Appearance Archives - Page 2 of 2

The Baby Boomer’s Guide to Dressing Up

December 1, 2017 By Blog Author 2 Comments

Helen Mirren – My favorite fashion role model dressing up.

Dressing up for a formal occasion can be fun. The invitation comes in the mail, and as you open the envelope, you’re already getting excited about the festive event. And then you see it. At the very bottom. “Black tie.” Or maybe “white tie.” What the heck is the difference? Following is your guide on how to dress up for the most formal celebrations.

Black Tie

A safe rule of thumb when deciding what to wear to a black-tie affair is this: the greater the effort put into hosting an event, the more formal the guests should be. Using this as a guide, you would dress up more for a wedding reception (drinks, dinner, dancing, and assorted festivities) than for a cocktail party (drinks and hors d’oeuvres).

Floor-length, tea-length, and short dresses are all appropriate. The length of a dress depends on your age and your legs—for obvious reasons. How much skin you show also hinges on how old you are and what shape your body is in.

Sparkly jewelry can help elevate a simple dress, but should be avoided if the dress itself has a lot of bling. Depending on the style of the dress, wear either a statement necklace or statement earrings—not both—and a bracelet. A dress for a black-tie celebration need not be black, but it’s always a safe choice.

White Tie

White-tie events are super formal, so a glorious floor-length gown is the way to go. Evening sandals or pumps, a dressy evening bag, and elegant jewelry are the perfect complement.

As we get older, dressing up becomes more of a challenge. The decision to show skin is more calculated. Plus sizes are difficult to find. (A recent search on a major department store website indicated 1214 evening dresses…only three of which were “special sizes.”) It’s wise to work with a personal shopper or savvy salesperson when making a purchase for a dressy event. She knows the store’s stock, and if she’s a pro, she’ll know what works best for you.

Elle Gianforte is an award-winning writer and published author whose work includes non-fiction books on a variety of subjects, including adoption, fashion, food, design, healthcare, and memoir. She is currently co-authoring a new book, Don’t Stop Now, Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life (DontStopNow.us). You can see a complete list of books on her Amazon author page.

Fashion Statement at Any Age

November 24, 2017 By Blog Author Leave a Comment

Fashion statements are no longer reserved for younger women. The book, Advanced Style: Older and Wiser, absolutely proves that.

For generations, other cultures have valued and esteemed the older woman. In America, however, she’s usually tossed aside with nary a glance—like an uninteresting magazine article or a day-old tuna sandwich.

And then along comes Ari Seth Cohen, whose mom clearly raised him well. Says Ari, “I hope that if we begin to see aging differently, we will start to treat older people with the respect and reverence they deserve. By refusing to accept the notion that growing older is something to be feared, we can begin to fully embrace our elderhood with as much joy, creative growth, and imagination as our childhood.”

Ari created a book entitled Advanced Style: Older and Wiser. It’s filled with photos of women—and a few men—in their sixties and well beyond. All of them are dressed fabulously, reflecting their individual styles. Many of them shared their stories, making it compelling reading for both fashion lovers and those who fear—wrongly—that their stylish years are behind them.

My friend Joy Venturini Bianchi is featured in the book. Joy is a five-year cancer survivor who is one of the most amazing women I know. Here she is looking dazzling in nonstop red:

I had the honor of attending a book-signed with Ari and Joy in San Francisco, and listening to them speak was nothing short of inspirational.

What I’ve learned from Joy is that age is truly just a number. Style is an outward expression of the inner self. And each of us is unique, precious, and special.

Don’t be afraid to show your true self to the world—whether that means dressed in a designer gown or decked out in jeans, your favorite tee, and Converse.

If you’re interested in checking out Ari’s book, you can find it on Amazon.

Elle Gianforte is an award-winning writer and published author whose work includes non-fiction books on a variety of subjects, including adoption, fashion, food, design, healthcare, and memoir. She is currently co-authoring a new book, Don’t Stop Now, Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life (DontStopNow.us). You can see a complete list of books on her Amazon author page.

Women’s Clothing Items – 10 Basics

November 16, 2017 By Blog Author Leave a Comment

Here are ten essential women’s clothing items I think every woman over 50 should own. This list will help if you enjoy fashion—or simply want some direction in building an age-appropriate wardrobe.

A black pencil skirt
A well-made pencil skirt works on just about every body type. The length can range anywhere from the top of the knee to mid-knee for the most universally flattering look. Team it with a blazer or long cardigan if you feel the need to camouflage your hips.

A pair of great-fitting jeans, even if you have to shop all day to find them
Nordstrom carries a brand called Wit & Wisdom, which won’t break the bank. My favorites are skinny and slightly cropped, so they look equally good with heels, flats, or a pair of bright-red Converse sneakers. If hips and rear are a problem, top them with a flowy tunic or a longer cardigan over a tank top. If you’re not the skinny-jeans type, choose a style that fits your body best: boot cut, straight leg, flared, wide leg. It seems that designers are offering every shape, so there’s no right or wrong style.

A tailored shirt
Not your husband’s or boyfriend’s shirt, this one is made just for you: smaller and streamlined. Tuck it into a pencil skirt or wear it untucked with a pair of jeans.

A long cardigan
A long cardi is the perfect solution to hide hips, tummy, and rear. Choosing one in a bright color adds pop to black and grey.

Sexy, girlie pumps
All shoe designers makes them, so you can find them in every variation and price point. Heel heights range from kitten to medium to sky high.

A classic watch
A really good watch isn’t cheap, but it is an investment. I bought this Tag Heuer in 1996 for $1000, and now it’s worth more than three times that much.

A novelty watch
For a fraction of the cost of a quality watch, you can find a perfectly functional—and fun—novelty watch.

Costume Bling
There’s nothing better than a carefully chosen piece of jewelry to add bling to your wardrobe. A fun necklace or bracelet can bring an otherwise sedate outfit to life.

A great-fitting bra
Any women who’s made the switch from a grabbed-off-the-rack bra to one that’s been properly fitted by a pro knows how dramatic the difference can be.

Spanx, or an equivalent slimmer
I don’t know of any woman who doesn’t have at least one of these in her wardrobe. It’s the go-to solution under dresses, skirts, and pants when you want to look as sleek as possible.