I'm actually over 60 and I'm finding it harder and harder to get dressed everyday. Once I reached 60, things started to change drastically...overnight. And unlike the weight gain during pregnancy, this is something I can't exercise my way out of. Few of my go-to outfits fit anymore. Blouses don't button over the breasts that I had during that last pregnancy and I don't think I can get away with saying there's a baby in there this time. Combine this with all the other shrinking and expansion that's going on in my body and the overall effect is...that woman sitting on the bench.
With age comes wisdom and I've migrated into a somewhat unexciting but stable wardrobe direction. First of all, I dress minimally. I only wear a few neutral colors - black, white, gray and tan...and only solids of these colors. The only print I wear is an animal print or a maybe a subtle paisley in a scarf. Wearing these solid neutral colors
seems boring to many, however, I think they are classic and always look good when mixed and matched or worn color on color. Dressing like this
also eliminates that Twilight Zone intro thing that went on in my head as I tried to put another outfit together. Everything goes with everything in
this case. It's almost foolproof dressing. Check out this Pinterest page for endless neutral inspiration. Every look is wearable as they are or with minor substitutions or modifications depending on how trendy one is. Also, I wear jewelry every day. I don't wear as much as I used to wear, but I never leave the house without earrings, at least one bangle bracelet, a ring and a good watch.
I think the following suggestions are all good investments that will stand the test of time and not make you look like Uncle Tonoose as you age. Most of the items are designer labels but I'm not showing most because you can find these looks just about anywhere and for considerably less money than couture. Shop Nordstrom's, Macy's, Bloomingdale's and online. When shopping online, be sure to create an account in the places where you find items you like. They will send you more offers than you know what to do with. And always checkout sites like RetailMeNot where you will find coupons for a percentage off or at least free shipping.
Get a few turtlenecks (black, camel, gray - a little longer in the back
if you can find them) but don't wear them exclusively or you will look like
Kathryn Hepburn, who didn't wear anything else because she never got a neck
lift. Look for cardigan or boat neck sweaters (post neck lift) and wear with pants in the same color scheme for an elongated and sophisticated look.
A sedate neutral pallet.
A hipper look shown with the coat closed and worn with booties. This coat would also look great worn open and with flats instead of boots.
Ferragamo Riding Boots - worth the investment at full price but you can find last year's version on sale.
Celine Bag. Expensive but too gorgeous not to own.
Louboutin Black Pumps. This height is very manageable - even for the over 60 set with the bunions and weird feet issues. Well, maybe not the bunion people.
Good white shirt.
Great black pants. These are St. John Emma Modern Tropical Wool Crop pants. They are worth it because they fit like no other pants in the world. In this image row, the bag, the heels, the blouse and these pants make the perfect outfit.
You can never go wrong with your animal print thing being a scarf. Just be sure to only wear one animal at a time.
Another reason to have a leopard coat - it guards the bag.
This is what we call a "Glamour Don't"...what was she thinking ;0)
Short leather jacket or blazer.
A few long scarves - silk or pashmina will do. Watch this handy video
from Nordstrom on how to tie a scarf and allow this
to be the color you add to your wardrobe.
Diamond stud earrings. Buy the biggest you can afford. Hang on to your receipt because most jewelry stores allow you to trade up in size.
Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Bone Cuff in sterling silver. Most don't realize this cuff is made for the right wrist and also for the left wrist. Be sure to get the right one or it will hurt like hell.
And last but not least - The Little Black Dress. There are so many to choose from you should have a few!
If you are like many people in America right now, you have been sucked into the Downton Abbey" vortex on Sunday nights. My Sunday night television obsession has gone from the depths of the Real Housewives of Wherever to the current highbrow Downton Abbey, and directly following, "Sherlock". Now I feel very intelligent when I watch TV on Sunday night instead of the goober I used to feel like when I watched the housewives.
But PBS has recently come under fire for selling a collection of jewelry based on Downton Abbey on their website. They are under fire not because as some have said, the collection is tacky, but because they did it without informing the shows creator. See for yourself...
A replica of a cameo from the show. Cameos were very popular in the early 20th century. Typically carved in shell, cameos were also carved in gemstones like agate, onyx and sardonyx.
Pearls were often used in jewelry during the Victorian and Edwardian age. They were small and natural, (unlike these Downton Abbey replicas which are faux).
Downton Abbey's Crawley women.
This is what women looked like before Gloria Steinem, masters degrees, the gym, wine and Starbucks.
The girls and their pearls. Here are the ladies and some of their PBS knock-offs.
Some felt the tea set (shown in the bottom right corner) was particularly heinous.
So really, what is all the fuss about? Did Willow or Patrick at PBS get a little too aggressive when brainstorming beg-a-thon ideas? PBS stuck their neck out in an effort to raise funds and with all the cutbacks in contributions, if they don't stay on their toes, they will go dark...and that would be bad.
It's a shame PBS had to pull the jewelry off their website. Had they collaborated with the shows creator from the beginning, together they could have spawned a new trend in clothing and jewelry. Yes people, women now want the clothes too - especially the blouses.
Over the years of working in a fine jewelry department, I've learned that women have to justify why they might treat themselves to a piece of jewelry, even those who make a ton of dough. Many women buy their own jewelry these days, but the reasons they buy haven't changed much since our mother's generation, when baubles were purchased by their husbands or lovers for mundane and mysterious reasons.
Our Mother's Generation.....
It’s Your Birthday! It’s Our Anniversary! Sex Other Than Missionary Position
Our Generation…..
It’s My Birthday! It’s My Anniversary! I’ve Had a Shitty Week (don't even think about having sex) and This Will Make Me Feel Better - NOTE: Most Popular Reason.
Having assisted many women at my counter over the last 20 years, I learned a lot about why we adorn ourselves. We started by wearing rocks around our necks and bones in our hair. What did this say about us? Let’s look at how jewelry has evolved over time:
Stone Ages: 8000-5000BC....Note Wilma's excellent example of rock jewelry.
Early Egyptian Age: 3000 - 500 BC...This should look familiar? I really hate to see myself coming and going every 5000 years....see 1990's bracelet below.
Middle Ages: 5th-15th Centuries.......Your crown is gorgeous - No your crown is the most beautiful - No your is - No yours is.
Renaissance: 15th-16th Centuries....Many layers of jewelry and clothes made it really difficult to pee at those summer festivals.
Early Modern Ages: 1600-1800.....Hair Lockets - This was just a gross. Was hair really all they had around?
Industrial Revolution: 1800-1900....Cameos were huge in popularity, but small enough to attach to your bazooms.
Art Deco: 1900-1945.....Now we're talking....beautiful in every way.
1940's: Cocktail Rings......This was inspired by the Mommy Dearest collection...big enough to balance out those shoulder pads.
1950's......Bakelite Bangles -Always sounded like cookware to me but worth $$$ today!
1960's: Elsa Peretti Bean Necklace. My sister and I owned this piece. I wish I knew where it was today.
1970's: Lucite Jewelry...be careful you'll knock your eye out with this Skeletor limited edition.
1980's: Diamond Tennis Bracelets. Everyone had to have one. Do not fall for ads that offer 5 carats for $99. You are buying frozen spit.
1990's and on...David Yurman. Although he started his business in the early 80's, Mr. Yurman became uber popular in the 90's and beyond, establishing the trend of designer and lifestyle aspirational jewelry. However, see early Egyptian era for original design inspiration. Lesson: It's OK to be a jewelry hoarder because what's old will be new again.
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