Women in their 50s and 60s can have trouble expressing their personal style. But, it might be easier to find your inner style muse than you think! Join Margaret Manning and “Bag and a Beret” blogger Mel Kobayashi as they discuss how you can experiment and connect to your beautiful inner maven.

How to Shop in Your 60s

Shopping with your girlfriends is one of the best ways to begin your new style experiment. A good girlfriend will be honest (but kind) in her assessment of the new pieces you are trying out.

If you are nervous, set up the day to start with lunch or brunch and go shopping after you’ve relaxed and gossiped for a while. You might find yourself in a lighter mood and more willing to take risks or get outside of your comfort zone.

Fashion After 60 and the Art of Knowing What to Buy

Do you want to jazz up your wardrobe and find some fantastic new pieces but don’t know where to start? Is it because you think fashion for older women should fit a particular mold?

It doesn’t – it’s what YOU decide it should be!

It can be challenging to make changes to your wardrobe, as you might be concerned about judgment from others. As Margaret says, feeling invisible can make you stop doing things to be noticed – and it can be a hard pattern to break.

If you are nervous, start small. Mel suggests tights are a great place to begin as they can be paired with so many items – dresses, ankle boots, sandals and even running shoes. They provide excellent coverage of areas you might be self-conscious about, yet, give you the ability to begin experimenting.

Where to Look

There are many places to look for new clothes outside mainstream shopping malls. Mel recommends thrift shopping as a great way to look for new clothing as they are usually cheap, quirky and you might even find a designer piece for a bargain!

Consignment shops are another exciting option to consider as you can find new or unique items; however, keep in mind the price point will be higher than a thrift store. You may be less inclined to take chances if you are paying a higher price!

Why Experimenting is So Important

Fashion over 50 really isn’t something that should be approached with a constrained, closed mind. Your 50s are a time when you can celebrate being comfortable in your own skin and not be afraid to show that on the outside.

The most important thing to keep in mind is you’re never going to please everyone – the most important thing is for you to be happy. Hesitation and indecisiveness are unlikely to make you feel this way so why not give a change a go?

You will probably find your confidence attracts others like Margaret found with her friend when they were on a cruise together!

Who to Shop for – Hint, You’ll Need a Mirror!

Yourself of course! It might seem straightforward, but it’s not a rule we follow as easily as we think. We are often so caught up in worrying about what others may think of what we are wearing that we stop shopping for ourselves!

Think about it – how many times have you looked at a gorgeous pair of sparkly or shiny shoes and stopped yourself from buying them as you worried they would look silly? We’ve all been guilty of that at least once and it’s time to stop! The moment you do so, you’re no longer making a purchasing decision based on what you want.

Don’t buy something assuming that it will please someone else. You are good enough! You deserve better!

How do you express your personal style? Do you feel people talk to you more when you are feeling confident? What are your best shopping tips? What fashion after 60 tips can you share? Let’s have a chat!

Featured image: http://bagandaberet.blogspot.com/