Are you an eighties girl? If you were around in the 80’s you might be trying to figure out what is best to wear in your 40’s and 50’s? To me this decade would encompass those of us who were in high school during this time, and little fashionistas who were rocking out cut out sweatshirts (thank you Madonna) in their elementary school years. As most decades do, the eighties had super recognizable outfits. They left their mark on a generation of photos and on us. We can learn from some of the styles of the past, some great and some not so good.
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So here is one of the statements I hear all the time.
“I wore that in the eighties, so I can’t do that again”
Well said, as long as you are talking about the stirrup pants that I was quite enamored with or the genie pants that started out wide at the hip and tapered down real slim at the ankle and cost 6- at Barbara Moss. But otherwise why not?
Most things when they do come back around have some improvements to the cut and style. hopefully the fit is now much better and the piece is more flattering. It’s not the exact item that we wore back then. So it’s ok if you see a sweater dress or a fake fur that you love. Even if it reminds you a little of something you wore in the past. If you made it your own back then, there might be something similar that would work now. The same piece in a neutral color and a sleek style makes any style more flattering to wear in your 40’s and 50’s.
Your Personal Style!
Your personal style will always look great if it is well-defined. Check out my post with a style sheet to help you create a wardrobe you will love!
This leads me to the second thing we need to stop saying.
I should have saved it, everything comes back around!
Yes it does! However usually with some tweaks and fixes to the style. Really though, how many things hold their shape, cost enough to justify saving and fit well through the years? I know there are classic items that do. An amazing leather jacket maybe or a beautiful scarf, but otherwise not so much.
However, we could take what we learned from those early fashion decisions and apply them to our current style. For me, I have some thoughts on the first statement. Usually the things you wore early on help you determine what you like and don’t like and set up your own personal style.
In high school I had a slightly muted pink angora cowl neck sweater. I know, you are thinking wow that is a lot of style to fit into one piece lol. I could not wait for the calendar week to pass so that I could wear it again. The one thing I learned was that the general style of the piece worked for me.
Last fall I bought 2 modified cowl neck sweaters. One dark grey and one cream. They were great staples and will probably last since I won’t wear them quite as often as when I was 15, lol. So we adapt our styles. The items that we love might actually have some similarity to ones we wore in the past.
What to wear in your 40’s and 50’s
This season has brought some great items that might remind you of something you have worn in the past. Using basic pieces that are sleek and fit well is a great foundation. Fit is so important especially when considering what to wear in your 40’s and 50’s. For your accent pieces add in this year’s colors of pistachio, bright orange and shades of purple. As always, spend more on your basics and opt for less pricey trendy pieces.
Puff Sleeve Tops
Always super comfortable, but flattering too. This casual piece can be dressed up with a necklace and some nice jeans or worn with your ponte leggings. Super cute ones at Anthropologie.
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Ponchos
Pulling together an otherwise simple outfit, the poncho adds a little bit of style to your fall season. Select one carefully with arms that don’t get in your way. If you are like me and less than 5’5 or 5”6 keep the poncho length in mind, they do sometimes come in petite. This can work for you if you want the looseness of the poncho but still want the long leg look. Nice ponchos at Chicos in a few colors.
Etsy has nice, hand made ponchos. This one is nice as an accent and works as a scarf too. Not too warm and great for those early fall days.
Ponte Pants
Yes, these have been around for a few years. This year with new styles and colors. This pair is my new favorite, I love them for travel because they are great with a hoodie or a nice top. I did size up from my usual 4 in a pant to an 8.
Ankle Boots
The selection has improved this year! All kinds of color, pattern and texture are shown. Use this piece to take your look up a notch. This year you should be able to find a pair to reflect your individual style. Check out Dsw for cute options.
Make it your own!
The good news is we didn’t save any of those items from our 1980’s closets, so it’s time to go shopping! Use what you have learned in the past, look for styles that you know you love. Take what you know about your personal style with you as you look for your new favorite pieces. If you are ready to get a fresh start and clean out the closet, read my post which includes a style sheet! Have fun and laugh a little the next time you hear yourself saying our two phrases.
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