AARP Eye Center
Age has nothing to do with style. At least that’s what fashionable people appear to be saying as they flout the old over-50 rules. No need to mimic runway looks or get gaudy. All it takes is the confidence to wear on the outside how you feel on the inside. If you love color but live in neutrals, want to dazzle but not overwhelm or just wish you had the guts to look cooler, this column’s for you. Check out these rule-breaking celebs with the right idea. They ...
1. Wear leather all the time
(Left to right) Rita Moreno, Charlize Theron, Isabelle Huppert and Brooke Shields
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Women in Film (WIF); Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images; Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images; TheStewartofNY/GC Images
A black leather moto jacket used to be a rebellious teenage emblem. Now it’s the first thing 50-plusers reach for when they want to be a little irreverent. Style-breakers have dialed up the cool effect by adding faux leather pants, dresses and skirts to their edgy options. Avoid going overboard on the “tough” look and choose classy timeless styles like pencil or midi skirts, shifts or sheaths that are devoid of studs, buckles or fringe (you can always add the latter in a bag or boots), or opt for a fashion color instead of black.
AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.
2. Turn up the optics in prints
(Left to right) Maya Rudolph, Patricia Arquette, Loretta Devine and Gloria Estefan
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images; Jerod Harris/FilmMagic; Leon Bennett/Getty Images; Raymond Hall/GC Images
Rule-breakers are not into itsy-bitsy prints or muted preppy stripes. Instead, they choose can’t-miss animal prints, bold stripes, high-contrast menswear checks and splashy florals that turn simple silhouettes into head-turning looks. In fact, combining a wild print with a basic style is the key to success here. Animal prints like leopard or zebra in neutral colors are the easiest way to start slipping patterns into an existing neutral wardrobe. They quickly integrate with clothes you already own and have a sophisticated look you won’t tire of or regret.
