When you’re a teenager, you can’t wait to grow up. You can’t wait to wear a real bra, high heels, and, in the case of my preteen cousin, panty hose. As I’ve grown older, I’ve found that bras are annoying, heels can be painful, and well, panty hose are just plain wrong! What I’ve also found is that some women, despite the fact that we all wanted to grow older, have a hard time letting go of the past.
If you are a woman over the age of 21, you should no longer be shopping for junior clothing at any major retailer. Honestly. Stop doing it. Juniors, by rule, are designed for girls in the age range of 14-18. I too fell victim to the juniors lure in my early twenties—not wanting to dress like my mom, I shopped in these departments to stay youthful. I wore skirts that were too short for my height, tops that were tight for my bust, and at times, looks that were entirely too youthful for my age.
If you are over the age of 25, run to the misses section immediately! Designers today are taking into account that women want to remain youthful and have created pieces that won’t make you look like your mother. Lauren Conrad has an adorable line for misses at Kohl’s. The pieces are colorful, trendy, and flattering to almost all body types. Pair the black, embellished skirt; the tie-dyed, embellished tank in deep claret; and a cute pair of flats for lunch with the girls or a date with your main squeeze.
If you are in your 30s and 40s, you’ve probably stopped tanning to eliminate wrinkles and given up desserts to stay in your skinny jeans. You should also avoid clothing that are odd numbered. Misses clothing is where you should have been shopping for the past five years, if not longer. Target has some wonderful designers for you to check out, especially Mossimo Black and Merona. Pair the Merona pencil skirt in pink/white, a basic white tee or camisole, the summer pink essential cardigan, and a silver sandal. This is a perfect outfit for a day at the office.
For women who are 50 and over, there are still ways to look youthful without showing too much skin or looking too matronly. I look again to Kohl’s and their line from Dana Buchman. If you are anything like my mom, you might not be comfortable showing your arms, but still want to carry off the latest trends. Without going too far with the one-shoulder look, check out the feather asymmetrical tunic and its attached belt that helps create a cinched waist. Pair it with the wide-waist pant in black to keep the look slender, allowing you to elongate your body. Add a cute peep toe, kitten heel pump and your look is ready for a dinner party.
When shopping, no matter what age, avoid tops that hug your back along the bra line, v-neck tops that extend beyond the cleavage, skirts that are shorter than mid-thigh or longer than the bottom of your knee, and cardigans that pull at the buttons along the breast line. A shirt should skim along your body, not hug it. A v-neck should suggest, not expose, cleavage. A hemline should fall somewhere between mid-thigh and the top of your knee, which extends the length of your leg. A cardigan should hang nicely along the entire frame. Remember, going up a size doesn’t necessarily reflect your weight, it’s how the garment is cut. Not all designers use the same fit model.
If you are still unsure of how to dress age-appropriately, refer to these Hollywood women who know how. If you’re in your 20s check out the styles of Lauren Conrad, Anne Hathaway, and Nicole Richie. For your 30s and 40s, look at the styles of Kate Hudson, Jennifer Garner, Reese Witherspoon, and Jennifer Aniston. If you’re 50 or older, refer to Jamie Lee Curtis, Helen Mirren, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Barbara Walters. These women have perfected a style that is specific to their personalities, body types, and most importantly, their age. Give it a try!
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