Senior Women Fashion Tips
Baby Boomer or More Mature Make Fashion Trends Work for You
There's been a subtle shifting from ultra-casual workplace clothes, but mature women still enjoy comfortable rather than fussy dressing. How can senior women find a style, a comfort level that looks great, reflects today’s fashion sense but doesn’t make us feel a little "giddy?"
Experts suggest building your basic wardrobe around quality pieces reflecting personal taste, and adding tops, accessories or jewelry that are unstructured, chunky and informal. That way you look your best and feel confident in any situation, but you make a personality statement. Base your choices on the people you deal with - who do you face day-to-day? What you wear reflects a certain comfort level and empowerment issues. Even using personal flair, you want to make choices that suit your environment.
For example, it's easy to go from a suit, a wardrobe staple, to a softer, casual look by swapping the jacket for a big white shirt or a soft, long, nubby sweater. A conservative woman can wear slacks with classic lines. A less conservative woman may go for a brightly colored or black and white print blouse with dress jeans or cropped, cuffed pants, both very hot. She can find a suit classically designed but with softer lines, lighter fabric. Or try a skirt with a dropped waist or a flared leg pant, very trendy. The mature woman can adapt these looks to the sense of style she has developed over time with her own experience.
Career women with great personal style are always appropriate. Active and busy, they never know who they'll bump into so they choose clothes, even my casuals, to give them confidence. It isn't wise to try to dress like your 13 year-old grand daughter. It looks out of place, wrong. But that doesn’t mean you can't adapt trends to be stylish and up-to-date for your lifestyle and age.
Pass on the red-hot looks, but keep on top of what's new each season. Buy a trendy blouse because you love the look, on you, but pair it with a suit, skirt, or pants that look and feel good. Express yourself.
If your job requires you to be ultra-conservative in public contact situations, you might show a bit more casual aplomb in the office. Try soft colors and quality fabrics with simple lines. Use layers to your advantage - dress them up or down to vary a look. Tailored looks are always conservative - like Katherine Hepburn - but she was anything bu dowdy.
Try subtle fringe, frayed cuffs and skirt hems, tooled leather, denim or peasant skirts in a casual environment. Women today have many more choices than their mother’s did. The days are long gone that women over 40 had to go everywhere in flower-sprigged shirtwaist dresses, heels, and a hat. Now, if you like flowers, wear them. If you don't - go bolder. Hats are soft and crushable and very fun – or skip them altogether. And shoes, no matter where you’re going come in every style and color you can imagine. There's a great item to spurge on.
Experts agree: Find a happy medium. If you feel comfortable in traditional workplace clothes and can’t see yourself going to the office in jeans, adapt those looks for yourself. Step out of your mold but be comfortable and confident. Take advantage of flattering, fun ideas coordinating them with your own level of polish. If you feel comfortable in your surroundings, you have probably made a great choice.
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