I'm a 50 Year Old Petite Apple Shape Looking For a Formal Dress

by Diane
(No. California)

I will be attending a formal fundraiser in So. California this summer with a tropical theme. I'd love to wear a dress, but hate to bare my upper arms. Everything I've seen is either too bare, or not very fun. Any advice?

Hi Diane, I would suggest a regular long sleeved or wide sleeved (kimono) wrap dress with a nipped or empire waist which help skim past your apple waist as well as cover up your arms.

You'll look fashionable and age-appropriate in these two styles. So when shopping for a dress, look for something similar to these two dresses:

1, 2 or this dress from Bluefly


Hope this helps!

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Wearing Trashion Trend If You're Over 50

by Ruth Brown
(North East, PA)

I just turned 55. I absolutely adore the "trashion" trend of recycling old clothing into new.

How can I pull this off without looking like the looney old lady down the road?


Ruth, this one is a bit of tough one as I'm not too familiar with the eco-friendly 'trashion' trend. But I do know that no matter what trend you want to follow, you should always keep it balanced and toned down, and at your age, this is very important to avoid looking like a looney :-)

Here are some tips on how to keep your 'trashion' outfits balanced and appropriate for your age:

How to Customize the 'Trashion' Look for Your Age

Even it out by breaking it up with a basic, solid color.
If you're wearing a frilly skirt and blouse and you might want to tone it down with a pair of simple, brown boots, a solid colored bag and maybe a vest or cardigan.

Wear a solid colored piece that streamlines the colors in your outfit.
That means if you're wearing a patchwork blouse, choose one of the colors in the blouse and wear it as a skirt. Like for example if the top has brown in it, opt for a solid colored brown skirt or pants.

If a 'trashion' outfit requires you to wear lots of prints.
Make sure the prints compliment the dimensions of your body to avoid swallowing you up or making you look heavy. So if you're petite and average/or skinny stick to small to medium sized prints. If you're petite and plus-size stick to medium to large prints that stretch vertically. If you're a full-figure with an average-tall height opt for bigger prints.

For more fashion advice and resources regarding your question please visit these links:

• How to Mix Patterns and Textures
• How to Select Fashion Trends That Flatter Your Style
• How to Wear Fashion Trends
• It's a trend on the rise: Creating new clothes from used items
• Trashion Fashion Inspiration Blog

Hope this helps!

Kind regards,

Products you may be interested in:

Your 24/7 Private Stylist

Affordable Color Analysis

Quality Color Swatches

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