I just turned 50, help me not descend into frump town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Diet, work out, grow your hair long.

No, no, no! Long hair is not the way to go. Mutton dressed as lamb and all that.
Find a length that flatters your face and doesn’t hide your features. Too many older women hide under a curtain of long hair and think it looks sexy and young. It doesn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geez - all these posts suggesting Botox and surgery are depressing. If that’s what you want, it’s fine but it’s also fine to not choose that route. OP - I think Vince is a good label for older women. Their stuff is simple but modern. Think about updating your makeup too. It’s really easy to get into a rut for years and the sort of makeup that would look better on you now may be different from what you wore when younger. Try playing around with jewelry too. Nothing expensive is necessary but a cool bracelet or pair of earrings can really punch up a look.

+1

I like the Style at a Certain Age blog.

[Anonymous]

NP here. I suspect that the older that you get, the more that you need to be really thoughtful about investing in your clothes in order to look stylish. The 20-somethings can throw on something fairly cheap and unstructured, and still pull it off. We can't. A bit of structure is good, and worth paying for. Also worth paying more for shoes that are comfortable AND interesting looking.

Same deal with hair. It was easy to just let it be in my 20s, but now that I'm in my 40s it needs much more maintenance, and the greys are beginning to change the texture a bit (even when they're covered up). Whatever you do, don't grow your hair long if it doesn't look good - much better to have a shorter cut that flatters you than a long do that drags you down

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whenever I’m in NYC, Italy or some other cities, I often see older women who look really chic. I always study them and take mental notes because I totally want to be like that when I’m their age (which admittedly is coming up fast). I don’t often see many such ladies in this area... not sure why that’s the case - maybe there’s just a frumpier aesthetic here.

No there is a "giving up" among some women here. There's a feeling among some that taking pride in your appearance after a certain age is denying the aging process or buying into the patriarchy or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly feel like it is the sensible shoes. If you take the same outfit and where heel you look better/younger/hip. I can't wear heels so I don't know what the solution is.

Pointy-toed flats is the solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Add scarfs to your wardrobe for your turkey neck.

No. Scarves are a billboard announcement: I am middle aged! See also, Munro shoes, reading glasses on a sassy chain, tunics with capris, and anything by Eileen Fisher unless you are a 4'10' Asian woman who weighs 94lbs.

Get a neck lift.

My mom is 5'10, 140, and looks great in Eileen Fisher.

[Anonymous]

I've been using the outfits at Halsbrook.com as inspiration. Their price points are all over but I find that the looks can either be gotten by rethinking stuff in my closet plus buying something from them plus supplementing from the gap (especially jeans). I like the nice priced classic handbags on their site that are both age appropriate and look classic. If you look at enough of their clothes/outfits, you will begin to see that they are careful to mix in some dresses with flats, long sleeves to hide arms, knee and midi lengths, scarves, ponchos and all with coordinating jewelry.

Here are some links so you can see what I mean:

https://www.halsbrook.com/catalog/product/25694

https://www.halsbrook.com/shop/dresses/fatima-midnight-blue-silk-dress-29652.htm

https://www.halsbrook.com/shop/dresses/navy-belted-dress-29452.htm

https://www.halsbrook.com/shop/dresses/navy-tweed-dress-with-white-multi-fringe-trim-30876.htm

https://www.halsbrook.com/shop/handbags/paley-midnight-navy-satchel-24638.htm

I'm on there email blast list. The emails are great -- they have outfit suggestions, sometimes tied to a particular destination (wedding, NYC weekend, beach party, etc).

HTH

[Anonymous]

*their* email blast.

Eek!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I suspect that the older that you get, the more that you need to be really thoughtful about investing in your clothes in order to look stylish. The 20-somethings can throw on something fairly cheap and unstructured, and still pull it off. We can't. A bit of structure is good, and worth paying for. Also worth paying more for shoes that are comfortable AND interesting looking.

Same deal with hair. It was easy to just let it be in my 20s, but now that I'm in my 40s it needs much more maintenance, and the greys are beginning to change the texture a bit (even when they're covered up). Whatever you do, don't grow your hair long if it doesn't look good - much better to have a shorter cut that flatters you than a long do that drags you down

All so true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Add scarfs to your wardrobe for your turkey neck.

No. Scarves are a billboard announcement: I am middle aged! See also, Munro shoes, reading glasses on a sassy chain, tunics with capris, and anything by Eileen Fisher unless you are a 4'10' Asian woman who weighs 94lbs.

Get a neck lift.

My mom is 5'10, 140, and looks great in Eileen Fisher.

In fairness, anything looks good on that height and weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geez - all these posts suggesting Botox and surgery are depressing. If that’s what you want, it’s fine but it’s also fine to not choose that route. OP - I think Vince is a good label for older women. Their stuff is simple but modern. Think about updating your makeup too. It’s really easy to get into a rut for years and the sort of makeup that would look better on you now may be different from what you wore when younger. Try playing around with jewelry too. Nothing expensive is necessary but a cool bracelet or pair of earrings can really punch up a look.

+1

I like the Style at a Certain Age blog.

Just looked at this blog. Awful. The certain age must be 75.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly feel like it is the sensible shoes. If you take the same outfit and where heel you look better/younger/hip. I can't wear heels so I don't know what the solution is.

Partially true--but no one looks good when her feet hurt!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly feel like it is the sensible shoes. If you take the same outfit and where heel you look better/younger/hip. I can't wear heels so I don't know what the solution is.

Pointy-toed flats is the solution.

Totally agree with the pointy toed shoes, instant chic.

[Anonymous]

Every chic over 50 woman I've seen is slender.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geez - all these posts suggesting Botox and surgery are depressing. If that’s what you want, it’s fine but it’s also fine to not choose that route. OP - I think Vince is a good label for older women. Their stuff is simple but modern. Think about updating your makeup too. It’s really easy to get into a rut for years and the sort of makeup that would look better on you now may be different from what you wore when younger. Try playing around with jewelry too. Nothing expensive is necessary but a cool bracelet or pair of earrings can really punch up a look.

+1

I like the Style at a Certain Age blog.

Just looked at this blog. Awful. The certain age must be 75.

Everyone ages. Even you will age. True story!