Best Ways to Go Bare in the Summer at 50-Plus

3. Reveal and conceal like a star.

Have you noticed what celebs do in their fancy red carpet gowns? They practice the art of showing what they want you to see and hiding the rest. That’s what all the off-the-shoulder and drop-dead plunge necklines are for, on top of the leg-covering skirt part. 

You can borrow this tactic all summer with stylish dresses that do that. Full-coverage A-line dresses in midi and maxi lengths with minimalist tank tops (often called “mixed-media dresses”), like the Madewell Mixed Poplin Scoopneck Maxi Dress in Jet Black ($98, madewell.com) and J.Crew Factory Women Tiered Knit Mixy Midi Dress in White ($50, factory.jcrew.com), focus attention on the upper body. Also fabulous are airy, tiered dresses like the L.L.Bean Women’s Cloud Gauze Midi Dress in Burnt Sienna or Classic Navy ($79, llbean.com), which work in a similar way but with less body definition. Smart moves!

(From left) Croft & Barrow Women’s Pleated Tank Top in Black Dash Geo; Universal Thread Women’s Tie-Front Midi A-Line Skirt in Brown; Quince 100% Organic Cotton Gauze Smocked Sleeveless Maxi Dress in Ocean Breeze.

AARP (Kohl’s, Target, Quince)

4. Loosen up on the fit to lose inhibitions.

Women tell me it’s tough to dress bare when they’re concerned about extra pounds. Trust me on this: Clothing that’s roomy, oversized, that drapes, flows and does not hug the body, always makes going bare feel easier … for any shape and size. 

Think about how less stressful going bare-legged is in a breezy A-line midi, like the Universal Thread Women’s Tie-Front Midi A-Line Skirt in Brown or Blue/Yellow Striped ($22, target.com), than a short skirt or narrow pencil shape. Look at how a blouson, ruched or shirred top like the Croft & Barrow Women’s Pleated Tank Top in Black Dash Geo ($20, kohls.com) and Banana Republic Factory Women Shirred Top in Neon Dragon Fruit, White or Preppy Navy or Black ($23, bananarepublicfactory.gapfactory.com) banishes worries about a jiggly middle.

Loose dresses like the Everlane The Tiered Dress in Stretch Linen in Bluebell ($92, everlane.com) and Quince 100% Organic Cotton Gauze  Smocked Sleeveless Maxi Dress in Ocean Breeze ($60, quince.com), both in icy blue, are one-and-done solutions that camouflage all from the waist down and require only sandals to look fresh and feel cool. No one wants to wear shapewear in summer — it gives sweat and heat a perfectly warm, steamy environment for odor and irritation. Don’t do it.

(From left) Donna Karan New York Textured Knit Sleeveless Top in Scuffed Citron; Loft Perfect Tank in White; Gap Factory Women Ribbed Scoopneck Tank Top in Navy Uniform.

AARP (Macy’s, Loft, Gap Factory)

5. Determine your version of a tank top.

Bare tank tops are always iffy for women who see their untoned upper arms and crepey cleavage as a deterrent. My advice? You’re choosing the wrong styles. A high-neck racerback tank deletes all concerns. It has what I like to describe as “indented armholes.” 

The degree of indent varies style to style, but the Loft Perfect Tank in White or Black ($14, loft.com) and Old Navy Women Snug Crop Tank Top in Olive, White Lilies, Black Jack, Warm Taupe ($6, oldnavy.gap.com) or, for a more polished version, the Donna Karan New York Textured Knit Sleeveless Top in Smoky Olive, Black, or Scuffed Citron ($79, macys.com), all have the essential sculpted armhole. This design detail reveals more shoulder to visually elongate and slim the upper arms, which in turn eliminates the “pork chop” effect of a wide upper arm and a slimmer forearm.

For a similar look, try Gap Factory Women’s Ribbed Scoopneck Tank Top in White, Navy Uniform or Black ($10–$18, gapfactory.com), which has the racerback cut but dips a little lower to reveal your collarbones. Note that for deeply cutaway styles in tanks or tank top dresses, you may want to switch to a racerback bra to prevent bra strap slippage.

6. Discover your ideal shorts or shorts substitute.

Unless you’re seriously doing sports or have the gutsiest fashion attitude on earth, just ignore short-shorts. Those 4-, 5-, 6- and even 8-inch inseams just zero in on the widest and often wiggliest part of your upper thighs, and the least flattering area of your backside. Who needs that?

Longer shorts that hover just above the knees are super fashionable and won’t ride up even when you sit and cross your legs. You have two choices. 

First up are long, tailored Bermudas like the tapered Lands’ End Women’s Classic 12" Chino Shorts in Black, Deep Sea Navy or Light Stone ($55, landsend.com), Gloria Vanderbilt Women’s Amanda 11" Bermuda Denim Shorts in Stonewood or Vintage White ($44, macys.com), and Chico’s Brigitte Slim Shorts in Smokey Taupe or Red Glow ($39, chicos.com) with a 10-inch inseam for a fitted look. Or for a wide-leg style, try Gap Women 11" Mid Rise UltraSoft Longline Denim Shorts in Poster Red or True Black ($55–$70, gap.com). All appeal to jeans fans and those who like a little more structure in their shorts.

Women who prefer the ease of leggings and pull-on pants benefit from casual shorts with an elastic waistband from straight-leg styles like Roaman’s Women’s Plus Size Soft Knit Bermuda Short in New Khaki or Navy ($28, target.com), with a 12-inch inseam, and roomier looks like Everlane The Easy Cargo Short in Velvet Morning/Mocha or Sagebrush ($29, everlane.com), with a 9.25-inch inseam.

Women ask me about skorts for everyday life. There are lots of these around, and they are favored by over-50 pickleball, golf and tennis players. Just be sure to try longer styles, like Chico’s Brigitte Pull-On Asymmetrical Wrap Skort in Crushed Berries ($39, chicos.com) and Viodia Women’s 20 Inch Knee Length Skort in Z-Deep Pink or Blue ($37, amazon.com), since most skorts are on the short-short side.

(From left) Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Spray; Estée Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover Camouflage Makeup for Face & Body SPF 15; Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Drops Tanner.

AARP (CVS, Macy’s, Target)

7. Blur and resolve skin issues with self-tanner.

You’ve finally found some tops, shorts and dresses that make your body happy. So why does the idea of bare skin still send you into a panic? Skin that’s dull, pasty, sallow, ashy or embellished with discolorations, sun damage, broken capillaries and veins may still cause women to cover up.

The truth is, we’re a lot more judgmental about our own bodies than anyone else. One way around this is with a gradual self-tanner or tanning drops like Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Drops Tanner ($14, walgreens) for face and body to blur the contrast between your skin’s background color and discolorations, and to add sunny warmth. 

For those still concerned about stubborn front-of-leg discolorations (a big reason some women continue to wear pants all summer), a leg makeup like Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Spray ($16, cvs.com), Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation ($45, sephora.com), in 43 skin tone shades, and Estée Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover Camouflage Makeup for Face & Body SPF 15 ($55, macys.com) in 15 shades — all heat- and humidity-resistant, by the way — easily solves the problem. They can be applied on untanned skin or over self-tanned legs if you go the bronzed route. Of course, you can also zip straight to full-strength self-tanning, but either way, make sure you do a head-to-toe “tan,” not just in problem areas, for a seamless, natural look.