When we were young, our mothers may have worn pumpkin-decorated sweatshirts, baggy moo moos, or anything with an elastic waist. Some of us have emulated them and look even worse. But, just because we are over 50 doesn’t mean we can’t look fabulous with a stylish edge.
By the way, my mother was a fashionista, dressmaker, and loved to shop.
Start with classy-looking clothes
By classy, I mean dressing in a sharp and sophisticated style because it’s a winner every time. Classic clothes are simple, clean, and minimalistic. I wrote a blog post about the French Chic style which is much the same and doesn’t have to be expensive.
How can you have a stylish edge wearing classic clothes?
Start with a basic classic look and then accentuate it with a few creative accessories to take your look to a level that makes you stand out in a crowd but not like a clown.
It all comes down to the details. Below are a few tips to rock your style.
Don’t go raggedy
Ripped jeans and jackets may be all over the fashion pages but it looks shabby rather than edgy. If I wanted my pants shredded, I would fall on my knees or get run over by a car. Whoever came up with that trend was nuts.
Jeans can be edgy but stick to dark colors without the rips. It looks more sophisticated and is also slimming.
Lose the elastic
As our waists expand it’s tempting to wear pants or skirts with elastic waistbands because they’re comfortable and easy to fit into. Elastic waists are the opposite of edgy. They’re frumpy!
Watch those prints
BIG prints can make you look larger than you are especially if you are short and stout. Stick with solids and small prints instead. For an edgy look, wear a dark top and bottom and accent it with an artsy print jacket or sweater.
Don’t go overboard with accessories
Iris Apfel, who died at 102, could get away with wearing huge jewelry and lots of bangles but most of us cannot. Wear one or two simple and edgy statement pieces instead.
You can create edginess with a colorful scarf, an unusual hat, a slick-looking purse, or killer shoes. But be strategic. When you wear too much edge you’ll look like a fashion disaster.
Collect WOW accent pieces
A pair of red pumps, an unusual belt, or a standout piece of jewelry will take a basic outfit to the next level. Here are some edgy pieces you may love.
Get a cutting-edge hairstyle
There are no hairstyle rules for women over 50. If you want to look edgy get a modern cut. Add a few color strands or use a temporary rinse in purple, pink, or blue.
You can always wear a wig if you want to experiment, and change colors without having to dye your hair. Wigs can be fabulous, fun, and edgy and you can take them off when you get tired of them.
What are some of your favorite looks that give you a stylish edge? Please leave a comment below.
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