Precious ones,
I watched most of an “Oprah” episode yesterday where she had on two fashion experts whose goal was to help frumpy women in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s keep from dressing “old.”
They did have some great advice, such as
1. Just because it still fits doesn’t mean you should be wearing it.
2. Dressing old (as in old fashions) makes you look old, and (in the words of one of the experts) “clueless.”
3. As you get older, show off your shape through excellent and flattering fit, not by revealing skin. The older you are, the less skin you should be showing (not that this means covering up from neck to toe, it just means wearing opaque stockings with the shorter skirts, etc.). Getting older = becoming more elegant.
4. Highlighting your waist is always a good idea, says Stacy London of “What Not To Wear.” Get the line of the bazoom where it should be through the judicious use of effective undergarments and draw the eye to the natural curve of the waist. If you truly have no waist, draw the eye to the lovely swanlike neck, or to the face, or somewhere else, I suppose.
HOWEVAH, many of the make-over outfits were really awful, ugly and what I would call “try-hard;” that is, they looked nothing like what a normal woman would wear for a normal day of work, running after kids, etc. It was more like, “This is SO FIERCE! I am a Hollywood fashion person and I live in total unreality about what an actual middle class woman can wear and afford, and also in total unreality about what actually looks good! Listen to MEEEE!”
Some of the pieces were admittedly terrific, but it was FAR more the hair and make-up improvements that made these gals shine than the new clothes they were sporting from Nordstrom and Saks.
The moral of the story is that there are a lot of self-proclaimed experts out there who are in bed with the clothing manufacturers and designers and whose bread is being buttered by the fashion industry. It is therefore in their best interest to persuade you that a huge, wide, patent leather belt over a chunky sweater is JUST THE THING you should have right now, or that really, a BIG PONCHO will truly highlight your fabulous yoga figure if you wear it with “figure-skimming” white pants and a fitted t-shirt that probably cost $175.
PeaceBang, on the other hand, gets ZERO dollars from anyone for writing this blog, for advising her readers, and for testing products. Her bread is being buttered by her church and only her church, with occasional gifts of thanks coming in by PayPal from those grateful for her advice and caring. Which is why, if PeaceBang ever seriously advises your wearing a big ole poncho or cape over tight white pants, you can bet she has seriously considered its usefulness for your lifestyle, your image, and your pocketbook.
It had to be said, so I said it. Kiss, kiss.
I’m not sure how many women who can afford to spend $150 on every clothing item, would really be watching Oprah for styling advice. This is fantasy. And, as you say, advertising. I didn’t see the show but I saw the slides at Oprah.com and that tartan with white pants suit/thing was awful. WHAT?! If I saw a woman wearing that in the street, I wouldn’t think, “She is dressing her age,” I’d be thinking, “Where’s the villain?!”
But most of the outfits looked good. They are just not every day wear.
You know I check O everyday to see what’s she’s talking about. I remembered this episode from in the fall when it first played. And I come away thinking now what I thought then “Nothing Sharla Crump says works for me”. Although what they did for the 61-year-young lady was wonderful. Every black woman needs something bold red in her closet.
I tried the wide patent leather belt over top thing a few months ago. My husband said: “Are you a wrestler?” I took off the belt and returned it. Some people can get away with it and look great, but I looked…strange. [But honey, as a petite girl, a thin belt around the sweater would look gorgeous on you! Scale! Scale! – PB]
I’m a shortish female who carries my weight across my middle rather than my legs.
I’m in ministry studies right now and, with living in California, was very hard put to find “professional” clothes that fit. My day job is very casual. I look best in tailored clothing with minimal adornment (pleats/ruffles etc.) and could not find anything to wear that didn’t make me look either pregnant or like a little girl. Being middle-aged neither look was welcome….
My saving grace right now is Coldwater Creek and if you catch the sales right, or find coupons, it’s affordable and lasts. I’ve gone to basic pants (black, brown, blue), nice cotton shirts, nicely tailored t-shirts for warmer days, blazers and non-chunky oversweaters. I also invested in a couple of East-Coast-style tailored coats via J.C. Penney’s catalog after-season sale, as a light wool coat will work well here in winter (trenches not worn here, but your article inspired me). I have a couple of suits for more formal occasions, but the cotton shirts work well with this also. Shoes remain formal, either pumps or shoe/boots.
I literally changed my look from one week to the next and the commentary (especially from guys) was very favorable and complimentary, including from two women whose style I envy.
Next up is the make-up demon, but I’m tackling that as it comes, not having worn much of it before. Pray for me! [Thanks for the testimonial, and of course we will! – PB]