What You Should Wear Over 60
Happy Thursday, ladies! Thank you for joining me as I discuss what you should wear over 60.
Yes, I am returning to this topic again of what you should wear over 60….and it is not complicated at all.
Basically, I want all of you who join me in the over 60 group to have fun with your clothing, and to be confident and feel like your unique self every time you you look in the mirror.
Recently, some of our new subscribers asked questions which all sounded similar to this statement:
Tell me what to wear over 60? I hate my clothes and do not know what to wear at this stage of life.
I promise that if you will listen to what I have been doing for over 8 years, it will help and you will like your clothes again.
Also, there are women who read this blog and have joined me with dressing with style adjectives and can attest to the fact that it works.
So, let’s once again discuss it…and remember…I am hear to help…ask any question that you like….
WHAT YOU SHOULD WEAR OVER 60: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY?
Years ago, after I went through a re-invention at age 50, I began to struggle with the question…what should I wear?
Many fashion publications and blogs encourage women to pick one word…classic, preppy, bohemian, feminine, and on and on.
But, I did not feel like one word described any woman…we are complex and that is a good thing. Then I saw this quote from designer Rachel Zoe and it resonated deeply with me.
I am a communications major and that has been my professional world so understanding that our clothing sent a message before we said a word really made sense.
After much research and note taking on my closet and my world at that time, I developed five adjectives that I wanted to speak to the world with every outfit I wore and without saying a word.
Five made sense to me as well…some of you prefer three. But, I look in the mirror every day and ask…Does this outfit speak all five of my adjectives? If it does, I smile and go out with confidence!
I understand that being over 60 is a challenging time for many wardrobes.
Many are retiring from professional life, and want to look casual but put together.
Many want their clothing to say…I am HERE! But, some want their clothing to say, I am resting.
You must first decide WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR CLOTHING TO TELL THE WORLD ABOUT YOU WITHOUT SPEAKING A WORD?
WHAT YOU SHOULD WEAR OVER 60: WHAT I WANT TO SAY
This is what I wore to my Bible Study yesterday…where there are over 400 women, and the over 60 group looks vibrant and amazing.
My five style adjectives are polished, creative, approachable, joyful and current. This is what I want the world to see when I am met by someone who does not know me.
The outfit I wore yesterday was built by pieces that have been in my wardrobe for a couple of years.
Here is what I see when I am looking for the style adjectives I want to communicate:
- POLISHED – do I look put together and intentional…do I look like I care about what I am wearing. (here is where I am often a little bit classic)
- CREATIVE – do I say that I am creative with my color and accessory choices (I love style and a little drama). (here is where I am often a little bit bohemian)
- APPROACHABLE – am I wearing clothing that encourage others to speak to me. (here is where I am a little bolder and not demur)
- JOYFUL – does my outfit make me smile, and even make others smile a long with me. (here is where I am bright and colorful…and not afraid to standout)
- CURRENT – do I look youthful and current (I wore wide leg cropped pants for my current touch yesterday…and there were so many ladies over 60 in wide leg, flowy pants). (here is where I am a little bit fashion forward)
If I see all five of these adjectives communicated in what I have on, then I have achieved Pamela – Style.
A complex woman with many sides….and it is possible to say it all in one wardrobe or outfit.
One note: I have tweaked my style adjectives over the years as I have gone from professional woman to semi-retired active Gigi.
As a professional woman, my adjectives were strong, chic, dramatic, current and savvy.
I have lived with my new list for a few years and with a wardrobe that reflects all of them.
I have written about this for years and there are several posts, but the most recent is HOW TO MAKE PERSONAL STYLE…PERSONAL.
And, like I wrote in the post:
I created this Pamela-style shopping at Goodwill, Ross, Marshalls, and thrift stores…you do not have to spend much.
Once you decide your five adjectives and stick with them…you will have so much fun shopping for the garments that say those words.
WHAT YOU SHOULD WEAR OVER 60: WHERE TO BEGIN
No matter where you find yourself over 60, decide first what you want to tell the world about you every time you leave the house.
Write down as many adjectives that you want to communicate about you…the list can be as long as you want.
Then, go back and do some editing…circle the ones that are most important to you.
Perhaps you want to tell the world that you are active, bold, comfortable, youthful, and fun.
Or you may want to tell the world that you are simple, minimalist, demur, feminine, and elegant.
Whatever your five adjectives, then post them in your closet or wherever you dress…every time you leave the house wear an outfit that says you are speaking those five adjectives.
THE KEY TO THIS IS CONSISTENCY!
Take out of your wardrobe ANY and ALL garments that do not communicate these adjectives…if you are elegant and refined, then sloppy clothes need to go….unless you need them to work in the garden!
Take your adjectives with you (in your phone) when you shop and do not purchase anything that speaks other than your five words. In the mirror, ask…does this say all five of my words?
The goal here is to be UNIQUELY YOU…not someone else. To be confident over 60 and enjoy life. Stick to your unique style adjectives.
I have done this for so long, that friends and blog followers often send me ideas that they say are Pamela-Style…they know who I am without speaking a word.
So this is where to begin…let me know if you need assistance or if you have questions. Tomorrow, I will discuss accessories once your know your style adjectives.
I am not here to create clones or tell you to copy what I do. I am here to encourage you to be uniquely you and be confident…because it will make you smile.
Over 60 is a fun time of life…I know it has been for me…come join in the fun. I would love to hear some of your style adjectives over 60 if anyone wants to share.
And you are welcome to email me if you prefer that to commenting…[email protected].
I will see you tomorrow…all those who have cried out for help, let’s talk…and make sure that you…
ARE THANKFUL AND KEEP SMILING!!
By Pamela Lutrell
For all your shopping, please use the links on my SHOPPING PAGE…thank you, thank you to all who shop this way and show support for this blog. It means the world.
Love your thoughts on dressing over 50/ How about over 80? I am 83 and still love clothes and accessories. Even tho it may be a stay at home day I still enjoy putting myself together. It is still important to me and I refuse to disappear!
What a great message, Pam. You helped me with my style adjectives years ago, and it has helped me so much. it’s a double bonus. You feel good about yourself and also show the world who you are.
Good for you, Mary Ann! I also refuse to disappear at age 72. I plan that no matter how old I get to always use my style adjectives to get dressed every day and communicate to the world who I am. So glad you are here.
So true, Marcia…a double bonus!
I have been retired 2 years and still having trouble letting go of all those great clothes I used to wear to work. I am repurposing them and keeping or tossing but it is painful!
I am over 80 and love shopping for new current clothing. Not over the top but I want the world to know that I am still engaged in life and in style. I have many friends in their 80s and 90s who still enjoy making the effort to look put together.
I am exactly the same way, Nyla. I did send along some pieces I wish I had kept, so do not glean too quickly. Those were pieces that I now know I would wear for different circumstances in this time of my life….even with jeans. I like a polished, chic casual style occasionally. So really think hard and long before you clean out too quickly.
I’m in total agreement that Pam’s adjectives work. I try to think of my own with every purchase, even basics to the extent that’s possible (if you imagine jeans styles, you can see it is). One thing I’d point out is that some style adjectives can be in juxtaposition to each other: for example, my own polished plus casual adjectives. At first glance, they don’t mix, but it’s a reminder to me that I’m retired, and some of the fashion I’m drawn to just isn’t practical for my new life. The adjectives are also helpful when zipping through the sale rack, where you are drawn to something primarily by price. I’ve done much better with leaving things that don’t suit me by keeping in mind the adjectives. I enjoyed that miniseries you were doing for a while where you would post a picture and people would identify the model’s style adjectives.
I think I will always be like you, Stephanie and I meet so many women in their 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond who still shop, and style their looks and get their hair and nails done. It really affects our attitudes in positive ways when we do.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with the adjectives, Linda. Dressing this way will save time and money!
Style adjectives do help a lot. I know when I wear something I feel comfortable in I feel much better about myself. More confident and especially not frumpy. When I see something on someone that I like and try to copy what they are wearing it usually doesn’t turn out very good. Especially if it is a totally different look that is not me.
Looking forward to the accessories!
We all do that, Paula…we try to emulate a mannequin or influencer or celebrity…rather than ponder what we want to tell the world about us and how unique we are. The style adjectives help us to be ourselves and feel good about it.
I agree that the style adjectives work. You don’t have to have five. I only have four, & I thought hard & was brutally honest with myself when adopting them. I think that being honest with yourself is huge. We sometimes get caught up in what we think should be the right answer & not what we really think deep down. There is no right or wrong answer only your answer. Another thing to remember, just because someone else says “I would never wear that” doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. If you feel confident in it, go for it!
Pamela, that was a great refresher post. I particularly liked how you expressed your adjectival leanings- perhaps more classic one day, boho another. Your expansion on what your adjectives mean to you allowed me to recognize how I might feel more classic OR more minimalist OR more tomboyish/gamine, and more importantly, it is fine. It allows for the fun and creativity of dressing, despite our age. I love my adjectives. You gave me a good start with mine. Along with my color palette, they allow me to shop more succinctly and use compatibility for the clothing living in my closet. I open it up and they speak to me!
I wish I had by style adjectives in place when I ditched my black & white. I bought too many items strictly because they were my best colors. Especially when I had seen them on someone else. As you can guess I never felt comfortable wearing some of those items. I have donated most of them by now. I need to get the rest of them out of my closet and forget about the wasted $. I’m more careful now. I also learned to reject certain styles like dropped shoulders and other styles that were unflattering. I didn’t feel good wearing them.
Thanks for your post today. I did adopt the practice of adjectives sometime ago thanks to you. I have edited them along the way.
Great advice, Becky!
It’s such a great feeling when we can look in our closets and smile!
Thanks for sharing, Kathie!
Pick the ones you want to stand by Audrey. Then use them consistently.
I don’t know if Kathie will see this. I found her comment interesting because I too feel that someone the clothes that I purchased at first were for color. I now am looking at style (which are often tied to the adjectives) more carefully. I am casual but want a more fitted style with quality clothing. Evolution!
Thanks to Pam for this very helpful refresher course! For any of Pam’s newer readers, I just wanted to encourage you to do the work to figure out your adjectives. As Linda LM expressed so well, sometimes it may feel like two of our adjectives don’t play well together, but we don’t always want to look the same in different situations. For example, today I wore a more classic outfit (what I now call grownup clothes in retirement) for a meeting with a bank. Tomorrow I’ll be in Gigi mode, taking my grandson to ride the train at the zoo, so a completely different vibe. But having both options in my closet makes it work for me, and that’s all that matters. I would also encourage new readers to find Pam’s posts on wearing your best colors and adopting that strategy, as well. Using both of these methods has helped me work toward my goal of fewer but better clothes in my downsized closets. Soon the only items left in my primary closet will be those that fit today’s body, that flatter my build and coloring, and that express my style adjectives. I look forward to being able to choose anything hanging there and know I can put it on and wear it immediately.
It seems the team Mrs I have made for color only and not with my adjectives, it has always been a mistake. I recommend asking does this say about me what I want to say first…then color!
Thanks for sharing, Lorri!