by Isabelle Esteves

Created on: September 13, 2010   Last Updated: March 11, 2011

Today's 50 year old woman is just reaching her stride. Most woman are heading into their prime earning years and with childbearing behind them, are prepared to make their mark. Being fifty is a time to be gorgeous, just look at stars like Kim Cattrall and Madonna.  Fifty is the new forty and mature women have never looked better. By the time a woman reaches 50, she has  developed a style sense of her own and while she may follow the latest fashions trends, she can set a trend or two herself. Many of the runway designers are designing for a clientele that looks like they are closer to 15 than 50. Here are a few tips for turning those trends into great fashion. 

Size

As a woman ages, gravity comes into effect.  She doesn't have the same shape she had at twenty years old even if she weighs the same. Mother Nature does some pretty strange things to a woman's body.  Understanding  this and adjusting for it makes aging a non-issue. Fit is the most important thing about clothes and style. Size is just a number and getting hung up on it is counterproductive. It is all about tailoring, fitting the largest part of the body and having the clothes tailored to fit the rest.

Style

Classic is a good style to go with when a woman reaches fifty years or older. It doesn’t mean that a 50 year old has  to dress like a granny especially if she doesn't  feel like a granny. Being a granny is a great thing, especially a fashionable granny.  Above the knee for dresses and skirts, especially if a woman has great legs is a good length and with a high heel give a great fashionable look. When in doubt, ask yourself, would Jackie O have worn this? If the answer makes you laugh or cringe then walk away from that rack.

Color

By the time a woman is fifty years old she should know which colors flatter her but there are so many new colors coming out all the time that it is important to do a second look every so often. Every shade of every color even a signature one isn’t going to be flattering and even some colors that might not have been considered twenty years ago may look terrific today especially since there is a good chance that the hair color and makeup routine may have changed. Give color a try, it can add a lot of light to a woman's face, don’t be afraid of it.

The styles and colors of 2011 are very flattering to woman of 50 years old. Purples and plums are almost universally good and olive is an easy color to wear. Red is also a great color for most woman, try a few different shades until you find the one that is perfect for you. A great pair of camel dress slacks and a red or purple cashmere turtle neck will be a great outfit for any woman of any age and 50 is no exception.

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