Fashion Over 50:Style TIps for Dressing Arms

Welcome to a fun collaboration with Jennifer of A Well Styled Life and Pam of over50feeling40.  We desire for all of us… the fabulous women over 50 …to look and feel our best each and every day.  After years of blogging for this audience, we have heard from so many of you about your discouragement and despondency when you look in the mirror every morning.  But, we both know just how transformative style can be, and hope to encourage you right here each week.  We want to see all of us empowered with strength, joy, and confidence

Last week, Jennifer and I began a series for Hit Your Style
Sweet Spot where we focus on how to camouflage the “annoying” areas so many
woman over 50 tend to give the power to zap our confidence. We started HERE with the mid-section and today move on to our arms.

  I received such kind
emails this week from a couple of ladies encouraging me to go sleeveless…”Your
arms look great.”  They do look better
than they did before-weight-training, but I am still not confident enough with
them to go sleeveless outside of the house. 
I will keep working, but until then I have learned some important
lessons about sleeves.
 There are so many
designs and sleeve lengths for women and that makes shopping garments which are
not sleeveless more fun.  I encourage you
to try on many different styles and lengths to see what works best for
you.  That’ right…not all sleeves favor
all body types.  I have chosen not wear
the on-trend bell sleeves, because I do not need the added volume right at my
mid-section.
Around 30 years ago, a stylist showed me how a mid-length
sleeve did double duty for a woman with curves. 
Long sleeves are too heavy and can add the impression of weight, though
I do wear them in the fall and winter weather.   But a sleeve which goes just below the elbow
not only flatters the arm, it also draws the eye to our waist…typically the
smallest part of us.  Showing some lower
arm is also more flattering to an overall style.  So 
I often roll up or scrunch up sleeves…fortunately,
it looks good when I do.

The majority of garments in my closet have sleeves which
stop just under the elbow.   My second
favorite sleeve is the flowy sleeve. Finally, a sheer sleeve or sheer
topper is a great way to camouflage the arm.  Just remember it is all about the eye…where do
you want to draw the eye with your outfit. 
A flattering sleeve can help us be more confident and improve our body
image.
Now, come back on Wednesday and I will tell you about these cool, metallic sandals.  And the top will be on Instagram! 
Until then, let’s go see what JENNIFER OF A WELL STYLED LIFE has to teach us about arms, and I selected some fun garments below with sleeves in mind!
Have a great week!
Linking with VISIBLE MONDAY…TURNING HEADS LINK UP

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15 Comments

  1. I am the same age as you, and my arms don't look like they did even 10 years ago. It's not weight, it just happens to a lot of us! I decided a few years ago that since it's not super bad, I do go sleeveless in the hottest weather. At work I cover up with dress shrugs, which can add fun and color to an outfit, and perforated cardigans. On the hottest days of summer, however, I ditch even those. I've made peace with my arms I guess. My favorite sleeve length is 3/4, or bracelet sleeves that can be scrunched. I don't like the "cold shoulder" look at all, and the trendy shoulder-baring tops look fine with your arms to your sides, but raise your arms to reach for something and up the neckline goes! I don't want to spend a day walking around with my arms hanging at my sides or yanking and readjusting a top just to be "on trend". I do love tie sleeves and long bell sleeves, so not against trends in general. Since I discovered your foundational five, I just know my style like you do. Makes a world of difference! I printed out my foundational five requirements and attached them to a card I always have when I shop!

  2. I wish we could shop together, Karen…both with our foundational five…how fun would that be! I also am not a fan of the cold shoulder style…when I tried it on I felt like it did funny things to "the girls." That is why I have not modeled it on the blog. I applaud you for going sleeveless and making peace with your arms…I need to do that this summer, because down here it can be brutal. Thanks for the encouragement!

  3. What an interesting point about 3/4 sleeves. I've been pushing up my sleeves, or rolling since I was a teenager. Mostly because I have what my Mum calls "Sullivan arms." Long, long with really skinny wrists… like everyone else in our family. So sleeves are usually too short for me. Better fitting with more expensive garments, but way too short most of the time, especially with sweaters. Guess I've been accidentally doing all these years what that stylists told you:)
    I haven't dropped by your blog for a while. We've been travelling most of the winter in South America. Hope the new-ish magazine job is fabulous!

  4. I followed your trip on Instagram, Susan and it just looks like it was incredible…such beautiful images. So glad you are home safely. The job is great…thanks!

  5. There are tricks we can do to elongate our looks and 3/4 sleeves are one of them…so is column dressing, blouses with V-necks, long necklaces..they all trick the eye to make us seem taller.

  6. I always roll the sleeves up to the elbow…unless of course it is minus 2 degrees…then who cares about fashion…its all about staying warm at that point… LOL..

  7. Yes, there's something about trying to hide the mid-section that becomes a chore especially as we age! I am riding my closets of tops that don't fall far enough and I never thought I would have to worry about that.

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