Fashion at 40-something – What NOT to Wear
From Culottes to Crop Tops: Outfits to Ditch at 40 & Beyond
Sep 25, 2008
When it comes to fashion, many women get lost along the way somewhere in their thirties, caught up in the pressures of family or work. Reaching your forties often causes a dilemma in terms of dressing – in trying not to appear too old, or as if you are trying too hard to look young.
Whilst a woman can look great in a bikini or a biker jacket at any age, (think 60-something actress Helen Mirren in her red bikini or 50-something rockstar wife, Joe Wood in her cool biker jacket) there are some things in your closet, which you really ought to cull.
Today, September 25, 2008 sees the release of a down-to-earth style guide by ‘60s fashion icon and America’s Top Model judge, Twiggy. In her book, A Guide to Looking and Feeling Fabulous Over 40” (published by Michael Joseph), the model/actress imparts valuable advice which she has learnt to apply over the years. She outlines a number of fashion no-no’s for the 40-something woman. These include ditching thongs and cropped tops, as well as hipster jeans that reveal a roll of stomach fat (a no-no at any age!).
What Not to Wear at 40-something
Whilst there are exceptions to every rule, here are some suggestions on what to styles to ditch in your 40s:
- Slogan T-shirts — one of the hottest hits of 2008 but unless you really have something to say, leave these to your daughters.
- Culottes –these can make you look short , old and dumpy. Only the young and thin can carry these off well.
- Too-tight Trousers — whilst teens and 20-somethings may be able to get away with it, avoid any trousers which give you an overspill or are too tight around the crotch. Ironically, buying a larger size actually serves to make you look thinner, rather than squeezing into pants that are too tight.
- Short Hemlines — unless you are wearing a dress with full coverage up-top (to balance out the proportions), mini skirt hemlines are best avoided as they can make you look like mutton-dressed-as-lamb. An on-the-knee or just- above length is far more flattering and less aging than a calf length. Mini dresses can be worn as tunic tops instead, over leggings of narrow-leg pants.
- Sleeveless Dresses/Tops — whilst not a complete no-no be aware that a short or 3/4 sleeve is more age-apropriate for daywear, and is also more slimming. If wearing a sleeveless dress then make sure your hemline reacher your knee or below, to balance out your silhouette and provide some style sophistication.
- Cropped Tops — unless you layer these over other outfits, (or you have 6-pack abs) avoid showing off your midriff.
- Sarongs — whilst these are practical cover-ups, if you want to be a peach-on-the-beach, then these can be unflatteringly tent-like if you don’t have either the age or the figure. A caftan tunic is kinder, giving you more coverage and is much more stylish.
- Bold Prints — these can spell danger as you get older. There are exceptions, depending on the nature of the print and the colors but, according to Twiggy, it’s safer and more flattering to go for subtle prints and block colors. Vertical stripes can be flattering, and so, according to new research, can some horizontal stripes.
- Big Knickers – give you visible panty lines, and thongs can look undignified if you neither have age nor figure in your favor. It pays to have a number of styles for comfort and fit, which you can interchange depending on your outfit. Boy-shorts can be very comfortable and flattering as they don’t leave a VPL nor cut into the tops of your legs. There’s no longer a stigma attached to control pants – even 20-somethings wear them now, simply because they work!
- Baby Doll Pink — if you don't want to appear to girly, go for a strong fuchsia shade or feminine but stylish purple-hue. Leave pink candy stripes and baby-doll pink for those who are the right side of 22!
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