By the time we hit 50, most of us could benefit from a wardrobe reevaluation.
Our bodies, faces and lifestyles have changed over the decades. However, our fashion choices haven't always kept up.
But do we need hard-core rules? Actress Ellen Barkin famously declared in
O, The Oprah Magazine that women over 50 should never wear blue jeans to dinner. I (and my 7 For All Mankind jeans) beg to differ.
Forget the rules! We just need a few guidelines to great style and answers to questions about how to get it.
Below is a master list of go-to pieces for women who want to fight
the frump and look smart, energetic, youthful and appropriate. You can
wear these basics to work, out to dinner and anywhere else:
1. Dark denim, mid-rise, boot-cut jeans
The boot-cut hem leaves room for booties (a footwear option for almost every occasion).
TIP: Keep length about 1/8-inch off the floor (depending on
the shoe), and make sure the jeans fit well (with a little stretch) in
butt and hips. Take the waist in, if necessary.
2. Dark denim, mid-rise, straight-leg jeans
Skip the tight skinny jeans (unflattering on most of us), and get
these in dark blue, with no fading or whiskering. Pair with flat ballet
slippers, moccasins, loafers or kitten heels, and tuck them into tall
boots in cooler weather.
TIP: Straight-leg jeans go perfectly with longer jackets or
tunic tops. Check out options from Uniqlo, 7 For All Mankind, J Brand,
Levi's or Not Your Daughter's Jeans, in prices from about $40 to $200.
3. White jeans (boot-cut or straight-leg)
In warmer weather, wear with wedge sandals and tunic tops
or a crisp navy jacket and white tank. When it gets cooler, pair with
brown or black boots and a sweater or jacket, and a pretty scarf.
TIP: Be sure to wear underwear that matches your skin color with any white pant.
4. Great-fitting pants
Look for a lightweight wool blend (wool/Lycra is best) in black,
charcoal or navy. The cut of the pants is crucial and the length must be
exact. Take your shoes to the store (and to the tailor, if necessary)
to get a perfect fit.
TIP: Wear with a silky blouse, a T-shirt or a tank with a
cardigan or jacket. Look for pants made by Theory, Tahari, Joseph,
Banana Republic, J. Crew or Ann Taylor in prices starting at about $60.
5. Black fitted jacket
Short and snug (not tight) jackets that hit at the hips are a great
look. Black is most versatile, but consider navy and cream, too. Wear it
with jeans, skirts, dresses, pants — everything.
TIP: Wear tanks, T's and jewel-colored blouses underneath,
and check out some of the longer, less-fitted options to wear with
skinny jeans. Some to try are from Theory, Tahari, Ann Taylor, DKNY,
Chico's and Target, in prices starting at about $50.
