October | 2010 | Fab Over Fifty Style Blog

20October

{Poll} Which celeb does NOT have osteoporosis?

Ten-million Americans are estimated to have osteoporosis, including many celebrities. Can you guess which star below DOESN'T have osteoporosis or osteopenia (beginning stages of osteoporosis)?

(The answer will be published on the Style Blog next Wednesday)

Katie Couric, news anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News

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Gwyneth Paltrow, actress

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Cloris Leachman, actress and Dancing with the Stars contestant

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Sally Field, actress, singer, producer, director and screenwriter

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Joan Rivers, comedian, television personality and actress

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Images via The Salt Lake Tribune, BuddyTV.com, 5news.com, malextra.com, noahwashere.com

Update 10/26: The answer to last week's poll is Katie Couric!

Gwyneth Paltrow announced that she has osteopenia, a precursor to osteopenia just this year.

Cloris Leachman told the New York Times that she has "very bad" osteoporosis. She was recently honored by the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

Sally Field was diagnosed with osteoporosis just before her 60th birthday. She takes Boniva and spearheads an awareness campaign about the disease and the drug.

Joan Rivers was diagnosed with osteoporosis at age 64. She does weight-bearing exercise and takes dietary supplements to combat the disease.

Katie Couric has not been diagnosed with osteoporosis as far as FOF knows. (Although she appeared at a gala for the National Osteoporosis Foundation in October, 1999.) Katie: if you are reading this and have osteoporosis or osteopenia, let us know!

6 comments

19October

{Street-Spotted} Beverly Roseman

Gray is one of those colors that tends to fall into the, well... gray area. It can be a great classic neutral to build upon or it can totally wash a woman out. Not Beverly Roseman, a buyer for Filene's Basement who declares it the color of the year. "I wanted to have some flexibility," she says of her charcoal dress. "It's appropriate for a business function but will make an easy transition if I go out to dinner after."

Name: Beverly Roseman

How old are you? Over 50

What do you do? I'm a buyer for Filene's Basement.

How do you describe your style? Classic with a twist. I like to add contemporary touches to update my look a little bit.

Where do you shop? I do a lot of consignment shopping and discount shopping. I'll shop anywhere and everywhere, although I'm not big on department stores.

On Beverly:
Dress-- Ali Ro
Jewelry-- Vintage
Bag-- Longchamp
Shoes-- Sigerson Morrison

4 comments

18October

{Inspiration} Milk it for all it’s worth

Are you doing everything you can to save your bones, ladies? Stay tuned for the launch of our National Bone Health Challenge this Wednesday, 10/20. Let's stop osteoporosis for ourselves and for our daughters...

We'll drink (milk) to that!

Image by Norman Parkinson

2 comments

16October

{Foxcroft Style Challenge 3} Who wore it best? [short version!]

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, we sent five FabOverFifty.com Style Gurus a a Foxcroft Covered Button Essentials Blouse in rhubarb pink. Each guru styled the shirt in her own, unique way. Now, tell us: who wore it best?

When you vote for who wore it best AND leave a comment below telling us what you think of Foxcroft's new arrivals, you’ll automatically be entered to win the stunning Foxcroft shirt featured in this challenge!

And for an extra chance to win: "Like" Foxcroft on Facebook and “Follow” the brand on Pinterest.

P.S. Meet last month’s Foxcroft Style Challenge Winner, Zipporah Sandler!

Geri Brin
Founder of FabOverFifty.com.

Mary Montgomery
A Pennsylvania-based artist, writer and jewelry designer.

Lori Ann Robinson
Los Angeles-based style consultant and founder of LARConsultants.

Susan Palumbo
Louisiana-based hairdresser and fashion stylist.

Sandra Soich
Chicago-based stylist and founder of YourFashionTherapist.com.

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For more details on how the gurus styled their shirts read their entire interviews, here.
Don't forget to enter to win the stunning Foxcroft shirt featured in this challenge by voting and leaving a comment below answering: what do you think of Foxcroft's sweater collection and which is your favorite sweater?

For an extra chance to win: “Like” Foxcroft on Facebook and “Follow” the brand on Pinterest.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month take 20% of all pink shirts. Can't be combined with another offer. Shop now.

One FOF will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes November 15, 2012 at midnight E.S.T. Winners will be announced November 22, 2012.

1 comments

15October

{Weekly Roundup}

We're rolling out for the weekend, FOFs...

Mad Men star teaches Ellen how to do the Joan Holloway Walk

The best of Paris

101-year-old woman becomes U.S. citizen!

"Will it ever be possible for me to get the looks and allure of my thirties back? You can...but you have to earn it back.”

Bonjour Talbots!

From book pages to fabric or make your own book

Jeggings great for grownups

Male politicians are getting younger, male models are getting older!

"When I was young, everybody on screen was gorgeous. There aren't many good looking actresses around today." -FOF Joan Collins

Until Monday...

P.S. Which FOF celeb clothing line would you wear?

Image via The Gilded Bee

0 comments

14October

{Giveaway} Knitting Project Kit: Reversible Cable Cowl

FOF Linda Morse is giving away a knitting kit from her store String NY. It includes a pattern and all the luscious, 100% Italian cashmere yarn you need to make this chic, reversible cable cowl. Don't know how to knit? Linda will have one of her master-knitters hand stitch the cowl for you instead. A $128 value!

String NY is the "best knitting store in the world," according to FabOverFifty.com founder, Geri. Located in New York City and online, String has a mind-blowing selection of luxe cashmere yarn and exclusive "String Originals," patterns created by in-house designer Lidia Karabinech (who formerly headed up the black label designs of Donna Karan and Ellen Tracy).

To enter, check out the color options, then comment below and answer: Which color would you knit or wear? (See all our past winners, here.)

Contest closes October 21, 2010.

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

398 comments

13October

{Timeless Style} Tatiana Riabouchinska

Even world-famous ballerinas have to sew their own shoes!

Prima ballerina Tatiana Mikhaylovna Riabouchinska was born in 1917 in Moscow and died in 2000 in Los Angeles, CA. Tatiana was one of the leading ballerinas of the 1930's and the third of de Basil's "baby ballerinas." She moved to the United States to train actresses and dancers including Rita Moreno, Ann Margret and Joanne Woodward. She was also the model for Hyacinth Hippo, the hippopotamus who dances in Disney’s Fantasia. Here, she darns a ballet slipper on a warm day in Rushcutters Bay Park, Sydney, Australia.

Image from the collection of the State Library of New South Wales

1 comments

13October

{Art} Meet 6 FOF artisans

6 FOFs turned these crafts into cash. Read how below!

1. Deborah Purtell

Deborah Purtell Designs
Age 62
Portsmith, New Hampshire

"I make needlepoint bags, apparel and housewares, as well as patterns for people to create their own. I've been designing them for years. My son went to Bucknell University and I did a needlepoint belt for him. Other people started asking for them and it blew up. I create the needlepoint designs on the computer and when I'm satisfied, I print it out and paint it by hand on a graph-like canvas. I sell on my website and five needlepoint shops on the East Coast. It keeps me busy, especially the past year since I put up a website. People have really started to find me."
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2. Jeanne Scannell

Urban Wraps
Age 58
Newburg, Pennsylvania

"I've been making clothing since I was 12 and selling it at 'hippie happenings' and crafts festivals. I started getting serious in the 70s. I sold at the very first National Crafts Show in 1974. I was selling wraps two and a half years ago at the Lyndhurst Crafts Fair in New Jersey, and a very sophisticated European women came to my booth and said 'I like what you're doing but I want you to do it differently.' Normally I don't listen--I'm not in this business to please everyone--but she intrigued me. I made one the way she suggested, watched her put it on and my jaw dropped. I thought 'Everyone is going to want one of these.' I've sold thousands. I sew them from fabric remnants I get from the big NYC cutting rooms. Sometimes they are pieces left from Armani, Chanel or Loro Piana showrooms."

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3. Mary “Mare” Lavan

Just Mare
Age 57
Pine, Arizona

“I was in I.T. for Intel for over twenty years, and then I took an early retirement about four years ago and moved to Pine, Arizona, a tiny town in the mountains. I always wanted to find my inner artist but never knew I’d find it in my backyard--literally! My neighbors were potters and gave me lessons. I finally got up the nerve to list one of my items on Etsy in October of 2007 and, ohmigod, it sold! I also do some local shows, sell on my own website and on Artfire.com. I’ve sold about 600 pieces of pottery. It’s my first creative venture. I get inspired by nature; I incorporate twigs and things I find on my walks.”
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4. Debbie Lippens

Lippens Design
Age 54
Orlando, Florida

“I used to work in the trade show business and visited Vegas a few times per year. On a trip there in 2007, I visited a junkyard called The Boneyard which has old casino signs from the 70s. I’ve always loved typography and photography - so I began taking pictures of some of the letters. I spelled out my daughter's name, “Ainsley.” I was ready to leave but found out it would be thirty minutes before a cab came, so I began snapping photographs of every letter I could find. It ended up being almost the entire alphabet. At the time, I didn’t know what I was going to do with them. That holiday season, I made all my nieces and nephews (I have more than 20!) their own name signs. Other people started asking for them and I started to sell them through Etsy, local farmers markets and an artist co-op called Artistree. I’ve done affirmations like “Carpe Diem” and “Peace,” first names for children’s rooms or last names for wedding gifts.”
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5. Susan Morgan Hoth

Morgan Silk
Age 61
Richmond, Virginia

“I retired from teaching and have too much energy to relax and take it easy. I started MorganSilk, my hand-painted scarves, which I sell exclusively through Etsy and ArtFire. I am a one-woman operation and every scarf is handmade. Once, I took my work to a really upscale gallery and was asked if I use Photoshop. They got a glimpse of the back of my head as I walked away. I’ve had 399 sales from Etsy and 48 from ArtFire (but many were multiples that were counted as single sales). To get inspired, I wander around outside and then figure out how to get the idea onto silk. Sometimes I just let the dyes talk to me.”
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6. Ellie Wellstead

51 Greenwich
Age 53
Portland, Oregon

“Growing up, I did crafty activities from knitting sweaters for my teddy bears to silk-screening posters for high school drama productions to painting wall murals in college dorm halls. I graduated from Cornell University’s 5-year architecture program and after ten years working in several architecture offices, from Honolulu to Denver to Ithaca, I wanted a business that was more creative and hands-on. I started my company, 51 Greenwich. I cut, compose, layer, fold and weave recycled paper into cards, journals and other paper goods. I print patterns on them with soy ink. The name 51 Greenwich honors the street address where my mother was born in NYC and also the first location of my grandparents’ printing business, De Pamphilis Press. Right now I sell on Etsy, the Local 14 Art Show in Portland and a gallery in Connecticut called Artist’s Market. I don’t sell enough yet to make a living, but I am working towards it!”
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7 comments

13October

{Poll} Which FOF celeb clothing line would you wear?

These 3 FOFs launched their own clothing lines... Which one would you wear?

Reba by Reba McEntire

FOF Reba McEntire was once referred to as the "Queen of Country" music, but is the 55-year-old the "Queen of Clothing," too? In 2005 she launched her eponymous clothing line, which includes office wear, casual wear, novelty wear, sportswear and knit separates in sizes 4-14. She has recently expanded the line to include footwear and luggage. The pieces range in price from $48 to $289 and are sold at Dillards.

"Women should feel terrific and confident about how they look each moment of their lives, and the clothes that we wear play a huge role in evoking these feelings," Reba says. "I created 'Reba' to help women achieve this."

ClorisLine by Cloris Leachman

You know her from 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' 'Rhoda' or 'Dancing with the Stars, you know that this 83-year-old Academy Award winner is over the top. Now FOF Cloris Leachman has an equally over-the-top clothing line. The collection includes straw hats and tunics in animal prints and vibrant florals. She announced the line last spring but it has yet to hit stores or the online marketplace.

"Women of a ‘certain age’ (for instance mine) have difficulty finding things to wear that are affordable, appealing and have some little air, some touch of individuality," said Cloris. " What you wear is how you announce who you are and too many American women look like members of a penguin community."

Betty White for HoodieBuddie by Betty White

First Golden Girls, then Saturday Night Live, now a clothing line featuring 88-year-old comedian, Betty White. Betty and entertainment apparel company Jerry Leigh have collaborated on the line, which was released this summer. It's unclear how much say Betty has in the designs, which include hooded sweatshirts ($48) and tees ($28) with Betty's face on them. But one thing is for certain, Betty will be compensated for the apparel adorned with her likeness, available at Hoodiebuddie.com. A portion of proceeds from the line will benefit one of Betty's favorite charities, The Morris Animal Foundation.

"I don't know what will happen if I ever see someone walking down the street with my face on their chest," jokes Betty in a video on HoodieBuddie.com.

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Images via Reba, Million Looks, and Hoodie Buddie

27 comments

12October

{FOF Featured Blog} Atlantis Home

Too often, do-it-yourself fashion ends up looking just like, well, exactly that. Not the DIY projects from Atlantis Home, a blog by style maven Judy Aldridge. The result of her handiwork is always more couture than craft. Case in point: This stunning refurbed antique graffiti chair (below left) and killer patchwork jeans (right).

Don't miss our fave DIY projects from Judy's blog: a fab felted patchwork scarf and vest, a stunning pastel jacket with loop trim and fun sparkly photo ornaments

2 comments