First of all, my apologies for not posting these last couple of weeks. Life intervened in some very demanding ways, and this blog was relegated to the bottom of my To Do list. Not that I don’t enjoy this, but other things came first for a while. Anyway, back in the saddle with a brief thought for today and later this week – the dreaded bathing suit!
As discussed in earlier postings about Spring, there are a lot of neutrals to be found in the stores these days. And by neutrals, I mean, beige, light taupe,light grey, cream, pale pink, off-white, etc. These are totally appropriate for the season (and some sources say we’ll see them again this winter), but not always easy to wear, especially for an older complexion. If you happen to have brown or olive in your skin, you look great in any one of these neutral shades. But for those on the paler side to begin with (and of course, pale becomes more so as we age), neutrals just seem to wash you out completely.
So, how to address this dilemma? I recently saw a great neutral outfit on a store rack. Glossed right over it because of the shade. A salesperson suggested I try it on. I reluctantly agreed and then loved the fit and style once I saw it on me. But what to do about the color – or lack thereof? My eye caught a turquoise necklace and earrings, and in an instant, I knew what to do. No, I didn’t buy the necklace and earrings – I had some already. But when I tried them on with the outfit, I realized that if you bring turquoise or coral as an accent color up around your face, you can make these neutrals work for just about any skin color. Problem solved! A simple solution that now opens up a world of neutral possibilities for you. Try it and let me know if you agree.
So glad to see your site. Not much out here or in print for us ladies in the 50 range.
Just ordered a navy cardigan from Gap – and wondering if any over fifty readers still shop there…I’ve had such good luck over the years with basic pieces (often “neutrals” – if you count navy as a neutral as I do). I live where it’s hot about 2/3 of the year so a cardigan is like a winter coat most of the time!
I’m investing in “fall” pieces already – it was a good price so I hope it works well. I shopped around and a similar one at other stores were in the $50-70 range. This one was around $35.
Hi Kelly,
I find myself falling back on Gap for basics too. I don’t ususally think of them for “fashion forward” items, but they tend to be pretty good for basic shirts, sweaters, etc. Anyone else?
I can agree that adding jewelry to many outfits (neutral and others) seems to make such a difference! Even a simple pendant with a sparkle of color can bring so much to a basic top. I love jewelry but often end up not wearing it as much as I thought – I think I worry about feeling like I’m trying too hard or something. I live a very casual life where I never have to dress up. Anyway, I’ve learned not to overspend on any one item and to think of it as a long term investment that I will wear many times over the course of a few years. Sometimes I just wear it for myself – even if I’m not going anywhere!
Thanks for your thoughts, Kelly. Jewelry and other accessories can do wonders for an outfit. I’ll be posting more tidbits in the future about accessorizing, especially in the context of how we can update what we already have with just a few small changes. It’s a whole lot cheaper than starting fresh every season/year. I also like your thoughts about wearing jewelry for yourself. It’s kind of like having fresh flowers in the house. It adds beauty and a festive feeling that lifts your spirit. Let’s face it, when you look good – you feel good!