How Women Over 50 Can Wear A Spring Jacket

The refreshing breezes of spring are so wonderful. They just blew in the courage for me to try wearing a lighter jacket in a spring green.  Usually I stick with more saturated colors (which I adore and prefer), but my favorite Dillard’s representatives introduced me to this new brand, Ali Miles, and showed me this jacket. It wasn’t the color that captured me at first, but the design and the detailing…all in the details, ladies!  The color, buttons on the side, and the pockets captured my attention immediately.

It can be worn as a stand alone top, but I prefer it as a jacket, which allows for accessories to be in the mix of this style. If you look at the neckline, pockets and seaming on the front, it is impeccable and a joy to wear.   It was this design detail which drew such a positive response from me in the dressing room…then I noticed the color. And I liked it!  I think I can do a lot with it this summer just switching up accessories and the color of the tank top.  This is a great option to my classic blazers.  I am enjoying the season with a shell necklace I got at Chico’s in the past and a shell clutch from a local boutique. I would carry a clutch to a lunch or dinner meeting on the weekend.  For work, I take larger handbags.

I am going to keep an eye on this brand.  She has many of the over sized tunic styles that I personally am trying to get away from right now.  But, if the designer can bring a style like this, then there may be more.  It was also a good price.

Shopping goes so much better when someone is around that you trust their opinion.  I have come to trust the opinion of my friends who work at Dillards in the Shops of La Cantera mall.  They tell me quickly if something is a no…encourage me to try new styles…and help me to decide if a piece works. Don’t shop with someone who only tells you what they think you want to hear.  Sometimes we know immediately what we like, and sometimes we need a sounding board.  I needed that sounding board on this one, and I am so glad I listened and responded to their advice.

How do you feel about the lighter or neon colors out for the season?  Are you in or are you out? Who do you shop with who will tell you the truth about what you are trying on?  I have some ideas in the slide show below.  Thanks for being here.

KEEP SMILING!!

 

16 Comments

  1. I love this color on you-lighter, springier, youthful. It’s not what I’d consider a neon in any way. Looks great with the shell and would look great with white pants too.

  2. As flow-y tunics go, I’d say that one is not at all flow-y, nor really a tunic. It’s a lovely piece that hits at a good length for you (not a length you’d wear with leggings), and fits well thru’ through out not looking boxy or oversized (like the so-called ‘boyfriend’ styles). It’s a style that most women could wear and would like lovely in. When we’re losing weight and feeling a sense of accomplishment—before one of the dreaded plateaus!— we usually forswear wearing this style or that style again because we used it to hide behind. However, as long as something is sized for us and really fits us and is flattering to our new size there is no reason to reject it. Trust in your comfort as well as your mirror. Remember wearing stiletto heels because they were the style and “everyone” (except your gran) was wearing them? We’d kick them off in agony at the end of the day and say no more. Until the next shopping trip that is. Or until we got smarter as we aged and realized that our comfort was way more important than the look on our feet. The same with garments. Some of us can still easily wear belts and very fitted outfits, and most of us can’t. So when weight loss occurs should we run out and buy fitted clothes just because we can get them buttoned up or zipped? Or do we listen to the voice of comfort who tells us that we still can look pretty dang good and impressive wearing the somewhat looser fitting styles as long as we make sure they are sized correctly for our proportions. Just because it looks good on your friend or a mannequin doesn’t mean it will on you. (Hence the lessons learned on Saturday’s “Would You Wear This?”) Pam, listen to your stylist who is looking at you with an unbiased eye. Don’t hesitate to size down when you can (yay you!) and look with your usual careful eye to style and realize that at one time you used to hide your body, you can now use to emphasize and show it off just by the colors, patterns, etc. that you choose.

  3. I love this color on you! I agree, having someone who will give truthful feedback and push me outside my comfort zone is necessary when I’m reinventing myself. Enjoy this new color- it would look great with navy, white, black… so many of the basics in our wardrobes.

  4. The spring colors are pretty but I gravitate to muted colors.

    I trust my 20 year old son’s opinion on clothes. He stops me from buying anything too old or to office-y. He’s good at putting separates together and he got me using a garment rack for really seeing what you own.

  5. Wow, you look lovely in this outfit. It’s a color I hadn’t considered before but will now. The necklace and clutch are great accessories too. I think wearing a neutral color instead of a contrasting black to match the pants is a better choice than I would have made. Another new style trick just learned!

  6. This jacket looks very nice on you! I like everything about it. I am totally “in” on brighter colors, good proportions and nice fabrics. I usually shop alone since I get distracted with conflicting opinions. This week I went waaay outside my comfort zone. I recruited your friend, Jennifer, to help me dump the frump. It’s hard to dress a body I don’t even remotely recognize. I am inspired by your blog and Jennifer’s blog. My biggest challenge is dressing for hot summers. Add to that a mid-section weight gain and fatigue. Dressing the body I have now means I had to learn more about proportions. Now the FUN part — adding nice fabrics with texture &/or color. Thank you for introducing this brand.

  7. You look beautiful in this jacket! I also prefer more saturated colors over pastels, but this color makes a statement. The proportions are good too. I would buy this jacket if it looked as good on me as it does on you! I find the sales associates at my Chico’s (South Hills Village mall) to be very honest also- I really appreciate that when I’m shopping alone.

  8. The green looks so pretty on you. For some reason I do not like dark buttons on light clothes and prefer when the buttons are the same color as the top or jacket. Yes, I understand that the contrast draws the eyes down but………..?

  9. That is a great jacket. The lighter color definitely will work in spring & summer. I have always avoided purple as I think the color ages me, but I have seen so many lovely things in lavender & lilac this year that I may have to take another look.

  10. I was drawn to the color immediately. It’s just beautiful and feels like spring. Wonderful color. This can be worn so many different ways and I hope you show us ideas that you come up with for it in future posts! Your necklace is beautiful with this jacket!

  11. Like you, I have always disliked pastels on me, but for some reason this shade of green, along with a more lime shade, also works for me. It’s such a great “bridge color” toward more saturated ones, and would look great with both black and navy. For some reason the other day, I also tried on blush pink, a color which always washed me out. I haven’t tried anything like that on in years, and to my utter surprise, it was super flattering. Our skin and hair tones change, and I agree with everything you said today, especially getting out of your comfort zone and at least trying something on. Spring and summer color palettes and styles are the hardest for me to find and put together, so I really appreciate today’s info. You look great!

  12. How nice to find retail staff who will give you an honest opinion! Too many just want to make a sale and will tell you something looks good even if it doesn’t. I sometimes strike up a conversation with other women using the fitting rooms and get more honest opinions from them!

    Your tunic (I’d call it a jacket) is similar to one that I had several years ago. I always received compliments when I wore it. If I’m not mistaken, it’s still in my storage room. Perhaps I should put it back into rotation this spring.

  13. I’m a sucker for green so of course I love this color! I like the collar and the seaming. It’s not just a sack.

    It would work wonderfully as a light jacket over another shirt in the Spring and then as we move into Summer over a tank for times when you’ll be in air conditioned spaces – I’m sure being a Texan that you dress for air conditioned spaces!

    I’m in the process of changing my hair color and I think I may switch away from muted warm colors to more cool coloring as my hair changes. I’m not exactly sure how that’s going to go so it’s a good time to shop my closet for the 5 green jackets I already own!

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