Fabukous After 50

At our age, we can and should look and feel fabulous! It takes good information and a fresh perspective.

Top 5 Mental Suggestions

1. Open your mind. What looked good 10 or 20 years ago is not flattering anymore, and is certainly not current.
2. Don’t waste a moment pining for your “glory days.” Embrace the idea of looking successful and attractive now, not tired or past your prime.
3. Accept the fact that grooming will take more time, including a designated grooming day for removing extra hairs. Allow time to look your best.
4. Know that “it all counts” in eating healthier and exercising more. Nothing makes your clothes look better or your body language more youthful than a confident, healthy presence.
5. Choose friends who support healthy living over resigned decline. Statistics show a direct connection between our friends’ self-care and our own health.

Women’s How-To

• Start with your hairstyle. Its cut and color play the starring role in others’ perception of your age, attractiveness and competence. Long hair will not make you look younger. In fact, hair beyond shoulder length looks sad and desperate. A shorter, more flattering hairstyle has the effect of a mini facelift. You might need to change hairstylists to achieve that more flattering, current look. Never ask your stylist to copy a photo of someone else’s style; instead find a stylist with the talent to study your face from every angle and design the most flattering shape. Color should complement your skin tone and accent the cut.

• Reevaluate body proportions. While our bone structures may remain the same, our weight and where we carry it do change. You need to know what those proportions are before you can dress to flatter your figure. While every woman wants the appearance of a well-balanced hourglass figure, 70 percent have shoulders smaller than their hips.

• Use belts to accent a slim waist or highlight the waist area. They are fashion forward and attractive when worn correctly.

• Unless you know for sure that black is a flattering color for your coloring, avoid it. Black polyester pants can be both boring and aging. Try brown, navy, slate gray, taupe, camel, cream: take your pick.

• Layer! Fit closely with the first layer, adding a contrasting color and material for the second layer, with the first layer showing at the collar and sleeve. Then add scarves, belts, and jewelry for that third layer. Layering is not only current, it’s flattering. That closely fitted first layer can even help smooth out your shape.

• When choosing necklines, more coverage is in good taste and more flattering. Draw attention to your face with signature jewelry. The larger your proportions, the larger your jewelry should be. Multiple necklaces are attractive and current. Costume jewelry can update many items you already have.

• Tights are fashionable. The heavier the material of your skirt, the thicker the tights can be. Black patterned hose even out the color of your legs and hide blemishes while creating an interesting detail. Don’t wear nylons with pants.

Men’s How-To

• Clear your closet. Instead of wondering, “Can I wear this once more time?” ask, “Do I look and feel alive and vibrant when I wear this?” “Does this tie look current?”
• Discard jackets with broad shoulders and wide sleeves. Oversized jackets are a dated look to begin with; then as we lose muscle mass or height, we need smaller clothes.
• Rethink your shoes. Casual rubber soles are old school. Invest in shoes that are comfortable but current. Match the color and leather texture of your belts and shoes.
• Are your pants long enough? They should have two breaks in the front when you stand straight, and the back should at least meet the top of your heel.
• Replace pleated pants with the current flat-front look.

• Update facial hair. That “Dr. Phil” mustache of 20 years ago dates you. A tight goatee or clean-shaven look is more flattering. If your facial hair has turned grey, shave it all off.

Fabulous Every Day

With a little time and effort, we can look and feel fabulous after 50. Be conscious about your posture and your facial expressions. Stand a little straighter and smile a bit broader. Rather than look like life has gotten the better of you, radiate well-earned confidence. You’ll look and feel your best.

Hot links

• More before-and-after photos of Janice’s makeover clients
• Janice’s videos on communication and positive thinking

Janice Hurley-Trailor, grandmother to seven, is an image expert with 25 years of experience. She helps people from diverse backgrounds remake their image and boost their self-confidence.