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Kristi Brooks

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Ladies, please dress your age!

August 23, 2008




Since I was just featured in InStyle’s Fall Makeover Issue as a specialist on how to dress when you’re fifty, I thought I like to share my pearls of wisdom for dressing at every age. It seems like this should be a no-brainer for us gals, but we’ve ALL seen them; the 20 year-old hiding behind a college sweatshirt and Levis from junior high, or (god bless her) that 50 year-old mom rocking the too tight bedazzled jeans, the bedazzled tee, the bedazzled trucker hat, the bedazzled… well, you get it. As a wardrobe stylist, I have seen it all throughout the years and have honed a few tips for women of every generation. Enjoy:

20’s
Guess, what? You’re not in college anymore, so please, please burn those flannel PJ pants and University sweatshirt. Conversely, you’re not a teenager anymore ( ahhh, the good ol’ days), so please keep your midriff and bum crack covered at all times. Your twenties are a perfect time to explore every style (classic, Goth, modern, feminine etc); and you lucky bitches still have the bod to pull off most looks. Experiment with color, fabric and style to find a look that is truly your own. I recommend playing with a few trends but mixing in some classic staples as well. For example, this fall, the boho look is making a strong comeback. Wear a boho print mini dress with black tights and peep-toe ankle booties, and top it off with a fitted cardigan. It’s a perfect balance of trendy meets classy.

30’s
By now, every woman should have her own signature style and know what she can and cannot wear. Perhaps you have learned that not everyone is meant to stuff themselves into skin tight jeans like a little sausage about to burst out of its casing. Highlight your best assets in a classy way. Love your gams? Wear a structured mini skirt with a blouse and leather jacket. Have fab cleavage? Show it off in a top with a plunging neckline, and wear fabulous high waisted jeans (Try Rich & Skinny’s, they’re amazing, you’ll instantly look 5 pounds slimmer). It’s all about proportion and rocking those assets you feel most comfortable with.

40’s
40 is the new 30 in my book. You just keep getting better with age, as should your style. Wear tailored pieces such as pencil skirts in lace (one of fall’s favorite fabrics) and a crisp white blouse. Mixing patterns in a subtle way is one of my favorite trends for ladies in their 40’s. Keep the 2 (or 3 for the hard core fashionistas) patterns in the same color family to keep the look more chic than clown-ish. Accessory wise, I think a lot of ladies date themselves by wearing just studs and a dainty necklace. You have many, many good years left my dears, so please stop accessorizing like your grandma. A chunky men’s watch looks gorgeous on a lady’s delicate wrist. Layer a few delicate necklaces, or bracelets; wear one giant and fab cocktail ring. Have fun with it!

50’s
No mid-life crisis here ladies; please don’t raid your daughter’s closet in attempt to look younger; you’re not fooling anyone. There is good news is though, you don’t have to dress like a nun. One mistake I see a lot of women making is hiding themselves under baggy layers to look smaller. This technique actaully has the opposite effect; it makes a body look bigger and dumpier. Keep your lines clean and fuss free. Try a wrap dress. it’s one of the most universally flattering looks a woman can wear. It nips you in at all the right places. Pencil skirts are a great look as well. Just pay attention to the hemline; keep it in one inch above or below the knee. Anything shorter looks a bit street-walker and anything longer visually cuts your leg in an unflattering place.

Okay ladies, I think I have given you some gems to work with here. Now, go try some of these looks and watch your style evolve.

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Comments

  1. Katie Skow says

    August 23, 2008 at 10:47 pm

    Amazing advice! Love the blog and can tell you have a knack for not only fashion, but writing. Keep up the good work!

    Reply
  2. Kristi Brooks, The Style Lab says

    August 24, 2008 at 4:40 am

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply
  3. liatsegal says

    August 24, 2008 at 4:45 am

    Wow…fanscinating. I am an almost 30 gal with worries about dressing for my age. I think your advice on portion and finding your own style really made sense. It’s nice and refreshing to get some good ol fashion honest advice from a girl who seems to know what she’s talking about!

    Reply
  4. alimwild says

    August 24, 2008 at 5:55 pm

    I got some great ideas here! Sometimes one can be overwhelmed by the trends that you forget what looks good on you, so thanks for laying the ground work and setting rules to dress by. I will be checking often to see what other “gems” you can give me!

    Reply
  5. sara says

    August 25, 2008 at 1:31 am

    Great blog!!! I often find myself hidden in a UofA sweatshirt and leggings, hiding my body (I am 25). But your tips were really insightful. I think it’s time to ditch the college clothes and let the inner diva shine through. Keep the advice coming.Signed,No more camouflaged co-eds here!

    Reply
  6. Katrina says

    August 25, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    Awesome Blog… I need all the fashion help I can get!

    Reply
  7. Steph says

    August 27, 2008 at 4:33 am

    Absolutely Brilliant!!Once I ditch that University sweatshirt I’ll be able to move on and I’m looking forward to it. The humor tied in with the valuable advice kept me reading on and on…Look forward to more advice.

    Reply
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