Quartz”, which is a dusty pink. Consider giving it some glitter or opal effect.
A color that will take you far this summer is the new beige or a charcoal gray.
Take a look at your wardrobe colors and pick a trend that is a versatile harmony with the colors you will be wearing this summer.
When I passed the fifty year mark, did I lose all fashion sense? Sometimes it appeared so, but the actual fact was that I had changed and the style that once was becoming no longer fit the person I was now.
What looks good with my gray hair, my less than svelte figure, my need for comfort? It was time to investigate fashion from a different perspective. As I waded through my wardrobe -weeding out those pieces that were ill fitting, I realized that it was time to start sprucing up my rusty wardrobe!
I wasn’t ready to be an old lady (even though it felt like it), so I started looking at role models. Women who knew how to look vibrant and attractive into their senior years.
Hopefully, the tips and trends gathered here make dressing attractively and in style a cinch.
It’s All About Denim This Year
It’s All American and it’s big for fall. Even Paris is saying so.
The darker denims are slimming and very wearable. All denim gives a long line which is so friendly to the more mature figure.
I like to match denim with either stripes or lace, stripes for more of a sporty look and lace for those times when in the mood for something girly.
Fall Denim And Stripes
Combining two top trends.The longer length blazer is flattering, with wider leg jeans and low heeled boots. A great looking scarf to keep your neck warm!
Stripes Are Everywhere This Season
PIN STRIPES GIVE PIZAZZ
Pin stripes are always a sharp look for the city, and make the transition from office to dinner date.
With such a wide variety of fashion cues, choose one or two that strike a chord for you. Investigate the style that presently personifies you at this stage of your life. If you were once comfortable in an Artsy-Bohemian style, revisit whether that is best for you now. Maybe the Southwestern style is an updated look that still incorporates the elements of the Boho look.
Or maybe you were once strictly Classic, and now you could use some dramatic color and stronger details to give the look some “kick”. Scan the trends for updates that fit your basic fashion style.
Classic Always Works, But What Are The Trends?
A few things to look for “Fashions For Women Over Fifty” this coming fall:
New Animal Prints… this has been a story for quite a long season, but now it looks like prints of lynx or fox. Try something new and unusual.
Urban and sleek. You know how to do this!
The hoodie. Yes! I’m ready.
More print, more color.
Highlights for the Coming Seasons
Some fall fashion trends I can see women my age wearing….
This year the fashions are flattering for women of a certain age.
The long lines of an urban pantsuit, silky animal print dresses with highlights of strong dramatic stone jewelry (from Calvin Klein) and casual wear with comfy, but great looking hoodies are easy to incorporate into a wardrobe.
Be sure to update some of those animal prints, a surefire way to add some style.
My Gray Hair Calls for Color Changes
Gray is one of my favorite fashion colors now that my hair is silver. It is flattering to my silver hair, and much less harsh than black for daytime wear. It is a neutral that mixes quite well with bright colors (OR pastels, if that is the clothing color tone best for you), it automatically creates a versatile wardrobe piece.
My favorite way to wear gray? As a monotone, lengthening and slimming, outline.
I also like to wear a Charcoal rshade ather than black. For those “seasonal” color complexions, the Autumns (I was one) and Summers, it is a better choice than stark black.
Gray colored clothing still goes with your black accessories, so it is a win-win addition to an over-fifty wardrobe.
Fall Fashions
Electric Blue: Great Shade For Gray Hair
Electric Blue is very flattering for a more mature complexion and especially as a foil for gray hair.
Electric Blue NY
Electric Blue
The Electrifyingly Attractive Color
This is one of best colors for me since the hair color turned to silver, electric blue has so much vibrancy and always gets compliments.
It has been a popular color for several seasons running, and looks to have legs for a number in the future. One good bet with a striking color such as this on is to invest in accessories that will work with other colors should the tides change (as they inevitably do in the fashion world.
This is one of those shades that belong to certain “season” color groups. If you have been typed as one who has “Autumn” or “Winter” coloring, the electric blues will work very well for you no matter what the trends may be.
It brings skin tones alive, unlike some of the drab navy blues that are common in clothing fabrics.
I absolutely LOVE the colors in this scarf. It would be one of those wear everywhere accessories. Truly flattering.
Look for leather in unusual places : as loose skirts, shorts, even shirts.
Elongated silhouette with soft monotone color. Neck to toe color.
Blue- denim blue and deeper blues.
Blazers are back. Pant legs are wider.
What’s Your Style?
Boots and Booties
Tall, tall, tall… over the knee, and Granny boots that lace.
There are still lots of tall boots and booties everywhere. I find this style of footwear both comfortable and good looking. PLUS It looks fresh, young, and fashionable.
Is Southwestern Still A Trend?
YES AND NO
If you live in the Southwestern states, it is a classic which never goes out of style. Elsewhere it has been paired down to the “All Denim” look.
UPDATING THIS LOOK FROM LAST YEAR
If you have long dangly earrings or large hoops in silver, turquiose, or other Southwestern favorites these will definitely work with fashions now. Add them to any off the shoulder tops or striped shirts you are now wearing.
Instead of the blanket pattern jacket, go for a blazer instead, since blazers are making a comeback.
EARTHY SOUTHWESTERN
Nature colors or theme, or a spiced up version that swings with Southwestern accents and style. Go for an entire outfit or simply update with jewelry and some accessories like a handbag or scarf.
Turquoise color and gems are a few of my favorite pairings with Gray hair. Silver mirrors mature coloring in a beautiful way, so the trending Southwestern fashion style is ideal for maturing skin and hair. The clothes are often tailored for comfort, too. I love the casual look of it all because my personal style tends towards the more casual types with a dash of classics.
MY VIEWS
This is the classic look for casual weekends, for Sporty and Casual personalities. It is one of my favorites for most of my lifestyle situations. Especially useful when I travel out West, of course, but it has become a classic look just about anywhere.
This is one really good looking handbag- it makes a statement with the silver embellishments. This is the type of bag that dresses up denim.
Add A Southwestern Accent
Keep the denim shirt, purse, and wear with blue jeans. The booties are still in fashion, as well as the jewelry.
Take Notes from Parisian Women
They have a basic black wardrobe, adding color and high fashion accessories. They also keep everything well groomed, a good beauty hint for more mature women.
Taking Trends and Making Them Our Own
PASTELS FOR FALL
Luckily this fall has an unusual infusion of pastel colors, lighter shades of colors are kinder for mature complexions.
MONOCHROMATIC MAKES A SLEEK LINE
Combine the pastel trend with head to toe line of all the same color and it is very attractive look.
Black And White Is Still Big
Look also for cypress green, winter white, and aurora red. Radiant Orchid (Pantone’s color of the year) makes a showing, as well.
How To Wear The Black And White Trend
https://youtu.be/mezvu1Aecb4?si=10RCWSiUXOX5N2R3
Add One Really Versatile Accessory – Put color in your handbag
Fossil- one of the best handbags I’ve ever owned. A pink color matches one of the pretty looks for fall. Pastels for Autumn!
Colors For Fall
PINK
You can go pale pink like Ralph Lauren does or with this luscious raspberry. Monotone makes it happen for you!
Rose Quartz is one of the pair chosen for this year. A cool, pale pink that was matched up with a Periwinkle blue called “Serenity”.
COLOR ACCENTS IN PRINT
Color is arriving for fall, but black and white remains strong, as does a neutral palette. Go both ways by getting some color included in the new prints.
Neutral With A Bold Touch
“Comfy Tribal” Daytime Look, featuring a silver bracelet bangle.
Natural and Earthtones
Always a refined look for older women, Classics, business, and warm climates. If you love the look it is easy to expand your wardrobe, if you only need it for business wear, the pieces are useful mixed into other wardrobe themes of color.
Tribal is usually thought of as patterned and colorful… and hard to match up with anything else. This neutral color combo ( which is classic by nature) simply borrows the pattern in the form of textures. Bold jewelry, strong texture will help give a tribal feel to an outfit.
Making It Boho
One way to make good use of trends is to tweak them to become fashion forward. This tribal look could as easily become Boho. Add patterned scarf and change out the white blouse for a tunic. Use an artsy necklace that harmonizes with the bracelet… you get the idea.
Buy Quality and Fit
No matter what the trends are make sure the garment fits well and has quality materials. Some trends are classics, like the Southwestern accents. Even if you aren’t sure about wearing a blanket pattern jacket, give it a try. Silver and turquoise jewelry never go out of style. Use a scarf to try out the new colors and patterns in your wardrobe, before you commit.
Former Color Of The Year: Marsala
“Creamy Wine hue” warms up autumn sweaters and slacks outfit. I prefer it to the 2016 “Rose Quartz”<
MARSALA
This warm wine tone is fabulous with pink. It was the 2015 color of the year, and you can bet it will be a favorite for the seasons to come, especially the cooler seasons.
High heels are making a comeback, but not for me. Sheer skits are being seen, but not in my closet.
Trends I Will Avoid
SOME THINGS ARE BETTER LEFT UNSAID
Tiers of material- adding ridiculous bulk to my silhouette? No thank you.
Too much wild pattern.
Sheer skirting. An awkward look that can seem top heavy with a jacket-covered upper body. Plus you need perfect legs that are showcased beneath the filmy cloud of skirting material.
Bulky leather and big boxy shapes. Personally, I think this would make my more matronly figure look like a small tank.
Ditto for heavy layering.
Futurist. Even though this trend showed a mature model displaying the clothes, it is a harsh look for many older women to carry off well. You can try it, I’ll pass. Anything with overdrawn angles can accentuate the years, instead of the woman.
You wanted a prettier picture, didn’t you? But prettier pictures aren’t true reflections of reality, and we are just going to feel, and look, more frumpy until we take that reality and turn it to our advantage.
OK, that sounds pretty dismal, doesn’t it? The reality is that though aging isn’t what it used to be, it still presents challenges. (Let’s be honest here).
If you are like me, and find that aging is sometimes much more awkward than graceful, but you are ready to tune things up and refurbish your chassis a bit…. this is the toolkit for you.
While some of the most helpful tools and tips for anti-aging are included here, reader tips are quite welcome (actually if you could see me I am begging with pleading eyes). Please share any tips that you have found to help the rest of us maintain health, preserve beauty, reconstitute our dreams, or whatever is in YOUR toolkit…
Stylishly Dressing The Part
Helen Mirren’s StyleHelen Mirren elicits admiration from many, including me, for her her mature beauty and elegant style. I’ve looked to her for clues in how I might gain this look for myself.
I am no longer young and slim, so what do I wear now?
Aging has never been easy
It doesn’t matter if the only part of that statement is that you are no longer young, now a woman over fifty.
No, I take that back… you are actually a step ahead if you had to deal with a curvier, heavier body to clothe, because you know that there are clothes that make you look better and feel more comfortable and those that are a fashion crime to wear. You know the clothes I’m talking about, the ones they sell to us, every season, which some of us (not naming names) buy. …Every season… because we haven’t learned our lesson yet.
But like some other parts of the toolkit, this tip has a few universals, too.
Take for instance, posture. Good posture gets rid of lots of rolls that you thought you had, but were just re-situated flesh. More flesh just makes that more obvious. Besides, you feel better and your frame operates better when you have good posture.
Good posture is one of those things that depends on the strength of your muscles, especially your abdominal muscles. Yes, those. Whoa, Nelly, why are we talking about good posture when this was supposed to be about the fun stuff, like buying clothes? Well, hold your horses, there, friend… you have heard of a clothes horse, haven’t you? ( yes, I’m having too much fun with this).
A woman who has good posture has an air of confidence, and her clothes just look better on her. As older women we need that. Put that in your toolbox.
Changes in Clothes for Women Over Fifty
back to contents I had to change the types of clothes I buy. I now appreciate stretchy waists (I know: the abdominal exercises, etc… but I am not totally there yet). Looser flowy (but not too flowy) tops are my friends.
Tight Tshirts and low-waisted jeans are my enemies until I lose alot of weight, which is not happening soon, but hopefully at some point. That admitted, my body has rearranged and I am not sure what exercise and weight loss is able to do about that.
Helpful Mature Fashion Tips
Better to have shirts and jackets that skim the waist, don’t tuck things in or cinch them if your waist and surrounding areas are a little bulgy.
Clothing tool #1: refuse to wear something too tight
As always, I LOVE white cotton, buttoned shirts. LOVE them. They are my best friends. But gaping open at the bust area indicates the size is too small, and defeats the classic good looks of this wardrobe staple.
Clothing tool #2: wear good shoes that are comfortable for you.
Pinched toes and poor arch support lead to health issues.
Clothing tool #3: get a good quality, well cut coat.
Another tool in my personal toolkit is to take my tasteful, honest daughter shopping with me. I made my better choices on a coat and purse that way. My look tends to stay in a rut, otherwise. Allow a fresh pair of eyes guide your choices at times.
Clothing tool #4: find brand names that work for your body.-buy those brands.
Don’t buy your ‘age’, buy your ‘style’. Another self-explanatory fashion tool tip.
Personally Speaking: Color Seasons
I almost wish girdles were back in style, though. Never mind, pretend I didn’t say that.
Even if you color your hair, but especially if you have gone gray, your skin fades, and that needs an adjustment in the hues you buy for your wardrobe.
I’ll tell you a personal story. I colored my hair for a number of years, I chose a warm brown with caramel highlights mostly ( the stylist did the work, but I chose the general color I wanted). Warm colors and I went with an Autumn wardrobe palette, even though I’m one of those hard to pin point seasonal colors (“Winter? Autumn. Autumn? Winter… um I don’t’ know ..OK Autumn“).
Anyway, once my hair turned steely gray with a winter white shock of it near my face, clothing in oranges and mustards didn’t look so good on me anymore. Corals were a bit iffy, too. Yellows were downright bad. So I had to rearrange the color scheme of my wardrobe.
Unfamiliar with the “color seasons” wardrobe concept? Read about it here.
One color I know I look good in is Charcoal. Still in the learning curve.
Have you found your best coat color?
Fashion Coat
Clothing That Fits
Your middle is thicker, you may have changed dress sizes, and your bra may not fit right. Adjust your self image with your reality. That doesn’t mean old fashioned style! Keep open minded about incorporating new style into your look. Quality construction and fabric count. Smooth, well fitting clothes shaves off the years.
Get a Good Looking Jacket
Find a Brand that Fits YOU: a Women Over Fifty!
Certain brands are kinder to the mature figure. Look for stretch fabrics, good cut, forgiving waistlines, tummy minimizing panels.
I had found that Gloria Vanderbilt pants and jeans fit me well. I now stay with brands that cater to women who have my shape (tailored for older women, that is). A slimming pair of pants are ones that fit well, and are comfortable at the same time. This is one of those brands that fit.
Today, I gravitate toward ‘Chico’s’ brand, for comfort fit, and good looks.
The little extra bit of stretch and the cut are what set jeans apart for me, now. Do you find more need for fabrics with “give”?
Does Its Style Flatter You? – Carry it fashionably
A bulky, out-of-date handbag can date women over fifty. Take cues from fashion and the younger generation on this accessory. Accessories are an easier transition than clothing.
My daughter-in-law picked out my all time favorite handbag as a gift for me. It holds everything, but has a very slim outline and not too heavy. When I go on vacation I like something bigger to carry more with me. However, for most occasions a too-big bag weighs me down with everything I am tempted to carry around in it, so a smaller bag with lots of organized pocket space helps save my energy. It encourages greater organization, as well.
Look in the mirror when choosing a handbag to see the overall silhouette. Better quality materials, as in clothing, make accessories contribute to an overall svelte or youthful look.
As you can tell by now, I let brand names guide me when it comes to fashion, style, and fit. Fossil is my fav name in purses. Generally, it is because the brand name creates a certain continuity of quality and design. additionally, it saves time when one is not a “shopper”. Fossil Willa Leather Shoulder Bag
Tools For Health
Keep Active, Eat Right, Use Effective Products
Jamie Lee Curtis is a good role model for the fifty and over woman.
Jamie Lee Curtis,Good Looks At Any Age
I think Jamie Curtis is absolutely gorgeous. She has a look that is healthy, natural, and which any woman might want to emulate. Jamie Lee Curtis and I share something in common: we have some Hungarian ancestry. With her athletic, yet feminine style, she has a youthful look to emulate
Actually what you will notice is that many of our beauty tools are going to be multitasking to improve our skin, our energy levels, and our moods. That is because thefoundational belief that ought to have been drummed into us when we were younger was that the the basis for beauty is good health. In fact, good health is the basis for a lot of the better things in life.
So we might as well make up our minds right now that we are going to learn how to use these tools properly and work with them every day. It is our job. Our job is to learn how to live our lives to their fullest. Sure, aging and all sorts of things get in the way, that is the backbeat of life, but our job is to maintain ourselves to the utmost of our ability. Why? Do I need a reason why? Of course I do, because like most everyone else I tend to forget: I cannot trade myself in or get replacement parts when somethings starts giving out.
We need to take care of ourselves and keep ourselves as healthy as possible.
That ought to be listed in the tools: a right attitude towards ourselves and our health.
My favorite exercise is yoga stretching and gardening activities. Taking walks has become a commitment my husband and I have made to each other.
Improve Your Brain
Feel Younger, Keep Sharp
More than Skin Deep!
Not just what goes on cosmetically, when we utilize the tools of nutrition plus other activities to keep the brain healthy we are preserving our health, beauty, and life.
I was introduced to Dr. Amen through PBS and what he has to say makes great sense. A better brain and keeping your weight down? I’m sold on that.
There are sooo many supplements and companies that produce them that it might make your head spin. Generally I like to stay within certain brand names that I trust, but if you look at features such as “standardized” ingredients, you are likely to find good quality products.
I’ve used “New Chapter” for years, ever since my health-conscious daughter recommended them.
Although there are quite a few special formulations, I like to use a multi-vitamin as a basic start for good nutrition.
*You use sunscreen, don’t you? AND get plenty of time outdoors to get the vitamin D from the sun? It sounds contradictory, but you need to protect your skin from sun damage, getting sunburned, but good health requires some outdoor time, since the skin makes important vitamin D.
A Good Skin Care Regimen
I love Shiseido! I’ve tried many brands, but this has to be my all time favorite for great products with fantastic results.
First a confession. I stopped coloring my hair and went naturally gray a few years ago, and I am radically happy about it. That doesn’t mean I am going to evangelize the rest of the women in the world to do the same. I am going to celebrate my choice. That said, the tools we are going to use for maintaining our beautiful (think positively, now) mane of hair are applicable across the spectrum of no color, highlighted, full-on colored treatments. In fact, most of the tools are things we should do no matter what our age.
Once Your Hair Is Healthy
Once your heir is healthy, keep it shined with a serum. Use a straightening iron to keep it smooth and bring out even more shine.
Older women need a bit of color, but nothing garish. Compliment dark clothes, and silvery hair with soft roses in your cheeks and on your lips.
Similar to losing color from lips, our eyebrows sometimes thin and need some accenting. I use eyebrow powder and like it much better than pencils. When I was young I had quite think dark brows, so this is another side effect of the growing older.
One of the most helpful tips I learned about my hair which seemed to be thinning out was to keep the scalp clean. I thought too many shampoos would make my hair too dry, but actually it is important for the health of the hair follicles to keep the scalp clean. Check out the Silver Fox gray hair lens for great hair products.
Putting The Shine On Silver HairPure Light Pravana Shampoo Brings Out Silver Lights,… One of the best tips for silver locks is to use a gentle shampoo that cancels the yellow and keeps the beauty of your gray hair. This is one of the best for you to try.
My family also uses Amazon Prime often, which saves us money on shipping and more.
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Mirren carries off this shirtdress in navy with particular panache. This is the power of personal confidence.
A picture hat frames her face and allows a peek at her silver locks at the same time.
The directions for getting the style as interpreted by “the Hairstyler.com”:
Her eyes have a range of neutral and sable brown to softly highlight them. Lighter on the lid with deeper brown in the socket area bring out her eyes without an aging, crepey look that glimmery colorful shadows can produce.
Her eyes have a range of neutral and sable brown to softly highlight them. Lighter on the lid with deeper brown in the socket area bring out her eyes without an aging, crepey look that glimmery colorful shadows can produce.
More Mirren – Links on the Web
