Brighten up that dull old winter coat....

With a lovely colored scarf!

Come on, you know what I'm talking about. In the deep mid-winter (as we are now) you look around as you walk and realize that you are moving in a sea of black coats - including the one you're wearing!

Well here's a way to brighten up your old dependable winter garb. Skip over to MyPerennial and check out their scarves (MyPerennial:Scarves).

Here's a couple of samples to wet your whistle:





And at $24.00 each, it's a cheap cheer-up as we wait with much longing for Spring!

Many thanks to Daily Candy for the heads up!

A tip for buying clothes without trying them on...

Actually something you shouldn't do if you can avoid it!

But let's face it, we've all been there. You're on your lunch break, in the store, you see a great find that will fill one of those holes you always seem to have in your wardrobe. But drat! You don't have time to do the dressing room deal!

Hop on over to Real Simple for the following tip:

Buy Clothes Without Trying Them On


With my bad memory, I'm not sure the main tip is very helpful for me - but even I can remember the the inseam one, which can certainly come in handy!

Dressing for Power....

An interesting article from The New York Times on how the women of Congress address the "what to wear to work" issue...

Speaking Chic to Power


And yes I know -- it's beyond irritating that the minute a woman moves into a position perceived to be powerful, one of the first things everyone starts talking about is "what is she wearing?". But, like her politics or not, it looks like Ms. Nancy is not going into that good night looking like she's in mourning -- and I think that's a tip all of us 50+ gals should take to heart!

And what a rare treat to see pictures of well-dressed women over 35 in the press -- really you'd think that after a certain age, nothing a woman could be wearing could be worth seeing!

Regarding wearing color, I don't know about you but I find myself becoming tentative about wearing color as I age, fearful of looking like a clown or worse calling attention to myself as if that is crime! I think I need to catch myself on that!

Anyway....Check the article out. It's interesting to hear the dressing challenges these ladies face in their job and how they tackle them. Their solutions can work for anyone who has to face their closet every morning before they head out to work.

Many thanks to Papierblog for the heads up on the Times article!

Dove Keeps on Keeping It Real....

By dealing with women's real beauty needs - right through the ages.....

Pro-Age From Dove: Looking Damn Good For Your Age

Do check out the quote from the Dove UK site - damn right!

Looks like Dove has done the baby boomer math and is getting with the program!

Now if only the world of "fashion" could get a clue!

Tips for the triangular shaped among us....

Of which I count myself! (And what a pain it is to be two different sizes!)

Over at Wardrobe 911 the wise Ms. Teresa is giving guidance to those of us who's junk in the trunk tends to overpower our top half!

triangle: work wear

I love the suit pictured there - it's a neckline I've never thought of for myself, but am now interested to try. Love her handbag comment too - Yes, Ms. T, please do do a mini workshop on handbags!

Forth and Towne Inches into the 21st Century....

By offering order by phone!

Look, I love Forth and Towne - even through I've yet to buy any of their clothes. Their clothes offer a quintessential easily polished and poised style - they bring to mind Jackie Kennedy on her best day. Just the kind of togs many 50+ Fashionistas are seeking!

For example - Their Spring Essentials:






I'm instantly in love with the collared blouse:





Sateen Button Down Blouse - $48.00



And the boot cut trousers!:





Bootcut Pant = $98.00


And as you can see, the prices, while not cheap, are certainly within reach.


But they only have a few stores which can only be found out in the far burbs and, up until today, there was no way to order their clothes.

But what should show up in my e-mail today but - ta-da!



Now I don't know why Forth and Towne seems to have such a tentative attitude towards allowing true online ordering on their site. Especially since they are a division of The Gap - on who's site you can order anything shown!

That being said, I'm thrilled at the possibility of at least calling in an order - through I still intend to make the trek up to their Skokie store to check them out in person!

(Note: To those overseas - it's not clear on their site whether or not they will do overseas shipping, but since you'll have to call anyway, be sure to ask that first thing!)

New Trends for Spring '07 - Elle.com Gives a Primer

Surprisingly, I found myself over at Elle.com the other day.

I'm not a particularly big fan of the Elle mag -- I find it a bit too manic. But somehow, while doing some of my fashion surfing I ended up on their web site. And what should I come across but their Spring Trends page - delightfully organized A - Z!

The reason I like this approach so much, is that when I turned my eyes back to fashion, I decided I was going to try to view every single Fall '06 collection! After more time than I care to comment on, on Style.com (Which, wonderfully, posts pictures from just about every runway show during all the major fashion weeks), I found myself on fashion overload! Everything started to look alike and I was doggone if I could determine what were the key looks for the season!

Now, admittedly, I was like a good amateur runner who had not run for sometime and then thought they could go for the New York Marathon on two weeks of training! Still as an amateur, I have to confess, I just don't have the time to try to see everything and try to determine what might be worth focusing on to freshen up the wardrobe!

That's where the beauty of the Spring Runway ABC page comes in. They break the themes of the spring collections down by the alphabet - starting with A for Anime and ending with Z for Ziggy Stardust!

I'll be checking them out and, hopefully, writing about the trends I think can be incorporated with class in a 50+ wardrobe. But go on over a take a look for yourself -- and start thinking Spring!

Body Image Issues..

Not just for 50 somethings anymore?

Actually that has probably always been the case -- but I have never seen it better illustrated than last Saturday.

My sister and I are taking a sewing class. That's right - we're sick to death of clothes that don't fit either our bodies or what we want to look like. And as we are not so financially flush that we can have clothes made for us, we figure we might as well take a shot at making our own.

So there we were on a Saturday mid-morning, with 7 others, 6 gals, one guy (who was there with his girlfriend but quite serious about it), almost all but one younger than we. Be that as it may, a couple of things became quite apparent:

1. NO WOMAN CAN FIND CLOTHES THAT ACTUALLY FIT HER! As it turns out, it apparently is not just a size issue.

When the instructor started talking about figuring which size you are in a pattern as opposed to what you buy off the rack, a it was like a line of bobble heads nodding in the affirmative when in the course of her explanation, she mentioned how straight forward sizing is for men as opposed to women. When she said something to the effect of "And that's why clothes in two different stores of the same size can fit so differently" that's when the bobble head action started.

2. NO WOMAN WANTS TO BE MEASURED FOR HER SIZE IN PUBLIC.

Talk about not seeing THAT comin'!

Successful sewing requires exact measurements. Thus, it should have come as no surprise when the instructor told us all that she was going to measure each of us to get our clothing size.

You could have heard a pin drop.

Now picture this: With the exception of the 4 "women of a certain age" in the class (that's counting the instructor!) everyone else was, to my and my sister's eyes, "normal" size or smaller.

Yet when the instructor said that I wasn't all together sure that the class wouldn't empty out immediately! I have to confess, MY first thought was "If I'd know I was going to be measured in public, I never would have taken this class!")

After a short break (after which, to the credit of the class, everyone returned!), it was time to face the measuring tape! As our instructor stood expectantly holding the dreaded snake of truth, we all sat there, genetically unable to move.

It was up to my ever valiant sister to resolutely get up and move to the front. A dutifully supportive sibling, I followed suite. The ice broke, and our younger fellow students followed us up as the instructor assured us all that she was just going to write the info down on our handout form -- in other words, we wouldn't hear our sizes broadcast across the room and the store!

As I was being measured I said aloud with what I hope was humor and not bitterness "Isn't it ironic that every women wants to wear clothes but nobody wants to be measured for them?". Some laughs, definite agreement and the ice dissipated - faces relaxed and the measuring completed more or less painlessly.

I guess they figured that if I and my sister could face the numbers, hell, they could too!

Later, my sister and I reflected with some laughter and more than a bit of bafflement on the whole experience. It reminded us, somewhat sadly, that women are always struggling with what they think their bodies should be and what they really are - no matter where they are on the timeline of life!

It also reminded us to be a little more forgiving of our old chassis - their not as bad as our perceptions lead us to believe!

Wondering about "Age Appropriate" Dressing?....

I've certainly been thinking a lot about that lately!

If you have too, but, like me, you're still scratching your head on the subject, skip over to YouLookFab for a to the point post on Dressing your age

Not only does Ms. Angie speak to the types of clothing that can work for different age ranges but she names names of famous femmes who embody the look.

Well worth the read! (Pay attention to the reader's comments and Angie's wise replies as well for more tips!)

More Winners from the Isaac Mizrahi for Target Collection....

Yeah I was in Target - again! - over the weekend (I know, I know, I should be skipping over to Sharebuilder to buy stock!) and saw some of the new pieces from their Mizrahi line.

I have to say I wasn't impressed by most of it, I think he's done better - but these two pieces definitely stood out:





Isaac Mizrahi for Target® 3-Button Pinstripe Jacket $39.99





Isaac Mizrahi for Target® Hepburn Wide-Leg Pants - Blue Bonnet $34.99


I especially like the pants - they really do have the Hepburn trouser look I'm such a sucker for, with the wide leg and cuff.

The fabric feels pretty good - a mid-weight poly / rayon blend that's machine washable (always a plus in my book!). They also come in different lenghts (short, regular and tall) which is as helpful as it is uncommon in women's pants be they high priced or low! Keep in mind, you might have to look twice if you pick these up in the store -- I don't remember if the different lenghts were clearly indicated on the tags. They are clearly defined on the Target website.

I'm not quite as pumped about the jacket -- it might be just a bit too short for some. But the tailoring is pretty good so it will work well with the pants as a business suit option - if it can work with your figure!

The only real down point is that the sizes only go up to a size 18. Bullah! : - p

I can say from my own experience with a pair of denim trousers from his Target line that I was able to wear the size 18 regular -- and I'm one of those women who, in store sizes, tends more towards the plus size than the regular misses!


All in all, a sharp look I think can work for women of a wide range of ages, if not sizes. Pare it with a smokin' bag and a dead on pair of shoes and you've got it made for not a lot of cash!

If you happen to be in Target, check it out!

And Speaking of the Good Doctor....

Styledash contributor Anne Metz has a lovely tribute post to Dr. King and the essence of true style - which in the end has less to do with clothes and more to do with the spirit of the person who wears them:

Style Icon: Martin Luther King, Jr.

We do well to keep that in mind as we seek our own "style".

Happy B-Day Dr. King!

And Thank You.

Art to go....

As I've said before, I'm a HUGE fan of what I call "accessible art" -- art you can either wear or carry with you on a day to day basis. It can lift both your spirits and the spirits of those around you who see it -- or at the very least, start some very interesting conversations!

Styledash.com of late has several examples of just such "art-to-go":


Change your wallet as often as you change your purse

I went over to this site and I gotta tell you I dig the concept! And as soon as my finances get back on solid ground I have every intention of picking up a couple (or maybe even the 4 for $50 deal!).

If you do decide to get one, treat it right -- you'll never know what the future will bring for these artists - you could be carrying around a future Picasso in your purse!

Give those white earbuds something extra

Personally, I find those ear buds to be extremely uncomfortable so I don't use mine. But if you do, here's a cute way to dress them up!

Movie billboards make a fashion statement

If you're a big time movie fan or have one in your life, these totes (they have messenger bags as well) can be a fun and practical addition to your bag wardrobe or a great gift. I really like the unusual styling of the Billboard bag - sleek but looks like it can hold quite a bit!

Plus saving a tree and keeping down the landfills? What's not to love?

And now I better get goin' - the old salt mine beckons!

Clip Earrings Making a Comback?

You heard it here first....

Clip-on earrings making a comeback

If you are a lady of a certain age, you not only remember clip-ons you probably wore them. That is, until you got tired of that headache and suffered the momentary pain to get your ears pierced!

Having worn clips in the past, this is a vintage trend I don't see lasting unless they've made the things MUCH more comfortable. But if you are a pierced ear hold-out that is sick and tired of trying to convert pierced earrings to clips - this might mean you can kick that DIY stuff to the curb - at least for a bit! ; - )

Issac M. is at it again!

And it appears that he feels duty bound to change the way fashion is delivered!

Mizrahi to go high and low

I think the idea is brilliant! It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Okay I think I'm in Love....

No not that silly romantic thing for another person. The REAL deal - purse love!

Bluefly is having a sale (no surprise there) on designer handbags. And so, broke as I am, I just had to go over and take a look.

Now here I have to give full disclosure: I LOVE handbags! When I moved to smaller quarters, I gave away 20 handbags, not to mention the ones I tossed because they were no longer usable! My sister teases me about my never ending quest for that perfect bag!

Now the irony of that for me is that, handbag lover that I am, I have an innate issue with spending more than, say $500.00 for a handbag (The most expensive bag I own is a $250 and change leather Coach). I also have a real aversion to "hardware" bags that seem to be all the fashion today, bags so festooned with metal circles and studs that it looks like a hardware store upchucked on them!

I tend to be a Coach bag type of gal -- at least the Classic Coach type. I favor a simple, practical elegance -- when it comes to bags, you can keep the bling, thanks.

That being said you can imagine how my heart quickened when I saw this:



Lamarthe plum leather 'Drôle de Celtique' basket bag $255.00 on Bluefly

I have to admit I'd never heard of Lamarthe, but once I saw the above bag I Googled it quickly and surfed on over to their website.

The site, like their bags, is exactly what I like -- well designed elegance. And at such reasonable prices - what's not to love?

Do yourself a favor and go check them out.

A VERY depressing shopping trip....

I took a little walk yesterday and did a little window shopping.

The good part was I'd forgotten how much I enjoy looking at clothes.

The bad part was that I no longer fit in any of them.

Here's a little run down of my "fun" soiree:

I haven't visited the H&M on Michigan avenue since it opened a couple of years ago. But since it is the store that is on everyone's lips when it comes to reasonably priced, forward thinking fashion, I thought it time for me to make another call. I also remembered from my previous visit that they actually had some plus size clothes that were, for a change, pretty good looking - I wanted to see how much fashion they were offering for the upcoming season.

How much? Nothing!

At least not if you are larger than a size 16. Which was most unfortunate, since, despite my mis-givings on the clothes there being way too young for ladies of an age, I found at least 4 potential outfits that would easily work for the fashionista of some experience and many separate pieces that could tastefully spice up a perhaps stogy wardrobe.

It was particularly irritating since when you go to their website, they have a size chart for their clothes that for women goes up to size 26!

Anyway....

For my other 50+ sisters who have been lucky enough to keep the svelte figures of their youth (Diane Kenton comes to mind, bless her!) do go on by H&M - you won't be disappointed.

Meanwhile, I twisted my size 18 hips out of there and headed to Water Tower. I took a spin through the elegant Lord and Taylor, which is, unfortunately, slated to close at the end of March. Seems the owners of Water Tower has determined it is more cost efficient (in other words, they can pull in more cash!)to split the space up into smaller stores.

But I digress....

As Lord and Taylor's carries the major clothing lines (Jones of New York, Ralph Lauren, Ann Klein, etc, etc..) I had no problem finding many fine pieces for the 50+ Fashionista - but you've got to be willing and able to drop a pretty penny to get them! (They are having a sale however, and what an organized one -- they have all the same colored garments on the same racks so you can zero right in on what you might be looking for!)

Spinning out of L & T, I made a stop in J. Jill. I've received their catalogs and I know that they do sell their clothes in a wide range of sizes. I had the store to myself -- but no sizes larger than an 16 to be found. The saleslady was quite apologetic when she told me that they don't carry plus sizes in the store but she assured me that I can order through the store and have it delivered there for trying on. Nice, but then why wouldn't I just order on the web and try it on at home?

Sighing and moving on, I made a stop at Ann Taylor. Now I have to confess, I have avoided AT, mostly because I felt their size choices were not wide enough. That was an error on my part, one, because they actually carry styles that I think work wonderfully for the 50+ woman (And as I observed above, not every woman receives the almost obligatory extra pounds as her 50th birthday present!) and two, because they do carry sizes up to 18 (Through mostly at their Ann Taylor Loft stores). However there were no 18's to be found in the store itself.

Sigh....Well at least the walk almost brought me up to my 10,000 steps a day goal!

Post Holiday Sales....

Tips over at the Budget Fashionista....

Sales, Weather, and Boots Gone Bad

My e-mail has been so inundated with sales offers that I haven't known where to start as far as posting them! TBF gives the perfect summary of the best -- so check it out!

Get on over to Wardrobe 911....

And continue your fashion education!

Wardrobe 911

Teresa has three great new posts on the following:

1. Ever wonder why the hell you're one size in one store and another one in the store right next door? Ms. Teresa gives the 411 on the noxious Vanity Sizing scam that dominates women's clothing (I've already stated my disdain for this custom in a previous post).

She's got my vote on going back to the future on sizing. We've put a man on the moon, and a woman in as Speaker of the House - surely we can get sizing for women's clothes standardized as men's are!

2. Great outfit tips for the inverted triangle figure.

3. Every wonder WHAT those little icons on the fabric care tag mean? Ms. Teresa breaks it down for you with some bonus advice on when Dry Clean is really Dry Clean!

Get on over and get schooled!

The Budget Fashionista's Annual Shopping Survey....

Is on!

If you have a couple of minutes (I've taken the survey and it doesn't take long), go over and take the survey. She has a link up to the results of last year's survey as well - interesting!

The Budget Fashionista

(My apologies for not being able to give you a direct link to the survey - but it turns out that, now that I've taken it, all I can get is the thank you page!)

Rain, rain go away....

And if that doesn't work for you, at least get a good umbrella!

Blame it on the Rain

(I don't know how the Urban Socialite does it -- she simply finds some of the best designed stuff around!)

I'm becoming a big advocate of good looking accessories -- they can give you just that bit of stylish "pop" you might be needing and they always fit!

And when they're practical as well -- it's a twofer!

Skip over to New York Magazine...

And do a little vicarious shopping as one of their intrepid editors goes on a shopping tour of the new wide jean trend:

The Find: Wide-Leg Jeans

As I've stated here before without hesitation the passing of the skinny jean trend can't go a moment too soon in my book (hopefully to take their homey the bubble skirt with 'em). And it's interesting to see how many different ways a style can be done - and at what price points (316 dollars for a pair of jeans!!!! Wowser! Everything is more expensive in the Big Apple!)!

Ironically one of the two pairs the editor liked the best were "only" $58.00 -- a price that still makes this 60s girl's head spin!

Guess money really isn't everything. Anyway, enjoy!

What I wore today....

The old "go to" outfit!

Everybody has one. The outfit that fits great, feels great and hallelujah, looks great. It's the outfit you wear when, like me, you've got two meetings in one day and you're not sure your up for either of them. At the very least, you can feel great about your game face!

All three pieces are Sears Covington separates.

Wash, tumble dry, wear. Sweet.

A guide to post 50 style....

I'd seen this book (and actually saved it to my Amazon wishlist) some time ago but had forgotten about it. The following article brought it back to the fore:

Boomer Cool

The best thing about this article is the url for Sherrie's website: www.sherriemathieson.com. I hadn't really been sold on her book but one look at the before and after pictures on her site has convinced me that it is worth picking up. I don't know about you but I'm convinced that being able to see what's gone wrong along with how to make it right really helps as you try to figure out how to revise your wardrobe.

Anyway, go on over to the website and take a look. I'll be purchasing a copy at some point and will review it here on the blog. Enjoy!

The fashion commute in old New York!

Because Christmas was so hectic for me, I'm just catching up with some of my mail!

Go over to the New York Magazine and check out their commuter fashion gallery. I love the woman/man on the street fashion pics (which is why I'm such a Sartorialist fan!) because it reminds me that we ALL participate in fashion every time we walk out the door clothed! (Something I think designers often forget in their drive to design for the rich and famous):

Because Our Daily Commute Is a Fashion Show

Be sure to read the comments of each person pictured - their as interesting as what they are wearing! Enjoy!

As you are evaluating your closet....

For the new year, here are 5 items you might want to make sure you stock....

Five items every woman needs

Pay most close attention to the good bra recommendation. I don't know about you, but I was never even fitted for a bra 'till about a year ago when I wandered into Victoria Secret to buy a replacement for a bra I'd purchased there I don't know when ago! When I stumbled over what size I was when asked by the young saleswomen, I was hustled into a dressing room, measured in the blink of an eye and provided with several different styles to try on. I left with two of the best fitting bras I'd ever owned -- and that probably included my training bra!

Victoria's isn't the only ones who will measure you - Lane Bryant and Macy's offer the same service. So if you haven't brought housing for the girls in awhile take a minute and get yourself measured. You'll be amazed at the difference it will make both in look and more importantly in comfort!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

May it be a peaceful and prosperous one for you and yours!