9 Ways to Lose Your Fear of Fashion

Do you say “If only I were thinner I’d wear that” or “If I had the nerve I’d wear that” or — even worse — “If only I were 10 years younger I’d wear that”? Thought so! Fast fashion and runway trends are scary and often ridiculous for real lives, real bodies. But here’s what’s most important: Don’t get sucked back into “age-appropriate” rules or body shaming! Women 50-plus are age disrupters and we can rock anything on the rack with a little common sense and an adventurous attitude. Make my nine tips your mantra.

1.   Love comes before logic

Don’t let pounds and perception get in the way of your style choices. A little dress-slim trickery is great but a feel-good mind-set can and should override the scale or bulges when it comes to a passion for fashion. If you’ve been craving wide white pants, a clingy dress or a fitted coat in a wild print just indulge. Consider it a calorie-free dessert.

2.   Make an emotional decision

You know that grabs-your-gut feeling when you see sleeves to die for or fall in love with ruffles (and you’ve been avoiding them for 10 years like a bad ex)? Go for it! How an item makes you feel is more important than how it makes you look. Style often depends on one standout item in an outfit of ho-hum basics. Maybe it’s an asymmetric neckline sweater or a leopard print coat, or red bow-tie mules. If it speaks to you it’s meant to be.

Michelle Obama in peach silk wrap blouse and wide-leg apricot pants and Bevy Smith in leopard wrap dress.

Getty Images: Rick Kern/WireImage; Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Essence

 3.   Always show your shape

Whether it be a semifitted silhouette like a leopard wrap dress or a wrap blouse and wide-leg pants, give your curves a hand. Try teaming a fitted top with a loose bottom piece or vice versa. Bare something you love — your legs, ankles, wrists, shoulders or neck and collarbones. Yes, your body is changing and your inner beauty is evolving so why shouldn’t your clothing be going through some transitions, too?

4.   Buy one trendy piece at a time

No need to binge on a head-to-toe look. In fact, shopping more slowly allows you to meld trendier pieces with your old standbys. This gradual approach gives you time to try new pairings — mixing two different prints (a color linking both helps) or pastel brights together for an instant pop! Maybe it’s as easy as adding of-the-moment leather pants and lace booties with a timeless turtleneck and puffer.