Most of the styling blogs I follow are created by women in their 60's...the true "baby boomers" born in the 1950's. While I enjoy their fashions, I really feel that I'm beyond them not only in age but in what I know that they don't know...what comes in their 70's. So here's my one off attempt at OVER 70 AND STILL STYLIN'.
So we'll start with TRUE CONFESSIONS! As you hit your 70's, your body will change...things will fit differently...and you may feel disappointed at that...but it's still your only body and you'll be happier if you accept that and learn to style it.
For me, tops that are a bit looser and a bit longer smooth out the torso.
Also for me, I haven't worn skirts in years, except for dancing. Most skirts have too much fabric around the middle or are too short. So I've looked for the rare midi skirt (hits at mid calf) and so far have found a very few that are A-line. The one above is from Eileen Fisher and comes in black or chocolate. Yeah, more than I wanted to pay but it is good quality and easy to pull on. I tried wearing it with booties...the "look" these days, but frankly it made my legs look like gate posts! So I use a loafer or a wedge heeled shoe.
As for SHOES, they can be cute as well as comfortable..and useful to draw the eye away from other locations...these are well padded cushy loafers from Clarks. I've had some foot "issues" from all my years of dancing and these keep me free from pain.
FUN WITH JACKETS: There's nothing like a special jacket to perk up a basic color. This one is 100% cotton by "Parsley & Sage. I've been wearing the crap out of it this fall as it goes with all colors and is just the right weight for chilly mornings in our valley.
GOING SILVER: Yep, after 30 years of being a redhead, I dared to grow out my "real" hair. What a shock! I have more silver than I knew and some nice big streaks in the front. Luckily I had a very supportive stylist who kept my locks short but sassy during the year of grow out. Now I can afford to go to the salon every month for a cut and it only takes about 45 minutes out of my day instead of 2+ hours of getting my roots done!
I also discovered that my makeup had to change...seems that while you hair is going silver, your skin is going neutral. Who knew? So I went from a mid tone warm foundation to a mid tone neutral one. I also changed my eye shadow colors to neutrals as well. AND I've been happy to wear silver jewelry. These earrings and pendant are thanks to my daughter-in-law Susan who got me started with BRIGHTON jewelry. I love their stuff because while it's silver plated, it's also coated so it won't tarnish.
A NEW LEAF? Why not? I vowed during the hair growout NOT to look like the frizzy haired women I met at the garden club! You REALLY DON'T have to look like a bag lady just because you have silver hair! It was time for me to pay more attention to upkeep and style!
SLOWING DOWN: This is my garden turtle Herkemer who has faded over the years but still looks good. I debated repainting him but the more natural look suits him. And more natural look suits me! We've all seen women who, as I put it, turn into "cartoons" of themselves with too much makeup and jewelry or styles meant for teenagers. I call it "trying too hard." I slowed down and took a look at me...
MILES: So no matter how many you have on your odometer, nobody knows but YOU! Adjust your outlook and it will help turn back your attitude! Oh, and SMILING IS GOOD!
That's it for me in this first blog...I'll keep trying to look MY BEST by keeping my daily routine of wearing makeup, a bit of jewelry and a well-fitting pair of pants. I'd love to hear from you.
I've spent the week dumping, washing and storing pots...fitting out a new pot storage area against our new side fence.
We installed a tarp over the whole pot storage shelves to keep the rain and snow off. It's better for the pots and the spiders like it too!
Our Parthenocissus is doing its thing and turning lovely shades of gold, orange and burgundy.
Fall colors come out of the closet...a dark brown skirt with a new top and an "artsy-fartsy" new jacket that will go with just about anything casual...which is all the style I wear these days...
"Airing out" the cashmere and cotton sweaters
Enjoying the last of the geraniums...
And Sally Holmes is our official "Last Rose of Summer."
We replaced our neighbor's back fence (our side fence) when it became clear that the neighbors were not going to fix it...it was leaning into our property and about to fall over. The posts had rotted off and we were using metal stakes to keep it upright!
So $3200 later we have a stout 120' cedar fence!
I decided to paint it "Boxwood" by Miller Paint. Their "Storm" brand fence and deck paint lasts well and is easy to apply. I have to say that this was probably my "swansong" in fence painting...I painted by first fence when my dad handed me a paintbrush in 1948. I was four years old and I've been hooked ever since!
We have buried electrical service and the old box circa 1978 was in need of a facelift! So my under-gardener came to the rescue with some textured dark green paint. Much better. Turns out the fence was actually built off kilter and on our property...not on the correct property line so we got an additional 2' of yard thanks to our contractor remeasuring the entire plot lines!
I kitted out the "bus stop" niche (we had to build the fence to acommodate the transformer box) with a cedar deodar that I raised from seed and we hung an old cultivator for some garden whimsey.
