Fashion Over 40: Mixing Prints

“Women’s spending on apparel peaks at age 44 and then enters a long slump, according to a 2013 Goldman Sachs research report on apparel and accessories.  The question is, why?  Why would a woman’s enthusiasm for fashion slow just as her household income is reaching its highest level and her career and social requirements are at their most demanding?” WSJ article 4/6/16

Why indeed? Based on our totally relevant but non-scientific survey of emails and feedback from scoop readers, shoppers over 45 or 50 are looking for styles that meet their needs and are having a hard time finding them. There has to be some middle ground between Forever21 and Chico’s.

Since I am living the nightmare dream, every day, scoopcharlotte is taking up the challenge. We will shop local for great fashion over 40 and show you what we find. (btw, it’s really “over 50” since anyone who’s been there knows that you don’t really cross over to the dark side ’til menopause). The style is here, it can be done; it just requires a bit more effort. But then, what doesn’t, amiright? Remember when you could give up cheetos for 3 days and lose 5 pounds. Bygones.

Most “women of a certain age” have certain challenges, no matter how great their shape. There are decided benefits to maturity, FOR SURE, so no need to get all hater crazy on me. But let’s face it, the struggle is real:

• A thickening waistline
• A slowing metabolism = more fatty areas
• Arm flab. Period.
• Back fat shows up out of the blue
• Flabby and wrinkly knees, especially above the knee
• Skin looks old (cuz it is old, durrrrr)
• Sun damage shows up = age spots, broken capillaries, wrinkly skin on arms, legs and décolleté

Your first reaction? Wear black. Black jeans, black pants, black dresses. Your second reaction? Eileen Fisher.
Both of these are legit, but frankly over-used by women over 50, so they end up making you look….well…. over 50.

We asked local stylist Sarah Farber, of Erica Hanks Studio to shop local boutiques and pull together Fashion Over 40 using this season’s popular Mix Prints Trend. Prints can be hard ….too dainty and you look like a mennonite, too loud and you look like Maude.

Sarah gives us some ideas on how to make it work.

mckenzie claire

One challenge to style for more mature women is that your tendency is to shy away from anything that’s not black on the bottom. This outfit works nicely because the white background of the printed top balances the loud print of the pants.  Sarah says “Both pieces are silk which is comfortable to wear. And the long sleeves are a good choice if you are not happy with showing your arms.”

Long skirts are effortless and a nice alternative to those ubiquitous black pants.  Sarah picked vertical stripes and thin pleating to draw the eye down, and liked the orange in both of these pieces for a good mix of print. Again, some sleeve length helps if you don’t love your upper arms.

copper penny

This sheer cardigan is a natural for layering and adding a little coverage to your “sensitive areas.” Sarah:  “I like to mix prints but also mix different shades of the same color. Here I liked the print of the pink top with the pink jeans and darker pink sneaker for an easy day look.” Rose sneakers and pastel denim are unexpected and fresh youthful choices.

A neutral that is not black!! We agree with Sarah, mixing different shades of grey in this outfit makes the look pulled together effortlessly. And pretty much everything about this dress works, no matter what your age.

chezelle

Sarah: “I love a sleeveless vest thrown over anything and who doesn’t love stripes! The vertical stripe is more flattering, and mixes well with the print on the dress.” We love the idea that Sarah has taken a very bare topped dress ~ that we would have passed right by ~ and covered it up with what is a stylish alternative to the cardigan.

Sarah: “These palazzo pants are cute, comfortable and flattering. Having the nude undertones in both pieces pulls together the mixing for this outfit.”  Agreed. This outfit looks grown up but not staid.

Neiman Marcus SouthPark

Sarah: “Joie is great for mixing prints. If you have a common color, here being blue, the prints are so soft that you can pretty much mix anything together.” These three pieces are basics, which you can wear individually throughout the summer, but they are fun in combo as well. I would have never thought to put them together, and yet, it works!

Sarah: “This is a more subtle look but mixing the neutral textures makes it interesting.” Those jeans tho. On my list for sure.