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Get Your Midlife Style Back

Today, I am welcoming my friend Cathy Lawdanski to share a guest post on how to get your midlife style back.

Fashion and design have always come natural to me. That’s why I started fashion blogging to motivate other women over 40 to find their own personal style and the confidence that comes with it.

I met Cathy from My Side Of 50 through a mutual social media group. I have enjoyed watching her recapture her style confidence over the last several months, so I asked her to share some lessons she’s learned to get her style back in midlife.


In September 2015, it seemed like all of a sudden I had gained a bunch of weight and NOTHING in my closet fit. I’d come off a rough year and done a lot of emotional eating and was able to be in denial about my weight gain by wearing some really comfy, stretchy Ann Taylor shorts all summer!

Get Your Midlife Style Back

I used to dress really stylishly. I had no problem finding clothes that fit and putting together outfits. But as I got older, and my size changed, it wasn’t as easy to find clothes that made me feel confident and put together. It seemed that I had totally lost my sense of style.

With the help of some of my favorite fashion bloggers, I learned some great tips that are helping me re-discover my sense of fashion and personal style.

get your midlife style back

Get Your Midlife Style Back

• Wear clothes that fit NOW.

For me, that meant cleaning out my closet and getting rid of the clothes that no longer fit. No more waiting until “I lost the weight” and might wear it again. If it didn’t fit, it was gone. I found that very freeing.

• Buy clothes that fit and flatter your body NOW!

After gaining weight, the temptation was to not buy one thing until “I got the weight off!” If I stuck by that rule, I would have had about two outfits that I could wear and those would have fit very snuggly!

• Loose and baggy clothes don’t necessarily hide weight gain.

Some people look great in loose-fitting flowy tops. When I see pictures of me in those types of tops, I feel like I look bigger. Tailored clothes that aren’t too snug look best on me.

• Find a good tailor

Every store has so many different styles and fits these days. It’s not always easy to walk into a store and find something that fits perfectly. That’s where a tailor comes in. If you find a piece that is a good investment piece that needs some altering to make it fit just right, take it to a tailor. A tailor is an added expense, so I only utilize this on pieces that I plan to wear for a long time!

• Invest in good basics in solid colors that are flattering.

High quality slacks, ¾ length tees, a good white blouse. You can create all kinds of looks from these basics by mixing and matching with more “trendy” pieces and accessories.

• Shop the sales for trendy pieces.

This will keep your basics updated and you won’t break the bank on things that are no longer “on trend” in a year or so.

Has your sense of style changed as you’ve reached midlife? What do you do differently now?

Cathy Lawdanski - My Side Of 50

 

Cathy Lawdanski is the blogger behind My Side Of 50.

 

20 Comments

  1. Great post, Cathy. Why not dress for who you are today! Love it. And love the tip to get the trendy pieces on sale. We all need that boost, but it fades far too quickly!

  2. Valerie says:

    Am late in reading this, have enjoyed Cathy’s post with great/very useful tips! So easy to turn to loose fitting clothing or baggy tops when we feel ‘big’, but its right, this style of dressing can make us look bigger (depending on our shape and height, etc).

    • Shellie Bowdoin says:

      Yes Valerie, the best rule of thumb is to find clothes that skim our bodies, rather than swallow them. Thanks for stopping by!

  3. Great tips. I have found as I have aged and my body shape has changed it is harder and harder to dress stylishly. I spend lots of money on clothes but still can look in my closet and think I have nothing to wear. lol I love flowy tops and skinny pants and will buy them but then get a look at myself in a mirror and shake my head. lol

    • Shellie Bowdoin says:

      I don’t think the flowing top/skinny jean midlife “uniform” necessarily works for all body shapes. You may be one who looks better in more structured button-up tops.

  4. Leslie says:

    Great tips and gosh, you have pretty eyes.

  5. Great tips! Dressing the body you have now is so important! It’s pretty much impossible to have a great day when your clothes don’t fit right!

  6. Great advice and she is one stylish lady!

    Thank you for being a part of TBT Fashion link up and hope to see you soon!

    Alice
    http://www.happinessatmidlife.com

  7. Very nice post Cathy, I am the same, I love the look of flowing tops and dresses, I pt them on and look like a mountain.

  8. Rosemond says:

    So totally agree, get clothes that fit and flatter you now. Wear stylish clothes that flatter the body you have now. I sometimes break into that rut of “well, when I lose a few pounds…” no, wear a great outfit and feel good about yourself now. If I’m up a few pounds a cute stylish outfit makes me feel so much better. A new scarf, cute shoes, a fun necklace. It just makes me feel better about ME!

  9. Dawn Lucy says:

    Thanks for introducing us to Cathy! And thanks so much for linking up with Fun Fashion Friday!

    OXOX
    Dawn Lucy

    http://fashionshouldbefun.blogspot.com

  10. Glenda says:

    Great tips from Cathy. I especially agree with her statement about the myth of wearing over sized clothes to hide weight gain…it actually makes a person look larger.

  11. Nicole says:

    Thanks for linking up to Top of the World Style

  12. Sherry says:

    Cathy, you look amazing! Those are some great tips and so true. We seem to find the biggest clothes when we are not in our best shape. Great post!

  13. Good ideas Cathy. I love those loose flowy tops but when I wear them my bust is so big I look like I have on a tent, not flattering at all. I have been about the same weight now for a couple of years so I don’t think I am going to be any smaller so getting rid of what doesn’t fit makes sense. I do my own tailoring though, so that does help.

  14. Great ideas Cathy! Enjoyed your post!