Either way, you must at least be somewhat excited to break up your homebound routine. Fortunately it is summer, a really fun time to dress, both casually and more formally. Also fortunately for us, designers have created really fun clothing for this season where you can really have fun, if so inclined.

The first great style, which you may already own, is bold colors. If you are crazy about jewel tones but are afraid to wear them for fear of standing out, your worries are over. Bold colors from head to toe will garner you glances, but only because you will look so “au courant”. If you love to play with color, this is your summer.

(Some of the clothes in this article are from a wonderful store in Atlanta, Ga, Crosby by Mollie Burch. It was started by 2 students after graduating from the University of Virginia. The store is known for its custom prints, vibrant colors and whimsical designs. You can find these at Crosby By Mollie Burch.)

However, if you prefer softer hues over bolder colors, you will also have a nice selection of styles in every pastel color imaginable.

info@imaxtree.com

Image courtesy of Crosby by Mollie Burch

Some of the pastel colors have been blended with others making for luscious looking styles

Never fear though, this summer is not just about color. Your “go to” blacks and whites remain quite popular. White is such a great summer color. It looks so fresh and clean. Most of us have lots of white, so you might even get away with not having to buy anything. Most of us tend to fall back on black, but if there was ever a summer to get creative, this would be it.

However, if you MUST have white, black, or a neutral don’t be dismayed, there are lots of things for you too. White is such a great crisp and clean summer color, it’s hard not to wear it. And alas, some of us, can’t get away from black, but there is alway something for you as well. If either of these are you, don’t forget to add a splash of color

Image courtesy of Crosby by Mollie Burch

Name a print, any print, and I bet it was on the runway for Summer 2020. Whether it be plaid, polka dot, floral, or boho, they were there along with other originals.

Image courtesy of Crosby by Mollie Burch

Even tie-dye is back in a BIG way.

Dolce and Gabbana used to be the premier designer to relish in the florals. This summer, however, it looks like many designers have gotten on board with these wonderful summer prints. Florals are so happy and heaven knows, we could all use a boost during these times.

Image courtesy of Crosby by Mollie Burch

With such a wide variety of colors, patterns, and fabrics, there is literally something for everyone this summer of 2020. As you venture out carefully in the next summer months, you have a lot of choice. Hopefully this article will give you some inspiration to go through your closet and get creative.

This article has been revised for this website as the original article was  published on The Code of Style.

The post Summer 2020 Trends appeared first on Fashion Over Fifty.

Judy’s dress is perfect for a Mid-March small wedding outside held in San Diego. Up close it almost looks like a brocade.

Judy and I have been the dearest of friends since we were 10. We have a 50 year friendship that has withstood, boyfriends, breakups. marriages, children, and even a divorce. Judy had been divorced for almost 10 years. During that time, I met a couple of boyfriends along the way. But no one is more perfect for Judy than Marvin!!

That’s me on the left. I am wearing black and white polka dot floor length dress by Armani. ( I saw that Zara copied it almost exactly and I wasn’t too happy about that.

What I think is great about a second marriage is that you get a whole new family. For some people that might not be so good, but in this case, I know that both families are going to love each other.

This is Judy with her 2 children, Mallory and Richard

The  following photo is all of the kids and their significant others.  A new baby is expected in April so that will be one more to add to this newly blended family.

These are all great young adults.

And last but not least is the wonderful groom Marvin. Marvin and Judy met in Washington D.C. where they were both living. Marvin was retiring and moved to San Diego.  Judy retired shortly after that and moved to San Diego as well to be with Marvin. How wonderful is that?Two retired adults in San Diego where the weather is pretty nice and there are lots of things to do. They have their whole retirement years to spend traveling and exploring all the things they couldn’t do while they were working so hard.

Wishing Judy and Marvin a lifetime full of adventures and  with love and respect for each other.  It just warms my heart that Judy really did find her soul mate. It goes to show, “it’s never too late”.  Don’t forget that ladies.

The post My Best Friend’s Wedding appeared first on Fashion Over Fifty.

Women over 50 have a unique opportunity to redefine themselves with a modern, updated look; here are a few tips to achieve it.

Go for a natural look

Heavy makeup tends to settle in fine lines and wrinkles, and powder can accentuate the problem. Look for lighter foundations with a dewy finish to replicate a youthful glow. Makeup experts recommend neutral eye palettes—think creams and taupes—for a brighter, more natural look. Go with your favorite lip color, but avoid layering on too much gloss; it can cause your color to bleed into tiny lip lines.

Update your hairstyle

Unfortunately, many women deal with thinning hair and changing hair textures as they age. The hairstyle that worked great with your 30-something hair might fall flat with your mature locks. Talk to your stylist about a stress-free style that frames your face and highlights your best features. This is a great time to play with highlights and lowlights to add the illusion of fullness and movement and soften any unwanted gray.

Dress strategically

All women, especially mature ones, have figure trouble spots they’d like to disguise. For some, it’s a tummy bulge, for others, it’s upper arm flab or varicose veins. Fortunately, professional dress comes in many different styles—if you’re unhappy with your legs, embrace your pantsuit persona. A French tuck with tailored pants or skirts is a stylish way to disguise your tummy. Talk to a stylist at your favorite department store for tips on how to showcase your strengths and camouflage the parts that sabotage your confidence.

Embrace color

Everyone needs a selection of neutral power suits for the boardroom, but you don’t have to settle for a monochrome black or navy ensemble. Express your personality with pops of color—a bright pink blouse, a boldly patterned scarf or even a fabulous pair of red heels. Mature women have earned the right to show their true colors at work, so accent your workwear with your favorite shades.

Build a strong foundation

Nothing wrecks your confidence like a sagging silhouette, so invest in the foundation garments you need to make you feel strong and supported. Lingerie manufacturers got the memo that mature women want beautiful, functional undergarments; there are more choices than ever in support bras and shapewear. Get properly fitted at a department store before you start shopping—your bra size can change as you hit your 50s.

Play with accessories

Accessories make your wardrobe work harder. You can get multiple looks out of a basic sheath dress just by switching up your accessories. Build a collection of colored belts, textured bags, and statement jewelry pieces you can mix and match to transform your outfits. Do remember Coco Chanel’s words of wisdom, however: Check yourself in the mirror before you leave home and remove one thing. It’s all too easy to go from chic to cluttered.

Women in their fifties are free to break a few ironclad fashion rules that apply to younger ladies working their way up the corporate ladder. So go ahead and highlight your best features, show your personality, and embrace your feminine side with eye-catching colors and accessories. You’ll have boardroom success when you look and feel your best

Special thanks to guest writer Danielle K Roberts

Danielle K Roberts is the co-founder of Boomer Benefits who writes regularly for and is cited by many online publications, including Forbes, where she is a member of the Finance Council. A TCU journalism graduate and former magazine editor, she enjoys sharing her knowledge online.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoomerBenefits/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/boomerbenefits
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellekunkle/

The post How Women Over Fifty Can Dress for Success in the Boardroom appeared first on Fashion Over Fifty.

Creator/Director/Producer Victoria Marie is on the right in the stunning red dress. My friend and Fashion Over Fifty model on the left is Irene Bosma Smallwood. Irene was the Brand Ambassador for the Film.

The film was produced, directed, and almost everything else, by Victoria Marie along with her significant other, Dave Nelson. It took them over 5 years to get this picture made with a budget of $0. So, many kudos go out to both of them for their persistence, and professionalism.The film has already won 3 Awards and I won’t be surprised if it wins even more.

To the left is photographer and assistant everything to Victoria Marie, David Nelson. To the right is Victoria Marie answering audience questions following the film.

The documentary shares touching stories of each woman’s journey to “GRAY” .  A first step in the process is obviously  deciding to go gray. This may seem like an easy decision but  today there still remain stigmas associated with  “gray”. In general, society, including friends and husbands, associate gray hair with being old, or dowdy, or giving up on oneself. Many women were discouraged from doing it once they had decided. So going gray today is still a very brave move.

The excitement among the women was palpable. No one really knows how much rumination and bravery it takes to “ditch the dye except these ladies. These women were here to tell their stories and let “society” know that just because the dye is ditched, they are still as sensual, sexual, sexy, and vibrant, as they were before they still dyed their hair. Most of these women are probably even sexier. .Looking at the women on the red carpet, I can tell you these women do NOT look old or outdated in any way.

This is Gay being interviewed on the red carpet. Gay is one of the women interviewed in the film “Gray is the New Blonde

In fact, the gray, white, or silver hair brightened up each woman’s entire look. These women were like shining stars. Which brings back the issue of bravery in making the decision to ditch the dye. People are going to notice the gray hair, and everyone is going to have an opinion. Don’t they always? Going gray is not for the faint of heart for sure!!

This is another gorgeous woman who has embraced her gray. She is simply stunning.

Once deciding to go gray many women received negative comments from their husbands, family, and of course, people they didn’t even know. On the other hand, once women  let their hair go entirely gray, they received so many complements, people were even stopping them on the street.

Another stunning woman in attendance at the Premier of “Gray is the New Blonde”

We are definitely in the midst of a cultural revolution. Ditching the dye is going to become more prevalent the more other women see how beautiful these trailblazing women look and feel. However, the revolution is not just about gray hair.  It is about the outdated societal views that women over fifty, or perhaps younger, are no longer as vital, sexy, or relevant. To use the term, it is still believed that after a certain age women are “over the hill”. This is called Ageism. As I have been writing on this blog for more than 6 years, I have pointed out that women are many times more vital and creative once they no longer care what society thinks of them and when they are free to be themselves.

The film beautifully depicts not only how hard it is  to make the decision, but how hard it is to transition from dye to no dye. Every one has a story worth watching in this great film.  In the end, however, there is one thing that is universal among all of the women.  Once they have embraced their natural hair and beauty, there is a huge sense of freedom. Freedom from worrying about when to get touch ups, worrying about what society will think of them, and a host of other things

You can see below how thrilled each woman was not just to be there and hear the stories in the movie, but to meet each other. There is a great bond that occurs between women who take this similar journey together. The evening was a celebration.  A celebration among all of these women who bucked what other people think, and took a difficult journey in to the unknown. The women there were celebrating the end of the journey and how beautiful each of them feel and look for having done it. The real lesson in all of this is that women who go through this process emerging with a feeling of  freedom to be and love themselves even more. You can’t write a story better than that.

These were some of the women who you can see are just thrilled to be there not just to see the movie, but to meet each other.

The excitement was not only palpable before the movie, it was even more fun to watch these lovely ladies bond. They all had one thing in common, and the movie was soon going to acknowledge their courage, persistence and ultimate victory.

The post The documentary, “Gray is the New Blonde” Inspires Women to Find Freedom in Being Themselves appeared first on Fashion Over Fifty.

If you are not someone who goes for the glitz, you can do subtle with a flair.  This skirt is gold lame and the  belt is also gold. You can’t really tell in the photo, but the heart shaped neckline and pearls, this would be great if you are going out to dinner and a nice place.

If you want to spice it up a little bit, you can add some statement earrings with a splashier gold jacket and a vintage gold purse.  This is more for a fancier restaurant where you know that everyone will be dressed up!

If you want to go dramatic, you can choose a gold lame full length coat like I did here. This coat is truly a statement maker and will garner many compliments.  You have to be prepared to be the center of attention in this one.

For a really fun and festive look, you can choose a dress, or pantsuit or even jumpsuit, that is all black sequins. You can’t go wrong and you will still be the object of many complements.

Whatever you wore, I hope you had a nice New Year’s Eve, and I wish you all a very Happy New Year!!

The post Happy New Year!!! Oh What to Wear on New Year’s Eve in 2020!! appeared first on Fashion Over Fifty.

The rooms are so spacious and luxurious. We had a suite that was as pretty as any hotel I have ever stayed. The decor was so tasteful and the huge bed was not surprisingly, very comfortable.

Little did I know how fortunate I was to be there on Black Friday!!  It is so close to one of the most popular Malls in the U.S., South Coast Plaza. Fortunately, the hotel provided a bus that took us to the Mall, so we didn’t have to worry about parking. If you had seen how crazy it was there by noon, you would know what a special treat it was not to have to worry about the crowded parking lot and finding my car. (I have been known to lose my car in parking lots before!).

We even had a bus driver who looked like he was straight off of a Hollywood movie set.

You can see that my Black Friday shopping trip at South Coast Plaza was successful.  Now I can’t wait to give out the presents!

Once we got back from shopping, I had a chance to really look around the resort. There were restaurants, a small grocery store, and even a pizza parlor!  We had lunch at a casual restaurant called Pete’s Sunset Grill and the food was great.

Of course there was a spectacular pool and jacuzzi,  Though it was a bit too cool to go swimming, I still took time to relax by the pool.

This time of year is so exciting with all of the Seasons Greetings and festivities everywhere. The decorations at the Hyatt Regency were gorgeous. These fabulous decorations only added to the excitement and the wonderful time that I had while staying there.

Thanks again to the Hyatt Regency in Huntington  Beach.  I had the best time I could have imagined.  Everything was beautiful, first class, and amazing.  I will never forget this weekend. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and the very best in the New Year. I can’t thank you enough.

The post The Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach California, Much More than a Hotel!! My Staycation. appeared first on Fashion Over Fifty.

Smita has always loved fashion growing up in India. She and her mom loved styles from the US and Europe. They would buy material and take it to a tailor and make clothing in the “Western” style, rather than the traditional Indian. Since I have known her she is always the most stylish in the room, so she isn’t giving up anytime soon

Since winning the contest, Smita has either choreographed or produced fashion shows for a major designer or for charitable causes. She recently organized a show in Temecula, Ca., for a charity called “Women Organizing Women”

Her latest and perhaps greatest accomplishment has been  establishing the “LA India Fashion Week” (along with her husband, Dr. Kishore Vasant). Designers from India are able to feature their clothing in a very sophisticated runway show, thanks to Smita.  This helps the designers to promote their fashions to a large audience where the general public is also invited for free. It is a dream come true for Smita to showcase emerging Indian designers and brands to help them market themselves and be more accessible

In October I had the chance to the attend the LA India Fashion Week. The entire event was very professional. The designers had beautiful fashions and the fashion show, produced by Smita, was Over The Top.  Congratulations Smita!!

The post Former “Mrs. Asia USA”, Smita Vasant, is sharing her love of fashion with the world. appeared first on Fashion Over Fifty.

The designer/creator of Alice and Olivia is Stacy Bendet. I happen to love her style because she LOVES color and she has fun with fashion. She is on the right and Paris Jackson is on the left

Rarely do I go to parties where there are people who are well known. But, I did happen to get a shot of Kaitlyn Jenner who arrived with another beautiful woman.

And guess what?  For a while I thought I was the oldest person there.Though  this lovely lady seems a bit older, she loves to have a good time. I did too watching the styles of the young women.  I may steal some of them for us Over Fifty woman.

The post “Alice and Olivia” collaborates with “Friends With You” for a capsule collection and a fun party appeared first on Fashion Over Fifty.

It’s looking like more and more designers are finally including models Over Fifty.  Now we just need to see more of them. (I love it that this model is wearing something edgy, it helps break down the stereotypes such as “grandma” and the like.

The post New Mature Models Emerge from Fashion Month, Spring/Summer 2020 appeared first on Fashion Over Fifty.

Christian is not afraid to make his curvier models look sexy, either. What a break in the social norm, that curvier women can be alluring. The dress below does not camouflage the curves, but rather accentuates the fuller hips, which is just lovely

Christian also gives a platform for the dressier “curvy” woman.  Christian is not afraid to break the rules.  In fact, for Christian, there are no rules.  He does what he wants, which is usually right on target. Like this shimmery green dress below.  This dress is Sizelessly chic and possibly Ageless depending on the woman.

Finally,  in this latest show for Spring/Summer 2020, Christian featured the well known model, Maye Musk. Other designers who have used Over Fifty models, usually dress them in something frumpy and not relatable to women Over Fifty at all. Somehow most designers have this image of their grandmother when they think of a woman with gray hair. But not Christian.  In the photo below, you can see how elegant Maye looks in this class evening slacks suit. Even the belt he uses is Chic and not dowdy

All I have to say is “Thank you” to Christian for breaking the archaic rules that governed how a woman Over Fifty should dress. In fact, thanks for not only breaking the rules but for tossing them out for all women. Fashion should be fun, and it should be for everyone!!

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