Over 40 Style

For all the weddings, graduations and Easter events coming up, this dress is a perfect backdrop. The fabric (silk) adds formality while the color (no more LBD's during the day---please!) adds an appropriate festive note.

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.

In the movie "Bridesmaids", the main character Annie is the maid-of-honor at her best friend's wedding...unfortunately, Annie just lost her cake business and can't keep up with the other bridesmaids lavish tastes.

The movie is funny, but really gross (is it just my over 40 sensitivities, or does every movie these days have to have a bathroom scene??). Anyway, I liked how the character was made more realistic by having her rotate her work jackets for various events...hey, just like the rest of us!

So, in keeping true to what a 30-something singleton on a budget would buy, these jackets are under $100 (on sale) and the dresses are under $50.

I read somewhere that in order to avoid getting into a fashion rut, one has to be open to styles that they wouldn't have considered before. For me, this would be wearing a white jacket, an article of clothing I normally associate with James Bond or ice cream trucks.

But if they can make my khaki pants look celeb-ready like this, then I'll take two scoops, please!

 

On it's own, this suit can go to work or dinner out. But swapping out the pants with items you may already own (white pants, a navy blue pencil skirt) you can change the look and create two different outfits.