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Style by Numbers

by on ‎12-14-2012 04:51 PM

Over the past month or so, I’ve had a few girlfriends celebrate birthdays. None of them are claiming their real age but “sticking” to a younger age. For instance, one of my very youthful-looking friends is turning the big 4-0, but she is “sticking” to 32 for the eighth year in a row. I have no problem with not wanting to reveal your true age.  I grew up with a grandmother who has celebrated her 16th birthday for as long as I can remember. I have no idea what her true age is and neither does most of my family. It’s been a running joke for decades and an example of “sticking” to the extreme.


No matter what age you claim, I do believe it’s important to dress age-appropriate.  Outfits that work in your 20s probably won’t work in your 40s, and certainly not in your 60s. In my late teens and early 20s, I would wear bandeau and midriff tops.  There is NO WAY I could wear that now, and also I don’t want to! My style has evolved and become more refined. I still like to follow the trends, but also dress for my age. Let me share a few tips to make sure you’re always a "fashion do" and never a "fashion don’t"!


There are many traps that women fall into when it comes to dressing our age. One of the biggest is wearing the wrong size. Ill-fitting clothes are never appropriate and many women (myself included) get hung up on the numbers. Pre-pregnancy, I was a size 6, but on many occasions I found the size 8 and sometimes a 10 a better fit. Unfortunately I would get stuck on the number instead of how I looked.


When it comes to fashion, trends come and go. I want my wardrobe to be current but I don’t want to over do it. Right now leather and lace is a huge trend. For a woman in her 20s, incorporating this trend is pretty easy. But for a woman in her late 30s (like me), wearing a head-to-toe leather outfit would be a no-no. As we age, the adage “less is more” really comes into play. For a woman in her 40s, a leather skirt would look great with a lacy top. In your 50s and 60s, a leather jacket is a great investment that will always work.


QVC designer Susan Graver is a master at incorporating trends into looks that will remain timeless. Susan travels to Europe several times a year to preview the next big thing in fashion. She uses the trends as inspiration for her designs but she makes sure that the pieces will never look dated. Susan also creates looks using her daughter and mother-in-law as her muse. I don’t know how she does it but many of her pieces are truly ageless.


If you need a few new pieces to punch up your wardrobe, make sure to tune-in to PM Style this Monday. Susan will be in the show along with designs from Denim & Co. and many other QVC fashion brands. Also, don’t forget about my Perfect Pair shoe pick from Earthies (A325946), the funkiest, Alice in Wonderland booties that look great with skirts and pants.


Earthies Ferrara Leather Platform Boots


 


I hope to see you this Monday!     


—Gabrielle