Monday, September 13, 2010

The easiest way to stay looking youthful and chic after the age of 40 is to pay close attention to your accessories. While you may be sporting the latest clothing styles, pairing your outfits with dated handbags, jewelry, shoes and belts is a dead giveaway that you've been at this fashion game a very long time.

How do you figure out which accessories are too old, too young or just right? Here are 5 popular accessories and the reasons why some will make you look ageless.

Fashion Rings

Can't part with that cute litle birthstone ring your parents or boyfriend bought you when graduated from high school 25 years ago? It may be sentimental, but by today's small gemstone rings are too fine and tame.

Giant chunky cocktail rings are much more in vogue at the moment, however don't buy one that is too eclectic and junky looking. Butterflies and daises are cute and girly, not sophisticated and chic, therefore better left to teens and twenty-somethings.

Instead opt for something like a large rectangular smoky quartz cocktail ring that combines classic and modern elements and proudly announces, "I'm 40+ and I'm fabulous!"

Earrings

You may not want to admit it but. you probably have a pair of outdated gold shrimp hoop earrings left over from the 80's. These will definitely make you look like you are caught in a time warp!

On the other trendy hand masive dangly double hoop designer earrings that flaunt a designer logo may attractive to the young and impressionable, but a grown up gal needs something less commercial and cutesy.

A simple small to medium sized hoop is always an easy to wear and elegant choice for a woman who wants to look ageless. Choose classic gold or gold/diamond encrusted hoops. They are sophisticated and go with everything. You can never go wrong with this bit of bling.

Watches

Delicate, fragile, a skinny band and tiny face. That's what makes a watch look old. If your Grandmother wore it, it probably means that you should think twice before you do.

On the flip side, as we age, we have to face reality and give things up…like heart shapes. They're just not sophisticated enough after 40+. Unless you are a matchmaker, or your last name is Heart, leave your sweet and innocent watch to the younger set.

If you really want to update your watch, buy one with a bigger face, even  a men's watch for s aporty look or try a sleek, sophsiticated artsy watch to make a grown-up statemnet.

Sunglasses

Nothing like an out of date pair of sunglasses to ruin you entire look! Tired wire rims are just not cool. Avoid lenses that are on the small side and thin arms.

On the other hand, colored plastic frames in pink or any other bright color are too little girlish for a mature women. Leave these for Britney Spears.

Glamorous oversized glasses ooze movie star magic. Your face shape will depend on what style glasses to go for, but overall, you want larger lenses as these have with a wider side, in black or tortoise shell is always chic. Make sure you have something at the side for interest like coins or some fun crystals to complete the look and help you look fabulous after 40.

Deborah Boland and JoJami Tyler (The Glam Gals) are Image and Style Experts specializing in helping women 40 plus look and feel fabulous. They are the authors of the book, The Glam Plan~ 12 Simple Steps to Take You from Frumpy to Fabulous, as well as coaches for their Tweak Your Chic™, Image make-over program. For more style tips visit: www.fabulousafter40.com and sign up for their bi-weekly newsletter.

You can also contact them at: info@fabulousafter40.com