Women’s bodies have often been through so much by the time they hit their 40’s and beyond. I know mine did. My body endured a great deal during and after three pregnancies. Not to mention breastfeeding, stretch marks, and so on, but I won’t bore you with the gory details. What I wore in my 20s and 30s, is not going to look the same now. It just isn’t! I now have less curves in some places and more in others. What I wear after 40 is very different to what would have suited me when I was much younger. I am currently 44 at the time of this writing.
Menopause may also be looming or you may be going through it. This could also affect your body shape. You need not despair. I have written this to help you find some solutions.
It’s not uncommon for women to beat themselves up over their weight. I know I am guilty of this at times as are many other women I know. As a style and image consultant, I have really noticed the difference when the focus changes.
In styling, the focus is to accept our body shape as it is now. Working instead with what we have and balancing out our proportions. We are being so much kinder to ourselves by making this switch. It’s like magic!
Healthy Body as the Focus
Of course a ‘healthy’ body is the aim. After all when we have our health, we have everything. There is usually room for improvement when it comes to our lifestyles.
It’s common knowledge that a healthy body weight will likely be achieved through consistent activity, exercise and healthy eating. Unless, of course, you have an underlying condition. If you have, then you just have to work with what you’ve got, with the help of a specialist. It’s difficult to avoid the fact that too much alcohol, simple carbohydrates and sugars won’t support your healthy living goals. I still completely believe in the phrase ‘you are what you eat’ and also ‘ you are what you do.’
Saying all that, we need to accept we are where we are. It’s likely, given you are reading this article, you are looking to up your game when it comes to how you style after 40. Who doesn’t want to look and feel their best?
I am always looking at ways to improve myself. Not just on the outside but also within. Both go hand in hand. I don’t believe you can look your best if you don’t feel your best within. How we portray ourselves to the world, make us who we are as human. It plays a part in how we interact with others. Two important elements.
Small changes make a big difference, so lets start at the beginning.
When it comes to styling, we are generally looking at finding the best way to even out and balance our body shapes. We can achieve this with tweaks to what we wear. Here is my recommendations to the best way to style after 40.
Colour Analysis
First and foremost, it is super important to understand whether you have warm or cool undertones to your skin. Finding your season- Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring is, in my opinion, the best place to start. Especially if you are looking at how to improve your personal styling. I will soon be offering a colour analysis service online. Depending on when you are reading this, I may already be offering it. Be sure to email me or follow me over on Instagram @silver_styling if you’d like to know more about my colour analysis service.
Knowing what colours suit you will bring out your best features. Whether that’s your eye colour, your skin or whatever it is, it will make all the difference. Wearing the wrong colour can make you look sick, tired and sad. The right colours inspire a look of health, happiness and that post holiday glow. This includes wearing the correct make up colours and undertones.
If investing in getting your colours done is out of the question, then think about some key factors
Do you look great in black? If yes, then you may be cool toned.
Do you only ever wear gold and silver just doesn’t suit you? then you are likely warm toned. If both look good on you then you may be warm toned Spring.
Ask a friend or family member what they think suits you the most. Get rid of anything in your wardrobe that you are sure doesn’t suit you.
Nothing compares to actually getting a Colour Consultant to find this out for you. You can get a little bit of an idea to help you make better colour choices in the mean time.
Your Body Shape and Styling it
Looking at your measurements is a great place to start. As a stylist I would measure all body lengths and then help my client dress accordingly. The ideal body shape is hourglass so that is what we work towards.
I will use myself as an example; I am small size 8-10 but I am quite curvy but I don’t have much of a waist. So my ‘go to’, would be a top which is also curvy, not too many straight lines. V necks don’t like me too much but a round neck works. My neck isn’t particularly long, so I don’t wear necks that are close to my chin. It closes me in too much. My legs are quite long in proportion to the rest of me. That means I can wear most types of jeans and trousers. I do favour skinny jeans and I like to tuck in a top because that gives me a waist.
Think about your body type and how you can balance it out to give you the best proportions. Get that right with colour and you start looking a ‘million dollars’!
Dark and Light Colour
Think about the body shape you have. Try and work with where you want to highlight and where you want to hide. Anything dark will hide more problematic areas for you and lighter colours will accentuate. Consider this when dressing. Don’t wear white jeans if your legs are on the larger side. Likewise a white or light silver top will make you look bigger than you are. Think about whether this will help you or not.
Work with your Natural Beauty…
The first example, which popped into my head is when pale people reach for the tan. It often looks patchy and orange, particularly if they have cool undertones. What would work better is to reach for a moisturiser that has some slight tanning properties to it. I understand that you may want to have a slight tan in the summer.
We know it’s not good to catch too many rays. Think about what your skin would do if you did and mimic that. I use tans that I spray on and then can wash off at the end of the day. Alleven do a nice one but its expensive. My favourite is Sally Hansen Tan Glow and is available in my amazon store. I only use it on my body, not my face. I apply it with a tanning mit. I never get blotchy, its even and completely waterproof. If I am going for a glow on my pale skin, I will create that with makeup. You can find loads of makeup tips over on Instagram @silver_styling.
If you can consider these 3 pointers, then it’s a great place to start. If you would consider having a colour analysis session and/or styling with me online, then drop me an email here.
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I post every day. See you there.
Mel 💫
