Well Past 50: The Weblog of Boomerful.com

How to Dress Like Your Daughter and Get Away With It

New York fashion week in February kicked off the spring and summer trends, but some of the season's hottest looks can be daunting. Neon brights, graphic prints - they look fabulous on supermodels on the catwalk, but they'd look ridiculous on you, right? Wrong. You can wear those tricky trends at any age, just make a few tweaks and you'll be fine:

LEGGINGS:
For daughters: stick with solid colors and pair it with a flirty top, a'la Sienna Miller style. Don't forget to add sky-high wedges to add to your leg length.

For Moms: Forget the sky-high wedges, you don't want to look like a lady of the evening. Grab yourself some cute flats (animal print maybe) and find yourself some of those new black Lycra leggings (the ones that don't SHINE and show off every ripple) and top it off with a longer style knit tunic top in a solid color. The idea is to cover the bum.

BOLD PRINTS
For Daughters: Avoid tight Lycra tops and dresses that always look cheap in any kind of print. Keep the tops drapey. This season, A-line mini dresses are a must-have. Wear with chunky, statement jewelery. Just remember: when choosing your mini, it's still important to wear lengths that flatter.

For Moms: Opt for subtle prints rather than big and bold... you don't want to look like a tourist. A simple shift dress looks great in a graphic print, or if you are not so brave, just pick some fabulous bold accessories to wear with neutrals. For older Moms skirt lengths should be kept just above the knee. If you feel confident about your waist line, belt it with one of the wider styles.

JEANS
For Daughters: Skinny jeans are still the rage, topped with a long tunic for a slimming effect. All jeans are hitting higher at the waist, but slightly below the belly button is still a hipper look.

For Moms: Choose a "skinny" fit, but with a boot cut for balance. The real skinny jeans make mid sections appear larger. Look for a stretch jean with stomach and rear support for a "skinnier" look. Long tunics are great for Moms too. This is one item you can share!

MAKEUP
For Daughters: Lips are nude, skin looks clean and eyes pop with all over shimmer and shine. The drama in spring's makeup is with shadow and liner that make eyes pop.

For Moms: Moms need a little more color on their lips, but the light covering of foundation with just a little blush works well too. You can still add some shimmer on the eyelids, but don't go overboard. Place it on the brow bone or on the inside corners of eyelid.

SHOES
For Daughters and Moms: Ballet flats are back and none too soon.  They're adorable on daughters and a bunion-saver for Moms.  Either of you can wear them in bright colors with casual short pants, or in metallic with light, flowy skirts just below the knee.

Overall, Moms should keep an eye on what's hot for their daughters this spring, then temper it down for themselves, keeping in mind how their coloring and body shape has changed over the years. Copy your daughter's freshness and creativity - just tone it down for a more refined look.

Tips for Being "Forever Cool"

One of our readers, Sherrie Mathieson, was kind enough to send us some tips from her newest book "Forever Cool" (which I'm hoping is a possibility...).  We're sharing some of what Sherrie has to say and you can head to her Website at www.sherriemathieson.com for more from her book on what's hip - but still appropriate - for both men and women, as we hit 50 and beyond

• Look as natural as possible. Try for that effect even when using make-up.
• Looking youthful means looking healthy and vibrant.  A hip, sportiness will look like you're an active, energetic individual.
• Build your wardrobe using neutral palette without patterns at the start (black, browns, greys, tans and white) for greater ease in mixing and instant modern sophistication.
• Start with simple, classically oriented clothes updated in the current cut.
• Add personality with your accessories and color - but never make them cute or silly.
• Buy the best quality you can afford.  It will bolster aging skin.
• "Less is More" as you age.  Don't overdo - on any level.
• Aspire to a certain classy refinement - it's becoming too rare.

Don't forget that your husband, significant other or date is bound to be part of your image.  One of you can detract from the other.  You are a "set" as you walk through the door.

What Lies Underneath

Making sure your holiday outfits look good on the outside depends on what is going on "underneath." As we get older, a good fashion foundation is more important than ever. We’re not running around with taut little bodies anymore, so if you don’t have time to work for it, then you need to bring in the reinforcements.

You CAN camouflage those problem areas (especially if you have started early on that holiday weight gain cycle), AND be comfortable. One of my favorite sites on the Web is BareNeccesities.com which has every type of body-sculpting, shape-shifting, form-morphing undergarment on the planet, so it doesn’t matter if you are wearing a neat cami with a velvet jacket or a full-length satin evening gown, you will have the utmost confidence at finding something on this site to find the correct support for your style:

Capri-length body shapers are a hot item, and designer Nancy Ganz makes several styles with medium and firm control like the Belly Band Satin Capri with Tummy Control (pictured right) that will keep you contained whether you are wearing jeans or a dressy pair of velvet pants. The fabric content is 80% nylon and 20% Elastane, with the band at 70% polyester and 30% rubber is proof that you can look good in comfort.
The Miraclesuit (pictured left) – can you look 10 lbs lighter in 10 seconds? It provides triple action control in the tummy, hip and thigh area, and the fabric content is 77% nylon and 23% spandex, which makes it tight yet livable, for at least an evening. AND it's comfortable!

Let's not forget the upper half. Because breasts come in all shapes and sizes, you need to take the extra time to find the right fit. This is hard to do through a Web site, and my recommendation is to get yourself professionally fitted for the best bra results. There are plenty of styles available today so take advantage of finding a bra that'll make "the girls" look their best no matter what your size or outfit. For a few tips, read my blog entry “Get the Bra Rolling: Expert Bra Tips by Catherine Schuller of Curvestyle.”

Here's to looking good for the holidays!

Sound Fashion Advice for Women Over 50

All of the statements below are direct quotes from various fashion and beauty consultants:

“Wear v-necks. They draw attention to your face.” 

“Don’t expose your neck. Wear stand-up collars. They are a great way to cover a wrinkled neck.”

“Never wear turtlenecks if you have a large chest. It draws attention to your chest and makes you look heavier.”

“Invest in several black turtlenecks. Turtlenecks flatter everyone.”

“Think young. Be unpredictable.”

“Don’t dress too young. It makes you look older. Trendy is no longer attractive.”

“Choose solids.”

“Go for bold, classic patterns.”

“Legs are slowest to age. Wear short skirts.”

“Don’t wear your skirts too short.”

“Don’t think you have to cut your hair.”

“Shorter hair gives more lift.”

Does anyone really know what looks good on those of us with wrinkled necks, sagging chests, bulging tummies and thinning hair?  Do I actually want to draw attention to my face?  On bad days I think I’d be better off putting a bag over my head and drawing attention to my large chest. How unpredictable can you be when you’re faced with a new set of rules that prohibits you from wearing the hot new trends, and tells you to hide your neck, play down your chest, cut off your hair and wear black?  Sounds strangely familiar to a line in The Nun’s Story.

We are at our greatest fashion crossroads since we moved from hippy style teens to young adults in the work world. It’s confusing, and sometimes embarrassing. I have committed several fashion faux paux, like the time my daughter came home from the mall with the cutest pair of low-slung jeans and a sweet lacey cami, and I rushed right to the juniors department to get that look for myself.  Unfortunately, on me the look stopped short (very short) of “stylishly adorable” and raced head-on into “old lady in an obscene undergarment who forgot that the waist band on all of her underpants hit several inches higher than the waistband on her jeans."

I suffered humiliation at the hands of my daughter and her friends, and learned an important lesson: If it looks good on a fourteen year old it will definitely NOT look good on a 50+ woman.

So how do we know what we should wear as our bodies change to “mature," and our faces look more like our mothers’ than our own?  Consider the basics: we’re trying desperately to maintain a shape that looks vaguely feminine, we want to look classy (provocative looks trashy at 50+), our good points are decreasing in numbers, and there are few Hollywood stars to learn from in Glamour Magazine. The stars they feature are young enough to be our granddaughters and can still show so much skin their clothing is irrelevant. Only a few, like Susan Sarandon, Candice Bergen and Oprah provide role models.

Back to the basics: 
In order to maintain some curve in our bodies we must avoid baggy clothes. Even though the instinct is to cover it all up, the truth is that baggy adds weight and shapelessness to a look.
Jackets without pockets, tailored shirts and shirtdresses give us shape without hugging anything tightly enough to show off dimples and creases we shouldn’t be showing off.

Body shaping undergarments are back big time – and just in time!  We recently received a comment from a reader named Regina raving about the Spanx body suit that goes halfway down the thigh.  Spanx, and many other underwear manufacturers, make a complete line of body shapers that are far more comfortable and less obvious than the girdles we squeezed into in the sixties when we didn’t really need them.

While pants are more flattering if your legs have any signs of age, a short (to the knee) skirt that shows off a great pair of legs takes the attention away from a shapeless middle. Classy comes from good fabric and timeless shapes: wear suede jackets over white shirts or even turtlenecks (yes, I wear them even though I’m top-heavy).

Tiny prints look homespun and unsophisticated.  Stick with solids, or small stripes or hounds tooth prints, and add a scarf or jewelry in a contrasting color.

Give up the glitz.  Too much flashy jewelry, gold or sparkles of any kind make you look like you can’t let go of your Las Vegas show days.

Those body parts we were once so proud of should be camouflaged now with loose clothing (not baggy) that have shape to them. If you still have a waistline I would adopt my mother’s philosophy – wear a great looking belt and that’s where the eye will fall.

Hide the things you don’t like with simple, classic long shirts, long pants and high collars.
Don’t wear harsh colors in clothing, lipstick, nail polish, blush or eye shadow.  Understated is prettier and classier.  Keep everything soft, including your hair.

Even though I love looking at the young, trendy new styles, it takes my breath away when I see an “older” woman who has really done her look beautifully. Candice Bergen looks absolutely regal (except for that one, unfortunate Emmy night that she will never hear the end of), and Susan Sarandon looks simple, classy and very much herself always.

We can do it, too.  Use the correct role models – never anyone with the name Lindsay.  Keep it simple.  Use common sense.  And good luck – something we all need as we try to stay attractive even though we are well…past 50.

The Year of the Flat

I've lamented many times about the condition of my feet, and I don't know which has been more painful: squeezing my hammer toe into a pair of Ferragamo's or giving away my Ferragamo's to a friend because the TOE makes it unbearable to wear them. I do enjoy seeing them on my assistant, Theresa's, feet though.

The good news is flats are back in style for fall (part of the 80's fashion redux) so I can give my feet a break every once in a while (I will never totally go heel-less!) and slip into a pair of comfortable flats.

Flats are tricky however, and don't go with everything.To really make your outfit "pop," look for flats that are made out of different colors, materials and textures to help jazz up your look. Basic black is a good staple, but there are many fun styles out there. J Crew has a neat ballerina style cheetah print flat that I'm sure I'll be seeing on a lot of feet (if not mine).

If you must wear the basic black, make up for the simplicity by prettying up your outfit with ultra-feminine wrap tops, flared sleeves and layered shirts to help convey a head to toe "ballerina" look.

Things to beware: Having no heel on your shoes makes legs appear shorter, so wearing flats with a long skirt can make you look frumpy. For skirts, shoot for a hemline that is above the knee, to elongate your legs.

I've been told that capri pants and flats are a match made in heaven if you are tall enough to carry off the Capri look.  Make sure your capris are the right length for your legs (see my Letting Go of Closet Guilt Fashion Fit Video Series) and if you're wearing long pants, make sure they aren't too long. Having the hem of your jeans or slacks drag the floor, not only looks sloppy, it's also a great way to ruin a pair of pants not to mention the frump-factor. Instead, find a pair of pants with a slight flare to the leg with pointed-toe flats for an ultra-stylish look.

80's Fashion Redux - Leggings

When you have been around as long as we have you’ve seen fashion trends come and go - two, three, maybe even four times. Beware! That doesn’t mean you can dig through your closet and pull out that great mini skirt you wore in 1969 and assume that it screams, “I am a fashion maven!” when you wear it in 2006.  Our fashion guru, Jan Sellman, tells me that the general rule is, “If you wore it when it was trendy before – you probably shouldn’t wear it when the trend returns.” 

I have taken exception to that rule when it comes to leggings. I LOVE leggings!  I loved them in the eighties when I had a new baby and could throw a long sweater over a pair of leggings and not worry about whether the waistband on a favorite pair of pants had grown too tight. 

Unfortunately, it was a trend that was easy to corrupt. Everywhere you looked there was someone violating the number one fashion dictum: never wear anything that focuses attention solely on your roles of flab.  You saw them!  They were in every check-out line in every supermarket in America, wearing their leggings without a long tunic to cover the bad spots, and forcing me to question whether I really looked like Audrey Hepburn in my leggings, or if the whole world was staring at my rear end wondering where it ended and my dimpled thighs began. I think the trend died because we all got tired of the nausea that accompanied the intimate bird’s eye view of women’s dimpled butts.

Well, they’re back. The look is more sophisticated this time, with leggings under long skirts and layered tanks and tunics. I love it! Now if only the fashion police can stop women from wearing them without the tunic, letting everything that shouldn’t hang out this could be a fun trend to play with.  I asked our fashion guru, Jan Sellman, to give me the lowdown on how 50+ women should wear leggings without looking like aging hookers, or the ladies in the check-out line.

Jan says:

"Leggings are an exciting trend for fall, because every woman, no matter what her age, can have fun with them and incorporate them into her wardrobe.  Clearly, they're not the style for everyone...but for those who choose to go for the trendy, there's a variety of styles and ways to wear them.  A few suggestions are:

• We should not, wear them in the same way we did in our younger days.  Leave the mini skirts and little tops to the teens and young women.
• Choose a longer skirt and go with a layered look.  You can be trendy AND age-appropriate. 
• Wearing leggings with longer length sweaters (knee length or longer), or longer jackets or coats can give them a great look - my favorite!
• Cover the rear view. Don't wear a sweater or top that ends at the widest part of you hips...they'll only look wider if you do.
• For the 50+ group...Never, ever, wear them alone, with only a short or tight sweater.  Yes, I did say NEVER.
• Black thin leggings or footless opaque tights can kick up a wardrobe, and provide warmth.
• It's "what's up top" that counts."  A monochromatic look is dramatic, especially black. Wear a splash of color at the top toward your face, bringing the eye up, away from any wide or soft areas we're not proud to show. 
• If the leggings are slim, add a bit of volume on top. 
• Speaking of soft areas: Those folds of flab and "jigglies' can be controlled by wearing thin, smoothing undergarments. Spanx, and other brands not only smooth and control, but takes off inches! They're a miracle!!! This may add a few seconds of time to getting dressed, but it will be well worth it.
• When shopping for this new look take a friend who is brutally honest...and listen to her.  Also, let your full-length mirror be your final judge. Look at yourself from all angles. If in doubt, make the needed changes or don't wear it!  Add a shoe boot to the narrow trend, to complete and pull the look together."

16 Tips for Avoiding Fashion Failure

Well Past 50 Board Member, Mary Kellenberger and I spent an afternoon with Image Consultant, Kristi Kelley at The Image Studios in Chicago, preparing for our shoot for a Well Past 50 TV segment. This slender, attractive and perfectly attired young woman (they all look 12 to me) really knows her stuff when it comes to putting together an outfit that is color coordinated, flatters your body and is comfortable.

There’s good news and bad news. The good news is we can learn so much from Kristi. Albeit we can’t use Lindsay Lohan as our fashion example anymore (not that I ever did), she showed us simple ways to make the most of our wardrobes that have us coming off polished, trendy and fresh. And at our age, there are things that we NEED to do to look our best. Because when we look our best, we feel our best!

The bad news is, Mary and I both left feeling that we are complete and total fashion, hair and makeup FAILURES!

You really have to go in for a personal consultation to find exactly what styles, lengths, colors, cuts and combinations are right for you, but I want to share some of Kristi’s absolute rules that we can all follow:

• To look professional, wear dark colors in solids, not prints.
• It’s slimming if you wear all one color top and bottom, then add color with a jacket, scarf or accessories.
• Get fitted for a bra every 6 months. Especially at our age…sizes are changing constantly.
• You want your breasts standing upright so choose a bra that keeps those “girls” up with a smooth molded cup in nude or black only – never white. It can show.
• Be careful of minimizers. They can flatten you out and make you look even more matronly.
• Under no circumstances should you wear an outfit that shows a bra strap – not even a hint of one! Even if it’s the fad-of-the-moment, an exposed bra strap makes you appear unkempt.
• Spend most of your wardrobe budget on jackets, pants and skirts; spend the least on tops and accessories.
• If you want to show skin, use sheer sleeves or necklines. At our age, sometimes it’s best to leave them guessing.
• Don’t wear long, dangly earrings. They will pull your face down.
• Sleek fabrics with vertical lines are best for visually slimming.
• Wear skirts to the knee – no shorter.
• Buy one new outfit every season for something trendy, but stick mostly to classics.
• If you have a large bust, an open neckline with a sweater or jackets buttoned below the bustline is flattering. A camisole under a jacket is good.
• Capri pants shorten and widen anyone who is petite.
• With accessories, think proportion to your overall size.  If accessories are too dainty you will look larger; vise versa for large, chunky pieces. It will weigh you down if you have a slender frame.
• Three-quarter length sleeves slim your hips, but not if they’re the same length as your jacket. Then they do the opposite.
• If you’re well endowed, avoid breast pockets, gathering or ruffles at the bust line.
• Wear mid-rise pants that come just under the belly button for a slimming effect.
• Keep shoes the same color as your pants to elongate the body.
• Never wear navy shoes with a black outfit.
• Never, (and I’ve told you this before) never, wear elastic waistbands! They enlarge the waistline. Besides, they give you the erroneous impression that you really couldn’t have gained five pounds over the holidays. It’s a poor illusion and face it, everyone knows the truth.

Anyone who can afford a consultation with an image consultant should definitely go for it. There are so many minuscule things we just don’t know, or just don’t think of as our bodies change and our color fades. It doesn’t happen overnight, and the changes are subtle, but before you know it, you look frumpy. The worst part is, no one tells you. You have to figure it out for yourself.

If you can’t afford an image consultant, watch for our video makeovers on WellPast50.com where Kristi will share lots of helpful hints for women of different sizes, shapes, ages and colors.

Fashion Agony

According to an article on MSNBC, the Society of Women's Health Resource.org, the top three fashion agonizers are high heels and wedges, tight jeans/thongs, and binding bustiers/bras. High heels cause damage to your toes, knees and back. Tight jeans and thongs are responsible for a lot of chafing and other "down there" infections. Binding bustiers and bras can give you lacerations and also cause shortness of breath. Why do women put up with this?

Believe me, when you are Past 50, you start looking for comfort, not bondage. If your clothes or shoes are causing you pain, you have to find another way. I've mentioned many fashion designers before that I love, who make comfortable, great fitting clothes and shoes that make you look and feel like a million bucks.

How far have I gone to be stylish? If only my hammer toe could talk. It will take a long time to undo centuries of suffering for fashion (corsets are still around), but the good news is us older women can drive the fashion industry toward comfort instead of torture. We have billions of dollars to spend.

As good as those Manolo's look on display, the minute I squeeze my foot in, my face will contort and counteract the ideal of having a beautiful foot. Moderation may be the key, however nothing is more blissful to me than a good pair of Uggs or  cute flats, not to mention the wonders it does for my face.

The hammer toe has spoken.

Getting the Bra Rolling...

Catherine Schuller (right) travels around the country for CurveStyle teaching women about how to choose the right bra. Catherine will be featured in a video segment of Well Past 50, but until then she’s helping us out with some very useful information on a topic that still confounds women – especially those of us whose perky young breasts have headed Southward. Here's what she has to say about finding the right bra...

Finding the right size bra is not as easy as it sounds. Recent statistics prove that 80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra. Besides detracting from a flattering silhouette, wearing the wrong size bra is not conducive to good breast health. If a fit is too roomy, support suffers and chafing occurs, and if a fit is too tight, pinching, binding, skin denting and circulation problems can result.

It is recommended that breasts have “free time” from bras daily - preferably more than 12 hours of your day should be bra-free. Giving the breasts some restful, breathing space will first and foremost help the lymph flow within your breasts.

And, when choosing a bra, be fitted by a professional. Yes, you can do it yourself, but for the first few times, getting it done professionally is suggested, not just for the measuring process, but also for the formula for sizing.

What to know about getting a bra fitting:
The band size (or chest size) is the number part of your bra size. The cup size is the letter part. EX: if you are in a 38 C then 38 is the band circumference and C is the cup. Let someone measure you for the best accuracy.

A measurement CAN be done over the bra you are wearing AND over your T-shirt. Don't wear a thick shirt like a sweatshirt or sweater and avoid wearing a padded bra.

Try on different styles of bras. Every style fits and fills different and can "shape" your breast differently. Different styles also complement different outfits, especially the fabric that tops are made of.

Finding the band size:
Have someone measure around your chest with a tape measure, just under your breasts, and around the back. Make sure the tape measure rests flat on the skin and goes straight across your back.  The industry standard dictates that bra band sizes are only even numbers (i.e., 34, 36, 38, 40, 42…). If the measured number results in an “odd” number, add 5 inches, if the number is even add 4 inches. 

If you have large and/or sagging breasts, pull up on your bra's shoulder straps so that she can get the measuring tape under your breast for an accurate measurement. It’s important to get them up off your rib cage to get the true band size. Not all fittings will tell you the exact proper size, but it’s a way to start shopping and trying on so you are in the ball, er, “bra park.”

Finding the cup size:
Measuring the cup size is trickier; even with a measurement it is better to try on different bras and find out experimentally which one fits. Have someone measure you again, this time the measuring tape goes on top of the fullest part of your breasts. If you already own a well-fitting non-padded bra, you can wear it while taking this measurement as long as it doesn't 'flatten' your breasts (which would make an illusion of a smaller cup size). Record this number, and find the difference between that, and the band-size number. The difference tells you the correct cup size as follows:

Difference: (inches) negative < 1, 1", 2", 3", 4", 5", 6", 7"

Cup size: AAAA or AAA, AA, A, B,C,D, DD or E, DDD or F, DDDD or G.

Remember again, bra measuring is not exact science. And how could it be when women's breasts come in so many different shapes and sizes? Usually one breast is bigger than the other, they might sag, etc. So the fitting room tells you the truth; not the tape measure. You have to try the bra on. If it fits right, that's your bra size even if the tape measure told you different.

When you try the bra on, industry standard dictates that the second hook is the “true hook” to be fastened. Lean slightly forward, allow gravity to help the breast tissue to “fall into the cups” and slowly straighten your posture, putting the straps up on each shoulder as you do so. To adjust and get it to sit right, you should pull the bra, not the breast to manipulate it into place...carefully.   

Your bra should fit snugly around and you should be able to fit one or two fingers under the band comfortably. If you are pulling down the back strap or pulling up on the shoulder straps throughout the day then the band size (the # part of your bra size) is too big. If the band can easily be pulled away from your body, or if the band rises up your back, then go down one in the band size. Raise your arms up and move them around a bit to make sure that the bra will fit snugly during regular activity. If your bra fits correctly, it should NOT be painful or uncomfortable to wear at anytime during the day.

If you are wearing an underwire bra, the wire that comes up between the breasts should lay flat (or as close as possible) to your breast bone. If you are wearing a bra with no underwire, you should have two separate breasts, not just a one big boob.

If the bra is a soft cup bra you shouldn't have any extra, gaping fabric. If the bra is a molded cup you shouldn't have any extra room in the cup. Your breast should completely fill the cup. If it is gaping and the band feels fine then go down in the cup size.

You don't want to be spilling out of the cup. Not from the top, bottom or sides. If the band feels fine then go up a cup size.

If have a small frame or are petite, and you find a bra that fits the band, and you don't quite fill the cup and you have already tried the next cup size down and it's still not quite right OR if the you have the "right" size, the band fits and you fill the cup, but the wire is poking your underarms, then try a Demi bra. A Demi style bra is different from a full coverage bra and has less wire, by about an inch or more.

Don't rush trying on bras. Really pay attention to how they fit and feel. Go bra shopping when you know you have the TIME for it. Many women have had to take up to an hour, or more, trying on several different sizes and styles to find the bra with the right fit and feel.

Here are some Web resources that offer guides for choosing the right bra and also offer many different styles:

• eplussizebras.com – lists dozens of sites.  Something for everyone!
• Find the right bra for your teenager at KidsHealth.org - a guide especially for teen girls.
• For a comfortable bra, try Decent Exposures, sizes from from 30AAA to 60J, custom-made if needed, personalized service.
• CustomComfortByPaula.com Custom-Fit Bras that can fit a woman 28-52 A-LL and bigger. The bras do not have underwire and are EXTREMELY supportive. Paula Eisenberger.
• FigLeaves.com has a large selection in sizes.
• Bare Necessities - sizes 30AA to 52J. See all styles marked 60% to 69% off at BareNecessities.com.
• One of Oprah’s favorite bras is the Tisha bra and is sold through “Tupperware” type house parties from a company called Essential Bodywear.  Many women are hosting parties as representatives and providing a much needed service of bra fittings and promoting great European type bras…adding an income source by giving them the training and product to have their own bra business. www.essentialbodywear.com

End Closet Guilt Forever!

When I heard that my friend, Kathy McFadden had entered into a partnership with Janet Wood and formed Pivotal Impressions, I knew it must be something good. I had known Kathy through previous business endeavors and had always been impressed with her business insights.

Last week we met in Chicago to shoot a segment on their product, Fashion Fit Formula, for the Well Past 50 series, and I am still impressed. These two women have hit on something that’s needed by all of us – a foolproof system for helping us look better in the clothes we have hanging, but unworn, in our closets.  They measured me, pinned me, and showed me how to take all of my unworn outfits and make them, not only wearable, but attractive on me. 

I have always worn turtle necks to cover up the sagging, chicken-skin neck. They explained that I am only drawing attention to the problem by stopping the eye right where I don’t want anyone looking.  They also showed me how elongating the neckline with V-neck tops draws attention away from my neck and focuses it on my face.

They shortened my jackets, narrowed the lapels on my suits and removed jacket pockets to slim my hips. They took my beloved gaucho pants (that my daughter says make me look like a frumpy Jack Sparrow), and shortened them to a length that makes them fashionably perfect for my body.

Even my ultra-glamorous friend, Doris, had her already-altered clothes transformed into more flattering outfits. The whole experience was a real eye-opener. I will never again take an item home that looked great on the mannequin, discover it makes me look like a frumpy Jack Sparrow and toss it in the Salvation Army pile. I will refer to my personal Fashion Fit Formula chart and trot off to the seamstress to have it altered perfectly to my proportions.

Janet Wood explained their theory in an article on Closet Guilt:

Have you ever added up the cost of the clothing that hangs unworn in the back of your closet? The amount of money is scary isn’t it? Yet, I bet you never went into a store and said “Give me something ugly to buy?” No, of course you didn’t.  Yet if you are like the typical woman you only wear approximately 20 to 30% of your wardrobe.

It’s time to evaluate your clothing and end Closet Guilt! You need a full length mirror.  Take one outfit at a time. Is the color flattering? If the answer is no, evaluate it. Can you wear it with a scarf that would bring a more flattering color near your face? If the answer is no again – get rid of it. You can fix a lot of things but color isn’t one of them.

If it is one size too tight, take it out of your everyday closet and store it until you have lost weight. On the other hand if the item is too large, then examine it closely. Is it made of good fabric? Do you like the style and color? Does it go with other things in your closet? If the answer to all of these questions is yes then consider if the alterations to fix it would cost less than half the price of a new garment? If the answer is no (except for a sentimental attachment), get rid of it!

The hardcore problems are the outfits that have a great color and fabric but you just don’t “feel” right when you wear them. Most likely the proportion is wrong for your body. Compare the unworn clothing to your favorites. What is the same and what is different?

In art class they teach that the perfectly proportioned figure is eight head lengths long. Of course each designer has his or her own standard. For one, the perfect model might be 5 foot 6 inches for another 5 foot 8 inches and so forth. No wonder clothing sizes between designers vary.

In an art class I tried to paint a life size portrait of myself for my mother. I had a friend measure my head, stretched out the canvas and measured out 8 head lengths. The only problem was that the body in the sketch was 5 foot 7 inches but I was only 5 foot 2 inches!

Immediately, I realized that those missing 5 inches were the reason that clothes didn’t look as good on me as they did on the models in magazines. Since figures and clothing have similar math components I set about trying to develop a mathematical formula which would put clothing in perfect proportion for my figure. It took about a year and a half but finally I had it. I knew the exact mathematical hem lines for skirts, dresses, shorts, capris, jacket lengths for me! When I tried the formula on my friend’s measurements it worked for them as well without fail.

Although I didn’t know it at the time, the results of the formula are independent of weight gain and loss. Thirty-five years later, although I am heavier my vertical measurements are the same. After I retired from a successful corporate career, I joined in partnership with Kathy McFadden to form Pivotal Impressions and help every woman look her best through linear proportion. End Closet Guilt forever!