What women over 40 want

Fact: Flowers are always in vogue.
Myth: You can get away with cheapo imitation flower accessories and they’ll last and look as good.
Sorry gals, but a Weitzman by any other name is a knock-off. Prada is not Prado! Invest in good floral accessories as staples for any wardrobe occasion. You can rock a tiny pair of floral earrings to a book club meeting just as easily as you can wear a pair of sandals with silk flowers to a wedding. They can get you anywhere. Maybe even past the velvet ropes.

No doubt you’ve seen the picture of Carrie Bradshaw (SJP) wearing a white dress with a giant white flower blooming on her shoulder. We love Carrie, we love Sarah Jessica Parker, but we don’t love something perched on our shoulder that is bigger than our face. (Unless you’re trying to distract people from your face because you’ve had a bad chemical peel or something.) So, with flowers in mind, I went on search of accessories that would leave the right impression.

1. New! Betsey Johnson Women’s Pink Resin-Flower Bracelet Watch at Macy’s
($150.00). Fun and fantastic. Just the right pop of color for any weekend outfit.

2. Sterling Silver Diamond Flower Drop Earrings at Macy’s ($450.00). Oh, la la. Time to sweep your hair into a stunning updo.
3. Stuart Weitzman Dalia Flower Hobo at bloomingdale’s ($578.00). Oh, such prettiness.
4. French Sole Serenity Flower Sandal at bloomingdale’s ($198.00). Hint: This is what women over 40 want, it’s elegant and sexy at the same time, no heel required!

5. Juicy Couture Viola Flower Stud Earrings at Neiman Marcus ($48.00). I want these in both colors. Am I selfish? Tell me I’m not! Don’t punish good taste.
Stylishly yours,

Jessica Rae

Say it with me: Graphic-print fashion tote bags! Whew. That’s a mouthful. Luckily, the nice part about these canvas toes is that they’re easy to wear with anything, they’re big enough to hold every essential you feel you need (including 10 fashion magazines and an emergency bag of skittles), and they are perfect for summer vacations.

I have to admit that for a long time I was always over-dressed – for almost everything. While I did receive very nice compliments of ‘you always look so put together and polished,’ these days I strive to have a little bit more fun with my style choices (going from Sex and the City’s prim Charlotte-style to Carrie’s). It’s easy for me to love the Longchamp Flower Denim Tote ($320.00) from bloomingdale’s because I’m a sucker for rose prints. I wish I could grow some real roses, but I think that’s a huge task better regulated for people with green thumbs. The closest I can come to that is a pair of green knit gloves. Luckily, the roses on this tote bag don’t need constant watering. And in the meantime, I will befriend a Prince that will send me real roses on a daily basis!
Another floral tote to love is the LeSportsac Anna Tote ($75.00) at Macy’s. I like that it’s still a little proper, but the colors are there – it’s all kinds of pretty. Take it to a garden, a beach, or a yacht if you’ve got one. (Alert! – What women over 40 want!)
Ready to make the jump? No, not off the Titantic, but into some more dangerous waters nonetheless. I’m talking about the statement-making Polly Face Canvas Tote by Jimmy Choo (SALE $682.50) from Saks. If you wear this, just make sure your own face is looking flawless – you don’t want any competition.

Here’s to living in sublime style,

Jessica Rae

Cosmo magazine likes to throw around the phrase “fun, fearless, females” and this spring I think fashion designers everywhere are trying to tell women to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Or in this case, walk the walk in yellow.

With a 3 inch heel, this Franco Sarto pump is adorable. It comes in black or yellow but if you’re trying to show just how fearless you are, yellow is the obvious choice. I’m in love with the cute little bow on the edge of the peeptoe and the perforations. The entire shoe screams “Spring here I come!” Franco Sarto’s Condor is available at Bloomingdale’s ($89).

If you own a pair of loafers, raise your hand. If you own a pair of bright yellow loafers, raise your hand. Anyone? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Leave it to Ralph Lauren to put a modern twist on a classic style. Lauren by Ralph Lauren flats available at Bloomingdale’s ($89).

The great thing about a color like yellow is that its an instant mood lifter. And wearing yellow on your feet? Well… the minute you look down, you’ll be back in high spirits. Who can frown at yellow feet? Or really… who can frown at cute shoes like these BCBG ballet flats? There’s a patent flower ornament on the top that I’m sure wiggles when you walk. BCBG Max Azria Carmels flats available at Bloomingdale’s ($135.99).

Happy Shopping!

Bre

Hi, my name is Brenae and I have a problem. I’m addicted to little black dresses. I own ten different little black dresses and every time I go shopping my friends have to forcefully remove me from the black dress section of my favorite stores. I happen to think that you can never have enough because seriously… you can wear them to anything. On my last shopping trip, my best friend challenged me to not buy a black dress. And well… I never back down from a challenge.

This Nine West dress is $129.00 at Macy’s and comes in the eye-catching color of red. I happen to think that just about everyone looks good in red. If you’re staring at this dress and thinking it’s too much color, you can always balance it out with black accessories like the model does. And because of the cut of the dress, you can even wear it out for professional gatherings if you want. I’d definitely think about wearing this to a more casual interview. Who doesn’t want to be remembered as the lady in red?

This London Times dress is also available at Macy’s for $88 and comes in the bright yellow or white. Both colors are great alternatives to all of the dark colors that people gravitate towards during the winter months. I’m sure that if you walk down the street in a bright yellow dress, you’ll catch people’s attentions and maybe even lift their spirits. I mean, how can you look at that dress and not smile a little?

Happy Shopping!

           Hi, my name is Mirela and I hate this shift dress trend. Why? Because I see no use for it -unless you are pregnant, 18, you are on the way to the green market wearing flats and a cute fashion tote, or all of the above. Maybe it’s me, but I don’t think it’s flattering at all for a tall woman my age. Oh, I forgot to mention I am over 40. Oh boohoo, look at Madonna, she’s going to be 50 and she still looks hot. I’ve always asked myself “What is Madonna’s genius?”. Vanity Fair  answered my question in this month’s issue “In the end, Madonna will be remembered as a minter of images” I think that is true for all of us to a certain degree.

So girls, careful how you’ll be remembered. It’s not just a dress you are wearing today, it’s a picture in your biography.