There is a lot of contradictory information available on women over 50 dressing in color. Bloggers, social media peeps, and the print media can’t seem to agree if we should embrace color or abhor it. Is your closet a sea of neutral or do you favor more color? I like to visit both camps with restrictions. This month in our Style Edit Over 50 Jennifer and I are talking about color! Let’s take a look at my Six Tips for Looking Chic and Confident in Color after 50.
It’s no mystery I am a fan of the red lipstick, and I do enjoy a pop of red in my wardrobe now and then. My lifestyle is such that I dress casually 90% of the time. This time of year (if it ever warms up) I wear a lot of linen and cotton. I tend to keep my jewelry and accessories simpler and more lightweight for summer.
Six Tips for Looking Chic and Confident after 50
Wear Colors that Compliment your Skin Tone
Before I had totally white hair I quit wearing one of my best colors citron. My hair has a tendency to yellow so I avoided it. I finally decided with a red lip and brighter makeup it might work. In researching this post I read that many people think color draws attention to wrinkles and others swear black and neutral colors are aging. Fashion can be relative. Let’s talk about how to wear color.
Here I am wearing linen pants from J Jill (size XS) with a button down shirt from Anthro (small) and Laidback London Sandals (laid back london sandals on ebay here, an Etsy bag and a very old straw hat.
SHOP THE LOOK
WEAR A COLUMN OF COLOR
Wear a column of color in one of your favorite shades. I love J Jill’s linen collection. Here I am wearing the linen shirt and pants which I love in an XS.
SHOP THE LOOK
Here I am wearing the shirt dress in the same color with the linen pants. This collection is available in several colors.
SHOP THE LOOK
ADD A POP OF COLOR
I love a pop of red if it has just the right amount of blue in it. Before my hair was silver (very dark brown) I wore reds with more brown in them, and I wouldn’t dare wear cerise. I am wearing a cerise shirt from Anthro here with the Zara maxi skirt that you can find hhttps://c8.is/42uc4gkere (size small)
SHOP THE LOOK
In this ensemble, I am wearing a great Zara dress (size small) with red sneaks and bag. This dress is very similar to a more expensive dress for less. I am not totally on board with the sneakers and dress thing, but I get why people love the look so much. This would be a great travel outfit. You can purchase the Zara dress here. Both of these dresses are 100% cotton.
SHOP THE LOOK
Here I am wearing an Eileen Fisher t-shirt dress in an XS, an older MJ Wallace bag, and my Gap jean jacket (old). Similar bag linked below.
SHOP THE POST
KEEP PATTERN TO A MINIMUM
Too much pattern and color can make us look like we are trying too hard. I admittedly do not wear a lot of pattern. I know pattern is popular now and many of you love it. This great Zara dress (that you can find here in size small) is totally out of my wheelhouse but it is really darling. I am not sure it is great on me, I am a little short for it, but it is a darling dress. I find if dresses are a little off in length ankle sandals help.
SHOP THE LOOK
Love this Zara skirt (you can find here) with a simple linen shirt. I am wearing a size small in the skirt and a size 6 in the shirt. This is an outfit I would wear all summer long.
SHOP THE LOOK
This is another Zara dress that is a knock-off of a more expensive version. I don’t usually wear this much pattern but here I am keeping it simple with neutral accessories. This is also a small.
SHOP THE LOOK
COMBINE TWO COMPLIMENTARY COLORS
Here I am wearing my favorite Bryn Walker Casbah pant (here at Maison Marianne) with an Aunti Oti shirt also available from Marianne. This is one of my favorite color combinations. These pants are super flattering. Whenever I wear them young and old approach me and ask where they are from. The sandals are older Laidback London. You can find similar on eBay here.
SHOP THE LOOK
WEAR COLORFUL ACCESSORIES
Here I am combining a blue/gray button down Aunti Otie blouse (you can find at maison marianne in San Luis Obispo) with red linen pants (also complimentary colors on the color wheel) and Artemis Design Co shoes. and a colorful necklace.
SHOP THE LOOK
Here are some articles that you may find helpful:
Town and Country Fashion Trends for Women Over 50
Myths on What Mature Women Should and Should Not Wear
What to Wear With Gray Hair-Revolutionary Gray
Thank you for reading Six Tips for Looking Chic and Confident in Color after 50. You can read our last Over 50 Style Edit 10 Fresh Ways to Style Black and White here, and the previous edit How to Create Multiple Outfits from a Capsule Wardrobe here.
How do you feel about color in your wardrobe? Do you subscribe to the words of celebrity fashion stylist Andrew Gelwicks “ It’s sophisticated and young but not immature or obnoxious.” Here is a little quiz for you. Which of the above looks do you think is my fave and which is yours?
Let’s pop over and visit Jennifer to see what she is sharing today. Jennifer is one of the best “educators” of over 50 style. You can learn a lot from her.
A WELL STYLED LIFE
Great post as usual! I haven’t had my colors formally done but I’ve done a few online and always show up as “light/cool summer” so my colors are pretty limited but when I wear them they really pop (think LILAC, PERIWINKLE, ICE BLUE, etc.). Here is a great website where you upload a picture of yourself and a few clicks later it determines your Color Palette. You can then download your color palette to your phone and carry it with you!
https://colorwise.me/self-analysis
It’s fun too 🙂
Hi Valletta
Now that sounds like fun! Thank you for sharing!
These outfits are all so great. I especially love the citrine-colored matching top and pants. The sandals are so versatile. Excellent job. I’m ready for a little more color in my closet.
Karen B.
Hi Karen
I am working on it!
I love your post and your fashion style,I save all your post on Pinterest,your style helps me with my choices of what goes together,some time I will deviate and put my own spin on it, but you give me a start.thank you and keep them coming.Take care
Hi Eva
I am so happy to hear that. Thank you so much.
Hi Cindy,
Love your style! You always look wonderfully chic. I’m also on the shorter side – 5’3″. I’m wondering if you have all these long skirts, maxi dresses and wide leg pants hemmed? They seem to be hitting you at just the right place, but whenever I buy something like this, my first stop is the tailors.
Hi Judy
I do not have anything hemmed. Most of the things I purchase are actually midi’s but end up being more of a maxi because I am 5’4. I ordered the beautiful silk pants from Zara and they were too long. Back they went!
I always love your fashion and home decor posts! Any advice for my young niece who is an aspiring interior designer?
Thank you!
Hi NC Sue
Oh my I retired from that during covid, the supply issues began to drive me crazy. I love design, but now I focus on my own home. If she has recently graduated from college I would suggest trying to get an internship with a good designer. Good Luck to her!
Thanks for your posts. I would not have thought of combining gray with the bright pink, but I like it. I also like the casbah pants.
Hi Nan
I love the Casbah pants and I would not have tried them if it weren’t for Marianne at Maison Marianne. I intend to purchase a black pair as well. They are so cool and comfy in Summer if we ever have any!!
You look great in all the outfits! Looking forward to your next Indiana visit!
Hi Mary!
Looking forward to seeing you guys! Laura and Mark were just here recently and we had a great time!
I’m so glad I found your blog. There’s barely a post I haven’t learned something from which is a credit to you.
Love your cerise and citron options as I do love a bit of colour. I’m 71, a blonde going white and whilst we are in the depths of winter here and I am mostly in neutrals, it’s lovely to have a colour day. Mostly for me it’s a particular shade of orange (or red) but if we can get the cerise and citron here in our summer, I’m in.
I never wear dresses and skirts – I’m 5 foot 3 and shrinking but still have a waist, so I might as well show it while its there. One day it may not be. Besides, I’m very active and all the folds of fabric would be a danger to me and to my dog so pants and derivations thereof it is.
Thank you once again…
Hi Prue
I rarely wear dresses or skirts but I do enjoy them now and again in the Summer. Show your waist while you can!
Dear Cindy,
I also love the citron color…it adds such a pop of color which I use over neutrals. I also love the Zara dress…it is the hippie in me that likes that but it would wear me….not the other way around. I adore your posts.
Hi Deborah
I just love citron, and I love it combined with purple. I have a hard time with dresses as well. I have to be careful of the same thing!
Cindy I think you look amazing in every look but my favorite is the blue/black and white with the red accents. I ordered the same dress, I hope it looks as beautiful on me!
I am guessing that your favorite look is the first one!
Hi Elizabeth
I just went to Zara with my daughter yesterday and she bought the dress and it looks fabulous on her as well. She wore it to a party last night.
Hi Cindy-
I’ve been a devoted fan for a long time but this is my 1st comment. You are radiant in color! I love the boho anthro blue/rust dress on you. I am 72 yr, 5’2″, 130 lbs, wear classic styles most often. I love color and wear what makes me feel confident. Could you give some tips on dressing for short waisted (& larger busted women)? I would like to tie blouses @ the waist to help some waist definition but am having trouble getting the correct blouse shape/length to achieve this!
Thank you for sharing your knowlege, your family, your home. I love all of your blog!
Pat
Hi Pat
I really like the J Crew Baird McNutt linen shirt for tying or tucking. I find it to be the most flattering for me. It has more of a classic style. I am about your size but an inch taller and long waisted. I order a tall if I can. I also think the J Jill linen shirt that I featured is perfect as well. It doesn’t have too much bulk.
P.S
Thank you so much for commmenting and please continue to do so. I know there are many others who share the same issues!!
Hello – I am so glad I found your blog because I love your style! I love this post and particularly appreciated the recent “sensible” sandals one as well. I’m wondering if you would be willing to consider a post on jewelry – not the thin gold kind but the more “statement” types of jewelry, like some of the horn materials that I’ve seen you wear in other posts. Finding jewelry is a particular pain point for me because I want it to be light but also somewhat substantial! Thank you!
Hi Nancy
Yes I would. I did one last year and plan to update it with new information!
This was a terrific post. I love color, and I think at almost 70 color looks better on me than neutrals. I have started buying a lot of clothes at J Jill. I do not wear tennis shoes with dresses. I was wondering about wearing a t-shirt under a sleeveless dress. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Hi Kathy
Check out Tamera Beardsley. She has great style and wears t shirts under dresses all the time. I have done it as well.
Cindy! Your creative ways to wear color are inspirational. Thank you for your incredible research resulting in amazing possibilities.
How wonderful you found a way to wear citron now that your hair is silver. You look fabulous in the column and in the linen dress. You wear the Zara green and white beautifully nudging me to be a bit more adventurous. Which is your favorite?
Diney on Mercer Island
Hi Diney!
I love the J Jill separates, love the citron and purple and the zara skirt and white shirt!
Wow! I love everything…now, all I need is one of each!
Hi Debbie
I do think Zara has upped their game.
Great looks all around. I am really working at getting away from black and white although they are good tones for me. I have the J.Jill linen shirt dress in the green and it is a wonderful dress, lightweight and breezy. Could not resist the Zara green/white print dress…hope it is not too tent like.
Hi Susan
I went with my daughter yesterday and she bought that dress and loved it. I don’t think you will find it to be at all. I think Zara has finally gotten more consistent with their sizing as well.
Wow Cindy
You outdid yourself. I really like that you tried different looks and colors! The colorful boho dress looks out of your normal wheelhouse but it works. It looks very California Chic. That said I love dresses like that but usually feel I’m swimming in them. As a girl I was forced to wear dresses and was frustrated that it limited me from riding a bike or climbing a tree. Even when hippie dresses came along in college I managed to only buy one. That said I think I agree with you that pants are what I reach for most. But that long Zara skirt with the fuchsia blouse just knocks it out of the ballpark. And funny thing, I just got a wild bold citrine pair of cropped pants and it’s now my favorite color. So I really like how you went for pairing the citrine top and bottoms as a column of color. Now that I’m about 1/4 of the way through growing out my gray hair I’m finding some clothing doesn’t look as good anymore. You and I have very similar coloring so you are my canary in a coal mine. Thank you for this post. Really made my day!!
Hi Leslie
You are right definitely out of my wheelhouse but I try to occasionally do that! I am so happy that I am your canary in a coal mine! I feel like we are friends who have never met!
I love color, especially since my hair has been white. I’m so fair skinned that beige makes me disappear. Black and white are great, but a pop of color will really make the outfit. Thanks for this post!
Dear Cindy
I love this article so much! So many fun and unique color combinations that I wouldn’t have thought of! My hair is the same color and cut as your’s – and the bright colors are a great compliment!! Thanks for inspiring me to think outside of the black and white box! I think your favorite combination might be the green pants with the purple shirt! You look happy, hip, and beautiful!
Anna from Arizona!
You called it Anna!!
I like all of the looks very much. If I had to choose one for a guess I would pick the cerise shirt from Anthro and the Zara skirt. Very attractive but then so are the others. Hard to pick.
Hi Linda
Good call! Love that shirt, and both of the zara skirts!!
Ok, I’ll take your quiz challenge. I think your fav is one of the J Jill ensembles in chartreuse and I love that color on you also. My least fav are the 2 Zara dresses, black (or maybe it’s navy) and white patterned and dark green and white patterned. I don’t see “you” in either. I also don’t think the color of the Auntie Odie blouse does you any favors. You actually can pull off the boho look of the one that you say is out of your wheelhouse but with those sandals, it’s a cute look. My second fav is the Zara skirt and white linen blouse. I can totally see that working for your lifestyle. All of that said, I’m not at all opinionated!!
You called the Zara skirt and linen blouse. I too love the linen J Jill separates, and I love the Aunti Otie purple and chartreuse combo. When I had my colors done several years ago…that purple was one of her picks ha ha!
My favourite outfit is the tee shirt dress with denim jacket and hit of red. It’s youthful without being young. It flatters your slim body. I think my second favourite is the green & white Zara knockoff dress. I’ve been eyeing the Anthopology dress you featured a week or so ago. I’m undecided on which size to order as it looks oversized and I don’t want the dress to overwhelm me.
I love reds and blues for spring/summer, then seem to go back to mostly neutrals for fall/winter. Why is that?
Hi Joanna
I tend to do the same thing! I think Spring just calls out for color! I love a t shirt dress too. The zara dress isn’t too oversized actually. I was surprised. I thought that green dress offered a better price point that might be helpful. Dresses are so darn expensive!! My husband ironically really liked that dress which surprised me.
I love the pattern dress on you with the ankle sandals which you pointed that out that the dress isn’t long enough it really makes a difference I can’t stand the tennis shoes with the dresses. I know they are comfortable but there’s got to be something else out there because some of these tennis shoes are just awful with the dress, I know many will disagree with me, but growing up in the fashion world I just can’t bring my 63 year old self to do that ! always a flat shoe for me so that would be helpful if I could wear a tennis shoe but I just can’t attend to where the Birdies with everything!
As to your favorite outfit, I really don’t know tell me!
Hi Eliz
I like sneakers with a t-shirt dress or something really simple, but I have a hard time with that one too. Probably my absolute favorite is the Zara skirt and J Crew linen shirt. I do like the J Jill separates as well and I love the Bryn Walker casbah pants with the purple shirt. You know me, I avoid pattern whenever possible!! I do like the Zara maxi skirt too.
What can I say, I love all of these outfits. I have the J.Jill linen dress in the emerald green color in a small tall and I love it. I love the cerise on you! I wouldn’t think to put the linen pants under it, but it looks fabulous on you. You’re my style inspiration also. Problem is, I wear jeans/pants most of the time but can’t resist these dresses.
Thanks for your great fashion posts!
Hi Carol
I wear pants 99% of the time too, but I understand why people love dresses. They are so easy. I just have a hard time with the fit of most, because I am so long-waisted!
You look amazing!! Those colors are really fabulous on you. You always inspire me to step out of my style comfort zone and up my accessories game. I love so many of these looks! Going gray has made colors harder to wear because it ended up a muddy mix with the blonde…maybe I’ll color it again 🤣
Hi Jennifer
Isn’t it hilarious that we both picked that J Jill dress? Mary Ann featured it a few weeks ago too. I was saving mine for this color post.
How beautiful! I love every one of these outfits, esp the “out of your wheelhouse” dresses — not!!
Hi Bette
You are so nice. I am trying. I know so many of you love the dresses. My husband loved that green dress too which shocked me. I don’t look good in navy but I shared it because I know so many look great in navy.
I love color AND pattern. And I love it on you! You look great in all the images. My guess is your fave is the column of color.
Hi Gray
Yes it is one of them!!
I love your style posts, Cindy; it’s the closest thing I can get to a personal shopper. If you ever decide to go that route and need a client, I am all yours! Drop me a line if you want to chat. Have to say I am with you on the dresses and sneakers. The look stood out to me on a recent trip to London for the Chelsea Flower Show. I think the English do it best when it comes to flowery dresses, but I was constantly hung up on sneakers. Mr. H noticed it too. It could be that I am most comfortable in jeans and a linen shirt. That’s country living for you. Your selection in this post is spot on. The dresses are a little edgy and artsy, which I like, and the long tunic dress with matching pants is right up my alley, reminding me of days living at Chateau Mango in Vietnam.
I have been thinking about your question earlier in the week as to what to post. We go so far back in our blogging days you mostly posted interiors back then. I saved many of your ideas onto Pinterest while designing Tahilla Farm. I love your style. I guess my answer is…..whatever you love is what I will love. I feel that we are all in behind an idea or a passion it shows. And when we are not, that shows too. This a very long answer and maybe a little cryptic! Hope it helps!! xxx
PS…And I am serious about the online personal shopper. If it ever drives your passions, let me know!
Well that is quite a compliment coming from someone who inspired me to do a little fashion so many years ago. I absolutely loved your Cashmere Jeans blog. I so admire your style in all that you do!
WOW, Cindy, I love the Zara skirt and dress, I feel like the colors are a reflection of your happy personality.
Hi Mary Ann
That is so sweet of you. You would look darling in that Zara dress.
Lovely suggestions thank you Cindy. Love that Zara maxi skirt ! Happy summer:)
Hi Francesca
I think both of those skirts are really good!
So happy to see you in BRIGHTS very stylish, youthful and flattering.
Hi Lee
Thank you so much! I just realized I forgot one of the looks!!