Is the LAGEN LOOK for you?

THE LAGEN LOOK SEEMS TO BE CONTROVERSIAL FOR A LOT OF WOMEN OVER FIFTY

The LAGEN LOOK is from Germany.  It entails lots of layers, styled in a way that is unique to each woman. Many women who are PLUS sizes like the look because it is "blousy" and loose. The right accessories make each woman look like a unique piece of art.

Other women, on the other hand, don't like the look because they think it makes them look heavy. The clothes are bulky and it is a lot to carry off unless you are very tall and thinner. The key, I think, is not to add too many pieces together, or then it looks a bit "clown-like". 

The dress I am wearing is by Tulip, a company that is known for it's LAGEN-Like look. My size is smaller than average so you wouldn't think a big and loose dress would look good. But, as seen here, it can look really cute. The length is great, just mid-knees and almost below, and it is so comfortable. Literally, it's like wearing pajamas.

I am wearing a T-shirt underneath because the arm holes come down a bit too low. When I wear it, I get so many complements. A long necklace would add a nice touch and give a really "artsy" feel but necklaces have always felt too much for my petite size.

Here are a couple of REAL LAGEN LOOK outfits. These are the classic look and as you can see, they are quite unique.

Personally, these outfits would be too much for most women to carry off. One piece of each outfit would look great. For example, the tops on both outfits are very cute. However, with the big pants, it is easy to see how someone would look very BIG.  If someone is on the PLUS side to begin with, it's just too much fabric!!

From the feedback I get on Facebook, at Fashion Over Fifty, most women do not like this look. Several of the Fabulous Fashionistas wear this look and most women find them somewhat of a caricature of older women. 

The key is to have fun, but to stay chic. If you were to wear the blousy pants, a more tailored top would look better. Even if you are PLUS size. Or, either of the tops with a more tailored pant would be much more stylish. 

Some nice stores that carry the Lagen Look are Bryn Walker, Layered, Jana, and Kati Koos. The stores are not located throughout the United States, but they all have on line shopping. If you are interested in websites, just message me, and I will send them too you. You might want to try and Google them first.

What do you think?  Your opinions are welcome.  Remember have fun with your clothes but you don't want to overdo a good thing!!!

It's a Johnny Was kind of Day!!

WHO DOESN'T LOVE THE BEAUTIFUL FABRICS AND PRINTS by JOHNNY WAS?

It's summer. After this past winter, the worst in many places, nothing feels more like summer than
Silk and Floral Prints. Nobody does it better than Johnny Was. This morning I received a notice on Facebook that a 20% off sale was starting. Errands had me near Santa Monica where there is a Johnny Was store. The greatest thing ever-.BOTH sales associates were OF's (over fifties). That scores big points with me. Another great thing about their line is that almost everything is Ageless!

So, today was a field trip day. Off to see the lovely sales associates at Johnny Was

This is beautiful Emily, a stylist and costume designer along with being a Sales Associate. Boy is she busy. Notice how chic she is with her matching Tory Burch shoes.

Then there is Tammy, who is another lovely and so put together Sales Associate. Notice how her scarf and tunic match. The possibilities with this combo are endless.

You could wear the skirt as a belt, as a shawl, wrapped around as a skirt, you name it. Such a comfortably chic way to do warm summer days.

Then, there's me! Wearing my favorite Capri jeans by Adriano Goldshmeid. You can find these " ex-boyfriend Capris on eBay all the time. I have them in a couple of sizes depending on the look I am going for. The tunic is a few seasons old Johnny Was. It's so cool, it's great on warm days!!


Then, the hard part. Which scarf to choose. Each one is more beautiful than the next. So, I chose the easy route. Navy blue to blend with the jeans. Navy blue and turquoise are so great together. The scarves are usually $86.00, but they are on sale For 20% off making them about $70.00. Not bad for such a large beautiful all silk scarf!!


Here are just a few other Johnny Was things on sale for 20% off. They also carry Plus Sizes.
If there isn't a store near you, you can order online at JohnnyWas.com

Alex B. a Gorgeous 56 year old Model in London is also A Unique Advocate for Fighting Ageism.

A BEAUTIFUL MODEL WITH WAIST-LENGTH GRAY HAIR, AND A GREAT ROLE MODEL WHOSE STRONG DESIRE TO CHANGE THE SOCIETAL VISION OF WOMEN
OVER FIFTY IS INSPIRING!

Alex B is the PERFECT Role Model for Fashion Over Fifty. Today she is 56, and lives in London. She only started modeling in 2005, when she was 45!! How great is that? On top of her modeling, she also held a lecturing post at a University in London. Eventually, her modelling career took off, so she gave up her post at the University!!Isn't it wonderful to know that someone can start a whole new career at 45?

Alex has a great background for modeling. She danced for many years and still, to this day, attends ballet classes at the famous Pineapple Studios in London. What a great way to maintain good posture for all of the modeling jobs, along with maintaining good health. Aside from that she has gorgeous gray hair below her waist. Alex's unique looks are not only great for modeling but they also help her on her own personal mission of defying what we think of as the "Glamorous Granny".

She works with more than one Modeling Agency; two in London, and one in the Midlands. However, she also works freelance, seeking out her own work opportunities. Surprisingly Alex also does nude modeling for visual artists and photographers. Not something you would think a woman of 56 would normally do! (This type of work is not done through an Agency). Today, she currently has a picture of herself on exhibit at the Truman Brewery. It is a conceptual photograph done the by the talented Piotr Karpinski.

As Women Over Fifty, we all know that there needs to be a Voice and a real Movement to overcome the Ageism in our cultures. We are so honored to have Alex as our friend because she is quite adamant and very proactive in advocating for real change. She is a member of the "All Walks Beyond the Catwalk", an initiative started by three amazing women in London, Caryn Franklin, Debra Bourne and Erin O'Connor (who also happens to be a supermodel.) These ladies have organized education and lectures "with influential designers, top industry creatives and fashion students, to challenge the fashion industry's dependence on unachievable and limited body and beauty ideals." In other words, they are calling for racial, age, and size diversity in the imagery of society today!! (This movement has not yet come to the United States, unfortunately. Come on Ladies, this is your wake up call!!)

Nude modeling is one great way that Alex is showing that women over 50 should not be ashamed of their bodies, breaking yet another stereotype!! With her waist-long hair and posing nude, she has shown how our bodies over fifty can be transformed, with artistic collaboration, into real works of Art. This is a woman who is single-handedly helping to change the parameters of beauty. We all owe something to her for her courage and determination, because a path is not paved without a first step!! It also helps that she has a phenomenal figure!!

Alex would love to see more women take up modeling as they grow older because we need as many new and positive images as we can get. However, she cautions that things are changing. Agencies no longer dominate the modeling business due to the digital revolution, and Casting Directors often look for models who are not with an Agency. This means that someone seeking to be a model must be pro-active and get listed on websites like Casting Networks. Her advice to someone starting out is to test, as much as possible, with good photographers. Go to casting calls to be seen, and most of all, make sure you capitalize on your uniqueness. Discover your uniqueness and then determine whether you are more suited for commercial or editorial work. As a final caution, do not pay for your portfolio and don't think that just because you make it to a reputable Agency's books, the work will come pouring in. Keep working it!!

Alex  AlexB now has her own Facebook page. She did some pretty racy photos for a lingerie line that so brilliantly asked her to model.  I put them on my Facebook page and lost about 15 fans that day.
But it created a great discourse among the readers and it got people to think.  After all, we don't ever want to stop thinking, do we?

Chanel "Knocked-Off" The Skirt I Found in Carmel By the Sea

I found a cute little hippie chic store on the main street in Carmel. For 100.00 I bought a white skirt. Every year I buy something white because I am so sick of black, but then I never wear it. Well, this year I decided to break that habit and I wore it to a Charity Event in Beverly Hills.
Of course, I was the only wearing white. Good thing I'm not self-conscious!!

A few weeks later the Resort collection came out for 2015. I was so surprised when I found this skirt in Chanel's Collection.

The funny thing is that if I didn't laboriously blow dry my hair, my hair would be exactly the same as this model's. Why anyone would want this bushy mess is beyond me. But, if I had worn a mustardy sweater/jacket, we would have been like twins.

I'm so glad that Karl Lagerfeld likes my taste!!!

Older Ladies by Donnalou Stevens

How to find great STYLISH Bargains in Mid-town Manahattan for ONE THOSANDTH of the Cost of the Real McCoy

There are Some Great Bargains in Midtown Manhattan

Have you been following the accessories this spring? Dior has a necklace with only two "pearls" on it the size of golf balls. Obviously not real pearls. so I guess the effect is what Karl Lagerfeld is going for.

Along the Avenue of the Stars in Midtown there are a ton of stores with semi precious gems if you like to make you own jewelry, which I do.

However, if you travel a bit more toward downtown to the "Watch District" you will find lots of stores with great fake jewelry, probably from China. The necklace you see on me, along with the earrings, were a total of $14.95. Probably wouldn't wear the earrings with the necklace, but for purposes of demonstration, you can see all that you get. The bottom photo is of a three stranded necklace originally I was going to take them apart and try to copy Chanel's latest accessory that is a necklace with only one pearl at the end of a metal neck piece. Or as you can see from the photo, lots of obviously not real pearls were used in fun ways that I was thinking of making, but just never got around to it.



Moral of the story: Ask any local where the watch district is. (The area where everyone gets knock-off designer watches for nothing!!). Around that area are lots of stores that carry great accessories for SO inexpensive, it feels like Christmas when you walk out. You can buy birthday presents, holiday presents or just a present because you like someone. If Karl Lagerfeld can do it, so can you!!

Rihanna Shows Up Almost Naked. Pretty headpiece though.

Although Rihanna appeared to have "bared it all" at the CFDA, she didn't let on to her motive: "Win at all costs"

Growing up, Rihanna knew that she could beat anyone when it came to dressing up. The stakes at the CFDA were so high, and outfits have become so revealing, she had no choice but to go almost naked.

Tinker Tailor.com. How to Customize your own Style, with even Designer Clothes

How Genius. The Internet Now Lets You Select Designer Clothes, and Then Customize Them Online.




So fitting, pun intended. It looks like an old fashioned Tailor's Shop. And it is, kind of.

Except, you get to have it tailored over the Internet!!

Step 1. You pick a designer that you like. You can choose from many, including: Vivienne Westwood, Alberta Ferretti, and Marchesa Bridal. It ain't cheap, but it isn't as expensive as you might think. Especially for a customized designer dress. For a special occasion like a wedding, or mother of the bride, or whatever, it's worth a look.

You can pick a designer, or you can pick from about 14 pre-designed dresses which are basic

silhouettes.

For this article, the basic short length dress is chosen in order to illustrate the options.As you can see, there are at least 8 different choices.



Step 2.The next step provides a variety of colors and fabrics. If you want details about the fabric,

you can find those out as well. This dress has nine choices.



The blue patterned fabric is chosen for this dress.



Step 3. Here you can pick the embellishments. Here you have a choice of metallic or black beading

for the neckline, sleeves or both.



Black beading was chosen for the neckline and sleeves.



Voila!! Here is your custom dress.