Dressing your Age: Women in 30s

A few days back, I was shopping at Macy's and I saw a women in late 30s. I am assuming her age as she had a 10 year old daughter. She picked up a lacy deep neck top and held it in front of her. I was like Nooo..., Please! It doesn't go with your age.

Yes, I agree, a number doesn't define your age. Your lifestyle and energy does. Yet, I am on of those women who still believes in age related fashion dictum. We need to be realistic about our changing body and the message we want to send at this stage of our life.
Now, you might be thinking, in a world where everyone from 9 to 90 wears jeans, what does "age appropriate" actually mean? Well, its a little tricky thing to figure out. And that's one reason, I see many women struggle through it. I do too sometimes.

Sharing with you all the best advices I have ever received. The goal is not to look OLDER than you did ten years ago. It is to look more polished, more aware of yourself, more confident.

1.  If you can picture your nineteen year old niece wearing it (dress/top), FORGET IT. She doesn't have the confidence you have yet, or the wisdom and experience.

2. Stop shopping in Junior Stores and the Teen section of department stores. PERIOD.

3. Too much cleavage show or skirts at your thighs is a big NO. You are young, but undoubtedly All Women. You have earned this title, so don't feel the need to prove that to anyone by showing it in their faces. Bring out the pearls. The stilettos.

4. NO graphic T- shirts please. If you have to, wear it with a cardigan. Like this...

5. NO crop tops, even if you have a super body, leave these shirts for younger folks.

6. NO Hoop earrings. Only high school girls can pull these off.

And now, some visuals. Women in 30s should look like these pretty and confident ladies...

Outfit from Ann Taylor

Outfit from Ann Taylor

Outfit from Gap

Outfit from Loft

from Nordstrom

From loft

And DEFINETLY NOT like these

Graphic Tees from Juicy Couture

This lacy outfit is for women is 20s

This deep neck dress from ASOS, is a NO

Leave mini skirts for juniors

No crop tops...

So, my friends in 30s, REMEMBER! We are expected to be a little more mature, and we should dress like it too. Hope you enjoyed this post. Comments are welcomed....:)

My Closet...(What I am wearing these days)

I am NOT a winter person. I don't really like cold weather. Thankfully, I don't have to be outside much, the cold breeze hitting my face, makes me sick. I absolutely absolutely love colors. And so you can say, another reason for disliking the cold weather. That being said, I try to make my life colorful and vibrant, through my clothes ( which you'll see as you scroll down) and through the interiors of my house, anyone who has visited my home will vouch for that.

Basically, I wear same thing mostly everyday; tops and jeans. I am not a shopaholic and own not too many clothes or shoes or accessories. Just a few basics, which I try to make it interesting with mixing and matching. When I shop, I try to buy clothes that go with my existing wardrobe and are not stand-alone pieces which I find difficult to pair them with anything.

Alright then, after a brief summary of my likes and dislikes, here's what I am wearing this winter:

1. I am in love with Cardigans. They go really well with jeans, skirts or even dresses. I would rather buy a cardigan in winters than any top, as the latter in any case gets hidden beneath the sweater or coat :)

 Same skirt, same top, different cardigan, different look!

 With a printed scarf and a plain scarf !

 2. Turtle necks: It hasn't been much cold lately, hence not many chances to wear turtlenecks.

3. My new pumps shoes. I am loving it. It makes any outfit look classy...well! only if you can walk in them ;-)

4. Sweater dresses. I never had a sweater dress. This year, I made sure I have one. Wear it with pump shoes or ankle boots, goes well with both.

5. And finally, Dark wash skinny jeans. I was never a fan of skinny jeans and honestly when it was introduced a few years back, I assumed it won't stay long. I was wrong. The popularity of the skinny jeans has only grown, to the point where those drainpipe legs have become something of a style staple. And since it's become a staple, I thought I should own one...:)

Fall Pieces Every Women Should Buy and Wear...

Have you started with your fall shopping yet? I personally don't like cold weather but when it comes to styling, I love it. With autumn approaching, I already know the boots and sweaters and coats that I will be taking out from my trunk... but there is always some room for fresh ones...Right, Ladies? :) I call it Fresh Fashion! So start picking up pieces now and get your fall wardrobe ready...My personal favorites are...

Something Orange!
Bold colors need not be restricted to summer fashion. With the leaves turning orange and eventually falling off, imagine how beautiful an orange outfit will look. And as they say "Orange is the new black", can go for anything orange. It could be a silk scarf, pencil skirt, cardigan, jacket or even sandals. Here are some pictures that I picked from internet just to give you an idea...

 

Knee high boots!

Boots look chic and go really well with dresses. Go for basic brown and black. Its best not to opt for any other color, as they itself make a powerful statement and giving it a bold color will defeat the purpose. 

 

Red Coat!

We all have black coat and jackets. Why not try red this season. Its such a beautiful and happy color. When winter becomes depressing, with everything white, the red coat will surely brighten up the day.

Jumpsuits!

Jumpsuits keep warm and cozy while giving a chic-cowgirl look. The black jumpsuit can be paired with a red cardigan or the denim jumpsuit with a turtleneck sweater. 

Bomber Jacket!

Being a classic fashion, it surely is an investment piece. Goes well with dresses or even jeans. I would go for a tailored one, not too bulky.

 

Plaid Woolen Skirt!

A plaid woolen skirt is an ultimate autumn essential. Whether sporting mini checks or over sized checks, its an ideal match for a cozy knit cable sweater along with tights and ankle boots. As I am writing this, I am already feeling like wearing it :)

 

So, as I conclude my article, I am also ready with my wish list and I am excited to buy it :) Do let me know what you think about this list and do share what are your fall favorites.... 

Photo courtesy:  Since I randomly picked pictures from google, so not sure of the source. If the picture belongs to you and need the credit to be mentioned, please email me at ra1980@gmail.com, I will be happy to incorporate the details. 

Never leave the house WITHOUT...

“I don't understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that's the day she has a date with destiny. And it's best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.”     - Coco Chanel.

I saw this quote and my instant reaction to it was " Absolutely" "Totally". I agree. Clothing, shoes, makeup and accessories have this crazy power to influence a girl's self esteem ( for that day). Our outfit is an extension of the awesome us, that we already are. Right?

I never leave the house without putting on these 3 things- Kajal, Lip gloss and Earrings. 

Without these things I look and feel unfinished. They are like icing on the cake of all awesomeness. These little extras show that you care, you take pride in your appearance. I don't wear bright lip gloss or huge earring, just a simple one does the trick. 

Its about so much more than looking pretty. Its about feeling good about yourself. 

Now, You wonderful ladies tell me "You never leave the house without.....". Do post a comment below. Would love to hear about your must haves.

Bold Summer Prints. Be Daring this Summer.

Two posts on bold colors! I couldn't resist... I've come across some beautiful things that I just had to share. The Red Dress Boutique in Downtown, Athens is celebrating the summer months with bold, bright and beautiful prints and here are a few of my favorites from their collection.

This summer season has seen an explosion of bold colors, bold prints and floral prints. Mixing these styles together to bring a truly vibrant look. Be daring this summer. I am loving it! :)

Photo credit: Pictures taken from their facebook page.

Go BOLD with COLORS. Be inspired.

I love bold colors. Not just for home decor, which you saw in one of my previous blog post, but in my closet as well. And summer is the perfect time to go bold and bright. My favorite brightest hues to a hot weather wardrobe are:

1. Turquoise : I don't think there is a better color to show off your love for summer. It is so cool.

2. Neon: Summer surely calls for something that really gets noticed. What a better way to crank up the color voltage with neon. To ensure it doesn't get too bold, I always wear it with something white.

3. Pastels: You can never go wrong with pastel colors. Its an all the time color.

4. Navy blue: I like this color in formal wear. It makes you chic.

5. Green and Tangerine: They make fun summer statement.

6. Red:  That's my favorite. Its such an empowering color and always boosts up my confidence.

7. Yellow: For me its a happy and cheerful color. I feel so happy whenever I see this color, be it in the garden or home. Its an epitome of spring and summer.

And now, showtime :))

Just came across this blog by Jeanette Scott on fun color combos to try out this summer, check it out for more ideas.

What NOT To Wear

A frumpy or scantily dressed Women always make me sad. I believe, Women are beautiful and they should dress the body they have and not the body they want. We all have potential to look amazing because we are amazing. I am not a fashionista, but I do have a sense of what not to wear in public.
The following are a big No, not even for grocery shopping. 

1. Leggings without a dress: Please don't get confused between leggings and pants. I see lot of women wearing leggings with a short shirt. If we see any part of your rear, you have gone too far.

2. Crocs: I fail to understand why these are so popular. They look so ugly with weird colors. Grown-ups should wear real shoes. And why wear them at work? Work is supposed to be a serious affair and crocs shows how casual you are to your work.

3. Tight T-shirts: Or undersized T shirts. We don't want to see every roll in your body. I see lot of young girls opting for an undersized shirt and then keep pulling them down. Come on, they don't make you beautiful, they just take away beauty from you.

4. Nightgowns: Some may disagree from me, but I dislike nightgowns. They are clumsy and uncomfortable to sleep. Opt for a PJ pant instead, but please don't wear them outside either.

5. Oversized sweatshirts : They look like a blanket in which you can swim. Sleeves long and hanging down and girls pulling down even harder to cover the fingers. They could be comfortable but they don't flatter the figure at all.

6. Short shorts : They are inappropriate and give wrong ideas to people. Shorts look nice when they cover up your butt and in front its not all bunched up.Irrespective of how hot it is outside, shorter shorts won't help.

Dress well, Ladies! Get Pretty, girls!!