Dresses for Business and Career Success Beauty and Style
Dresses for Business and Career Success - Beauty and Style Beauty & Style
Nowadays, however, hipster chic has edged out "career dressing," and designers are pushing pantsuits — again (sheesh!) — as a one-stop solution. But do not despair, my fellow dress loyalists! Here are three ways to cope when: Your colleagues stepped out of a Zara ad. Does your 30-year-old boss wear jeans every day? Do your fellow staffers seem partial to thrift shop finds? If so, you may want to "trend up" your dresses. Give them a double life as skirts simply by covering the upper half with a fitted or slouchy sweater, or a draped top. This is an easy way to turn a special-occasion dress into workwear. Pair the lace, beads, metal or sequins of an evening dress with an everyday basic top. There's no need to worry about the typically more-revealing neckline of a fancy dress; the top will conceal it. Match a pullover sweater in a cropped shape to any neutral dress. Repeat this trick with an oversize sweater, then with a fitted sweater. The payoff? Three new professional yet modern looks — think of it as a win-win-win. AARP Members: You have a coming up. Now that open-plan seating and communal spaces are the norm, we go into every encounter knowing we'll be on display. The message you want to send: "I can blend in while standing out." at least or an asset at best. Who else, after all, possesses your unique mix of people skills, experience and rock-solid reliability? You can always throw a blazer or a cropped "lady jacket" over a classic sheath, of course, but why not treat yourself to a new dress in a color that embodies your spirit? The Pantone Institute (color guru to the fashion industry) reports that blue, in every hue — traditionally the shade of tranquillity and hope — is the trendy tint to splurge on right now. I couldn't agree more. For more beauty and style tips for women 50+, check out and AARP's new , which is available for tablet. Featured AARP Member Benefits See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
Dresses for Success
Sorry Hillary — but the power look is still a dress
Willie B. Thomas/Getty Images Give dresses an edge with a leather jacket. When Planet Fashion decreed that "dresses are the new suits" a few years back, I wasn't the only 50+ woman who went crazy with joy. Overnight, it seemed, our craving for Giorgio Armani jacket-and-trouser duos vanished into a rack of Diane Von Furstenberg jersey dresses. With FLOTUS Michelle Obama setting the pace, going to work became a party of colors and prints as "dresses for success" magically materialized in our closets.Nowadays, however, hipster chic has edged out "career dressing," and designers are pushing pantsuits — again (sheesh!) — as a one-stop solution. But do not despair, my fellow dress loyalists! Here are three ways to cope when: Your colleagues stepped out of a Zara ad. Does your 30-year-old boss wear jeans every day? Do your fellow staffers seem partial to thrift shop finds? If so, you may want to "trend up" your dresses. Give them a double life as skirts simply by covering the upper half with a fitted or slouchy sweater, or a draped top. This is an easy way to turn a special-occasion dress into workwear. Pair the lace, beads, metal or sequins of an evening dress with an everyday basic top. There's no need to worry about the typically more-revealing neckline of a fancy dress; the top will conceal it. Match a pullover sweater in a cropped shape to any neutral dress. Repeat this trick with an oversize sweater, then with a fitted sweater. The payoff? Three new professional yet modern looks — think of it as a win-win-win. AARP Members: You have a coming up. Now that open-plan seating and communal spaces are the norm, we go into every encounter knowing we'll be on display. The message you want to send: "I can blend in while standing out." at least or an asset at best. Who else, after all, possesses your unique mix of people skills, experience and rock-solid reliability? You can always throw a blazer or a cropped "lady jacket" over a classic sheath, of course, but why not treat yourself to a new dress in a color that embodies your spirit? The Pantone Institute (color guru to the fashion industry) reports that blue, in every hue — traditionally the shade of tranquillity and hope — is the trendy tint to splurge on right now. I couldn't agree more. For more beauty and style tips for women 50+, check out and AARP's new , which is available for tablet. Featured AARP Member Benefits See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures