Over 40 Style

Color blocking---combining big blocks of strong color together---has been big for the past two seasons. I've been wary of this trend; it seemed too gimmicky, and judging from all the color block sweaters still on the sale rack, I don't think it's been widely accepted. (I know, I know, call me a fashion sheep, but I need clothes I can wear every day!)

With some slight adjustments, I'm starting to see bold color becoming incorporated into mainstream fashion. The colors are still bold, but instead of combining them into one garment, the idea now is to buy separates, then combine them into an outfit. Diffuse the trend even more by sticking to colors in the same color family (red and pink, light blue with electric blue) and choosing simple silhouettes like tees or skirts.

Just add water!

Rachel McAdams plays a pampered American visiting Paris (and going antiques shopping) with her fiance, Owen Wilson. The outfit works as a costume for this character because it looks like it was made up of pieces that you pack when you travel: the white tunic/tee, belt and jacket you could wear to dinner or during the day to dress up jeans.

I keep finding these bargains online, and can't resist posting about it. It's not really the focus of this blog, but anything that can help us stretch our wardrobe budgets a little further is fine with me!

One other thing, if you order these pants online, and use the code ONSECRET25 before June 28th, you'll get an extra 25% off, making these cropped pants less than $10.00 before shipping.

One of the reasons I think many women stop "following" fashion is the expectation that it is to be taken literally. My interpretation is decidedly more inspirational.

Take this picture. I love this outfit! Which is not to say that I would, or could, ever wear anything like it. But I can still look at it and appreciate how all the elements fit together, how the color combination is really creative, and what proportions work.

So from that, here's a layout of some pieces to consider, or at least, to realize how even so-called high fashion quickly makes it to the rest of us.

I like the idea of snakeskin prints as an alternative to the usual feline: tiger, cougar and leopard prints. It's newer, and for anyone over 40, it's a little less obvious than the cougar-wearing-cougar connection that some smartass will inevitably bring up. :-)

Anyway, speaking of cougars...here's Courtney Cox, star of "Cougartown" and a cougar by anyone's standards wearing a Lanvin snakeprint dress. I couldn't believe I found a retailer still selling the same dress, but I've posted it here in case there is a size 12 out there who is going to a premiere. The next dress, from Topshop is not a look for less, but it has that forgiving trapeze shape, and a snakeskin print for about a thousand dollars less.

It must be true that the arms are the last to go, because after months (ok, six weeks) of dieting to get ready for summer my shoulders are the only things ready to be shown. Hence my love for halter tops.

(Silly tip that I got from movies geared to teenage boys: if you do push ups before going out, your arms actually do look better, at least for awhile.)