Fashion Flash time! This week, it’s hosted by Female Fat Loss Over 40, the go-to blog for tips to jump start weight-loss, researched and written by Shawna Kaminski. Check out her fat loss tips for busy FOFs and enjoy all the other links from our fab Fashion Flash friends.
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Rachel Teyssier and Stacy Struminger are giving away one of their stylish Rainraps, a lightweight wrap that protects your clothes from the rain without weighing you down. Enter to win one by answering this question in the comments, below: Which color Rainrap is your favorite?
Best FOFriends Rachel and Stacy met at a playgroup in 2001, when their kids were just a few months old. Once they started talking, they realized that they had a ton in common. Both ladies grew up in New Jersey and eventually moved to New York City, both relocated from New York and were raising families in Richmond, Virginia, and both have kids who are the same age.
Ten years later, Stacy was headed to a meeting when it started downpouring. As she sat at that meeting, soaking wet, she thought how convenient it would be to have a waterproof wrap, similar to her favorite pashmina, that she could throw on over her outfit to protect her from the rain. She told Rachel about her idea, and the two searched the web to see if their dream raingear already existed.
“We were typing in ‘waterproof scarfs,’ ‘waterproof capes,’ ‘waterproof pashminas,'” says Rachel. “We did tons of different online searches to see if there was anything like it out there, and realized that there wasn’t.”
In late 2011, Rachel and Stacy rolled out the first prototype of their Rainraps, a fashionable alternative to the slicker which protects your clothes without leaving you looking like…well..a tourist at Seaworld. The waterproof wrap folds up into a tiny square that fits in your purse, and can be worn several different ways to compliment any outfit.
In the four months since they started selling online and at retail stores in Virginia and North Carolina, Stacy and Rachel have sold over 1,800 Rainraps. The stylish rainwear has also been featured by nearly every magazine under the sun from Good Housekeeping to More to Oprah’s O Magazine.
So, how did they climb the ladder to success so quickly? Rachel offered this piece of advice:
“You’re never going to know unless you give it a shot, and I truly believe that if somebody has an idea, there’s a way to get it made.”
Enter to win a Rainrap of your own. View the Rainraps collection, here, then enter to win by answering this question in the comment section: Which color Rainrap is your favorite?
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One FOF will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes June 21, 2012 at midnight E.S.T.
With her black leather motorcycle jacket and ankle boots, the only thing this FOF is missing is her Harley. But, was she asleep at the wheel when she got dressed? We asked our style experts to decide. Read their responses, then tell us what you think: Is this FOF biker chic or fashion roadkill?
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Sherrie Mathieson: “Reminds me of Mammy Yokum in a ‘Li’l Abner’ cartoon. Undoubtedly, her wish was to be hip and cool but instead, she succeeds at looking silly. [I bet] she’s comfortable, but she would have been way ahead had she nixed the boots that swallow her bare legs and instead, worn black ballerina flats.”
Sherrie Mathieson is a leading style expert and Random House author of Steal this Style and Forever Cool.
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Lovey Dash: “Let me just say I would not wear this look for all the tea in China. However it works, not for me, but for her…The jacket is great and I love the tee with the necklace. I also love the boots. If the skirt were shorter, then she could have been okay without tights. But since it’s not, she should have worn Wolford opaque or micro fishnet tights. All in all not fashion roadkill, not biker chic but, she pulled it off.”
Lovey Dash is a Beverly Hills-based stylist. She was formerly in VIP sales for Louis Vuitton on Rodeo Drive.
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Deborah Boland and Jojami Tyler (The Glam Gals): “BOOT this look out the door! This gal isn’t sure if she is a private school student or a motorcycle gang member and those boots look like galoshes you’d throw on to wade in your bathroom if your toilet overflowed.”
“Glam Gals” Jojami Tyler and Deborah Boland co-write the brilliant fashion blog, Fabulous After 40.
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Glenyse Thompson: “[She’s] fashion roadkill. The whole outfit is wrong. I understand the need for protection if you ride a motorcycle or scooter, but you can still dress fashionably and protect yourself. 1981 is calling and it wants that skirt back. A pair of fitted pants would have easily made this outfit a ‘do.'”
Glenyse Thompson is a personal home and wardrobe stylist and the creator of Styleosophy.
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Susan Grant: “This ensemble works well and is age appropriate with the exception of the footwear. The height of the boot and its tight fit over the ankle looks awkward. I would add black tights and swap the ankle boots for a knee-high, flat boot or a low-heeled pump for a more polished look.”
Susan Grant is merchandise manager for Muse, a full-service jewelry showroom.
It’s Fashion Flash time! This week it’s hosted by corporate trainer and consultant Jodell Raymond, the woman behind Black Cat Plus. Her passion is finding fashionable clothes for plus-size women. Find the best clothes for your body, and enjoy all the other links from our fab Fashion Flash friends.
Remember those days? When a worn-in, fitted T (yes, even sans bra) was your sexiest asset? Well, for most of us, those days lasted for about 30 seconds. The rest of our lives are spent looking for t-shirts that are long enough, short enough, fitted–but not too fitted, thin–but not too thin, work-appropriate, soft but sturdy . . . you know what I mean. Well, relax, because this week, we did the work for you. Our brilliant style scouts picked the best t-shirts just for FOFs–at every price point.
Plus, enter to win the fab scoopneck shirt from Fabrizio Gianni, below, in the color of your choice, when you answer this question in the comments below: Do you have a favorite t-shirt?
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FOF Style Scout Linda Cohen:
“Lilla P is a company devoted to creating ‘the essential T.’ Their t-shirts feel deliciously soft but don’t grab you in those places where you feel you have back fat or belly rolls. They also have great ¾-length sleeve options and even some Dolman-sleeve cuts.”
Our faves: The Stripe Rolled Sleep Bateau, $76; Flame ¾-sleeve button boatneck; The Classic ¾-sleeve Scoop, $50
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FOF Style Expert Sherrie Mathieson:
“I have alway liked Hanro for the softness, stretch and lasting power.” Hanro’s Classic, Everyday Cotton Tee ($64) is a mix of Egyptian cotton and elastane, so it provides a little extra support everywhere without being too tight. A classic, tailored tee that’s perfect for layering.
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FOF Style Experts Jojami and Deborah,
The Glam Gals, from Fabulous After 40:
“We think women over 40 look best in a V-neck or boatneck that skims the body nicely. Of course the shirts need to be high quality to withstand washing. The tops from Fabrizio Gianni are tops in our book! The fit and feel is so yummy and they come in so many colors that are hot for Spring! Classic Cotton Short Sleeve V-Neck, $42; Long Sleeve Scoop Neck, $85
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FOF Style Expert Glenyse Thompson:
“For t-shirts, I specifically love to recommend Club Monaco, which luckily for us, just opened it’s online shop. I don’t purchase traditional women’s Ts, as they usually fit me too tightly through the bust and waist. I buy Club Monaco men’s tshirts ($28.50), with a bit of stretch. In a pinch I pick up a pack of Fruit of the Loom’s V-Necks ($13.49 for a pack of 5) at Target or Walmart.”
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FOF Style Scout Lovey Dash:
This season, I love the striped t-shirts from Zara. The fit is great–plenty of room in the bust and hip area; classic boatneck–not too high; good arm length–and a trillion colors. Best of all, only $16 each. Go Crazy!
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Enter to win this fab scoopneck shirt from Fabrizio Gianni, in the color of your choice, when you answer this question in the comments below: Do you have a favorite t-shirt?
Three FOFs will win. See all our past winners. See official rules. Contest closes April 13, 2012 at midnight E.S.T.
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You’re invited to an exclusive trunk show with Kal Rieman and a personal consult with the nation’s leading expert on FOF hair. Hosted by Faboverfifty!
One of our fave designers, Kal Rieman, is inviting FOF members for an exclusive look at its Spring and Fall collections and a chance to shop at 10% off retail at the Manhattan showroom. You’ll also meet with Elline Surianello, a nationally recognized expert on 50+ hair, who will answer all your hair questions. Refreshments will be served.
April 12, 3-7pm (open house)
Kal Rieman Showroom
265 West 37th Street, Suite 904
New York, NY 10018
Space is limited. To attend, please RSVP by Wednesday, April 4, to lina@faboverfifty.com
If you were watching the Oscars, we applaud you. It took some serious commitment to stick it out to the end. We also applaud our two favorite performances–both of which came from FOF men. First, a knockout hosting job by Billy Crystal; second, the best acceptance speech of the night from Christopher Plummer, Best Supporting Actor winner. As for the FOF Oscar Fashion . . . well, we weren’t exactly bowled over. Honestly, our Fab sisters made a better showing at some of the earlier-season award shows. At least, that’s our vote . . . but what do you think?
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Glenn Close
Glenn Close found her power color when she pulled on this form-fitting Zac Posen gown and paired it with a very smart, tuxedo-style blazer. Buuut, when we watched her live interview on the red carpet, things fell apart. The jacket and dress pulled awkwardly across her arms, chest, thighs and belly. In the end, it was like she was battling a green serpent. A very pretty green serpent.
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Viola Davis
We’d like to suggest a special lifetime achievement award for Viola Davis’s cleavage and upper arms, which have stolen the show in ever dress she’s worn this awards season. Her flowing Vera Wang gown is a showstopper as well and we love that she revealed her natural hair!
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Virginia Madsen
The color of this one-shouldered gown is totally grape. I mean great. But it’s just too long. Virginia, get thee some hem tape.
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Jane Seymour
Lady in reeeeed, is defying the laws of physics. Jane Seymour, 61, looks red hot in this chevron patterned gown, and her face is perfect. And by that we don’t mean Botoxed within an inch of its life. Girl’s got radiance and wrinkles. She looks real. Really beautiful.
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Meryl Streep
Meryl went gold and green in this Lanvin gown, which was part of the eco-friendly dress campaign organised by Colin Firth’s wife, Livia. Per usual, we liked Meryl’s intention, but her execution didn’t claim the gold. There’s too much fabric here! I want to whip out a safety pin and raise the neckline myself. Not to mention the woefully misguided chain link belt. Oops, we mentioned it.
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Sheila E
Prince’s former prodigy, Sheila E, 55, is clearly still living the glamorous life. Not only does she look stunning in this form-fitting white gown, but she continued to look great while she played the drums . . . . through the entire 4 hour show. Bangin’.
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Melissa Leo
No doubt this dress will polarize the fashion press, and I admit, it looks odd on the red carpet. But during her presentation speech, Melissa looked totally cool. She was shimmery and chic but also completely in-character–which is to say, tough, street smart and cool.
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Paired with a tunic, big sweater, cardigan or even long, layered tees, a great pair of leggings can become a wardrobe staple. But the wrong leggings can result in muffin tops, panty-lines and jiggling. So we sent our fashion scouts on a search for the perfect FOF leggings. Here . . . their picks.
Lysse Leggings, $54 and up. (Recommended by FOF Style Scout Linda Cohen.)
FOF Beth Gold Cohen, 58, a longtime retail buyer for Macy’s, was 52 when she was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer. The treatments caused her to gain a lot of weight in a short time. “I always liked to wear leggings,” she explains, “But now the waistband cut right into my stomach…or rolled down completely.” Her solution was to hand sew in a control top that smoothed her waist and eliminated the muffin top. Today, Beth is cancer-free and the founder and president of Lysse Leggings, a line with a cult following. “It’s 4-way stretch and 14-percent Spandex–which is a lot for a cotton legging. It really holds you in everywhere,” she explains. “The waist sits high, and there’s an extra shapewear component in the waistband that eliminates the muffin top.” Plus, leave a comment below to enter to win your own pair!
Apifeni Leggings, $78 and up.
Danielle Dobin, 38, designed Apifeni leggings with post-pregnancy mommies in mind, but soon after launch, she saw that over 50 percent of her customers were FOFs. “As we age, our muscles relax a bit–our skin isn’t as firm,” she says. “My leggings are ultra high-waisted–they go right up to the bra line–so they eliminate any rolls and smooth you out.” An added bonus: they won’t reveal your belly when you bend over to do pushups or downward dogs at the gym. To get the perfect fit, Danielle suggests contacting an Apifeni Style Director in your area.
Flexees Shapewear Leggings by Maidenform, starting at $24.
“They really suck you in, and you can still breath!” says FOF Style Guru Glenyse Thompson, founder of Styleosophy. “If you have some wobble in your thighs and backside, these conceal it. Tunics and sweaters just glide over them. My trick is to go up a size. I normally would wear a medium; in Flexees I buy a large to get the extra length at the waistline and ankles. Seriously, I own 6 pairs.”
One woman will win a pair of Tight Ankle Lysse Leggings [value: $58] in her size. To enter, answer this question in the comments below: What would you like our style scouts to find next? (tshirts? jeans? comfortable shoes?)
This FOF is clearly a skilled shopper–her Missoni for Target flats sold out in minutes (how on earth did she snag her pair?); her Gucci tote universally coveted; and her leopard print scarf was très à la mode this winter. But did she try to pile on too many closet highlights in one outfit? Read what our style experts think, and then tell us: What do you think of her look?
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Sherrie Mathieson: “This outfit lacks cohesion! My eyes dart everywhere. The shoes only relate to the jeans, the scarf only relates to the jacket and the bag only relates to the jacket and jeggings. There’s no tie-in palette. This outfit strives to be spirited and happy, but without the skill set to put eclectic patterns and color together, it ends up just child-like.”
Sherrie Mathieson is a leading style expert and Random House author of Steal this Style and Forever Cool.
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Lovey Dash: “She’s in great shape and looks adorable in her Missoni for Target ballet flats and leggings. Her chic orange jacket is great, and I love the leopard scarf. Leopard is a neutral in my book–it’s my favorite color. Her classic Gucci bag is fine, although not my favorite. Still, thumbs up for me!”
Lovey Dash is a Beverly Hills-based stylist. She was formerly in VIP sales for Louis Vuitton on Rodeo Drive.
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Glenyse Thompson: “Too much going on! I can appreciate all of these elements, but not all together. If the Fashion Police were to catch her they could lock her up for ‘eccentric overuse of texture, prints and color.’ Her leggings and long tee would have been complimented nicely with a trench coat, and solid-colored scarf in any one of the colors from her flats.”
Glenyse Thompson is a personal home and wardrobe stylist and the creator of Styleosophy.
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Susan Hersh: “There are too many patterns in this one look. The orange piped jacket can work if this woman replaces the animal print scarf with a small pattern that blends rather than being the focal point. The Gucci handbag is too summery for this transitional outfit and should be replaced with black.”
Susan Hersh is a Ford model and the host and executive producer of Meet The Experts.
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Terry Gibralter: “In my book her entire outfit is a big don’t! Nothing is working together. I like the look she’s going for–layers over leggings, with accents–but the animal print scarf over the too-big, Austrian style jacket, paired with the geometric bag and unfitted tee just look sloppy. She has nice legs which look good in leggings, but she needs to get the rest of the outfit together. I do like the cute Missoni flats.”
Terry Gibralter is the Sr. Vice President and Creative Director at Grey advertising as well as a fashion stylist and the creator of these clever work accessories.
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Two weeks ago, we featured our FOFashion picks and pans from the Golden Globes. These actresses take our fashion critiques very seriously (ahem), so clearly they wanted to impress and improve at this weekend’s SAG awards. What do you think: Were their fashion choices fab, or should we wish them better luck at the Oscars?
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Glenn Close:
Bravo, Glenn! Despite its rococo ruffle at the bottom, Glenn’s Zac Posen dress was a major upgrade from her fairly forgettable and unflattering showing at the Golden Globes. Her figure looks fab, her arms are artfully concealed, and her hair and makeup are fresh and flawless. Love it! (But what do you think . . . )
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Diane Lane:
If we hadn’t seen her last dress, Diane would have received higher marks for this perfectly lovely David Meister gown. But we did see her last dress, and it knocked this one out of the water. She looks just fine, but slightly more pedestrian–or should we say, ready for the prom. Perhaps she’s saving the showstopper for Oscar.
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Meryl Streep:
Oy. Okay, based on this and the last dress, we think Meryl has two goals: to look cool and to be comfortable. Last week she fell slightly short due to the fit of her dress. This week, she’s in the ballpark, but it’s still not quite coming together. Her Vivienne Westwood gown looks too big and the belt appears plucked from another outfit. That said, the color is perfect on her, and she does seem to be reaching her own fashion goals–even if they’re not ours.
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Mary Tyler Moore:
Mary Tyler Moore received the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award, and frankly, she looked great. Her face may have suffered a bit too much nip and tuck over the years, but you can’t say the same for this suit, which is perfectly tailored, flattering and chic. Love the layered jewelry and the open collar. Not to mention her partner on stage: How great does Dick van Dyke look?!
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Jessica Lange:
Winner for best best actress in a TV drama, Jessica Lange also wins our vote of approval for this sparkling chocolate gown. Her hair looked great, her body looked strong. The only thing missing is some funky gold jewelry around her neck. Then again, when your neck looks that smooth, maybe you want to show it off?
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Tilda Swinton:
Nominated once again for her work in We Need to Talk About Kevin, Tilda wore an off-white Lanvin gown. Tilda, we need to talk about this dress: You looked A-MAZING at the Globes–fierce and fab, per usual. Here, you look mildly depressed and strangely wide in the middle due to heavy pleating at the waist. We’ll see you at the Oscars . . . you better bring it!
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