Fashion for you

Women of a “certain age” often find it difficult, if not impossible, to comply with the dictates of the latest fashion magazines. Most of these periodicals are targeted for a market far younger than the mature woman, and the trends they report clearly show it.

Footwear choices should be practical

Take, for example, the recent obsession with gladiator-inspired women’s shoes. The original version, worn by actual gladiators in ancient Rome, were basic, flat sandals, held on the foot by a minimal number of leather strips. The modern version of this style is still functional and can be worn by many, if not most, women, as long as their feet are healthy enough to tolerate the exposure of the total foot. Older women sometimes choose a gladiator flat because of their promise of comfort over a lengthy period of wear. Whether or not the shoe proves to actually be comfortable depends upon several other factors; e. G., presence of a small heel, placement of the straps on the upper, and flexibility of the foot-bed.  The gladiator-inspired high heel is a totally different animal. These models often sport a 4-inch stiletto heel and a platform ranging anywhere from 1/2 inch to several inches tall. Fall and Winter 2009/2010 magazines and catalogs feature many styles that resemble ankle boots, but with varying widths of numerous straps and peep toes. The costume-like appearance of these shoes all but eliminate older women as buyers, if for no other reason than very few would be able to negotiate a sidewalk or parking lot wearing them.

Bare arms and shoulders?

America’s elegant First Lady, Michelle Obama, has ignited the market for women’s dresses and tops that are sleeveless or strapless. But not all women, even young women, can pull off these styles. Without the strong, straight shoulders and slim arms that Mrs. Obama has, an older woman can look either flabby or bony. A sleeve of some kind — cap, elbow or full — would more often be a better choice than not. As women grow out of their need to be trendy, they are wise to develop a more classic sense of style; one that can endure the test of time. That in no way should prevent each woman from adding her own style statements, those things that become their signatures. The classic, lower-heeled pump, for instance, can be popped with a tastefully patterned opaque hose. The slim, pencil skirt, that ubiquitous foundation of the latest fashion silhouette, could very well have been in the older woman’s closet since the 1960s, when they were also all the rage. Today it can be updated with a longer jacket or a tunic top, still age-appropriate and classic.  Rather than risk looking ridiculous or even clownish by trying to follow current fashion trends, any woman over the age of 40 or 50 is better off going for a simpler, more sophisticated look. Leaving the trends for the trendy young girls, a well-dressed, mature woman will select a hemline that is at or near her knee, the silhouette that is best for her figure, and the accessories that tell us who she really is.

Speaking of Clownish

Finally, there’s makeup. The cosmetic companies have become experts at changing their color palettes every season so that fashion-conscious women are compelled to discard the previous supply and purchase new lipstick and blush. But as we age, older women should not become slaves to the fashion writers or the makeup designers. Pink lipstick, however fashionable, may not flatter the complexion of an aging woman as much as it once did. And too much foundation can accentuate fine lines and wrinkles instead of evening out the complexion. The mirror should be every women’s guide to the latest fashion, whether it is clothing or makeup.