life after 50, over 50, retirement, baby boomer women, baby boomersOoh, ooh, ooh! The weather is warming up on the east coast and that means that spring has finally sprung. Time for this 50+ fashionista to go shopping for some new clothes.

I’ve read my March and April mags – Vogue, InStyle, “T” New York Times Style Magazine, “O” Oprah Magazine. I’ve made my way through Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, Ann Taylor Loft, Banana Republic and Denim Habit. I may no longer have a full time job or need new business attire for work, but my passion for fashion has not waned. It’s just taken on a more casual style.

life after 50, over 50, baby boomer fashions, spring clothesI’ve emptied my closet of any corporate remnants. Out with formal suits, skirts, and dresses. Next, out with any old jackets and coats that I haven’t worn in a year or two. My body is shrinking and my 10 year old tan leather jacket (once the love of my life) must go, go, go — off to consignment. There’s no room for an ill-fitting jacket that reflects the past when I’m 100% ready to live in the present.

My shoulders have narrowed, my height is 5’2″, and my legs and arms are quite muscular since I’ve been spending much more time at the gym working out now that I don’t work at a desk all day.  The new me is trimmer and slimmer.

Thanks to my stylist, Elizabeth, who helped update my look last fall, my spring shopping trip with my daughter A was quite fabulous and fun. Elizabeth showed me how to shop for color, shape and outfits. She showed me how to mix and match and spend wisely.

Pantone 2014 Color of the Year, fashions for boomer women, baby boomer fashions, life after 50, over 50

Photo Credit: Pantone

During my day, or rather weekend, of shopping, I found myself radiating for orchid, PANTONE color of the year, in all its shades with bright and bold pinks.  I added navy and white, plus some blush pastels to round out my wardrobe.

Stephanie Solomon, VP and Fashion Director at Lord & Taylor, says that “spring 2014 is shaping up to be the season of strength and femininity.” Her “It List” includes “sporty aviator shades, clutch purses in new neutrals, painterly print scarves, full skirts, punchy pastel sweaters, pointy toe flats, modern pearls, and a pop of pink.” (Stephanie, I’ll skip the full skirts. Full skirts do not look good on my petite pear-shaped body. However, I’ll definitely be popping pink during my life after 50.)

Per the Nordstrom catalog, soft pants, graphic tops, caged sandals and statement necklaces” are also popular items for spring. Denim chambray, lace, eyelet, and peek-a-boo knits seem to be trending in many stores as well. Plus, denim jeans are all the rage – short, cropped, narrow, and boyfriend baggy.

Mom gets a new pair of jeans

“Mom, it’s time you bought a proper pair of jeans,” said my daughter A as we arrived at Denim Habit on Saturday. I had been complaining that the spandex in my jeans was so stretched out that my pants were literally falling down when I walked.

DLX makes the best jeans,” said A. “They are the only jeans I wear. They will never stretch out.”  “These jeans are flying off the shelf,” said the nice saleswomen. “I’ve sold so many pairs and I just got them in a few days ago.”

Pull, tug, zip, tight. Whew, I got the DLX jeans over my hips and thought I would never get them off. They did make my butt look lifted as the saleswoman said they would. The tag did say that “they are made with DLX denim, a revolutionary 4-way stretch technology that adapts to unique body shapes to give custom fit and comfort.” Since these jeans were guaranteed to never “sag, bag or lose shape,” I handed the nice saleswoman my credit card and I am pleased to say that I am now the proud owner of a proper pair of jeans!

Can’t wait to show off my new jeans and the rest of my runway fashions and how I am accessorizing this spring. Here’s a sneak peek:

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From Nordstrom: Hinge cotton sweaters and some colorful scarves. From Ann Taylor Loft: Denim leggings with a longer striped denim top can be worn in multiple ways with different accessories.

 

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From Banana Republic: Pink jacket. From Denim Habit: DLX jeans. From Ann Taylor Loft: Blush lace accented top, coral ruffle blouse.

 

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From Nordstrom: Zella exercise clothes for my weekly yoga wear go perfectly with my pink Nike sneakers. Don’t you love my pink sneakers!

 

spring 2014 fashions, life after 50, over 50, baby boomer fashions

From Nordstrom: Navy striped khaki pants and Hinge white sweater. From Ann Taylor Loft: Print scarf and pink tank. From Denim Habit: DLX jeans. From Judi’s closet: Isn’t it great that I already have shoes and sandals from last year’s spring shopping that I can wear with my new outfits?

Have I inspired you to do some spring shopping? What is on your “to buy list” for this season? Be sure to leave a comment and enter the giveaway below to win a gorgeous pink cash scarf from designer Camilla Olson. Camilla says there are a few key trends which you can follow and appear to be au courant. She recommends:

 wearing black and white together as a graphic statement;

 the sheer trend, wearing a lighter color shirt over a bandeau;

 and the athletic look which you can easily accomplish by wearing a slim pant, square neck top and/or a pea jacket.

Most of all, as Camilla says, “Enjoy this wonderful time of year.”

Judi

Life Reimagined, AARP, life after 50, over 50, boomer women

P.S. – Stay tuned this spring and summer for my upcoming blog posts where I’ll share the ways I’ve been reinventing my life this past year since retiring from my 30 year corporate career. I’m going to tell you all about “Life Reimagined” and how I’m planning on “discovering new life possibilities” during my life after 50 and how you can too.

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