Color = Confidence? The Surprising Truth About Fashion Over 50 and Our Color Choices

The colors of this season are… the ones that you choose for yourself! Learn how to invest in your favorite colors with the help of style blogger Susan Good. Enjoy the show!

Margaret Manning:

My guest today is Susan “Honey” Good. Susan is a mother, a wife and a grandmother to 25. She is also an author and has a fabulous website called HoneyGood.com.

I’m truly happy to have her on the show because Susan has dedicated her life to helping women over 50 find style and substance in their lives. I’m really happy to hear her expertise. Welcome, Susan.

Susan “Honey” Good:

Thank you for having me. I’m very glad to be here.

Margaret:

I want to make sure you feel super comfortable on the show, so I’ll try and call you Honey.

Susan:

I’m very flattered. Thank you.

Margaret:

So, Honey, one of the reasons I invited you is because you have a sense of style that is very authentic and beautiful, and we can all be inspired by it. The question today has to do with color. What is the role that color plays in the choices that women make in establishing their style? How can it affect us emotionally and personally?

Susan:

Even white is a color, and a great option is winter white. I especially love color in accessories. I like to look in the fashion magazines to see the colors and fabrics that are in for the season. This autumn and winter, they have a lot of plaid in the fabrics, and the colors revolve around oranges, browns, tans.

When you consider color, the first thing you need to do is find out which colors make you feel happy to start your day. On those days when the world appears gloomy, you should be able to pop a color that brightens up your mood.

For example, even when I go out early in the morning, I wear my red lipstick, and I think that’s entirely appropriate for any age. It’s just a pop of color that makes me feel alive.

Another way I use red – because I really love red – is this: If I’m wearing an all-white outfit, I’ll put a red flower accent on my lapel, on my hat or on my waist. And there you have it, a nice pop of color.

Margaret:

It’s so easy to do that with just one simple accent.

Susan:

Many women tend to wear certain colors because fashion dictates them for the season. I don’t want you to think in those terms. I want you to think in terms of your style, keeping in mind which colors suit you and make you happy.

For instance, you may really love the color blue, and blue is the most peaceful color on the color wheel.  So, wear blue if it makes you happy. Wear plum. Just brighten up your life with your favorite colors.

Margaret:

I’m so glad you said that, Susan. Many women in the Sixty and Me community don’t really follow most of the fashion rules, but they still have this inner feeling that they should conform to the trends in order to be visible.

What you said gives us a lot of freedom, and I think choosing the colors that make us feel good is really empowering. This kind of style changes your attitude and gives a confidence to your walk.

Susan:

It does. I could put my red flower on a black coat, and suddenly, I have a bounce in my step.

Margaret:

I have a hat in three colors, yellow, red and tan, and I wear it with black both in summer and in winter. When I put it on, those three colors give a really powerful effect, especially the red. Red goes really well with black, and I always try to combine those two. It’s really fun and it makes me feel good.

Susan:

Exactly. I have this wicker basket bag that one of my daughters bought me. It works as a great accessory because of the wonderful pink color. I wear it in the summer and the effect is wonderful.

Margaret:

You have eclectic taste, but you don’t go over the top. Looking at the color of your bag reminded me that a lot of women in our community shared that they go more towards the jewel colors as they get a little older.

They’re not so much into the earthy colors like browns and greens, but instead go for the turquoise, pink and maroon colors. Those colors really shimmer and tend to bring out that glow we have inside of us.

Susan:

And why not even wear something that shimmers? I really like putting some shimmer eye shadow on my eyes.

Margaret:

People say don’t do that when you get older. What do you say to that?

Susan:

Well, I’m certainly not young, but I like my eyes to shimmer a little. I have good eyes, and I like to wear black mascara on.

Margaret:

Adding a bit of sparkle to your eyes is really okay. Color is multi-dimensional, so whether you choose an accent like your flower or purple eyeshadow that’s sparkly, the color is what energizes you. Do you agree with that?

Susan:

Absolutely. My earrings bring a pop of color and this thin belt with rhinestones in it gives a nice sparkle.

Margaret:

So, you’re saying that your color choices are coming from deep inside of you, and you gravitate towards the things that you like and away from the ones you don’t like. For instance, you mentioned you don’t like plaid, while I don’t buy anything yellow.

Susan:

I wouldn’t buy anything yellow either. But you see, when there’s no audience, we know the colors we love. Just put them on, and your day will be brighter.

Margaret:

I agree. Also, if you tend to wear neutral tones, adding a pop of color can make a lot of difference. I think it’s really worth noting the impact that color can have on the way that the world sees you.

Susan:

I really do believe that age is just a number, and if we give it power, it limits our opportunities and the way we see ourselves. My husband likes to take me shopping on occasion and look what he bought me.

Margaret:

Is this a skirt, a dress?

Susan:

These are pants. When I wear them, they make me feel great even on a bland day. It’s a nice feeling, on occasion. So, don’t be afraid to just be you.

Margaret:

I think color relates to both the external factors, like the texture of the fabric, and your inner glow, whatever color that inner glow is. You’re really drawn to some colors, like the blues or the pinks. As we get older, we just feel relaxed around them.

Susan:

Yes, our color is a part of the total of us, so don’t be afraid to go with your color.

Margaret:

That’s great advice. I think that color is all about igniting your inner passion and bringing out your inner brightness. I always say that women over 50 are living with passion and purpose. We want to be taken seriously, but we also want to have fun.

Susan:

You can have color in your glass frames, too. I don’t wear tons of color. The pants that I showed you are very colorful, but I usually stick with solid, neutral tones. I could be wearing a white, gray, black or navy outfit, and then I’d use my color in a shoe.

For example, I love wearing a gray suit. With that gray suit, every American girl will wear a gray boot or shoe, or a black boot or shoe. I, on the other hand, will walk out with a pink pump, and all of a sudden, I’ve got that splash of color.

What you do with your color kind of defines your personality. You could dress in one tone of clothing and then carry your color on your handbag, your shoe, your glass frames, your earring.

Margaret:

I’m glad you explained that all you need is a pop of color, you don’t have to go crazy. Just a shoe, or a flower in your hair can have a great effect.

In closing, I’d like to talk about the fact that many women actually want to stay invisible after 50 because of the many changes we’re undergoing. Our skin changes, our faces change, perhaps we gain weight. I think many women are afraid that using color will draw attention when we don’t want it.

But I think you’re saying we should use color to break through that lack of confidence. A single flower, a scarf or a shoe can help us fight that urge to hide from the world when we’re not yet comfortable with being 50.

Susan:

Well, beauty is internal. 80 percent of our beauty is within us. It’s in our smile. It’s in a wink. It’s in being subtle with our touch. That’s real beauty.

If you can remember that, along with the many passages you’ve already been through in your life, you’ll realize you’re now wiser and you will walk taller and feel happier about yourself. I know I do.

Margaret:

You certainly have a fabulous presence and a lovely smile. You are walking the talk here. So, thank you, Susan, for being with us and sharing your insights. I’m sure you’ve inspired a lot of women today. I really enjoyed this conversation. Thank you, Susan.

Susan:

I did too. Thank you so much. Bye, bye.

What is your favorite color and how do you usually wear it? Do you fall prey to fashion magazines that advertise season colors? Let’s talk color in the comments below.