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Can Taste Be Taught? First Steps in Dressing Fabulous after 40!

One thing you notice when a well dressed women walks in the room is that she oozes of taste. If she can do it, can anyone? Can taste be taught?

Many say no; it’s a gift you are born with. However, we’ve found if you study a good example, you can develop good taste.

Instead of running to the discount store every time you need a fashion fix (a “band aid” approach to style); what you really need is to create a solid plan for developing taste, and updating your look after 40.

The first step is to go window shopping! Keep your pocket book at home; you won’t need to be buying anything yet!

Next, comes the fun part. Go online and browse through your favorite high end store.  Don’t look at the price tags; just have fun seeing what catches your eye, and enjoy! Then:

·         Take notes on what you see that you love ( like doesn’t count)

·         Visit the shoe department and explore, noting which new styles catch your eye

·         Check out what colors combinations the stores are featuring

·         Look at the mannequins to get creative new outfit ideas

·         Take note of accessories  (one bold necklace might be all you need to make a wow outfit)

·         Go up to a well dressed woman and ask her where she shops

Educate yourself on the basics first; what’s in style, what you like, and what other women are wearing. Our crash course in taste will help train your eye. You’ll begin to understand what works, what doesn’t, and soon you’ll find it easy to put together a winning outfit. The next time that woman with great taste waltzes into the room and makes everyone notice, she could very well, be you!

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Comments
Nice comment Puaena, I like the idea of a style book. I may start doing that. At my moment in life, style is all about comfort and pretty. If I can't get both in the same outfit I'm not buying it. And I do agree about color. Years ago I had someone do the color analysis thing for me. (winter girl) I found out I was doing fine accept for the browns, which I have since removed from my closet to be replaced with greys or black.
I liked the story. Even if you don't have «good taste», you can copy from other women whose way of dressing and accessorizing you like. But, most of all, if you like your image, feel comfortable within yourself, like the way you look, then your taste is your «good» taste, whatever other people may think.
12.08.2009
Barb
The article is okay, but I would for sure add -- go TRY ON lots of things in stores, even $$ items to see how they look on you and fit. Find a mirror where you can stand back far enough to see how you REALLY look in the item of clothing. Turn all around and check the angles; an item that looks good from the front may make you look 8 months pregnant from the side view! Not so good at our age, LOL. I've recently tried snapping a pic with my camera in dressing rooms (ie, the back view of some jeans) to check things out --which worked well! Even with trying hard, sometimes I feel great in a piece of clothing, only later to see a photo of me wearing it and OH MY...!
11.27.2009
Bobbie
Good observations. For the most part - classic is best, not too many prints/colors or fads. Blacks and neutrals accented with bright colors in fun accessories, scarves, etc. Head-to-toe bright colors & prints speak louder than you do (note to Hillary - it's fine the pantsuit is your signature look and you are a great role model - but ditch the lollipop collection of too-bright colors that make you look out of place in a room full of suits). Also - anything from the experts on how to rid women of a fad that became a "style"? I am nauseated every summer by spaghetti strap camis with bra straps showing. Most women past 13 don't have the upper body for it - it is not flattering to show your underwear, EVER. Some women even go beyond just the straps, & full bra panels show in the back. This is right up there with young guys in their baggy jeans and jockeys showing - & worse, even 50 year old women seem to think they can sport their armpits and bras. Ugh. Finally, yes - less is more
11.26.2009
Alice Eads
I agree with Knuffel. I had a co-worker the other day who came to work looking like Olivia Newton-John in her video for "Let's Get Physical". She and a few thirty something's at work think that if it's been on the runway they should wear it, regardless of size. I will admit a few of the outfits are cute, if the were the right size. But most of the time they look like, as my dear old grandmother would say, that they were poured into a too small sack. We sometimes wonder if they have mirrors. One of them says that she dresses to what pleases her eyes, but don't make us want to gouge out ours.
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