Styling Tips at the Festive Season for Midlife Women

It’s December and Christmas will be here before we know it. You may have started attending or have an invitation (or several) to holiday events, so it’s a great idea to plan and make sure you’re hitting all the right style notes this season. Planning your outfits will help take away the overwhelm and the stress of “What do I wear?”  We all know stress and midlife/menopause are not a good combo, so it is best to avoid stress.

While there are plenty of new sparkly styles making their way into the shops right now, why not begin by looking at your wardrobe to see what you can put together? Working with what you already have will save you time and money and, with a little bit of planning, you’ll sail through this holiday season. So let’s get into the “Tips”

Make A List And Check It Twice

So, where to begin? A good place to start is to make a list of all the events you’ll be attending, including family get-togethers, school events, work functions, nights out with friends etc. This will give you a starting point of the number of outfits you’ll need, and also give you an idea of where you might be able to repeat outfits if you’re attending events with different groups of people. Putting everything onto one list will also let you see where there might be any scheduling conflicts, so you can bow out gracefully in advance if necessary, rather than panicking on the day. Once you have your list of events and outfits you can start the planning process – just give yourself an hour or so to get everything organised.

Watch the Pennies

When we start planning a wardrobe or outfits, I always recommend shopping in your own wardrobe first, you’ll be surprised at how much “stuff” we actually have. With a bit of thought, we can find most of what we need. If you put outfits together and have some gaps, think about sites like Vinted as an option or go on a charity shop jaunt…you’ll be amazed at the gems you can pick up from these places.

There’s so much expense at this time so keep an eye on those pennies, also think landfill, sustainability etc….do we need to add to the “fast fashion’ pile by making more purchases? Think “Circular” economy and play your part to save our planet. If you must buy – buy investment pieces, that’s items that are great quality that you can wear over and over, season after season, that won't date.

Bottoms up

Chances are you have much of what you need to get through the holiday season in your wardrobe. When it comes to your bottom half, a pair of well-cut black or navy trousers or skirt will take you to most holiday events – simply dress them up with different shoes/tops/accessories as needed. Most people own either one or the other and, if you don’t, they are good pieces to invest in.  Choose a style that most flatters your body shape, e.g. a bootcut trouser or A-line skirt for ‘pears’ while straight leg trouser and pencil skirts are best for ‘Columns’ Not sure what shape you are? Visit https://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/how-to-find-body-shape-calculator/slide8

Top Pick

Now it’s time to look at all your tops. Consider what might work for different occasions – for example, a festive Christmas jumper might work well for both the school play and a family get-together, while a silk blouse can be worn tucked in, to one formal event or open and loose over a camisole for another. Anything with a bit of sparkle is perfect for this time of year, while bright colours add warmth to cold nights. And don’t forget your jacket! Temperatures are dropping and you don’t want to arrive at your event freezing cold or shiver your way home. A smart leather jacket is a good compromise for warmth and style, as are faux fur and shearling styles.   Once you’ve put together outfit combinations for each event on your list, make a note of each so you’ll be organised on the day (or night). And, if you do find you need to go out or get online to get one or two new pieces to complete your holiday looks, you’ll have plenty of time to do so, rather than panicking the day before you’re due to go out.

Dress it up

If you’re someone who wears a lot of dresses, chances are you’ll have quite a few options for the holiday season already in your wardrobe. Even sleeveless summer styles can work well at formal events when worn with a warm jacket or cardigan, and simply changing up your accessories can give you a new look for another event. If you don’t have any suitable dresses but would like to invest in something to wear now and in the future, once again look for a style that will suit your body shape. Black, navy or charcoal are safe bets, as, depending on the style, they can also be worn during the day for a less formal look, meaning you get a lot more wear for your money. Choosing fabric with texture or subtle embroidery details will add interest, too. I love dresses as they are one piece so make styling easier, you’re not having to worry about other pieces to make up an outfit. The ultimate flattering dress for women is the wrap dress..it suits most body shapes.  When thinking of heels, as they do smarten up an outfit, choose a block heel to preserve your ankles and there are many lovely styles out at the moment.

Accesorise! Accessorise! Accessorise!

Accessories are key to completing your outfits, especially if you’re going to be repeat looks at several events. Different shoes, belts, scarves, and jewelry can take outfits from casual to dressy with minimal effort and expense so, once again, assess everything you have to see how it might work best with your list of outfit combinations. Get out your glitzy earrings, necklaces, and bracelets –even if you don’t usually do glitz, this is the time of year when they’ll definitely work!

If you do need to invest in one or two accessories, try to choose items that will give you as much mileage as possible by going with multiple outfits, especially when it comes to bigger-ticket items like shoes and bags. One fab set of sparkly shoes with a matching bag can be worn with both skirts and trousers as well as being bang on trend for the season. Heeled ankle boots are a smart option that can be worn day or night, and will take you into the new year, as will a metallic leather clutch. Most high street stores go glam at this time of the year so you can pick up some reasonable pieces, that’s only if you need to shop though.

Icing On The Cake

So, you’ve completed your list, got your outfits together, and bought those one or two pieces you needed to finish your looks. Now it’s time to relax and treat yourself by indulging in a facial, new haircut or perhaps even a sparkly manicure to finish your season in style. Taking some time to look after yourself is part of getting ready for what can be a very hectic time of year. And you don’t have to spend a lot – there are recipes for homemade natural facials online, while beauty schools often offer hairstyling at a discounted rate, perfect if you need a one-off look for a specific event. Check the web for schools in your area.

And Finally… Be Your Fabulous Self & Enjoy!

This is a time of year when, whatever our religious persuasion, we spend time with family and friends.

If you feel like wearing wonderful African prints, head-to-toe glitter, or a simple black outfit, wear them with a smile and enjoy yourself! Planning ahead will take the stress out of the season and, when you choose outfits in styles that flatter you, you’ll be at your very best, wherever you go.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas season when it arrives!

Are you having trouble finding which shapes will suit you? Wardrobe full of clothes but you have nothing to wear? Or, do you need help putting together your outfits for the upcoming season?

Check out https://www.potential-u.co.uk/about Joy Style Director Potential U is highly recommended!