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 may 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. . . unlike me.
Start with classy-looking clothes
By classy, I mean dressing in a classic and sophisticated style because it’s a winner every time. It’s 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 doesn’t look edgy. Instead, it looks shabby. 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 crazy.
Jeans can give you an edgy look 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 then accent it with an artsy print jacket or sweater.
Don’t go overboard with accessories
Iris Apfel, who as of this writing is 100 years old can get away with wearing huge jewelry and lots of bangles but most of us cannot. It’s better to 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. Just don’t wear them all at one time or 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. Accessorize strategically. Here are some edgy pieces you may love.
Lastly, get a cutting-edge haircut
There are no hair 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 own hair. Wigs can be fabulous, fun, and edgy and you can take them off if you are 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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