Greetings to all of you women over fifty years of age who are looking for tips, ideas, encouragement and support that will help you navigate the world of fashion for “mature” (did I write that?) women.

First, in the spirit of full disclosure, let me tell you a little about myself and why I am launching this site.  I am a female, over fifty who is not a fashion maven or a fashionista.  However, I do care about the way I look and like to dress in a way that is appropriate but fashion forward.  Not too tall an order… one would hope anyway.  Unfortunately, the fashion industry, for the most part, doesn’t seem to put a lot of energy into helping us define what is appropriate or fashion forward for women as they age, nor do they – for the most part – provide any real product for us.  Of course there are exceptions, but really, when you consider what a huge part of the demographic we represent, and the fact that we are the ones – not the 18-35 year olds - that have the bulk of the disposable income, you’d think that the industry would want to pay attention.  Nevertheless, they choose to ignore us or to expect us to dress like either our teenage/young adult daughters or in a way that is reminiscent of our grandmothers (We loved them.  We miss them.  But we don’t want to dress like them.)

Hence, this blog.  If you like me are wondering how to react to the latest fashion “trends”  – and not just because they are trends, but because they are pretty much all you can find in the stores – then this is the place for you.  It is intended to help you think about making the latest trends – or some adaptation of them – and the classics work for you.  We all want to look good, and we don’t want to look ridiculous.  We work hard to stay fit and healthy, and we want to enjoy clothes that make us look and feel good.  So I am hoping that you will join me on a regular basis to share your encouragement, thoughts, tips, resources, vendors, manufacturers with your sisters who are eager to find those resources that will help them assemble a smart, hip look and stay on the right side of the fashion police – though we may occasionally dare to dangle a toe over the line.

In my next entry, I will introduce a topic du jour, share some thoughts and/or information on that topic and invite you to comment on that topic as well.  Who knows, if enough of us participate, we might even get the fashion industry to pay attention to the fact that we exist!

Looking forward to our discussions and to navigating the world of fashion with those of you who would occasionally prefer elastic to zippers.  Until then…..

Yours truly,

Clothes Encounters