I seriously get tickled when you all ask me questions. I could answer them all day long. I always try to get back to each of you personally, but sometimes a question comes up that addresses a common challenge or concern. And for those, there’s Nada Saves Style, my new video format where I answer commonly asked wardrobe questions and do outfit makeovers.
To submit your question or makeover, email me at support@nadamanley.com.
As always, everything in this video can be found in one handy place right here.
And now for the questions!
Concealing Varicose Veins in Summer
I am 5’2″ I have terrible varicose veins, especially behind my knees. So bad it’s basically black and blue with lots of reddish spiders. Too embarrassed to wear shorts in summer. What do I wear, with what type of footwear for casual dress and dressier occasions?
Alice
A breezy flowy skirt or cropped pants in cotton or linen paired with a chic pair of flat sandals are going to be a great way for you to skip the shorts and still keep the look cool and summer-friendly. Here are some outfit ideas.
Another suggestion is to try one of the incredible leg foundation creams. From light color that just barely evens out your skin tone to full coverage products, there is something for every need and every budget in this category. You can find all of these in this catalog.
Borderline Petite at 5’3″
Jen says that her biggest problem is her height. At 5’3″, she is between regular and petite.
The most important thing any woman can understand in order to find a flattering fit for her clothes and look and feel her best in them is her vertical proportions. The Fashion Fit Formula gives you your exact accurate measurements, but you can start by measuring your clothes. Find a pair of pants and a shirt that fit, and measure the inseam of the pants and the length from shoulder to hem of the shirt, when it’s laid flat. Now you can compare these measurements against the information on websites to determine your best fit.
For example, if you are short in the top with long legs, petite tops may be helpful but you might be able to skip the petite pants. However, if your top is long and legs are shorter, then you’ll need petite pants but can probably wear regular tops.
It’s not just important to know whether you’re tall or petite. It’s also important to know WHERE you are tall or petite.
NM
Once Jen knows her inseam, she can go on her favorite website or on searchbyinseam.com and find a pair of pants (and some go-to brands) that will fit her well.
Work to Casual Wardrobe Transition
I recently retired at 65. Right now I’m caregiver to my husband who had spine surgery and 2 grand daughters who lost their mother 2 years ago. I always grab yoga pants and tunic every morning which is fine being in the house but I want to look nicer when I’m with my grands. I feel like my “work” clothes are to dressy to wear when I’m with them and I’m not really a Jean person. A little on the chubby side. 5’2 and 140lbs. I’m in a rut!
Debbie
Debbie, you are an inspiration! I have a 3 step process that I would recommend.
- 1. Assess your work wardrobe. Be honest with yourself about the pieces that will transition into your new lifestyle. You have to love them, but they also have to be practical and comfortable and easy to care for. Office tops are one of the easiest items to transition to a more casual wardrobe. Donate the items that you will not be wearing.
- 2. Fill in your wardrobe with casual essentials. Since you don’t like denim, consider a casual but chic pull-on style of pants (see my suggestions for Alice, above) or a cool new pair of cargos, which are trendy but still comfortable. You can find my wardrobe essentials right here.
- 3. Create Outfits: Create a week’s worth of outfits combining former work favorites with basic and more casual pieces. Wear these outfits for the week and reassess.
Cool Casual Clothes That Don’t Age You
Finding clothes that fit my body & do not age me. trying to find the best colors for me. I work in a hospital & wear scrubs 5 days a week. Since Covid , we have not done any socializing or going out. so at home I am mainly in yoga pants & a sweater or tunic top.
leenora
Since you have the work clothes box checked, you can focus on creating a weekend capsule wardrobe filled with essentials that mix and match. Essentials are staples, and when well-chosen (like the ones in my essentials guide) they are fresh and modern and not aging. Swap out the yoga pants and tunic for a pair of chic joggers and a tee or button-down and add some accessories and you have an easy but chic weekend outfit.
Oily Skin
My biggest challenge right now is my oily skin! I am 52 years old and have super oily skin and breakouts once in awhile. I have tried many different cleansers, make up primers and nothing helps. The dermatologist has me on Retinol cream but that does not help with the oil. It drives me nuts!
Paula
Oily skin can be very frustrating, especially when you have been dealing with it for years. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to minimize it. You can find all of my favorite oily skin products right here.
- Continue with the retinol and other anti-aging products, because your skin needs those in your 50s even if oil is an issue.
- Use a very gentle cleanser, like Cetaphil, to avoid stripping the skin and causing an overproduction of oil.
- Talk to your doctor about hormonal and dietary causes to oily skin. High glycemic foods, refined carbs and sugar can all be causes of excessive oil production.
- Use oil-free and oil-absorbent makeup.
- Keep blotting papers and a volcanic roller on hand for quick touch-ups that don’t mess up your makeup.
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