Fashion Advice: How to Be Fashionable after Sixty

June 13, 2010 by Kathryn

Nothing Like a Great Accessory

One area that older women always seem to get wrong is in the accessories department. Don’t wear your entire jewelry box, but focus on one wearing one standout piece at a time. Also, don’t be afraid to wear trendy accessories. By keeping your wardrobe basic, you can add trendy accessories without looking like you’re trying to “be young”. Stores like Target, Forever 21, Wet Seal, H&M, are all great places to find accessories without going overboard with spending.

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http://www.kristentsetsi.com Kristen

“Long (ankle length), unstructured, A-line skirts”

Crap!! I’m wearing one of those right now! I thought it could pass as ‘writerly.’ No…?

And I’m only 32!
Anitra

Another fabulous over 60 fashionista is Patti LaBelle. Ms. Patti always does it up, and is very classy. I would love to have her fashion sense when I’m her age, heck, I’d like to have it now at 30!!!
Judy

Hey Kathryn:

Yikes…I am no longer Forever 21 so perhaps I am one of your more “mature” readers but THANKS for this. Really helpful. Now can you make me look like Susan Sarandon? I just love her look. Or how about Candice Bergen?
bethqueen

Great suggestions for real women. I use dark, oversized sunglasses as my youthful, trendy accessory.
Mary

Please – keep more info on fashion for older women coming! This is great!
TBF

Love Ms. Patti… she is hot.. so is Tina Turner…
Peggyann

Please keep the fashion tips coming for this age group, which is my age group.
http://www.beautyiswithin.blogspot.com Maria Palma

I think the items you suggested to throw away can be given to any age group! I’m nowhere near sixty, but these are great tips, Kathryn
Brenda

Even though I’m not 60+, today’s Fashion Advice is still relevant. Today I’m wearing a pair of wide leg jeans that I purchased from the Banana Republic Premium Outlets in Las Vegas, that I have been getting compliments on all day. Your columns are always right on time.
GracieM

Thanks so much for this! There are plenty of us who are fabulous & over sixty.

We don’t want to pull our hair back in a bun, wear all black and fade into the background!

We want to shine.

Thanks for encouraging us to do just that. And do keep these over-60 articles coming our way.
http://chickybandita.com Chicky

A good pair of jeans can be found at QVC, too. They offer custom denims which fit and look great on all body types. Oh, and I’d love to see the more mature set ditch the color coordinated nylon track suits. They are just so wrong.
camille

Thanks for the great “mature” women tips, hope to see more on your site. 50+
Karen C

How timely! I’m part of a group called Prime Time Women (over 40) and we’re talking about fashion tonight. I’m also a fashion designer for clothing for women over 40. I very much agree with the “throw-out” list. Thanks.

My philosophy is form and function. It’s clothing that not only is comfortable, breathable, and “green” but also elegant with a bit of edge, and uses style lines to give the illusion of an hour-glass figure, and styling of structured garments that just skim and flatter the figure. But most importantly are cut and fit to our mature bodies. Been working on the fit for 2 years now!
moxyblue

If you’re looking for help with jeans try this fabulous site http://www.zafu.com, they make personalized recommendations for your body type -it’s really cool AND it seems to work.
Sharon

Need a makeover, approaching 60 and feeling fabulous. I want to look fabulous.
Judy

List is exactly right….for all ages! If only we could all look like Susan Sarandon. She is the ultimate sex symbol. Suggestions are right on target. I’m trying but struggle twith the mid section, spare tire as I call it, all the time!
Catherine

very well good ideas..
I love wearing straight skirts,but the lenght i love is just below the knee.
I feel unconftable with the lenght to half calf.
Any suggestion pls

Nyla

I am 5’3, mid length would be too severe for me, unless I were wearing boots.
I feel I can wear my skirts just below or just above my knee with no problem, I just have to choose the correct top. I am 61 and feel I dress classic with trendy jewelry and great sunglasses. I love the Audrey Hepburn look but updated. One more thing, if you are short please do not wear ballet type slippers with half calf length! Ouch!

Patricia

I am 5’1″ weigh 114 lbs and am 63. I hate shopping for clothes because I never can find anything that fits me, appropriate for my age or within my budget! I work part-time and do not need dressy clothes. Where can I find clothing to suit my lifestyle and body shape on-line?
http://s.gorman@telus.net shirley

I will be sure to keep checking on this site. I am 63, have always tried to eat right, exercise, and actually get taken for years younger. When my children were young, I spent on them – I now have much more disposable income, but I no longer know how to dress. I chose not to look like my grandaughter, but I am sure not ready for the matronly look either. I have never felt so unself-confident when it comes to my clothing. I need help!!!!!!!

Nyla

You are doing the right thing, getting online, asking questions, looking up different ideas for dressing like the young 63 year old that you are! The best thing is to keep your attitude! Positive thinking, positive actions.Walk young, stand erect, don’t slouch or hunch over, stay current in all aspects of life. When you decide to stop learning and trying new things, that is when you get old! And no talk of declining health, bm’s, insomnia,etc as your regular conversation, that’s what doctors are for.
Stay interested and interesting! Be blessed!

Chris McKelvy

I am 70. I have always considered myself a fashionista. However, I now find this to be complicated. Help. I am attending a 5:00 pm formal wedding in LA in Oct.
I have well shaped legs but I have veins that protrude on one leg. I don’t
want to wear thigh highs but I look better if I do. My dress I am planning on wearing is a black “on the knee” low V neck with straight skirt. I love the dress but the other problem area is that it is sleeveless. I know I can wear a jacket but what color? I don’t want to look like I should be going to a funeral???
Please help this 5′ 5″ 150lb granny look her best!!!
Karen

Do I really have to throw away the long ankle-length jumpers? Am planning to return to work after a 10 year hiatus, and was wondering if they are still in-style enough to wear. How about the knee-length jumpers? I am 57.
dee sparks

I am 64 years old and very frustrated about fashion, hairstyles, and health matters. Are we a forgotten lot? There is relatively little information out there to help us. While I am certainly not against youth, it seems as though that is what all the fashion etc. is geared around. I am for one not about to lay down and just grow old and frumpy. Is there anyone out there that can help or wants to help? There are a lot of us baby boomers out there. I do not understand why there is so little info for us besides AARP. Come on!!! Why can’t there be fashion magazines out there for us? If you say there is no demand—well I am demanding and I am sure if there was any kind of polls taken you would find a lot more interested women in this age group. So can someone please help or at least respond?
http://www.rubylane.com/shop/marciasouthwick Marcia Southwick

I’m so glad you’re addressing this topic. I’m the owner of B.BOLD Jewelry for Boomer Girls and really think that beauty over the age of sixty is underestimated. If you work at it, you can look your best at any age. Your photo of Helen Mirin is amazing! Not that we can all have a figure like hers, but each of us can find a style that brings the inner beauty out to the surface because that’s what we’re all about. We’ve earned the right to display our inner beauty by finding a style that communicates who we are as individuals. Thank you!
mamie

I so agree with Dee and Marcia!! I’m 60 and love to dress chic. I not trying to dress matronly nor 21, but please help! We need more fashion geared toward our age group.
Sandy Davis

I have never known how to dress.I think that I always look frumpy.I’m 5′ 1″ and just turned 60,not heavy nor skinny.I just don’t know who to go to for advice that I can afford.Am i doomed?
http://bonibee1@aol.com Bonnie

Are there any magazines out there for women over 60? You would think Family Circle or Red Book would have somethng for older women. I just don’t see teens reading this magazine and yet the clothes are for women in their late teens or early 20′s…We need our own magazine for real women.

TBF

@bonnie unfortunately non of those magazines target those over 60, the closest magazine is MORE. in regards to TBF, we try to add some posts for older women, because we know you’re undeserved, but over 60 isn’t our target either. However there’s really awesome blogs like Fab over 50, etc that do a really great job catering to older women.

http://trendycollections.in lehenga choli designs

Nice post! Firltly,i am thanking you to write a very valuable blog of fashion of the women .I know that these guidelines are important to become a stylish and sexy at sixty . I love your idea. If you have been printing any magazine over the 60 then please write the name .
Thanking you .
linda weddle

I am 5’3 slim, I have tried wearing skirts that come to my calf and I look shorter than I am. Look like I belong in an old western movie.

I also like others would like a magazine for us over 50 women. I have talked with a number of women who like a magazine that we can relate to.
thank you
Anne

OK, SISTERS OVER SIXTY!!! We now constitute the largest buying power as the Babyboomer generation gracefully moves into the future. There are only a handful of designers who give any energy to us. Our buying power as members of the “baby boomers” is unsurpassed. We can influence the designers with our buying power. Let us all speak clearly, we have the hearts of children and will continue to enjoy fashion. Support designers who embrace the reality that while we will age chronologically, we will will take a very long time to consider ourselves old. A challenge to all designers who know how to make the youthfull soul of our generation available through their designs!!!
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Mia

Your ‘rules’ are not always right; there are exquisitely embroidered cardigans ( witness Ann Taylor) that would be very beautiful with a pencil skirt or a dress. Long floral dresses CAN be perfect too; more depends on what you choose: even a 20 something looks like crap in the wrong choices ( especially cheap, gaudy choices); and ANYONE who thinks dressing like a california pole dancing stripper is a good choice is sadly mistaken ( good taste cuts it; not how old you are)
Nyla

I love that women are getting together, conversing online how to better themselves concerning, style, makeup, hair styles, hair color! We have finally graduated to where we all should be able to shop anywhere and find styles that are hot for our age group! I wish more men would think about their looks. I am seeing lots of stray hair growths, hippy, long and balding looks, wearing same styles as they wore in high school, i.e. white shoes and white belts, white windbreakers, you know what I am talking about…..we are getting great sites to collect information, men could use some help too! Stylists, designers, magazines ????
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Judith Hall

I think there is quite a difference in fashion between 50 and 60 yr. old women. I’ve searched this blog 3 times and I can only find fashions for 60+ women. Where are the fashions for 50+ ladies?
grammyjudy

I am 70, short and fat,. but I have great legs! Can I wear leggings with a tunic and not look ridiculous?

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Beauty

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