Fashion Over 50: Camouflage The Mid-Section Style Tips

Welcome to a fun collaboration with Jennifer of A Well Styled Life and Pam of over50feeling40.  We desire for all of us… the fabulous women over 50 …to look and feel our best each and every day.  After years of blogging for this audience, we have heard from so many of you about your discouragement and despondency when you look in the mirror every morning.  But, we both know just how transformative style can be, and hope to encourage you right here each week.  We want to see all of us empowered with strength, joy, and confidence

For the next four weeks, Jennifer and I are going to discuss
dressing all those areas women over 50 tend to see as problems.  This week we start with how to camouflage the mid-section…that pesky
tire-in-the-middle so many of us have.  I
can write pages on this topic, but let me begin with two basic statements:

1.      
Stop comparing yourself to all the thin women
over 50 on blogs and Instagram.  After
children…after menopause…after times of depression…after illnesses…so many of
us are not the flat- stomach- women portrayed on many sites.   So
stop the comparisons, which only rob your joy, and begin the acceptance of your
body now….because You Matter and deserve to walk in confidence every day.
2.      
Dress the body you have today.  Accept it and learn from others how to shave
off the pounds simply by tricking the eye. 
Once I did this, I was actually more motivated to work on losing the
pounds.   When I allowed self-loathing to
shut me down, I was not motivated to do anything but sulk and watch life march
by without me.  Over the past thirteen years, I have gone down 5 sizes in an effort to become a healthier version of me.
(My arms are not ready to go out confidently in a sleeveless garment. I feel younger and more confident with them covered.  But this top is such a great top to camouflage the middle, I wanted you to see it first without the jacket.  
I have learned several tricks and shared them often on this
blog, so let’s review.  Here are some
great ideas to soften the mid-section bulge:
1.      
Make sure you have a bra which fits.  Lifting the girls takes off accentuates your smallest part. 
2.      
Clothes which fit are important, but clothes which
cling are not.  Make sure your blouses or
camisoles float away from the mid-section and not cling on every roll.  Also, often times Spanx or good undergarments
will help to smooth out those rolls if you want a more fitted look.
3.      
Bring the eye to the smallest part of you, which
many times is just under the bust, with a belt, or a top or dress with an empire
design. Garments with well- done
ruching and/or wraps or faux wraps are all ways to trick the eye. This top has a great side tie which makes the garment smaller where you want it. I am in love with this design!  When you look in the mirror, pay attention to where the eye goes first.  You want it to focus on the smallest part of your body.  Once you begin to do this, you will begin to own and dress the body you currently have.

4.      
I often elongate my look in order to give the
appearance the middle is smaller.  I tend to do this with column dressing in black or navy; a V-neck top; pointed toe
flats; and long necklaces.  This isn’t a column look today, but the well designed tunic takes care of the issue.  It also has an asymmetrical hem line which will de-emphasize the middle as well. 
Northstyle Tunic
I cannot say enough good things about THE TOP I am wearing
today…if it had a sleeve, it would be perfect. But, I entered vulnerable land and wore it sleeveless so you can see how this design can hide the middle and guide the eye where you want it.  However,  we are also going to discuss arms during the next month.  Mine are a work in progress…but more about that tomorrow. 
Now, let’s go see what tips JENNIFER OF A WELL STYLED LIFE has for us on how to camouflage a mid-section.
Remember:  You Matter!





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Disclaimer:  I was provided the garment in this post, but the words are my own.

14 Comments

  1. Pam – you are writing to me. I don't compare myself to younger women, but to the women my age who seem to look so much slimmer than me! And the tire around the middle is what I want to camouflage most. Thanks for this. Lovely tunic. Will be checking out Northstyle!

  2. No matter our age, Cathy, it is hard not to compare! I think every woman struggles with it…I know I do…but the reality is most women I think are like us! Seeking ways to look our best while dealing with the challenges that come with aging. What is great though is that we can look and be amazing no matter what those challenges are!! Thanks for sharing.

  3. Great tips, Pam! I've always had a bit of a tummy, but have learned to pick tops that skim over it. I refuse to wear Spanx, tho… 😉

  4. Except for a couple of dresses, I have also kicked Spanx to the curb. Just too uncomfortable…but these two dresses I have a fun enough to make it worth it every now and then. Thanks Susan!

  5. Great message, Pam! Many of us thin girls have body image issues too. It's so important to learn to dress the body you're in instead of wishing that you had someone else's. I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of this series.

  6. Your arms are fine! I am over 60 and mine are a bit flabby. Years of covering them up, But this summer is aus was so so hot I just went with smart sleeveless tops. None of my friends commented badly and it felt liberating after many years, plus it gave me so many new choices of cloths for summer. Janey

  7. That top is gorgeous, and I love it with white pants.
    I'm thin with a poofy middle that most people don't know I have because I dress to de-emphasize it. It's really all about proudly wearing clothes that say what you WANT them to say.

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