Yes, you might be too old to wear...

Yes, you might be too old to wear...

I believe most women have a fair amount of common sense. However, sometimes even the most wonderful woman can be lead astray by a style she thinks looks good on her (twenty years later). You know that woman I'm talking ab'out. She's over 40, yet still wearing short skirts that she (literally) wore in her twenties!!! It's obvious the short skirt is not a favorable look with her aging legs. Who wants to be the one to tell her that she looks horrible?


The truth is...she's too OLD to wear that style! Yes, in MissusSmartyPants' opinion clothing labels should have an"expiration date" on them so this "too old to wear it" dilemma would no longer occur.


There are plenty of young, hip, trendy styles that can make you appear OLDER. Yes this is very scary, but it is true you need to tread lightly with the trends when you are over forty!


Here are just a few of the "youthful" styles an older woman should totally AVOID:


Message tees. You know the tees that say things like "Your boyfriend thinks I'm HOT!" Wearing a message tee (or ass-vertising sweats) like this...screams desperate!!!

INSTEAD: Choose to wear a great quality cotton tee that you can dress up or down...with NO silly writing, LOL!

Overly Trendy Denims. You've seen these women before: a rocking-hard body and a face that looks over 60, or more. The overly trendy jeans that are ultra LOW rise, torn and/or embellished with rhinestones just aren't doing this "hot mama" justice!!!

INSTEAD: Choose a dark wash bootcut jean and you'll look fabulous and "on-trend" no matter your body size or shape. This style of jean is the best for helping slim and balance your proportions.

Sky-high heels. Too high or overly theatrical styled shoes can make you look silly--not stylish! With these shoes be sure to include thigh-high boots, and 5 inch cork wedges.

INSTEAD: Stop torturing your feet! It's time to be kind and get real with your shoe styling. As we age we lose that fatty cushioning we had in our youth. Look for shoe styles/brands that are wider, sole cushioned and with thicker shorter heels. TRY BRANDS LIKE: Cole Hann, Aerosoles, Nurture Shoes, etc. PAY more when it comes to your shoes because foot comfort matters so much!

Micro-minis. Tina Turner pushed the limits on this one because she had pretty hot-looking legs! However, keep in mind she was on STAGE!!! ALL etsy-bitsy skirts should be sent directly to Goodwill. End of story.

INSTEAD:  replace short skirts with straight or A-line skirts around the knee. TIP: if you have a slightly shorter skirt (a couple of inches above the knee) you could still wear it if you wear opaque tights at the same time.


Excessive Cleavage.  Some women are well endowed and well some aren't. That's just the way it is. All 'boobage' is womanly (regardless of size) and therefore is beautiful, in my humble opinion.

BUT when it comes to cleavage in public: less is more!

'These are just a few of my un-favorite things' that can trip up any beautiful woman's style! Keep it on the classic side and you'll look fabulous every day.

Also avoid hand-made hokey jewelry, goth inspired belts and necklaces with spikes, black nail polish, glitter makeup in bright colors....GOSH! I could be here all night listing the SILLY TRENDS a grown woman really should avoid.

All the best, Leslie MSP

You can find me helping women dress their best based on their body shape at MissusSmartyPants.com

Do we value ourselves enough? Are we listening to a negative voice in our head, or are we thinking positive thoughts?

What we think has a huge impact on us. I remember this old saying ( I don't know where it is from)..."What we think about, we bring about".  How true it is!

Late last night I couldn't sleep (what else is new?)...so I read a self-help book I had on my nightstand. I grab this book and read a few pages from time to time, then put it down again. The book title doesn't really matter, but what does matters is what I got from my short reading before getting sleepy: Your reality in life is up to YOU. You make up the thoughts in your head, ultimately. Despite what anyone thinks about you (your outer appearance, your personality)...You are in charge. Despite your circumstances (those are temporary because you can change them) or anything else that has happened in your life thus far; your happiness starts in your head and it starts when you choose to let it happen.

I choose to let my light shine. I am happy. I love myself. I will stand tall, smile and enjoy all that life has to offer. No regrets, no appologies-to anyone. My life is up to me. I choose happiness and want to share my positivity with those around me. This is my truth and my reality. What's your truth and your choice?

P.S. What does this have to do with style and fashion? Everything! If you respect yourself your outer appearance will show this truth. 

A "PSA" from MissusSmartyPants.com

Some days we need a hug and a positive affirmation that we are enough--just the way we are. Sure, we've got our "imperfections" but they are part of what makes us uniquely who we are. We must therefore relax and accept ourselves first, before we can move forward or make changes in our life.

Accepting yourself first allow you to share yourself enthusiastically with others. When your inner light shines through amazing things begin to happen.

As a fashion stylist, I believe women are most beautiful when they truly love and believe in themselves!

Are you still wasting precious time on "body hate"

"Fully enjoy the wonder of each moment"...I saw this quote as I was scrolling through my Instagram phone app. It made me take pause because not everyone is privileged to grow old and gray. We are lucky to be alive! Live each day like it's a gift to YOU-not something to begrudge! 



STOP WAITING ON THE SIDE LINES OF LIFE! Join in and be your best person--for you. Whatever is holding you back (read: excuses) not enough money, need a better job, need to lose 20 lbs. need to declutter your closet first...WHATEVER it is-release it and start living your life today! 

STOP THE BODY HATING! IT DOESN'T WORK!

Dearest MissuSmartyPants,

About 6 months ago I purchased my personal profile (I'm a very curvy B) and learned a lot but didn't put any of it into practice until about 3 months ago.

Finally, after years of HATING my body and crying whenever I tried clothes on in a dressing room, I am able to look in the mirror and stand tall! I accept the flaws with the idea that I can improve by going to the gym, eating better, and more importantly, I can finally ACCEPT that I have assets as well.

This is HUGE for me because I am finally able to take pride in my appearance instead of just throwing on whatever was available. I’ve now lost almost 20 lbs because I’m more aware of my body and want to take care for it. Wow your style help was the turning point for me!

Thank you so much for encouraging me to love my shape. Deb


***What are you waiting for?! Time to love yourself...and dress for today!
 

What's MissusSmartyPants Really About?

What's MissusSmartyPants.com really all about? It's about women. Women like you who simply want to dress better and feel good about themselves.

MissusSmartyPants is real style advice you can use. It's an easy-to-use style program that helps you find your best styles based on body's shape and take you through each season in an age appropriate way, teaching you how to touch on the trends and look current and up-to-date. It's what every woman wants personally for herself.

Is MSP for you? Yes! No matter your age, shape, size, height...you deserve to look and more importantly, feel your best! To personally help as many women as I can is my mission, no it's more than just a mission ...it's my passion to help each you get there...one baby step at a time.

Are you ready to become all that you can truly be? 

It's working for so many women. Why not you? Why not today? Right now is the best time to "jump right in right where you are" and begin.  Join MissusSmartyPants with a Personal Profile style membership for your body type.

Here's proof dressing well improves your life in so many ways:

Leslie, I have been following your dressing advice for several years now and I thought you would like to know that this 61 year old grandmother received the best compliment this past Sunday at church.  One of the ladies at church said hello to me, asked me how I was doing and then said, "Bonnie, you look like a young girl!"  I was wearing a black pencil skirt (just below the knee - I'm a "C"), black flats, a black short sleeve tee with a long tan 3/4 sleeve sweater.  I am a Spring and well aware that black near my face is not the most flattering for me so I wore a teal statement necklace and medium gold/teal hoops. The teal, gold & tan complimented my Spring complexion and kept the black tee from causing me to pale out.  My makeup was still in the Spring color range.
 
Since I started dressing the Missussmartypants way, people are surprised to know that I really weigh 170 lbs.  One lady even commented that she thought I was in the 130-ish lb. range. My 29 year old daughter recently said to me, "I didn't think the time would ever come that I would be interested in my mother's clothes".  She even recently borrowed that black pencil skirt of mine to wear to a wedding!  I receive compliments often on my complexion, when it's really the color of the makeup and clothes that are so flattering.  Thank you for helping me age gracefully! 
Bonnie in Ky

Here's to finding your own kind of beauty! 

Allow Your Light To Shine Through...

“Everybody has a part of her body that she doesn’t like, but I’ve stopped complaining about mine because I don’t want to critique nature’s handiwork … My job is simply to allow the light to shine out of the masterpiece.”~Alfre Woodard

"Be yourself. Find the pieces that work for you and make you feel good about yourself." ~Max Azria

(Nordstrom: Donna Ricco Stretch Cotton Party Dress)

This is such good style advice: Find what works for you and wear it! Dah...sometimes the advice is so obvious, but not everyone is taking it. We've all heard: don't try to be something you're not...well, don't try to dress like something you're not either! Be YOU. Wear what you like...but be sure to choose from styles that are flattering for you as well. That way you will look great and feel great. Dressing like a frump never feels good (even though some days at home in our sweats sounds like a pretty good option).

For me, I'm most comfortable and feel good when I'm wearing a dress or skirt. I find this to be the case mostly when the weather is warm. In the winter it's pants just about every day. 

I don't like prints much either. I typically pick out something that is in solid fabric vs. a printed one. I do have a couple of dresses and blouses that are prints, but I honestly don't wear them much because I don't feel as good in them. (Perhaps at the end of summer I should consider editing them out of my closet if I don't wear them). I'm always on the lookout for casual-chic looks that include dresses and skirts instead of the typical shorts and capri looks. 


What about you? What pieces of clothing do you feel most comfortable in, and why?

Be All You Can Be...

Be the best rate version of yourself. Is there anything better? I think not!


You are beautiful and special, so find ways to express it to those around you...