Over 50 Style: Helen Mirren

   In my last post, I expressed dismay that out of Harper Bazaar's 100 Women of Style list, only 9 of the women noted were over 50! Surely there are more stylish women over 50?! I immediately thought of several whose absence from the list was surely a glaring oversight on someone's part. Heads should roll!
   The first woman of style missing from the list: Helen Mirren.
   Why she should be on the list: She has style in every inch of her body. Her style speaks through clothing choices, her posture and attitude, her hairstyles and makeup choices. There were a few under-thirties on that list who could learn a lot about style from Helen Mirren!

 Above and below, I love her choice of formal wear.  The dresses are always beautiful on her and they are truly what I call "starlike", that is, they are beautifully cut and adorned with lovely embellishments.  When she goes to awards shows, she is just flat out glamorous and sexy while still being classic. I would love to own the black dress below.

 Love the earrings with this outfit. 

 Below, I love that Helen Mirren shops at CVS!  I also like this "everyday" look she's wearing for running errands.  That top is divine!

 Below, another look at that gorgeous dress. 

 Love the hair! And Helen Mirren is so good about choosing colors that look fantastic on her. Knowing what works on you is such a huge part of having style!

 Below, this bright blue is beautiful and looks great with the color of Helen's hair.  I love the whimsical lizard pin that she is wearing. 

 Below, another of the wonderfully embellished dresses that Mirren favors.  The earrings are perfect.

 Above, striking a pose in red. Look at the wonderful decorative belt she is wearing.
 Below, two wonderful head shots with two different attitudes. Both are stunning!

   So, who over 50 would you add to Harper's Bazaar's list of stylish women? Do you agree with me about Helen Mirren?

Best Dressed? Sorry Elle, Not If You're Over 50!

I adore fashion magazines. Always have, probably always will, although I no longer pore over them endlessly the way that I did in the 1970's when I had no money at all to buy clothes or accessories or even the way I thumbed through them over and over in the 1980's when I lived in a too-small town for the clothes I really would have liked to wear.

But now that I am, ahem, over 50, (really I'm over 60), I am constantly amazed at what is considered to be "well-dressed."

I really got tickled when I was looking at my Elle magazine and saw this best dressed list that follows. 

Needless to say, I vehemently disagree, but especially if you are over 50, you need to avoid these looks like the plague.

As usual, I will tell you exactly what is wrong with each one!

Above, okay, Dakota Fanning is cute and this is a really young look.  I don't find it becoming to her though for several reasons. 

1.  Look at where the skirt stops at a most unbecoming place on her legs causing them to look stumpy instead of curvy. 
2. Then the dress looks particularly shapeless; even though it seems to have a drawstring, it hangs completely straight.  
3. This color does nothing for her either. The shoes are okay, but I don't find them flattering either. 

If you are over 50, this look is the kiss of death.  Why?  

• Are your arms completely muscular and toned?  With this sleeveless dress they will need to be.  
• If you are over 50, this length will look "old-lady" on you unless it happens to be your "g-spot" length (what I call the skirt length that hits at the most flattering place on your legs).

Only if you are a bit curvy and you pull that drawstring to show off your waist will this look the least bit okay on you. 

Gwen Stefani made Elle's best dressed also.  You won't if you are over 50 (personally I don't see how Gwen made it either).

1. If you are over 50 avoid wearing a jacket that:

• has too many zippers
• has too many additional details such as the large flaps near the hem
• is super bright neon orange

You may be able to get away with one of these, but all 3, forget it!

1. The boyfriend jeans with their loose fit will look like "mom" jeans, dowdy and unbecoming because they will likely add an extra 5 to 10 pounds to your lower half.
2. Don't wear t-shirts with lettering unless you are playing a team sport or coaching one.

 Above, there is so much wrong with this I hardly know where to begin. 

1. Remember Ralph on Green Acres? Then you are too old to ever wear over-alls unless you are repairing something.
2. Stripes are good; spaghetti straps and cut-out sleeveless tops are not.
3. Leather baseball cap? Just say no.
4. They may look cute on Miley, but if you're over 50, be careful about wearing gold shoes with casual wear.

Alessandro Ambrossio got it right.   Everything works here.  
If you're over 50? 
   Easy.  
Let the hem down, and unless you are extremely graceful and have never taken a fall in your life, get shorter heels. Otherwise, perfection. 
   Oh, but avoid the long single braid.

The Difference Between Being Older and Looking Old

 Yes, I am a femme d'une certain age, as the French put it so wonderfully. That is, at age 62, I am an older woman.  However, I don't think that I have to look "old" when looking old means looking dowdy, frumpy, or tacky as so many people seem to think.
Many of you may be familiar with the work of Ari Seth Cohen, a photographer based in New York who is known for capturing vibrant and beautiful older people going about their daily routines on the streets of that city.  I've chosen a few of his photos of especially attractive older women who look wonderful, and whose look, I believe, is within the reach of anyone.
One of the things that you will notice that all these women seem to have in common is that they take care of themselves; it shows through even in the photos of those who are dressed casually, so this is not about expensive clothing.
You will also notice that they are not overweight, probably one of the elements that can age us more than anything!
You will also notice that they are all wearing lipstick whether they wear other makeup or not!
Photo, above, yes, she's dressed up, so elegant. Not a ton of jewelry or make-up although she is wearing make-up.

 I love the photo above.  Although not my style, I love the way this outfit is put together. It's vibrant and colorful, but it looks youthful and definitely not like those big-flowered "old lady" prints.
Below, being thin is better. Love her grey hair and that turban although this is a bit much for where I live.

 She is wearing denim, yes, denim, and it looks really good.  Multiple rings and the statement necklace work here (but no earrings).  Those sunglasses add a unique, personal touch. Personally, I hate tattoos, but it seems to work for her.

 Below, I love this lady in her casual outfit.  Her hair is great, not teased, not sprayed, just airy and natural looking.  Her camo jacket works for her over her leggings. And yes, when you are this small, you can get away with wearing leggings even if you have grey hair! Notice though that the boots go with the camo so this looks deliberate, not like an afterthought.

 Her skin is beautiful, her grey hair is beautiful, again, natural looking, not teased and sprayed.

 Below, I love how her lipstick, sweater, and gloves all match.  Natural grey hair pulled back.

 Above, this outfit looks so comfortable! She is wearing fashionable glasses (not little old lady wires), and her handbag is gorgeous.
Below, here she is again. Comfy clothes that don't look sloppy because everything is pulled together (notice how the lining of her jacket is the same color as her pants?) Lipstick! Her shoes are very up-to-date and a great color!

 Below, this is perhaps my favorite photo.  I love her complexion, her eye make-up, her lipstick, the way her hair is pulled back. She is perfect! Those earrings add individuality.

This woman below is old. She looks old.  Her hair is teased and probably stiff; her glasses age her and her rouge looks as though it almost goes down to her chin line. She is not wearing lipstick. Her jewelry looks as though it is plastic.   She has probably worn her hair like that since she was in her teens.

Change her glasses, her jewelry, blow-out her hair, and give her lipstick and she could stand her own with the women above. 

 Below - old lady or teenager. If your grand-kids give you this, wear it only around them.

 Below, frumpy (although she's not really old). Her pants are too big, her sweater is too big, and nothing works with anything else. What she is wearing makes her hips look huge!

The thing I also loAnd that's half of really looking good!ve about my elegant older ladies though is that they all seem to know that they look good.