Over 40 Style

Parties in general, and holiday parties in particular, have a way of making me feel excited and anxious at the same time.  Excited because parties are an opportunity to become a brighter, more glamorous person, and anxious because I'm not sure a brighter and more glamorous me is what results when I buy a new dress.

Am I trying too hard, or do I look like I'm wearing what I wore to work that day, albeit with the ridiculous addition of chandelier earrings and strappy sandals? 

Part of the problem may be that when it comes to evening events, I always feel I have to buy a new dress...and since I can't justify spending a lot of money on something I'll only wear once or twice, I tend to buy what I can afford, instead of what I truly like.

This is why I am so drawn to this dress by DKNY.  It works on a lot of different levels.  Figure flattering?  Appropriately festive?  Can go with things I already own?  Check, check and check!   So it may be a lot more expensive than a usually spend on a dress.  But after years of buying cheap frocks that I can't even relegate to the consignment store, it may be time to rethink holiday dressing.

These days, shopping for value is more important than ever.  Each item in our closet not only has to be multi-seasonal, it has to be multi-functional as well, able to go from a weekend outfit to work. 

To avoid shopping boredom, buy trendy pieces at lower prices while keeping an eye out for classic items that you can wear with them. 

Cashmere sweaters are timeless, and give a luxury feel to any outfit.  They go just as well with jeans as a tweed skirt.  In the sweaters listed here, a different shape, or a new shade updates a classic. 

Anyone who has watched makeover shows, where some poor, hapless woman gets humiliated by her "friends" into a new look, knows the drill by now:  wear bootcut jeans in a mid-rise, in a dark rinse. 

This is sound advice.  I wasn't really considering wearing acid bleach jeans (not this time around, anyway) or whiskered detailing in the crotch area (why?  why?) but repeating boot cut jeans like a mantra when I went shopping helped steer me away from other, possible disasters.

But now, my jeans wardrobe is beginning to look a little Groundhog Day-ish.  Different day, different jeans...same look.  So, to break out of this, I'm considering other possibilities.  Nothing too out there, but just some minor adjustments in cut, color or length.

When did working out get so complicated?  Back in the days when it was still called "gym class" a simple tee and a pair of ratty shorts were all we needed to run around a track.

Now, deciding what to wear becomes more complicated, especially when it's a social event and not just a way to exercise.  "Let's go for a hike" or "Do you golf?" when asked by someone we want to impress requires a resounding Yes!   Here's to looking the part...

Black pants are on nearly every fashion stylist's "Top Ten" list, and most women would agree.   But there are so many choices out there, that when one brand creates a pair that is flattering to most women, it reaches nearly cult status.

The Max C pant by Theory is one such pair.  I recently read that it has been a top seller at Bloomindale's since 2003! 

When looking for pants that may work for you, consider a wool/Lycra blend in a boot cut just like the Max C, and the options listed here.