Great tips! There’s no excuse for a woman to look sloppy and unkempt. There’s tons of stores in which to get inexpensive pieces from. According to ‘Lloyd Boston’ the key pieces to have are: A great trench coat in a eye popping color, a great turtleneck in black & white, black trousers in a great fit, a tunic (Tory Burch has great ones), a dark jean (all you need is one pair in a great fit to go with everything if your funds are tight), a white jean (make sure you wear a nude underwear, never white), denim jacket in dark blue or white (donate any in light blue, it’s too Springstein), black skirt in a good cut (no sausage look), Cashmere sweater (jcrew makes great ones which go on sale occasionally), a white tote (very chic and you can use it all year round), a pair of leopard flats (adds pop to your jeans), gauzy scarves in an eye catching colors (gap has nice ones) and a few key pieces of jewelry.

Remember ladies, you don’t have too spend a lot of money. I know tons of women that spend a fortune on their clothes but they still look sloppy. A woman’s wardrobe should be 80% classic pieces and 20% trendy items. Typically I wear neutrals and I ‘jazz’ up my outfits with a nice trench (I just ordered a red one from Kenneth Cole, I also like white..so chic!), or I will wear an interesting shoe (my leopard flats from Cole Haan are so cute or I will wear a nice tan boot which is unusual in a sea of black boot wearers). I also wear some cute cocktail rings (I get tons of compliments on a few that look like they belong to the Queen of France, lol)….note, make sure you have manicured nails even if you do it yourself) or I will wear a nice tote or purse in a color other then black…my favorite one is in leather in a earthy green color that I got at Jcrew on sale.

This is great advice! Especially items 2 & 3. I know from experience how difficult it is to be unhappy with your shape and yet try to work with it. But it does make a big difference in your outlook on life and how you appear to others. When I compare pictures of myself from 3-4 years ago (when I was at my heaviest) I am happier, prettier and slimmer in the photos where I made an effort to look good. I look older, heavier, and depressed in the photos where I’m in baggy black outfits. The contrast was so obvious that I immediately got rid of all the ill-fitting items I was wearing in the bad photos.

That’s music to my ears Joelle. Brilliant.

Nice info Patricia (I think I saw the same Oprah show with Lloyd Boston). But, I’m going to be a devil and play the advocate! There are too many variables at play to generalize in this fashion. Body type, fashion persona and lifestyle is key:

o Turtle necks are not for everyone. Busty women with short necks do not look good in this style.
o I don’t own a pair of black trousers.
o I can’t and don’t wear cashmere.
o Gauzy scarves are great if it’s your look, but for many it’s just too fussy.
o An 80:20 split between classic vs. trendy pieces does work but it’s not what I see as a rule. I have clients that are 100% classic and clients that are 100% trendy. Again, individual style is key.

I too have tan boots and love white pieces. They make my outfits pop. We are both aware of NOT black rutting!

That’s so true. Postures is one of the biggest things I think so many people forget me especially.

I like that advice, it is great indeed. As for must-haves, I think it’s really personal and it depends on so many things including lifestyle, body type, coloring etc. I used to try to complete one such “list” and ended up with quite a few pieces that I had no use for, so I know better now. I still pay attention to them, and only take from them what would work for me.

Thanks for the great list. I love to get info in a list format.
On the subject of posture, I have been told to stretch my neck and head upwards and chest high and all sorts of un natural feeling positions that I would soon forget about it. Recently a trainer told me to roll the palm of my hands forward every morning when I get up. This rolls you shoulders back just like in the medical posters. Roll the palms forward, the shoulders roll back, then let your palms go back to their natural position. It wouldn’t be fab to walk around with your palms turned forward.

Wonderful list! I especially need to be reminded of not wearing too much black and posture. Great tip with the palms, San.

This is the most concise, accurate list I believe I’ve ever seen. Might have to bogart this from you, Angie. TOTALLY agree about confidence as the ultimate beautifier. You couldn’t be more right!

I so agree with Sal! You know, being in my 50’s, I have more confidence than any other age. In fact, I have to say I wouldn’t want to go back to any other age, I’m having so much fun! It’s with confidence that I know I’m presenting the best foot forward er…(boobs out everyone! LOL!)

ABSOLUTELY!!

fab advice angie.

i am glad you do our homework for us so we can stay informed and inspired.

i also want to add that to look your best it is essential to keep your face looking fresh – i make my brows darker ( either with pencil or i dye them) and wear mascara so i don’t look tired. i also wear Clinique’s Black Honey lip gloss which just adds a nice spot of color to my face. If i wear great clothes but don’t think about my face i’m not going to look polished!

I have been through 4 years of *&#* due to divorce, cancer, and three great kids in college. I have been both delighted and grateful to find this site. I take mental notes and carry them with me as I scoure the racks of the Goodwill and Tar’get clearance rack, looking for just the right pieces (at a fraction of the cost) to create a new wardrobe. I have managed to find pieces from Liz Claiborne to Nine West as well as Target look alikes and all at a fraction of the cost.
I follow Angie’s advice and buy only what looks good on my shape and my age. It is a slow process since thrift stores are the most “style-in” places. However, it has also been great fun.
I haven’t worn make up for the longest time, but now I doe my eye brows (so I have some) and make sure my hair is done. I had my first perfessional haircut in five year last month and I felt like a queen.
I think the most important thing I bring away from todays entry is to have confidence. I am also 50, but there have been quite a few bumpy years and after a while it is hard to believe in yourself. Sometimes I have to repeat in my head “I am a confident woman”; it sounds funny, but it does work.

Oh, you little devil…lol..yes…you make good points. Hmmm…I’m curious, what do you wear instead of black trousers? other neutrals perhaps?

Great list Angie! Posture is something I need to pay more attention to and this is a great reminder. thanks!

Thank you ladies.

Lisa M, I am humbled by your story. Thank you for sharing your touching experience with us. You have proved that YLF is for every budget and age group. I hope you are back in good health and that you continue finding treasures. I love the sound of your new found confidence and sense of style. It’s made my heart happy.

Patricia, glad I made you laugh! I have a black baby pinstripe suit and I use those pants when I need to. I also have a black high-waisted jacquard skirt that fills the “smart black bottoms” gap. My black-black skinny jeans are another great alternative. I also wear a straight black sheath dress under a suit jacket as a fourth option. Crazy as it sounds, it’s not my style to wear black trousers, which is why I don’t encourage them as a flop-proof wardrobe item.

Excellent list! Knowing your body type, wearing clothes that actually suits it, and having inner confidence while exhibting outer confidence is vital to truly looking fab.
Skin care and hair care are also essential. Even on those says when I am not to happy about the body inside my clothes, if my skin is clear and has a luminous glow (wi a touch of makeup of course), my hair is on point- I feel and look good.