Dressing Your Age when You Are Over Fifty

Age appropriate clothing is quite difficult once you reach your 50's and 60's. For me it's especially difficult since I am only 5' tall and 105 pounds. I could actually shop quite comfortably in the Junior section of clothing stores or even teen. I can wear a Junior 5 or 7 or a teen 16. The problem is the styles are ludicrous for someone my age.

Clothing from head to toe really has to be adjusted once you hit a certain age and want to look well dressed as opposed to foolish. To me there is nothing as unappetizing as seeing a great little outfit on someone with a super figure and then panning up to the face and seeing some wrinkled Grandma.

Let's start at the top and work down. First of all there is hair. Long hair is just too much of a contrast to an older face. So many women get stuck wearing the same hair do they wore when they were in their twenties. I notice even in Hollywood you see some really garish looks. Mia Farrow is wearing her hair long and it looks dreadful. It just ages her. Even if you have really great hair something chin length or shorter is much more attractive.

Hair color: Gray hair can be very attractive if it's a great color gray. If not there are many wash in or permanent colors or rinses to brighten the gray. Color can lighten and brighten your look. Steer clear of black or what we used to call peroxide blonde. They look garish and hard. Older hair gets thinner. Be gentle with your hair. Go easy on the conditioner but use conditioning treatments at least once a week. Try to avoid stiff, over sprayed hair do styles.

Make Up: Less is more. Probably part of the problem is that as we age our eye sight isn't the best and we tend to over do the eyeliner, brows, lipstick etc.Then we over apply. Brows tend to thin. You can use an eyebrow pencil or even brown eye shadow to thicken them up a bit. Do not draw on those surprised or angry looking harsh eyebrows that look like stencils. They do not look real and they are not a good look. I don't recommend tattooing brows on unless you have a really fantastic, talented tattoo artist who you trust above and beyond.. I've seen some real disasters and this is permanent . Keep in mind tattoos do fade so if they are too dark they will lighten up but they are still permanent. If you are getting a little shaky, and again trust your tattoo artist ,you can have permanent eyeliner applied .

Older skin is usually dryer skin so steer towards make up with some oil in it. Cover Girl Olay Makes a fantastic make up meant for older skin, it's called Simply Ageless. It isn't cake-y and doesn't pile up in the creases.Use a good night time moisturizer.

Blush in cream form is a better choice for older skin. Use a light hand when applying this as well.

Lipstick: Your coloring will determine your lipstick color. Some people can wear a bright red or pink and it makes their whole face light up. I put those colors on and I look like my own grandmother. A little gloss works for me. Lips thin as you age and lighter colors make your lips look fuller. Outlining is out. If you are trying to prevent beledinginto wrinkles use a matching lip liner.

Tops: Steer away from t shirts with writing on them. The cute sayings or I'm so and so's grandma are just plain silly. Simple solid color jewel neck or V neck t shirts or shirts are classier. White is always good as is black depending on your coloring again. Pair this with your slacks or jeans and a blazer or sweater and you can be comfortable and looking great.

Speaking of collars and necklines at our age (I'm 65) the decollatage may sound nice in French but it's usually wrinkled and freckled. Not attractive. If you do wear a V neck or open front shirt try putting a nice chunky beaded necklace on to fill the space and take the eye away from the wrinkled skin. Deep V necks with a lot of cleavage showing is just not appealing except perhaps to another old fogie.

Bathing suits: No matter how terrific your body is a two piece is fine in Europe, not so fine here in the USA. One piece or the new two piece that has a long top paired with bikini bottoms looks very attractive. I love the Tankini.

Sweaters: Themed, holiday sweaters are not my taste but they can be pulled out of the closet for the occasion if you really want. Hoody sweatshirts are iffy but if you pair them with matching bottoms they give you a more together look. Again, skip the writing. Avoid cat lady type sweaters, you know themed sweaters with tons of cats or whatever animal the person is fond of knitted into the design.

Dresses: Dresses are a simpler area. Keep the length to the knee or below. Wrap styles, shirt styles, sheath styles all can look great and are basically timeless and ageless. Depending on your arms you can go sleeveless or not. You can always throw a cardigan over your dress or over your shoulders. A nice Pashmina scarf works also.

Skirts: No miniskirts. I don't care how good your legs are it's just age inappropriate. Keep your skirts at least to the knee. Simple pencil skirts are a wardrobe must have. Depending on your body pleats are fine, Something with a little flare and A lines are all classic and look good no matter what the age.

Shoes and boots: You can still wear boots, heels, nice flats or whatever is comfortable. Footwear is pretty much open age wise. I see nothing wrong with flip flops or clogs, sneakers, slides and heels at whatever height you can tolerate. Crocs if they suit you are not an issue.

Pants: Slacks that are nicely tailored and classic are perfect. Jeans can work but certainly not the ripped, bleached, whiskered, faded, torn jeans. A little embellishment is fine but basically you want a nice indigo straight leg boot cut jean. No low rise. Mid rise is fine since it can be very comfortable just make sure your top is long enough to tuck in or over the rise. Many jeans now have stretch in them. This is wonderful. You can wear jeans with a nice white classic t shirt and a blazer or cabled cardigan and look terrific at any age. Yoga pants or a comfortable yoga outfit is also a perfectly nice look no matter what your age. Capris are pretty much ageless, the cargo look not so much.

Accessories: Accessories are terrific for jazzing up an older woman's simpler wardrobe. Bracelets, necklaces, great earrings, scarves, pins all can add bling to your look without making you look like a gypsy. A nice Pashmina or decorative silk scarf go a long way in creating a wonderful look. Scarves can also hide the neck wrinkles. I suggest going easy on the earring length wise. If you have great long fingers chunky rings can look nice. No claw fingernails by the way. Talons are for birds not people.

Evening wear: I think going risque is a no no. Wrinkles and risque are repugnant. Nothing slit up the leg or real low at the neckline.You can have a blast with color instead of cut. Color can be your friend no matter what the outfit. Color depends on your coloring and taste.

You can look age appropriate without looking like someone out of Cocoon. You needn't look like the walking dead , someone the mortician's beauticican just finished with or old Aunt Agnes, If you want a great example of an older woman dressing beautifully check out Barbara Walters on The View. She always looks classy and attractive. Now go through your wardrobe and ditch the childish duds. Weed out the wacky things you've been wearing since you were twenty and pair down to a perfect, impressive well dressed woman.