Yes, it has finally happened. A few weeks ago, I left my glorious thirties to move on to bigger and better, and well, older things in life.

Just a decade ago, I was frantically planning my wedding and the thought of turning 40 someday wasn’t really on my radar. So now I sit pondering those deeper thoughts like, what do I want to accomplish in the next ten years? What do I want my children to accomplish in the next ten years? What will life look like at 50? And in spite of all that, the most pressing issue I face, honestly, is what on earth do I wear now that I’ve reached the big four-o?

I’ve never been a Fashionista, but do have a taste for the finer threads in life. Trends are something I rarely follow, unless I really feel drawn to them. I have a soft spot for Italian shoes and unique handbags, and am always on the look-out for a good bargain.

And since I became a Mama 6 1/2 years ago, what little fashion priority I had has dissipated into thin air. On many days, I could be the shining star of the show “What Not to Wear”. Though to my own credit, this is not based on a lack of fashion sense, but laziness, kids needs coming first, and downright practicality.

Now I have added the age issue to the Mama issue, and instead of death-by-fashion, I have decided to create a plan. A fashion-over-forty-for-me plan. Here are my priorities: classic over trend, bargain over breaking the bank, age appropriate and most of all mother-proof.  In other words, I’m thinking of opening a new clothing store that offers all of this and more:  ”Forever – Forty”.  Because I have no desire to look or dress like I am Forever Twenty – One.  It makes me squirm when I see women don the latest teen fashion as though they actually look good in it.  And even if by some twist of fate they have the body for it, it still just looks wrong to dress like someone that could be your daughter, or niece.  Maybe I’m just too old school, but I want to look good, feel good, and be dressed appropriately fun for my age at any given point in my future.

The only thing left is to convince my husband I need a clothing allowance to make this wardrobe wish come true.  Maybe I will bribe him with some his-and-hers shopping where we both get to buy new things for ourselves, not the kids like we usually do.  So wish me luck on my new fashion-venture, and if I ever really open the store, you’ll be the first to know.

Turning 40 scares most women and this determines them to look for a different hairstyle, a hairstyle which is age appropriate and will help them feel great. Aging is a natural process but that doesn’t mean that if one ages one has to loose their style. There are a variety of hairstyles for women over 40 to choose from depending on personal style and preference.

It is a common misconception of women that once they pass the age of 40 they need to opt for a shorter hairstyle. This is false, hair length has nothing to do with age and women over 40 can choose whichever length suits their face shape and personality.

To help you choose a stylish hairstyle for women over 40 we have selected a variety of hairstyles which can help you look and feel great at such a beautiful age.

Stylish short hairstyles

Short hairstyles have made a huge comeback this year and you can easily observe why. The new hair cutting techniques developed enabled hairstylists to create gorgeous short hairstyles which suit women with feminine facial features perfectly. Pixie haircuts, layered short hairstyles, messy short hairstyles, look great and can offer women the style and elegance they are looking for.

Women who want to turn towards a short hairstyle will also benefit from a low maintenance hairstyle as well as the hairs short length doesn’t require too much styling. Short reveals the facial features greatly so make sure your face shape works well with this type of hair length.

Medium hairstyles
This is a hair length which most women prefer due to the hairs versatility, femininity and maintenance level. There are a variety of medium length hairstyles suitable for women over 40 such as bob hairstyles, layered hairstyles, bangs hairstyles, etc. The medium hair length will allow women to style their tresses differently every time they wish from curly to wavy, vintage, straight or flipped outdepending on personal preference and occasion. One of the best sources of inspiration when it comes to trendy hairstyles are celebrities. Look at your favorite celebrity hairstyles and get inspired as usually celebrities turn to the best hairstylists to get their hair done.

Long hairstyles
Women over 40 usually avoid choosing a long hairstyle mostly due to the high maintenance of the hairstyle. Long hairstyles are however very appropriate for women in their 40 or over their 40 as this type of hair length is associated with femininity.

The hair’s length will offer you endless possibilities when it comes to hairstyling so if this hair length appeals to you don’t hesitate to choose the perfect long hairstyle for you. You can choose layered long hairstyles, curly hairstyles, straight hairstyles, wavy hairstyles, as they all look fabulous.

Select the style that suits you perfectly so you can look and feel fabulous.

Tips for Wearing the Fashion Styles of 2008

© Gill Hart

Turning 40 is a defining moment when it comes to following fashion. It is the age when a woman teeters on the brink of becoming mutton dressed as lamb or turning frumpy.

Having a (fashion) mid-life crisis seems to manifest itself in two ways, says Trinny and Susannah, TV fashion gurus of the British nation. “Dressing far too young or giving in to frumpiness” is a common dilemma, according to their book, What You Wear Can Change Your Life (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2004).

The secret is to look stylish and elegant, following some, not all of the fashion trends. At forty, a woman should know enough about her body to begin to understand which cuts and colors flatter her most. Reaching forty-something is not so much about following fashion but more about creating a sense of style.

Often being in a stronger financial position than a twenty-something, this allows older women to invest in some expensive classic pieces which are sophisticated and timeless. These can be updated with shoes, bags and other accessories in the colors of the season.

Instead of buying cheaper, poorer-quality fashion clothing from local high street stores, stylish women should buy fewer, more expensive, tailored outfits in beautiful fabrics and flattering cuts.

10 Rules of Style for Forty-somethings

1. Colors

• Reaching your forties does not mean taking refuge behind boring colors. Whilst keynote essentials are crisp white and slimming black, a woman is not necassarily doomed to a monochromed life.
• Select the best of the season’s colors, avoiding those which make the skin look sallow and are not compatible with skin tone. Eye color is usually a good guide for what suits you. Bolder and more sophisticated shades like this season’s Rococco Red, Snorkel Blue and Golden Olive are less draining and aging than pastels.

2. Dresses

• Avoid this season’s baby doll dresses and leg of mutton or ruffled sleeves and go for simple styles. Maxi dresses are a feminine alternative to pants for those who wish to hide their legs and hips. Spring and Summer 2008 sees Grecian-drape dresses and closer (not clingy) cuts, rather than the diaphanous milkmaid and gypsy-style skirts of 2007.

• Showing too much flesh is a forty-something faux pas. You can get away with a mini dress if you balance out bare legs by covering up the shoulders and chest. If showing a wide expanse of flesh up top, then balance it out with longer length skirts.

• Take comfort in the fact that only middle-aged, curvy women can really carry off a wrap-over dress. It is one of the few styles that stick insects and size zeros fail to have cornered the market on.

3. Trousers or Pants

• A really well-cut pair of black trousers in an expensive material will go with almost anything. Avoid this season’s high-waisted cummerbund pant trend unless you are tall and sleek enough to carry it off.

• Leggings, the fashion furniture of our generation, should be worn under dresses or tunics and not be the focus of an outfit. Leave that to the domain of an eighteen-year-old!

4. Tops

• Avoid baby-doll, smock-type tops or ones that are too tight-fitting, which make you look like a squeezed hot dog sausage. Nothing screams “stylish” more than a crisp white shirt with a pair or well cut pants. Longer length tops are more flattering at forty-something, unless you have the figure of Kate Moss.

5. Swimwear

• No matter what your size, one-piece swimsuits are more stylish and elegant than a bikini. The secret is buying a good cut. If you suffer from a large stomach, then choose a swimsuit which draws attention to the bust and not to the middle.
• Wrap and rouched swimsuits can minimize a spare tire. Miraclesuits, available online and in many retail stores, are sexy and perfect for older women. They claim to make a woman lose 10 pounds in 10 seconds, given that they contain three times as much lycra as a normal swimsuit.

6. Handbags and Purses

• Nothing is more telling about a woman’s age than her handbag. Invest in one or two great designer bags, which can be teemed with the staples of your wardrobe. Nina Garcia, author of the Little Black Book of Style, recommends that everyone should have three different kinds of purses. Women carry their life around in their handbags, so a big bag is both trendy and practical, especially for mums.

7. Shoes

• Turning forty does not have to mean relegation to flats and boring court shoes. A mid-height heel is stylish and sexy and can make you trendy by accessorizing a classic item with shoes of this season’s colors.

8. Underwear

• You are what you bra. An badly fitting bra is both unflattering and aging. A bra that fits correctly can take years of your figure. It pushes up your breasts and guides them inwards, giving a much slimmer outline.

9. Hair and Make Up

• Having reached your forties “Tinted moisturizers are too sheer for you now,” according to Eve magazine, January 2008, 40’s Beauty. “Moisturizing foundations will cover lines and wrinkles.”
• “Nothing is more ageing than long hair once a woman reaches a certain age. The difficulty is knowing when you have reached it,” says Tess Stimson in her Daily Mail article of 3rd January 2008, “Just When Does a Woman Get Too Old for Long Hair?”
• With Spring 2008’s maxi-dress trend, longer hair is back in vogue. However, older women should take note that a short, layered bob or sassy cut can really melt away the years.

10. Classics Pieces for the Wardrobe

• Finally, getting rid of the tat and investing in a few timeless pieces is perhaps the most important step to achieving your sense of style. According toGarcia, there are 10 key pieces that every woman should have.