Choosing Your Style in Your 40’s
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Fashion advice for the fortysomething is somewhat limited. You can read interviews with 40-year-old celebrities but these don’t filter through into the real world. Cameron Diaz stating in Harper’s Bazaar that she’ll no longer where a tube top now she’s 40 isn’t really going to relate to the average 40-year-old woman. Most of us will have stopped wearing those when we went on our last girl’s holiday in our 20’s.
So, when glamorous women make these kinds of statements, it does little for our confidence as a 40-year-old woman who’s desperately searching for help as to what they should and shouldn’t be wearing. However, all is not lost, as there is some real advice out there. Yes, things are changing and wrinkles are starting to appear but we’re not over the hill yet and there are a number of things we can do to preserve our youth whilst still looking eloquently polished in our appearances.
Upgrade Your Wardrobe
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In order to look and feel good, it’s time to upgrade your wardrobe when you hit 40, changing out a few staple pieces to replace them with other more age-appropriate ones. And no, you’re not going to have to remove your stilettos for those comfy trainers just yet! Instead, your shoes are still going to be statement pieces. Showing off your ankles with a fun shoe is still OK and will be where you add an instant trendy look to your outfit.
When it comes to your hair, looking like you just got out of bed and that you’ve been washing it in bleach is a no-no. Conditioned, luscious locks are the way forward. Try not to over trim your hair and definitely don’t go for a bob, this could add 10 years onto you, at least.
Things to Look Out For
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People tell you to watch out for your arms – bingo wings as they may be called – but unfortunately, it’s your knees that you need to keep a close eye on. These can start to give away your age long before anything else does (look at Kate Moss, for example). So, always bear this in mind when you’re getting dressed, covering up your knees with tights if you’re wearing a skirt above the knee.
People may say that black shouldn’t be worn when you’re an older woman because it can drain your skin and make you look older. But whilst this is true for matt blacks, it isn’t the case for lush blacks, e.g. velvets and glossy satins. However, to make this look work, you will need to add some glamorous touches with diamond earrings and red lipstick. Vampy and elegant!
Some Wardrobe Staples You Can Keep
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You needn’t worry that you’re going to have to throw every singrel=”nofollow” le item in your wardrobe away because there are plenty that you can keep and wear for many years to come. Flip-flops and espadrilles are perfectly fine, so long as your feet are elegantly pedicured and clean.
Denim jeans are another must-have in your wardrobe and are something you’ll no doubt feel and look good in. You can opt for the latest trends with these, and will feel instantly flattered by the designs that help to keep those wobbly bits at bay!
A Few Simple Rules to Look Fabulous in Your 40’s
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One of the main things to remember when you’re buying new clothes or getting dressed to go out is to dress to your age and body, not to the one you wish you had. As much as you wistfully remember the days when you fit into a pair of size 6 jeans, if you can’t do it now then don’t even try. Squeezing yourself into clothes that are too tight or don’t suit your body shape now will make you look your age instantly. By dressing to your age and your body shape, you can create contours and lines that make you elegant and beautiful.
It’s probably a little cliché but as you get older you’ll want to invest in high-quality shoes and clothes from places like madisonlosangeles.com. Gone are the days when you can tolerate blisters on every toe and by investing in better quality, you’re going to get a better fit, which, in turn, will flatter you more.
To look and feel good you need to feel comfortable in what you’re wearing. If you want to wear something and decide it doesn’t look good, don’t feel downhearted. Those fortysomethings in Vogue that are wearing figure-hugging dresses probably haven’t eaten in the last decade…and they’ve probably been airbrushed within an inch of their life too!
Abbie Wood has plans to become a fashion designer after graduating, and is already designing, and making some of her own clothes. She is a true fashionista, with a twist, and enjoys blogging about fashion and beauty too.