Thank God for Diane Keaton!

Today I am celebrating that L'Oreal has been using women "of a certain age" to showcase skin care and make up products.

I get annoyed with Lancome and Chanel trying to sell us products for erasing wrinkles, dull skin, fine lines but using teenagers or young women as models. Don't they get it?  We're not going to fall for their products' promises when it is used on baby skin that hasn't been through life's challenges and not even close to the aging process that women "of a certain age" go through...the signs of a lived life

Diane Keaton is a perfect example of the right aged woman promoting skin care and make up for her peers.

Diane Keaton is 67 and has beautiful skin and is a great spokesperson for us. I have bought several of their products because of her.

Julianna Margulies is a bit younger than I (she's 47) but still has the right maturity to promote aged skin care products. She's so attractive and makes the product believable.

Look at these young girls (below) trying to sell us dark spot healing lotion....

I think they're only 18 or 20 years old.  What the heck do they know about dark spots at their ages?  Show me a real woman with dark spots with non-touched up before and after photos using the Lancome product!

Chanel's Le Lift Creme ad features Diane Kruger who is only 37 years old.  I didn't need lift at 37 either!

Aveeno's Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer, which evens tone and texture (including dark spots) uses 44 year old Jennifer Aniston.  Let's see Jennifer (who is a sun worshiper) in ten years to see if this product really does work.

Dior is showing us Sharon Stone with skin improvement lotions and creams. She's lovely at 55 years and makes the product seem viable.

Robin Wright is almost the right age (47) to promote Dior's skin products for aging skin. Almost.

Clinique has a dark spot liquid that they advertise on TV and in magazines. I thought it might be good to look at buying (I have a few spots on my hands) but guess what Google reports on that product says?  It doesn't work --- at all! It is pure garbage that isn't cheap.

So what is this post about?  First it is a rant against advertising trying to make us think that if we buy their special product, we'll look younger -- like we looked in our twenties. That just isn't viable.

Second, it is a cautionary tale to do the research before you spend your hard earned money on skin care products.  Google it, ask other women, get samples.  See what works for your skin, your goals and makes you feel good about yourself before you fork over the money. And find out if there is a cheaper version of the same product - often, there is.

Third, drink a LOT of water.  It plumps your skin, helps with hydration, helps with your lungs, your kidneys and your weight.  

Fourth, wear sunscreen.  There are products with UVA/UVB for your face and neck, as well as your chest, your arms and your legs.  Use them.  The sun is hard on aging skin.

Fifth, don't smoke.  At all.  Not only does it age your skin, it destroys your internal organs. With all we know about cigarettes, why would anyone smoke at all?  Just don't.

I will share a little tip I read about last week and am trying:  To remove your eye makeup, use pure Vaseline; after you've gotten it all off, put a little more Vaseline on your eyelashes overnight. Vaseline grows hair. When I had a horse, when he had a rubbed spot that was "bald," I learned to pack on some Vaseline on that spot. Horse hair grew back quickly -- and healthier.

Also, I read that when she was younger, Marilyn Monroe used to slather Vaseline all over her face. Much to her chagrin, she began to grow fine peach fuzz all over her face and had to get waxed often. Needless to say, once she figured it out, she quit using it as a moisturizer.

Recently an actress (in a magazine interview) stated that she does what I'm trying to do and it works.  So what the heck?  Give it a try if you'd like thick full lashes -- and what woman "of a certain age" doesn't?

Abraham Lincoln (one of our greatest presidents) stated "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time."  

I don't think he was talking about print advertisements....but it still is apropos.  Do your homework and try what works best for you.  

Until next week, I remain,

Stylistically yours,

Sooz

Pencils are right on point!

Continuing my series about wardrobe staples for women "of a certain age," today I'm writing about pencil skirts.  There are a variety of skirts out there:  pleats, flippy, full. flared, maxi, mini, kilt, (not all are appropriate for our age) but in my opinion, the most important staple of skirts is the well fitted pencil skirt.



The fit of a pencil skirt is very important to make us look attractive and be comfortable.  How many times have you seen a woman wearing one but it doesn't fit properly?  It is either too flared....

Or it doesn't hit at the right place on your leg....

Or it is too tight and cups your bottom...

Or pulls across the front....

Happily, women with curves can wear them beautifully....


These skirts can be informal....


Or professional....



Or even dressy....


Some come with matching suit jackets but these are usually the skirts that require tailoring. I worked with a woman who wore her suits straight off the rack and they always looked awful, making her look dumpy and boxy.



Having the skirt altered changes the look of suits and how professional and put together you look wearing them.


So go out and buy a well fitting dark pencil skirt this season. Check for how it pulls across the front, how it fits across your butt, that the length suits your height and that you can sit comfortably in it.  A word of advice: I never buy skirts that button all the way down the front because when you sit, the buttons pull and you have a lot of gaps between buttons that show too much you.

Your pencil skirt can be worn with a variety of tops, cardigans and jackets and a great variety of shoes.

Once you wear your dark pencil skirt, you might want to consider buying a printed pencil skirt next, or a basic color (red, green, tan) as an additional staple piece. You will find it is a "go-to" wardrobe piece you will wear often.  And please let me know if you do... or not.




I'd love to hear how this works for you.

Until next week, I remain,

Stylistically yours,

Sooz

I had two very good days of shopping success!

With two cashed checks from my temping work in my purse, I had a bunch of errands to run.  

Yesterday I had to go to Target, I stopped in the shoe department and found exactly what I was looking for for several months....candy apple red patent leather heels for $26.

Today I had a doctor's appointment, went to the Dollar Tree for night light bulbs and right next to that store is a Payless Shoe Store.  I just went in to look and heck, they're having BOGO!  I had to throw out some shoes I've had -- a pair of brown round toe pumps that had rot (the "leather" cover kept flaking off making them look like they had leprosy), a blue patent leather slingback pump that had cracks in the "leather" and were beyond repair and a pair of black sling back heels that got scrapped between bricks on a street and were also beyond repair.  

So I saw the dark brown faux alligator patent leather pumps that are so comfortable.  They have a rubber sole and a foam insole.  Sneakers in pumps form!  And then the sales girl showed me the cobalt blue suede-like point toe pumps.  They also have the rubber sole and foam insole.  I could walk for miles in either heels, so naturally, I bought them. Such a great deal!

Then I stopped by the Ross Dress for Less, just to look (and ladies, Tuesdays are 10% discounts for Seniors!!!)  and I finally found an affordable black Guess Moto jacket.  It has epaulets, shiny brass diagonal front zipper, shiny brass zippered pockets and sleeves.  $59.99 minus the 10% discount.  It is faux leather (perfect for drizzle and rain) and sooooo cool.  

THIS IS WHY I TEMP!

I can buy anything I want! And I pay cash.

I also bought four white cotton Polo pillowcases for the bedroom (I've had to toss several that just were too worn out from lots of laundry, bleach and pillow crunching). And a new gratitude journal for 2014 -- I have much to write about -- I am very blessed and grateful for it.

So I'm off work the remainder of this week and go back next week.  Too bad it isn't cool enough to wear my new jacket.  But I'll be wearing my new shoes!  And walking with great comfort!

Till next week, I remain,

Stylistically yours,

Sooz

Black is still the new black

Anyone who knows me knows that I buy A LOT of black clothing. From yoga togs to suits, I'm a fan of the color black.  It is slimming, appropriate anywhere, easy to accessorize and fits almost every situation.  Today I write about the little black dress.  I'm still on the series of wardrobe basics for women "of a certain age" and I've already written about the white shirt(s) and jeans.

The LBD (little black dress) was debuted by Coco Chanel (that amazing woman set more fashion trends than anyone else) and then the dress was heralded by Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast At Tiffany's" - no one wore it better.

And you should have at least one as your wardrobe staple.

You can wear one to work with a cardigan or blazer, sensible pumps and later, changing shoes, adding statement jewelry and a sparkly jacket (or not) and go to parties, dinner or any other social event. They are appropriate church dress, celebratory attire, or, of course, funeral wear.

You can wear a sleeveless one with a shirt under it, like a jumper.  Or you can wear it with colorful tights and matching colorful shoes for a fun look.  You can wear it with denim and/or leopard.  You can wear it all seasons.  You can wear it with boots, flats, heels or sandals.  You can accessorize with pearls, diamonds (or faux stones), Bakelite, plastic, chains or brooches.  

This dress is such an important staple to any and every woman's wardrobe.  And they come in a variety of styles, cuts, lengths and fabrics.

It is my opinion that you should have a knee-length sleeveless round-neck one first.  Then add more varieties of black dresses to taste (like a spice).

  

As you can see, there are great options for us women "of a certain age" that flatter and are appropriate for any function in life.

Your shoe options are endless....leopard prints, colors, nudes, blacks, metallics, strappy.  This dress is a palette that you can build from.  Or wear it simply.  

Once you buy your LBD, I am positive that you'll want to buy more.  They're versatile, flattering and functional.  I should be embarrassed to admit that I have 12 LBDs and am always on the lookout for just one more.  

Karl Lagerfeld has stated this truth:

“One is never over-dressed or underdressed with a Little Black Dress.” 

You can find them online, in discount stores or at high end stores.  Because they will always be an important wardrobe staple, you can find one (or more) that make you look stunning and still be comfortable.  

Do you have yours already?  And are any of you as obsessed like me and how many do you have?

Let me know.

Until next week, I remain....

Stylistically yours,

Sooz