Fashion Forecast – Sunny and Bright For Spring and Summer

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Judi

Now that I’ve caught up on all my spring magazines – InStyle, Vogue, MORE, Allure – and read the fashion news from “T” The New York Times Style Magazine and perused my monthly Nordstrom catalogs, I’m here to report on spring and summer fashion trends.

life after 50, baby boomer women, retirement, spring fashions, over 50

Each spring I pack away my non-woolen winter clothes in a big suitcase.

Ooh, ooh, ooh, I love the seasonal changeovers and clearing the clutter from my winter closet to welcome the warmer weather. This week I took my woolens to the dry cleaner and packed away my corduroys and heavy sweaters in my big brown suitcase. (Check out JudiBoomergirl’s Spring Closet Changeover at my new YouTube channel. This is my first try at video - a work in progress for sure!)

The forecast is sunny and bright for spring and summer. What should you have in your wardrobe? Here’s the scoop:

- Floral Prints & Modern Floral: Flowers abound on all sorts of attire from bathing suits to skinny jeans, dresses, skirts and even shoes. According to the InStyle editor, “modern florals should wind down the center of the dress or skirt to create a slimming illusion.”

spring fashions, floral designs, life after 50, baby boomer women, over 50, retirement

This modern floral dress has a dramatic black background.

(These florals remind me of the designer Laura Ashley from years ago. I loved her small paisley prints and once made a dress with Ashley fabric for a college sorority formal. I was quite a seamstress back then. Maybe it’s time to buy a portable sewing machine and start sewing again during my life after 50.)

- Stripes and Bold Geometric Prints: There are wide stripes and narrow stripes, big squares and small squares. Stripes can also be found on jackets, sweaters, shirts, pants and even espadrilles. I bought two Caslon cotton knit striped jackets at Nordstrom – one in beige and one in blue – to wear with my Not Your Daughter’s Jeans. I like these jackets because they go with a variety of my favorite Banana Republic Timeless crew neck tees and you can dress them up or down with jewelry. They also sell these jackets in a variety of colors. For a stylish look, you can mix stripes with polka dots too.

- Tuxedo Jackets: Not just for an evening out, these longer jackets are worn during the daytime with skinny jeans or pants. (Think my DKNY black linen suit will work just fine for this trend. It has a tuxedo-style jacket and skinny-legged pants — cool and casual even for a non-corporate summer wardrobe.)

- Sweet & Soft: These clothes are unstructured and flowy. They are often in pastels and with chiffon-like fabrics. (Not my favorite.)

PUNK Chaos to Couture, life after 50, baby boomer women, spring fashions, retirement

Back to the Future: Check out the PUNK Chaos to Couture Costume Exhibit at the MET this summer.

- Spectacular Effects: Wild prints, crystal studs, ornate details. (Speaking of studs and ornate effects, my friends and I went to a preview of the PUNK: Chaos to Couture Costume Institute exhibition at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. It is a fabulous show and I encourage you to see it if you are on the east coast this summer. It is on view through August 14. There are clothes and accessories made with safety pins and outfits made with black garbage bags – just amazing designs!)

- Black & White Graphics: The InStyle editor says “not to add any other colors to the mix.” So no gray this summer, absolutely no gray! Okay?

- Warm Weather Leather: This is more for spring. I think leather no matter how thin is too hot for summer. How about that punk leather jacket above?

- Lace Dresses: The InStyle editor says to wear vibrant hues with shoes in the same color.

- A-line Skirts and Bold Ruffles: These skirts have a flair and are below the knee. (I prefer pencil skirts since my body is more pear-shaped. Flairs tend to make me look like I am wearing a tent.) As for ruffles, I like Ruffles potato chips but don’t like to wear ruffles. I think I am too petite for ruffles – they tend to overwhelm my body and face.

- Peek-a-boo.…I see you! This trend is for the adventurous boomer girl who wants to have a little see-through. Ooh, la, la! I do like the Miracle Suit ‘Mystify’ one piece bathing suit that I saw in the Nordstrom catalog. It has a side mesh detail. I plan to be on the beach a lot this summer at my condo on the corner at the Jersey shore. Won’t need too many clothes this summer, just some bathing suits will do.

spring fashions, life after 50, baby boomer women, over 50, retirement

A colorful mix - this pink dress and yellow shawl caught my eye in a Madison Avenue window. A gorgeous combination.

What colors should you buy this summer? Definitely get your greens – pistachio, mint, aquamarine, blue-green, bright green. Reds are hot, hot, hot – flaming red or blood-orange red. And pastels are always a favorite during the spring and summer.

Now go shopping and buy yourself something new, something beautiful to wear. I hope you have a glorious spring and summer…and let me know what you bought and where you bought it!

Judi

Congrats to Cindy Eyler on winning the Mother’s Day raffle including a box of GODIVA chocolates (courtesy of my friends from GODIVA Chocolatier.) Thank you for your readership and for your comment on my Mother’s Day blog post.

Stay tuned for the June raffle featuring the Spa Sonic Skin Care System (courtesy of EpiCare LTD.)

My New White Button Down Shirt

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Judi

There’s a chill in the air. The fall equinox has arrived. And I just took my wool clothes out of storage today.

I’ve been thinking about fall fashions now that the weather is cooler. Thanks to my friends at Foxcroft, I now have a crisp white button down shirt to add to my fall wardrobe. The nice thing about the Foxcroft shirt is that it is 100% cotton, non-iron and shape fit.

All spiffy in my new Foxcroft white button-down shirt

“You look all spiffy in your bright white shirt,” said one of my colleagues. A few others noticed too. I dressed it up with a chunky grey necklace and wore it with my black a-line skirt and a wide patent leather belt. I added a silver and black bracelet (courtesy of my boyfriend L…thank you L) and put on my new Jones NY patent leather and suede flats. (Lord & Taylor had their annual fall shoe sale last week. The more shoes you bought the more discount you received. Of course, I bought three pair of flats and got 30 percent off. I so wanted the high-heeled platform Tahari Laura pumps. Ooh, ooh, ooh, they would have gone even better with my new white button-down shirt, but I think I would have likely twisted my ankle and ended up with a white cast to go with my new white shirt. So I resisted and bought all flats. Question: I’ve been using my DVR to tape the Katie Show the past week. How does Katie Couric wear such high heels every day – she is 55 – guess she doesn’t do much walking in her shoes?)

My New Jones New York Gabbiano Flats in Black Patent and Suede

I realized that the reason I don’t own any white button-down shirt is because it always gets dirty. While I did not wear a bib the day I wore my new white shirt, I did eat all white foods – milk for breakfast, vanilla yogurt for lunch, an apple for a snack (the juice from the apple ran clear.) Wearing my new white shirt was definitely good for my diet and I can attest to the “non-iron” attribute, as I did wash and dry it in my washer and dryer and the shirt was still in good shape and still white. (No ironing for moi…not during my life after 50.)

Fellow boomer girls, if you would like to purchase a new white button-down shirt or a striped or printed one (I really like the black and white stripped shirt but it was out of stock in my size), Foxcroft is going to provide a 20 percent discount to all my blog readers until October 15, 2012. Check out their website at www.foxcroftcollection.com and use code JUDI20OFF.

I asked the stylist at Foxcroft to provide some Fall Fashion Trends, here are her tips:

- Animal prints: Got it – have a pair of leopard print shoes from 2011.

- Winter whites: Got it – thank you Foxcroft for my new white button-down shirt.

- Deep regal colors like purple and navy: Love purple, but navy isn’t one of my favorite colors.

- Geometric prints of every kind: I do need to look for some bold colored tops to go with my a-line skirts and create my own geometry. Think my 50-plus figure is turning into a triangle as my hips continue to widen.

- Pair any of these trends with a skinny jean and a heel and you are “Tres Chic!”: Maybe I should go back and get those Tahari Laura heels. The sale is off at Lord & Taylor, but I found them at Piperlime. Take a look. I do really adore them.

What favorite fall fashions will you be wearing this season?

Judi

2012 Fall Fashions Are Here

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Judi

With this week being Fashion Week in NYC, I thought it would be appropriate timing for me to write my annual fall fashion blog post. It is September and summer is almost over ( I just threw out my summer flowerpot and put out my mums – which btw are already wilting). Next week will be the official start of fall 2012.

I did finally read all 2000+ pages of my fall fashion magazines – Vogue (with my fav Lady Gaga on the cover), InStyle, Allure, T- The New York Times Style Magazine – so I do feel qualified to report on what stylish boomer girls should be wearing when the weather cools down. Ooh, ooh, ooh, today I was in NYC for a meeting and I walked up and down Fifth Avenue to take in all the store windows. The windows are all dolled up in honor of last week’s Fashion Night Out (which unfortunately moi missed.)

Loved this jacket in Lord & Taylor's window

So what’s trending for fall? Here’s a topline, according to InStyle magazine (which provides the trends in a very simple to understand format):

- Magic Garden florals are all the rage. (I agree that these patterns are dense and opulent and I don’t know if I can carry them off. I go for more simple solids and like to accessorize with floral scarves and pins.)

- Leather that is treated more like a fabric. (No, no, no. I cannot wear a full skirt of leather with my pear-shaped body, but a nice neutral or rich jacket will do.)

- Bejeweled looks with ornaments are popular. (With this style there’s no need to wear any jewelry. Although not sure I will be able to stand up straight with all the embellishment hanging on my sweater or dress.)

- Restraint Sensuality. InStyle magazine editors say that “boatnecks enhance the more mature and this attitude is appropriate for all age groups…clothes with strong shoulders, a defined waist, and below-the-knee hemlines. (This one is on my “meh-list” – as the New York Times Sunday Magazine would say.)

- Black & Gold. (Love it, love it, love it. Gold is one of my colors. Black is not one of my colors. But, but, but, if I add gold to black then black becomes one of my colors. How fabulous is this trend? I will definitely listen to InStyle magazine editors’ advice: “Do not let any other color come out to play with these two. No jewelry except for gold earrings.” Got it and I will follow to a tee. I do have a perfect pair of gold earrings for fall all ready and waiting in my jewelry box.)

- Business suits are back. (Not for me. Flared skirts and pants – I’m passing suits to my younger millennial girlfriends. I am on the road to retirement – hint, hint, news coming soon in a separate blog post, do tell, do tell – Judiboomergirl is giving up on her dream to own an Armani suit in pursuit of her other dreams – namaste yoga wear.)

- Fine China motifs, uniform tailoring, full skirts are additional trends. (I just don’t care for these styles. No wonder I hardly bought any fall clothes at the Nordstrom’s pre-sale in July.)

I want this form fitting dress from Project Runway

- Winter white, geometric curves, big coats and more modern outerwear that has an athletic design. (I like these styles much better. Maybe I will purchase a fall dress with bold blocks of color and curves. I like it. I like it.)

Oh, how I love fall clothes (and spring and summer and winter clothes too). I just love clothes! I adore the colorful corduroy jeans (NYDJ are the cords I will be buying as I can no longer fit into Gap jeans). I also like the full-bodied burgundy colors in shoes, dresses, jackets and coats. (I did purchase a burgundy cashmere wrap to keep me cozy while I stay on trend.)

Yes, it’s time to do the annual switch and pack my summer clothes in my old tan leather suitcase and bring out my fall clothes. Funny how each year I forget what I packed away the months prior. It’s like a whole new wardrobe when I unzip my tan leather suitcase. Surprise, surprise…but, like a good fashionista, I always want a few new things to add to my seasonal closet.

Happy fall shopping. Let me know what trends are your favorites.

Judi

My Handbag Runneth Over With Eyeglasses

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Judi

“You have dry eyes and your eyes may be strained from looking at the computer for so long each day,” said Dr. V, my eye doctor. I had paid her a visit a few weeks ago because I had been seeing double by the end of the day. My aging eyes were not able to focus properly on the computer screen with my progressive lenses.

“I think you should try computer glasses,” said Dr. V. “We’ll make bifocal lenses so you can see the distance to the computer and also read the keyboard or paperwork when you have to look down. Don’t spend a lot of money on these eyeglasses, as you’ll want to see if they work for you.”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” I responded as I headed off to Brite Eyes boutique to purchase my new eyeglasses. My nearsightedness had changed a bit, so I needed new progressive lenses for regular wear.

I decided to order the same Silhouette rimless titanium frames as my current progressives. I like titanium frames because they are so light to wear. The best part is that my insurance included a discount on the frames, so I was a very happy camper. Silhouette makeup artist Mary Greenwell says that “rimless glasses allow you to be who you want to be and enhance your natural beauty.” (Thank you Mary, I want to enhance my natural beauty during my life after 50.)

“I don’t want to spend too much on a frame for my computer glasses,” I told the nice sales woman. “I’m going to go home and find a pair of old frames. Then all I’ll need to pay for are the bifocal lenses.” Home I went to rummage through my stash of eyewear from the 1980s, 1990s and beyond. It was fun to see how styles have evolved over the years. I had big red frames when I was in my 20s, round rimless Ralph Lauren preppy frames in my 30s, thin narrow frames from my 40s, and now rimless titanium frames in my 50s. I found an appropriate frame from my collection and brought it back to the eye boutique.

“You’re all set,” said the sales woman. “You saved so much money, you got a great deal on the Silhouette frame and you didn’t have to buy a new frame for your bifocals.”

As I prepared to exit the shop I felt very proud of how much money I had saved. That is until I eyed a purple Marc Jacobs frame that looked like it would be perfect for a new pair of sunglasses. They were big and round and they were my favorite color purple. They were screaming out to me, “try me on, try me on.” I had just saved a few hundred dollars. I really needed new bifocal sunglasses to read on the beach. (Time out: How do I rationalize the cost of these Marc Jacobs sunglasses? Here’s how – my old Elizabeth Arden tortoise shell sunglasses contain a prescription that is so out-of-date that I have to take them off to read on the beach. This could actually do more harm to my eyes. This is not good. I need my eyes for a long, long time. Time out: The purple frames will go perfectly with my aquamarine bathing suit.) Dare I leave the shop without trying on the purple frames? Absolutely not.

“They look fabulous on you,” said the sales woman. She was so right, they were made for my face. “We’ll give you a discount on this frame since you are buying so many pairs,” she added. “A discount? A discount? Really? Hmm, hmm, hmm, I do love them,” I replied. How could I resist? (When I brought my daughter A back with me to make my final decision, A said they had Jackie-O Judi written all over them.)

“How am I going to fit ALL these eyeglasses in one handbag?” I wondered. (My bag now weighs almost 40 pounds according to the Honda dealer who told me that fact when I wanted to know why my seatbelt light was staying on when I had my handbag on the passenger seat. My handbag weighs so much that the car thought it was a young child who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.)

My handbag does runneth over with eyeglasses. However, my computer glasses have done wonders for my eye strain. I wish I had made this change sooner.

As for my big purple sunglasses – well, well, well, they’ve changed my life too. I love, love, love my big purple sunglasses. I am more stylish on the beach when I read my Vogue and InStyle magazines. Whose hiding behind those shades? It’s me, me, me.

Judi

P.S. – Calling all boomer girls…this blog is my newly updated site. I hope you like it. As part of the relaunch, anyone who signs up to receive my posts via email or leaves a comment on any blog post during the month of July, or sends a note to me with feedback about my newly designed blog, will be entered into a raffle for a copy of “I Remember Nothing And Other Reflections” in remembrance of the late writer Nora Ephron. (Note: To leave a comment on a post you can click the little bubble near the title of the post.)