You know all of those cute dresses and fun affordable styles that cross your feed when you’re scrolling through social media. Don’t you ever wonder if they’re any good? I do! I see new companies and brands every day and wonder if what you see is really going to be what you get. I’m pretty […]
These Clothes Should Come With Warning Labels
My daughter and I were talking about how dumbed-down warning labels have become. These days, we need to be warned that our coffee is hot and that brake fluid isn’t for drinking. It’s a little silly. It’s not that I have anything against warning labels. I mean, we could all use a little nudge now […]
The Best & Worst Spring Finds from Your Favorite Stores!
Is it just me, or does spring fever make you feel like shopping? And why doesn’t anybody say spring fever anymore, except for me? And is it an actual law that we must all buy strappy sandals the moment the weather turns warmer or did I just make that up? Anyway, I am clearly inspired […]
Spring Outfits That Will AGE You (And What to Wear Instead)
You know the outfit, and you may even own one. In every color. My client Karen sure did. I’m talking about 2-and-3 piece flowy jersey sets in every color and pattern imaginable. They were fabulous quality, expensive, and instantly aging. From the garish and dated prints to the shapeless silhouettes, these were kind of like […]
Your Style, But Casual: Casual Outfit Ideas For Your Personal Style
I am usually a glass-half-full kind of gal, but this time, I am forced to be the bearer of bad news: That day isn’t coming. You know the one we all wait for. The mythical day in the future when the stars will align and we will suddenly find ourselves taller and slimmer and richer […]
The Most Wearable Brands Over 40
There are the brands that we reach for on special occasions… the Easter dresses and cocktail dresses and wedding guest dresses. And then there are the clothes we live in, the everyday hard-working pieces that make getting dressed effortless. These are the types of clothes I focus on in my Fashion Essentials Over 40 Wardrobe […]
Rule Breaker or Rule Follower: Style Rules to Break Over 40
I am not typically a rebel. I’m a grammar nerd and recipe follower and I still listen to my parents. But when it comes to style, I like to push the envelope. Bend the rules. Have fun a little. And to do that, I’ve had to ignore a lot of the rules I grew up […]
5 Spring Must Haves: Trendy vs Frumpy
You do NOT NEED ANY OF THESE THINGS. There, Just had to get that out of the way. Sure, must-haves might seem like a misnomer since these aren’t actually must-haves but that’s what everyone calls them and I want to be like one of the cool kids. 🙂 The truth is, the decision to update […]
Why Your Closet Is A Mess | 8 Habits That Are Cluttering Your Closet
I get the most panicked looks when I tell women that I can help them with their closets. And if the idea of someone peering into your closet, with its messes and its mistakes, stresses you out, you are NOT alone. That’s one of the reasons I created the Reverse Closet Edit Bootcamp. The Reverse […]
The Outfits Are DATED | The Truth About Pinterest
I feel like I’ve been a Negative Nelly lately. (Apologies to Nelly, my little sister, who is not at all negative and truly a ray of sunshine). But I’ve kind of made it my thing to tell you what to avoid as well as what to go for. Knowing what to avoid is half the […]
These Trends Are FRUMPY! Spring 2023 Edition
I am now officially a broken record (a reference that now seems archaic and which my daughters probably don’t understand) but some trends are frumpy. I know, I know. I used to tell you that if you want to avoid frumpy styles shop the TRENDY items from the CONTEMPORARY brands. This is no longer true. […]
The Rule of Opposites
I am not saying that I don’t like ice cream. That would be crazy. I mean, who doesn’t like ice cream? What I am saying is that after something sweet, I sometimes want something salty. It’s all about balance. It’s the same with outfits. Sometimes, an outfit just seems to be missing something. It’s blah, […]
What to Wear To All Of The Spring Events
Happy Valentine’s Day! Spring event season is right around the corner! I know it still feels like we are in the thick of winter (February can be bleak for sure!) but Valentine’s Day is the last official holiday of winter before we head into spring and what I like to call floral dress season! Today, […]
The Best Accessory Trends Over 40
Most women wouldn’t dream of getting dressed without accessories. I mean, we’re not neanderthals. We have standards. 🙂 And accessories are definitely the spice of life. Or at least of an outfit. Which is essentially the same thing. Growing up, my mom focused at least as much on what I wore with my clothes as […]
How To Stop Wearing Your PJs All Day
It might have started in 2020. Or when you retired. Or when your job went from mostly in-office to mostly at-home. However it happened, you found yourself staying in your PJs a little too long. Maybe you changed mid-morning? Or after lunch? Or maybe, some days, you found yourself changing out of the PJs that […]
12 Item Athleisure Capsule Wardrobe
I’m not going to lie. Athleisure is not really my thing. I like the leisure part, thankyouverymuch. It’s just the “ath” part that throws me off. I am not a worker-outer right now, and when I wear workout clothes I feel like a little bit of a fraud. That said, give me yummy, stretchy fabrics […]
What To Wear With Boots Over 40
I know I know. You’re over boots already and probably sweaters and coats and all the other winter clothes that you’ve been wearing for months-that-feel-like-years. I get it. Well, I don’t really get it, because I live in Florida, but I still get it. You know. I get the second-half-of-the-season wardrobe boredom. By the time […]
Out of Style in 2023 (Plus Alternatives!)
It’s very hard for me to not be a bossy-pants. After all, I am a big sister, and a mom, and a business owner, and a personal stylist. Bossiness is in the job description for me. But still, I try not to throw my weight around. And I only occasionally issue edicts and musts and […]
Alternatives To Your Favorite Stores | New Go-To Stores
Are you stuck in a style rut? If so, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common complaints I get from women about their style. We are all just zipping through our days, doing life, and often, when we get a second to stop, we realize we have been the same clothes/hairstyle/lipstick for 10 […]
Capsule Wardrobes For Everything You Do
I don’t know if you’ve picked up on this, but I am NOT a minimalist. I mean, at all. And that’s why the concept of capsule wardrobes did not originally resonate with me. I mean, who wants to narrow their options that way? Not me. I wanted an unlimited wardrobe with lots of options, not […]
2023 Trends I Refuse to Wear (And A Few I Love)
It’s a jungle out there, ladies. I’m not going to lie. It’s a good thing you have me, if I do say so myself. How else would you know that head-to-toe sheer dresses and showing your bum in public may not be the most wearable trends to try in 2023. It takes a true fashion […]
How To Do Smart Casual
It’s the everyday dress code for so many of us, but often we make it an afterthought. In my years of working with clients, smart casual everyday outfits are the most neglected category for most women. They may have their professional wardrobes, their workout wardrobes, and even their sporting wardrobes down to a science, but […]
Dress Codes For Your Everyday Life
When I was in high school, I was obsessed with a book called Life Is A Movie Starring You. The author, a teen herself, talked about how to make the most of your life through style, art, and creativity. It was so inspiring. We are still and always will be the stars of our own […]
How To Wear More Of Your Clothes
I do not know anything about sports, so I probably shouldn’t even go out on a limb here and use this as a reference, but I have heard the expression “Batting a thousand.” In technical terms, it means he’s doing well. Well we are not batting 1000 in our wardrobes. Or whatever. We are batting, […]
Real Life Closet Edit Over 40
The media wants us to believe that every woman has a closet the size of a gymnasium filled with designer clothes, artfully displayed like a museum collection. For most of us, however, our real-life closets reflect our real lives and this includes dealing with limited closet space in smaller or older homes (like mine! we […]
Brands You Should Be Shopping Over 40
Ruts happen. It’s easy to get stuck in the same old same old. Wearing the same styles in the same ways and the same colors and shopping at the same stores. It happens to all of us. Whether it’s out of habit or comfort or laziness, it can be easy to wake up one day […]
The TRUTH About Your Favorite Brands
For years, I’ve been telling you the same thing, more or less: If you want to look modern, shop contemporary brands. In other words, skip the brands that are targeted to women over 40 and stick to contemporary brands. Buying your classic pieces from modern brands ensures that your everyday essentials are fresh and up […]
10-item Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe | Winter Wardrobe Essentials | Outfit Ideas
I kind of consider myself a late bloomer in many areas. I didn’t have my “growth spurt” until college, when I shot up a quarter inch to a towering 5’21/4″. I didn’t have my first real boyfriend until after college. And I didn’t learn to fall in love with basic pieces, like cashmere sweaters and […]
What To Do With Mediocre Clothes | Clothes You Don’t Love, Wear, or Want
“When you know, you know. You know like you know about a good melon.” I’m paraphrasing, but that famous line from “When Harry Met Sally” also applies to clothes. Sometimes, you just know that you know that you LOVE something and it loves you right back. And sometimes you know the opposite. You know when […]
Vibrant Skin Over 40
Between the glass skin trend and the proliferation of products and tutorials that promise dewy skin, it seems like everyone is obsessed with recapturing the youthful glow these days. Even people who are still youthful. And while makeup and light-deflecting products can help create the illusion of healthy skin, the real goal is to actually […]
How To Wear Boots Over 40
I get asked so many times about how to pair boots with outfits, and I think we tend to overcomplicate the subject. I know I do. But here’s the bottom line. There are no rules. Not really. There are a few best practices, and there are lots of preferences, but rules? Not exactly. If it […]
26 Gifts Teens Actually Want For 2022 (And 5 They Don’t!)
This one was a doozie. First of all, I was pretty much wrong about almost everything, which is so so fun. Sure, some of the gifts that all of the experts and websites claim are hot gifts were actually popular with my esteemed panel of teen experts, but even those had dissenters. Exceptions. Fine print. […]
A Week’s Worth Of Fall Outfits
You know how I always tell you should plan your outfits at the beginning of every week, or at the very least the night before, and what a game-changer it is? Well, I actually do that. I don’t share any strategies that I don’t use myself, and that haven’t worked for the women in my […]
The Shortcut to Great Style
There are two types of people. Those that love clothes for their own sake, and those that just want to get dressed, but want to do it stylishly and effortlessly and comfortably. This approach is for those people, but there are takeaways here for the clotheshorses and fashion fiends like myself. Here’s the formula, and […]
Holiday Style Over 40
Even though I let them slip several times throughout this video, the words “festive” and “fun” when applied to clothing are really starting to make me cringe. They are almost code words for frumpy. Except when I use them. Seriously, though. If a sweater or a dress or a pair of earrings is described as […]
50 Best Holiday Gifts for Everyone
I know it’s not nice to brag, but shopping is kind of my thing. And yes, it’s an important part of my job as a personal stylist, but I’m not just good at shopping for clothes. I’m good at shopping for everything. Except Home Depot stuff. I am definitely not good at that. Anything else, […]
Stress-Erasing Holiday Makeup With Merit
One of the things that has struck me the most about getting older is how quickly stress shows up on my face. When I was younger, stress may mean an occasional breakout, but for the most part, I still looked rested and refreshed, even when I wasn’t. Now, when I’m stressed, the whole world knows […]
The Boot Report: What’s In, What’s Out
The right pair of shoes can add polish and style to an outfit, or it can bring the whole outfit down. The same can be said for boots, and it seems that many of you have questions. What’s in? What’s out? What’s flattering and what’s frumpy? Like everything in fashion, boots have changed pretty dramatically […]
The Reverse Closet Edit | Do THIS Instead of Purging Your Closet
Overwhelmed by the idea of editing your closet? Chances are, a much more stylish and manageable wardrobe is hiding in your current wardrobe. Here’s how to find it! For most women, having too many clothes is the single biggest roadblock to great style. 1. Take Everything Out Of Your Closet That You LOVE Often we […]
I Try The Frumpy Trends
I must really love you guys. Why else would I intentionally put on unflattering clothes and take pictures in them and put them on YouTube and stuff. I mean, who does that? I do. Because it’s important for me to show you that the way we dress has such an impact on the way we […]
Body Type Series: Hourglass Body Type
I cannot wait for you to meet Judy! I know you’ll love her as much as I do. First of all, you have a lot in common. Like Judy, you’re also beautiful, fun, and trying to look your best every day, regardless of your age and stage. Sure, Judy’s enviable height (5’8″!) and hourglass shape […]
Fall Fashion For Every Budget | Splurge vs Steal
Ah, the magic and the pageantry of fashion. As much as I go on and on about essentials and they are absolutely and unequivocally, well, essential to our real-life wardrobes, I didn’t get into fashion for tee-shirts and black pants. Sorry not sorry. I got into it for the drama. The glamour. The haute couture. […]
These Trends Are Frumpy!
“I walked into H&M the other day and oh my word. Everything is SOOO baggy.” These were the words a friend and Ageless Style Program member greeted me with at church. And she’s not wrong. I love H&M but, like many stores right now, it’s kind of hit and miss. You see some cute things […]
Anti-Aging Makeup | Get The Glow Back
Years ago, when I wrote my beauty book, I interviewed Dr. Dennis Gross, who had some interesting insight into aging. One of the things I remember from our interview is that he said that dullness, not wrinkles or laxity, is one of the main things that makes our skin look older. We look older because […]
5 Petite Exclusive Brands Over 40 | Petite Fall Finds
I have good news and I have bad news. Which do you want to hear first? The good news is that we have way more options in 2022 as petites than ever before. From brands and sites that sell by inseam, to mainstream mall brands with large petite departments, our options are broader than ever. […]
Wardrobe Heroes & Why They’re Important
Sometimes all of this style talk can make us feel like a great wardrobe is a lot of work. I get it. And sometimes, it can be. We all have items in our closets that feel like a lot of work. This video is not about those items. Instead, we’re talking about the easy pieces, […]
HUGE Fall Capsule Wardrobe Haul For A Client
40 PIECES | 675 OUTFITS I love shopping for other people. That’s one of the things that I love the most about being a personal stylist. There is something so rewarding about being able to step into another woman’s shoes and life for a bit and curate a wardrobe for her that will fit that […]
Best Fall Accessories For Every Budget
If you can only buy one thing this fall, make it a shoe. Seriously. A new pair of shoes gives life to pieces you’ve had for years and makes you fall in love with them all over again. And since you can wear them as often as you want, the cost per use ends up […]
4 Products Every Woman Needs Over 40 | My Menopause Survival Kit
I’m a cross-that-bridge-when-I come-to-it kind of girl, at least when it comes to practical things. Imagined or interpersonal stuff, I’ll worry about for days. But concrete things, like aging and budgeting and filling my car with gas? I ignore it, until I can’t anymore. That’s what happened with menopause. I was just doing my thing, […]
How To Wear A Sweater Over 40 | 10 Sweaters Every Woman Needs
It’s sweater weather at last! Well, sort of. Here in Florida, October signals the start of dreaming about sweater weather, when the temps occasionally plunge into the 70s, but that’s enough for us to pull out the cardigans and pretend it’s chilly. Still, fall means a switch from our now-tired summer wardrobes to something more […]
Body Type Series | Straight Body Type
Let me set the record straight about straight body types. (I’m so corny!). Seriously, though. So many women with this body shape struggle to dress their bodies in a flattering way without recognizing that they are secretly supermodels. Sure, supermodels may have more inches when it comes to height and fewer inches everywhere else, but […]
How To Wear A Midi Dress Over 40
I’m not typically a fan of wishy-washy trends. I like a dress that knows what it truly is and isn’t afraid to express it. A mini, for example, knows it’s short and sassy, while a maxi is long and breezy. But a midi? It can’t seem to make up its mind. Fortunately, I decided to […]
Easy Everyday Makeup Tutorial Over 40
I think makeup may be more important to me than clothes. It was definitely my first love, and the reason I started my magazine career as a beauty editor. I always understood, from a young age, that makeup had that magical before-and-after power that clothes just don’t always have. It’s linked to mood as well, […]
Body Type Series Over 40 | Hourglass
So after a hiatus, my body type series is back, and best of all, it stars viewers just like you! I’m so excited to be able to continue this series virtually by analyzing the body types of viewers all over the world. If you’re interested in appearing in a future video, simply send me an […]
Update Your Whole Wardrobe With New Essentials
Sometimes we overcomplicate things a little. Or maybe that’s just me. If you really want an elevated and polished wardrobe that represents your style with minimal effort, you’ll start with these essential pieces. But how, you ask, can simple essentials represent my personal style? It’s all in how you put them together. The shortest shortcut […]
How To Pick Flattering Shoes For An Outfit
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m a small-scale person. My mom always called me a “sample.” And because of my scale, wearing oversized clothing and accessories can sometimes be a challenge. Perhaps you’ve experienced similar challenges. We all have natural characteristics that we have to take into account when getting dressed. Outfits also […]
Walmart Fall Try On Haul Over 40 | Under $50
Walmart isn’t always the first place that comes to find when we think about shopping for fall trends, but the retailer has made a huge effort in recent years to improve its reputation for fashion. You’ll find more than adult onesies and nondescript tunics these days, and I think that’s a win for anyone who […]
What to Wear to All the Fall Events | Fall Outfit Formulas for Women Over 40
I know you hipsters consider August 30 the (un)official start of fall, because that’s the day that Starbucks came out with the Pumpkin Spice Latte. But I don’t drink coffee. (Don’t unfollow me!). I’m a tea drinker. So I’m using the day after Labor Day, aka today. I’m traditional like that. I was so excited […]
Trends That Are Out Of Style + Trends I Refuse To Wear
My daughter recently wore bike shorts with a sweatshirt to school and looked adorable. A-do-ra-ble. She is 16. And as much as I feel that age is not the main factor when I decide which trends to try and which to skip, it definitely plays a role. Or maybe I just don’t like bike shorts. […]
Fall Trends You Already Own
You know how I like to say that trends look different every time they come around? Well, that’s true. Except when it’s not. Let me explain. This season, in addition to the usual fall frivolity, there are a lot of classics and timeless pieces dressing up as trends, but they’re not fooling anybody. A button-down […]
Luxury Fall Essentials Every Woman Needs
There are days when a t-shirt and jeans just won’t cut it. In my recent video on elevated essentials, I talked about how elevating a single item in an outfit (for example, swapping out a regular cotton button-down for a silk one) can take an outfit from simple to super stylish. So today I thought […]
I Try On Fall Trends!
Bikers have the Tour de France and pop stars have the Grammys and gymnasts have the Olympics and football players have that game with the halftime show… Fashionistas have fall. Does anyone even use the term fashionista anymore? Until I find a good substitute, there it is. I use this word loosely to define anyone […]
9 Easy Fall Wardrobe Updates
When it comes to style, details aren’t just important. They’re everything. The difference between a stylish outfit and a so-so one comes down to the details, from fit to fabric to accessories. This list of 9 easy but transformative wardrobe updates consists of mostly details, from patterns to finishes to shoes and bags, that will […]
Biggest Fall Fashion Trends 2022 Over 40
As I write this, the temperature here in Florida has plummeted to the 80s from the 90s, a sure sign of fall. 🙂 Seriously, though, even with temps still scorching here, I am ready for fall fashion. This is the season when allll the fun happens, and it’s definitely the most stylish season. When I […]
Polished vs Natural: What’s Your Aesthetic
One of the things that hopefully we learn as we get older is that there is no point trying to be something that we’re not. We have earned the right, especially after 40, to let our style be a true outward expression of who we are and not a mask that makes us look like […]
Fashion & Beauty Finds You Didn’t Know You Needed
This is not your everyday must-have list. These are game-changers. Sure, there’s a just-for-fun item or two on this list, but for the most part, these are ingenious items designed to solve a real problem, from painful feet to premature gray to tooth health. Several of these are things that I actually use and swear […]
5 Ways to Style Your Little Black Dress
We all know that wardrobe essentials are, well, essential, and that one of the things that makes them so, well, essential, is that they are super versatile. This is why I’m starting to prefer the word essential over the word basic. These ultra-versatile and wearable pieces are definitely staples, but that doesn’t always mean that […]
10 Style Secrets Every Woman Should Know (2.0)
I hate to brag, but these are really good. I mean, if you took every one of these style secrets and put them into practice in your wardrobe, you might make a best-dressed list somewhere. And no one would need me anymore. 🙂 From accessories to shopping to personal style, there’s a secret here that […]
7 Summer Essentials to Buy Now
There are summer people and not-summer people. This summer, after years of pretending to be something I’m not, I’ve come down firmly on the side of being a “not summer” person. And this is at the tail end of an amazing summer, where we spent time with family and stayed in a castle in Scotland […]
8 Women Try On Trends From Old Navy
This video is not just about me me me. I know. Don’t be too disappointed. It has come to my attention that not all women are 5’3″ with a 32 C bra size. I know. I was stumped too. Some of you are taller. Or shorter. Wear bigger sizes. Or smaller ones. Have different bustlines, […]
10 Style Secrets Every Woman Should Know
I’ve been in the fashion industry my entire career, working directly with clients for about 15 years, and some things never change. Most women, no matter their age, size, or budget, share similar struggles when it comes to style. And while I can’t claim that these secrets hold the answers to all of your style […]
A Dress For Every Body Type Over 40 | Under $30
Dresses can be hard… I can’t be alone. It’s not just the petite hourglass ladies out there (like me) that have a problem finding flattering dresses, is it? There is just so much that can go wrong. It can be too long or too short or too full or too tight or too cupcake-y. I […]
5 Shoe Trends That Are Actually Comfortable
I know I know I know. Shoes need to be walkable. And comfortable. I hear that every time I do a post about shoes. MOST women over 40 or 50 insist on some level of comfort, and we’re all going to have different requirements when it comes to shoes. Fit, foot issues, heel height, versatility, […]
50 Summer Outfits To Try Today!
All of this talk about summer being easy and laid back is a lie. Not only do I find myself busier than ever in the summertime, but the heat and humidity bring their own challenges when it comes to style. It can be hard to look crisp and polished and chic and whatever when we […]
Summer Trends: Splurge vs Steal
You know that I believe that trends are essential. If we want to look fresh and modern, updating our wardrobes for the season can be a quick and helpful way to do that. But that doesn’t mean that we need to adopt every trend, and it definitely doesn’t mean that we need to overspend. I […]
Summer Trends That Age You
You know how I have said that classic style can age you and trendy clothes are the way to go? Well, I totally stand behind that. Except when I don’t. Here’s the thing. Wearing head-to-toe conservative classic clothes can definitely be aging, while modern classics are always going to be chic. Not all classics are […]
5 Easy Chic Summer Outfit Formulas
According to the calendar, we are only officially one week or so into summer, but here in Florida, it has felt like months. Months of hot. Months of humidity. Months of wearing the same things on repeat. And many more months to go. It’s easy to get bored of wearing the same things in the […]
How To Make Your Outfits Look Better! (The Art of Zhooshing!)
I once had a friend who tried to make baklava by throwing all of the ingredients in the pan and popping it in the oven. Yeah, that didn’t go well. You laugh, but many of us attempt to do the same thing with outfits. We throw a couple of items on and hope for the […]
Favorite Travel Beauty Products + How To Pack Beauty
The older I get, the more I appreciate systems. I know they don’t sound sexy, but systems make decisions easier and life run more smoothly. As a fly-by-the-seat of-my-pants kind of girl for most of my life, this is pretty revolutionary to admit. But after over a decade of helping other women pack, I’ve developed […]
Unexpected Color Combinations in Outfits Over 40
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that it’s no secret I like color. I especially like bright colors, and I like combining them in outfits. Still, no matter how many different combinations I have come up with, I always love discovering more. There are endless ways to mix and match your wardrobe if […]
Walmart Clothing Haul Over 40
I’m not going to lie. I almost didn’t make this video. And it’s not because I’m a snob. After all, I have always believed that you can find great style almost anywhere, if you have a good eye and you are selective. Over the years, I have found some of my favorite pieces from Target, […]
What I Packed For Scotland | Europe Travel Capsule For Cooler Weather
After years of planning and waiting, our trip to Scotland is finally here. (It was originally scheduled for the summer of 2020). Back in simpler times, pre-pandemic, I pictured myself twirling through fields of heather in flowery dresses, only pausing for a fancy tea served alfresco as bluebirds chirped nearby. In my head, it looked […]
Travel Capsule For Europe | Casual & Affordable
In real life, the act of arriving at your destination is nowhere near as glamorous as I pictured it growing up. I grew up in the 80s, when everything seemed fancy and the Concorde was still a thing. And of course, I pictured travel as an adult as super fancy, jetsetting to exotic locales on […]
7 Tops That Are Making You Look Older
Back in my late 20s, when I was working as a magazine editor in Boston, there was a cheap little fast fashion store right around the corner from my apartment that we used to call the cheap top shop. On Fridays, after work, we would stop by that store and pick up a cheap top […]
How to Dress Your Changing Body & Other Questions | Nada Saves Style
Hearing from you guys is literally the best part of what I do. It makes my day when I get your questions and when I have the opportunity to discuss some of your style challenges. I answer your questions personally, so sometimes it takes me a bit of time, but I always try to respond. […]
What To Pack For A Beach Vacation Over 40
There’s never a bad time for a beach getaway, but more of us seem to head to tropical locations in the summertime when we’re guaranteed balmy breezes and plenty of sunshine. And because I passionately believe that packing for your trip should be almost as relaxing as soaking up the sun, I’ve created a video […]
How To Combine Colors In Outfits Over 40
I am not sure whether there’s actually a scientific study directly linking an extroverted personality to a love of color, but let’s just say there is. And I’m the subject of that study. To me, outgoing color is a natural extension of an outgoing personality. It’s my theory and I’m sticking to it. But you […]
10 Essential Pieces For Travel
It’s finally time to leave the house, you guys! 2022 is the year for travel, and I could not be more excited. Our 2020 trip to Scotland has become our 2022 trip to Scotland, and it’s just weeks away. My extended family of 16 (including my parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews) will be descending […]
Shopping Secrets Of A Stylist | Women Over 40
I shop like it’s my actual job. Wait. It is my actual job. As a personal stylist (going on 15 years now!) I’ve successfully shopped for women of all sizes, ages, budgets, and nationalities. I have built wardrobes for women in Dubai and Hong Kong and Sweden and Australia. I have scoured websites in most […]
Sustainable Brands Over 40 For Every Style
Back in the day, when someone would ask me about sustainable style, my answer was often something like this. “You can be stylish or you can be sustainable, but you can’t be both.” Sustainable style options were limited to shapeless and scratchy sackcloth dresses in hemp in shades ranging from beige to beiger, and unless […]
My MOST Controversial Opinions About Style
Don’t hate me because I’m opinionated. I mean, it’s kind of why I do what I do. If I didn’t have strong feelings about things like shoes and lipstick, I probably shouldn’t be a stylist. And this would be a very short post. Fortunately for you, I have opinions about allll the things. Usually, I […]
Nada Saves Style: Ask Me Anything
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 […]
4 Easy Spring Outfit Formulas With Dresses
I recently ran into a friend at a party who said she had given up on wearing dresses. “I have no waist,” she moaned. “I look like a cardboard box with legs.” Looking at my gorgeous friend, who is in her late 60s, I knew that this was untrue, but I didn’t have time at […]
How To Pick Prints Over 40
Sometimes I feel like my job as your personal stylist and fashion friend is kind of like the role of that mom who breaks up the teen parties. She means well, but she’s not a lot of fun. How many times have you seen a printed item shared in the Facebook group only to hear […]
How To Quickly Build A Spring Capsule Over 40
I’ve built hundreds of capsule wardrobes for hundreds of different women in my 15 years as a personal stylist. I love the challenge and the creativity of finding the perfect pieces to reflect a client’s unique lifestyle and personal style, and ensuring they all work together to create a versatile wardrobe. For the right client, […]
Nada Saves Style | Torso Length & Aging Bodies
I’m switching things up a little this time and giving you the mic. Not literally, of course, because my mic is pretty heavy, but figuratively. I’m letting you pick the topics. I’ll be answering more of your questions in future episodes of Nada Saves Style, so send me your style conundrums to support@nadamanley.com and I’ll […]
The Best Swimwear Trends (& Brands) Over 40
Trends are fun and all, but if you don’t also have flattery, what’s the point? We deserve both. Bathing suits are especially tricky because we can feel overexposed and vulnerable. A well-made suit that holds everything in and up and helps you relax and enjoy outdoor summer fun is critical. The perfect bathing suit over […]
How To Turn Back The Clock in 2022
When I was a teen, I used to say that by the time I was old enough to have wrinkles, they would have found a cure. Well, I am, and they have. Sort of. The tools and treatments and techniques that are currently available to us are truly transformative, and they go way beyond anything […]
11 Outfits That Age You
Forget wrinkle creams for a minute. Clothes are the ultimate anti-agers. And unlike wrinkle creams, they have an immediate effect. Not convinced? Here’s proof. I rest my case. Notice that I’m wearing relaxed-fit dark neutral pants and black flat shoes in both pics, but the similarity ends there. It’s the details (fit, fabric, embellishments, etc.) […]
5 Pretty Spring Outfit Formulas Over 40
In the past few weeks, I’ve covered everything from trends to springtime essentials, shoes to bags to jewelry, but you may still find yourself wondering what to wear. I got you. Seasonal transitions can be tricky. Nothing is more frustrating than coming home with an armload of spring trends only to have them hang in […]
Pretty Spring Jewelry & Beauty Trends
My mom is going to love this topic. Growing up, once I reached makeup age, my mom always reminded us to wear blush and earrings. Those were her parting words as we were headed out the door. She felt like an outfit was incomplete without both of these finishing touches. 40 years later, I totally […]
13 Spring Essentials Over 40 for 2022
I’ve sifted through stores and scoured your favorite sites to find some of the very best styles for spring, and as happens every year, some clear favorites emerged. These are the pieces you will reach for time and again this summer and become your new favorites. I really wanted to keep this list to a […]
What To Buy At Your Favorite Stores For Spring
Be careful. It’s scary out there. With puffy prairie dresses and stretchy mesh crop tops popping up in stores for spring, it can be hard to know what to buy and what to skip. Fortunately, there are also so many cute things in stores for spring that if you had to start over with a […]
How To Take A Selfie Over 40
I consider myself something of a selfie pioneer. A trailblazer, if you will. I have invented groundbreaking selfies like the following: Don’t try these at home. However, in spite of my selfie skills, I’m still teachable, and because I wanted to learn from the best, I turned to my trusted panel of selfie-snapping experts for […]
How To Dress A Full Bust Over 40
Sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees. Or the body type for the curves. Let me explain. When we talk about body shape, we are talking about the body silhouette or the outline. But you can’t blindly follow the guidelines for your body shape while ignoring other key elements of your body, like […]
5 Spring Accessory Trends Over 40
If you’re only going to update one category of your wardrobe this season, make it accessories. Actually, I would say that for any season. Adding updated trend-driven accessories to wardrobe essentials is a shortcut to chic and updated style on a budget. Speaking of budget, the cost per use on a versatile accessory is always […]
Nada Saves Style | I Fix Your Outfits
Styling is my superpower. It’s my only superpower, just in case anyone accuses me of bragging. I mean, I can’t do push-ups or dance or sew or craft. I’m an average cook and a mediocre homemaker. But I can style. And write about style. It’s always been my thing. Maybe I should get a cape… […]
Spring 2022 Fashion Trends Over 40
If you want to be spared my lecture about why trends are increasingly important the older we get yada yada yada, let me sum it up for you here: The older we get, the more we need trends. Nada manley Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about which trends, because […]
How to Style a Sweater Over 50 | Warm Winter Outfits + Outfit Formulas
I know you’re getting tired of your winter clothes. Or is it just me. It’s the end of February and I’m just totally over winter. And I live in Florida. We have only had it for about a week. 🙂 I was especially getting bored of sweaters. Yawn. Sometimes, a chunky knit sweater can seem […]
Wardrobe Styling With A Friend | Pear Shape | Tall
Sometimes, we just feel stuck in our style. We buy and buy and still feel like we have nothing to show for it and so we end up wearing the same pieces in the same ways, while other pieces, which once held so much promise, languish in our wardrobe, unloved. It’s really kind of sad […]
The Best White Tees for Every Body Over 40
Nothing could be more humble than a wardrobe essential that got its start as a man’s undershirt. But the power of a white tee lies in its simplicity. It’s the outfit-connector, the black canvas for accessories, and the unassuming hero of a modern wardrobe. It can also be finicky and unflattering and harder to find […]
Best Outfits for a Pear Shape | Style Dial Orange
Here I go again, referring to a body type as a fruit. In The Style Dial body type system, we use colors and not inanimate objects, but since so much of the world is familiar with the term pear-shaped, I’m throwing it in here for clarity’s sake. But just to be clear: You are not […]
How To Look Expensive On A Budget ft. LilySilk
One of the things I’ve learned over the years is that elegance, like many other things in life, can be learned. And we get better at it with experience. Getting older does have its advantages, after all. It’s not all wrinkles and hot flashes. 🙂 Back in 2020, I did a video called How To […]
I Finally Dress My Age | From Frumpy to Chic | Outfit Makeovers!
It’s the moment you all have been waiting for. 🙂 I finally grow up and dress my age. No more ripped jeans or sassy shoes. Just kidding. You know that will never happen. Here’s my philosophy on “dressing our age.” It’s different for every woman. The goal shouldn’t be to dress younger or older. The […]
The Best Jeans Over 40 For Every Body
Jeans are about as much fun to shop for as bathing suits, am I right? Between the rise and the length and the pockets and the rinse and all the other details that make a pair an immediate favorite or a total flop, it can seem like the perfect pair is truly a unicorn. Fortunately, […]
The Best White Shirts for Every Body
If there’s one item in my Wardrobe Building Series that, without fail, every single woman needs in her wardrobe, I would say this is it. Every single woman would benefit from a fab white (or off-white, ivory, or cream) shirt in her wardrobe. It’s that critical connector that makes the rest of your clothes work […]
How Long Should Your Clothes Be?
Body type is only half the puzzle. I know I know that I talk about it all the time, and that’s because knowing your body type is critical, but it’s still not going to yield flattering results in your outfits unless your clothes also FIT. And that’s where the Fashion Fit Formula comes in. If […]
Best Black Pants Try-On Haul
I know you were hoping I would talk about something more exciting, like sparkly shoes or red lipstick, but alas, I’m over here talking about (yawn) black pants. (Or dark neutral pants, if black’s not your thing.) It can be easy to dismiss, as I did for years, the important role that wardrobe essentials can […]
How to Build a Winter Capsule Wardrobe | The Easy Way | Wardrobe Clusters
I’m a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl. You may already know this about me, but I’m not much of a planner. But the world can be hard on us free spirits. While everyone is plotting out an entire year’s worth of goals and resolutions, we’re over here like: “Can we […]
Body Shape Series: Petite Pear
I know you all like looking at me and stuff, but just in case you ever get tired of just seeing me, all the time, wearing the clothes on my specific body, I thought I’d mix it up a little for 2022. This video featuring the beautiful Ashley is the first in a series on […]
5 Wardrobe Staples & How To Wear Them
I am not a stapley person. I know you know this about me, if you’ve been following me for any amount of time, but I resisted staples for years, fearing that they were a slippery slope to a boring basic wardrobe. I felt like staples were something the fashion industry told us all we had […]
My Favorite Outfits of 2021 | Outfit Ideas
Happy 2022! Before we move forward, I enjoy pausing for a minute to reflect on the previous year. And by reflect, I mean look at my outfits. Sure, other people make res_ _ _ _ _ _ _ s but those are boring and they won’t make your wardrobe any better. Unless of course, they […]
What To Eliminate From Your Closet
I finally got around to picking up my own closet. I know, I know. I do this for a living, but I’ve done about a bajillion closet edits in the last couple of weeks, as well as two bajillion loads of laundry for one husband and two teenage daughters. I don’t know how so few […]
Easy Holiday Outfits For Every Event
We are two weeks out from Christmas, and I have to admit I’m drowning. Between a December birthday (Eva turns 14 on the 12th), wrapping up a semester, and all the usual shenanigans in a house with two teen girls, I’m not feeling at the top of my game. That’s one of the reasons I […]
The BEST Gifts for Everyone On Your List! (And For Every Budget!)
I adore gift-giving, the whole art and anticipation and drama of it, but let’s face it, some people make going to the store a bore. And yes, I’m talking about dads and husbands and the other impossible-to-shop-for people on your list. Sure, pajamas and ties are standbys, but what if you want something with a […]
10 Ways To Look Stylish This Fall Over 40
It’s the little things, really, that can elevate the everyday outfit and make it feel special and stylish. And that’s what today’s post/video is all about. Like every season, fall brings with it a unique set of challenges and opportunities when it comes to style. We want to look festive without feeling silly, warm without […]
Outfits Every Woman Needs Over 40 + A Roundup of Comfortable Pumps | Ageless Style 19
Today, I’m taking a different approach to style, because I’m not telling you what to wear. I’m telling you what to feel. Let me explain. Most of us base outfits on the occasion. I am going ___________________ so I need to wear ______________________. And that is often the most logical place to start. I even […]
8 Steps To Confident Style
Maybe it’s old age ;), but I’ve gone from being a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl to one who sees the value in systems and routines. Don’t yawn. I promise I won’t tell you to get up at 5 a.m. It’s just that for the better part of my life I’ve improvised and reinvented the wheel […]
What I Wore In A Week | Ageless Style 18
Today I decided to answer a question from a reader, Silvia, who asked how I choose shoes for an outfit. Instead of doing the usual outfit collages, I chose to illustrate my shoe strategies using outfits from an actual week in my life, the week of September 20. This is a different kind of video, […]
Quick Morning Makeup Routine | 5 Minute Morning with Merit Beauty
People are often surprised to learn that I am all about a 5-minute makeup look. In my regular everyday life, I typically spend 10 minutes on skin, hair, and makeup every morning. I don’t need more than that to look fresh and awake and ready for the day. Okay, some days I might need more […]
How to Slim Your Arms With Style | Ageless Style 17
I’ve been hearing it for years from clients. “I will never wear sleeveless.” “The only thing I know for sure is that cap sleeves are out.” “I hate my arms.” “That dress is cute, but it needs sleeves.” Arms are a concern and become more so as we get older. Weight gain and loss, sun […]
What To Wear Everywhere This Fall | 7 Outfit Ideas
September 24 is my husband’s birthday, a date that has unofficially been the start of fall, in my mind. Even the Florida weather is catching on. Yesterday morning, I thought I felt a breeze, but by the time I noticed it, it was gone. That’s how fall in Florida is. One 75-degree morning, followed by […]
How to Wear Skinny Jeans Over 40 in 2021| Ageless Style 16
I really hate to be the bearer of bad news. For one thing, I am almost absurdly non-confrontational. I hate to ruffle feathers or offend in any way. But sometimes, in my role as your fashion friend, I have to speak truth. And some of these truths may be hard to hear. Over the years, […]
Fall Wardrobe Haul Over 40 | Shein Review
Even though it is something like 6 bajillion frizz-inducing degrees outside, I am all about fall right now. After all, fall fashion is my favorite (isn’t it everyone’s?) and I’m so looking forward to slipping into a cardigan or two when the temps plunge below 75 degrees. Unfortunately, the only windows of time I get […]
How To Shop Online Consignment Stores | Ageless Style #15
I used to have all the time in the world. Back in my magazine editor days, I would spend hours, and I mean HOURS, sifting through the racks at Filene’s Basement (right around the corner from my Tremont Street apartment in Boston) or Century 21 (my favorite location was right across the street from the […]
What to Buy at Your Favorite Stores for Fall 2021
I don’t have to tell you that I love to shop. I mean, I think we’ve known each other long enough that you’ve gathered that by now. (And if not, and you’re new here, welcome!) Shopping truly is my cardio, even though it’s a really bad form of cardio these days since time and circumstances […]
Your Styling Questions Answered | Ageless Style #14
When my 13-year-old, Eva, was a toddler, she had a LOT of questions. A LOT. Her favorite question was: “When am I going to get a baby brother?” followed immediately by an endless stream-of-consciousness string of questions, ranging from “What is the road made out of” to “If we keep digging will we get to […]
What To Do If You Hate To Shop
I like to think of myself as an understanding person. I can empathize. Relate. And I’m a pretty good listener. All of that goes out the window when someone says that they hate to shop. I just don’t get it. Shopping is my love language. I know it’s technically not one of the 5 love […]
The Only Accessories You Need
I know this is a tall order, but it’s not too tall for me. I may be short in stature, but I’m tall on style. You know what I mean. I’m not afraid to tackle the hard-hitting style subjects, like why you keep buying the wrong clothes or the pants that have the potential to […]
How to Wear Black Over 40 | Ageless Style 12
Ah, black. It is the color of elegance, to many women. And you can’t have an LBD without it. (Little brown dress does not have the same ring, I’m afraid.) Still, this perennially popular and eternally elegant color isn’t without its drawbacks and its downfalls. Especially for the Softies among us. And I’m not talking […]
How to Tell If Your Clothes Are Good Quality
Quality and the lack of it are hot topics in style right now, and that’s because of fast fashion. And while fast fashion gets a bad rap (and there are some really valid concerns surrounding it), I’m going to start this whole topic off with an opinion that might seem a little controversial. And here […]
High/Low Basics: Best Basics At Any Price
A few years ago the word basic was getting a bad rap. I think Kate Moss started using the term to describe everyday women in everyday outfits, and it stuck. Basic meant boring, and it was more than a little mean, in my opinion. After all, what’s the matter with basic? I use this term […]
How to Pick the Right Shoes for Your Outfit
I recently read a fluffy novel where the heroine started every day by picking her shoes. She planned her outfits from the bottom up. She’s pretty much my soul sister. Shoes can make or break an outfit, so it makes sense to start there. Plus, shoes are my favorite. 🙂 And while there are some […]
How to Choose Flattering Jeans Over 40 | 3 Things to Know Before You Shop
Choosing flattering jeans is part art and part science. Part what you love and part what loves you. I experienced this firsthand on a recent shopping trip in Chicago with my husband. We had the whole day to browse and shop and eat, and I took full advantage of it, trying on brands that I […]
Best Fashion Advice Over 40
When my oldest daughter, Lola, now 15, was little, I used to post some of her more adorable remarks on Facebook, saving them in an online journal of sorts. I know everybody thinks their kids are the cutest, but people often asked me if I would turn Lola’s one-liners into a book. It would definitely […]
How to Flatter a Full Tummy & Hips: Ageless Style Show Episode 7
Do you ever feel like you’re getting the same message over and over again and just not listening? Lately, these words of wisdom keep coming up for me. Drink more water. Quiet time needs to be quiet time. Turn off the distractions. It’s now or never. Life is short. Well, that got deep real quick. […]
How to Wear Color
In high school, much to my mother’s dismay, I plastered my walls with Duran Duran posters, Chanel ads, and makeup looks pulled from magazines. One of my favorites was a very 1980s makeup look on a model with short spiky hair. I don’t even remember the brand. Clarion, maybe? Or Ultima II? The slogan, however, […]
Summer Casual Wardrobe Essentials
I know I talk about essentials a lot, and at this point you might be hearing yada-yada-yada every time I utter those words, but they are so important. I don’t want to sound like that mom that repeats herself so many times that no one listens to her anymore. I’ll end my therapy session there, […]
The Truth About Capris: Ageless Style Show Episode 5
I’m not going to lie. I was a little afraid of tackling this topic. I mean, this is about as controversial as it gets around here. And I know that capris are considered as commonplace as flip flops and sunblock in the summertime. I’m not sure if this is quite as controversial as the time […]
Ageless Style Show #3: Long Torso vs Short Torso
I’m a woman of mystery. Really. Even though I’m only 5’3″, petite pants are usually too short on me. If you don’t believe it, check out these two pictures I just posted in the VIP group. Both of these pants arrived in my Short Story Box, which is a subscription box for petites. (Quick review: […]
Shoe Mistakes That Age You
If there’s any topic that I feel qualified to speak about, it’s shoes. And like many illustrations in life, it is best made through a story. When Kevin and I got married, we took two pictures with his fraternity brothers. One showed my amazing bejeweled Sergio Rossi mules. The others showed his friends. Which one […]
Pants Guaranteed to Fit: Ageless Style Show Episode 2
I’ve always been a dress girl. Part of it is because I have feminine style and part of it is because I live in Florida and dresses are cooler and part of it is because I’m lazy and dresses are one-and-done, but I think the main reason, if I’m being honest, is that pants are […]
10 Small Habits That Create Lasting Change
It’s the little things. I used to think that getting some of the results I want in life, from better skin to tighter abs, would require a major life overhaul, and that the only way to achieve these goals would be to wake up at 5 a.m., spend 2.5 hours on my morning routine, and […]
Fall Fashion Haul Over 40
Plus: Cluster Concept at Work I’m going to make a quick attempt at a mathematical formula here. Wardrobe Essentials + Seasonal Updates = A Beautiful Wardrobe Only I could come up with an equation that doesn’t contain numbers. It’s a gift. 🙂 If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that I created […]
One Week of Fall Outfits
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” When the world is in turmoil, getting dressed every day and slapping on some lipstick is boldly optimistic, almost rebellious. And it can definitely help us feel like we are keeping it together. Today’s video is short and sweet, and really just a […]
WalMart Fall Fashion Finds
I am not a snob. I promise. I am an equal opportunity shopper. I can find something I LOVE almost anywhere. However, I never used to have any luck at WalMart. Recently, though, I started spotting the cutest WalMart finds on other bloggers, and wondered if I was missing out. And I started getting requests from […]
6 Affordable Fall Updates Over 40
Stuck in a style rut? One of the best ways to keep your wardrobe fresh and rut-free is to try a new trend. Naturally, you have to find a trend that suits your style, your life, and your body, but a fresh new find for fall is exactly the boost your wardrobe needs, and I […]
Summer Haul & Wardrobe Update
I have an approach to shopping that I like to call focused flexibility. This means that I never go shopping without a plan or a wish list, but I also stay open to fun finds and special surprises. This basically means I can buy whatever I want. Just kidding. Kind of. It does mean that […]
Recreating Inspiration Outfits With Items From My Own Closet
Are you tired of the same old same old? Maybe, at the beginning of the new season, you start sifting through your former fall favorites and feel like they’ve lost their luster. Or maybe you’ve just been over your whole wardrobe for a while and struggle to put together an outfit that you love. Wardrobe […]
What I Wore In A Week (Early Fall) PLUS Outfit Formulas
A friend of mine recently shared a picture of her family’s meal plan on her Instagram stories, and that gave me an idea. Instead of sharing my meal plan (since it’s not really in a plan and mostly in my head), I thought it might be fun to share a week of outfits, because an […]
12 Things to Buy And Why
Forget pumpkin spice. What you really need to feel cozy and ready for the season is layers. And boots. And all the real clothes that signal fall. As much as I love the easy-breeziness of summer style, fall is when we have an opportunity to get truly dressed. For some of us, that’s going to […]
These Shoes Are FRUMPY! | Fall Styles to Skip
It’s a scary world out there. I talk about bad shoes a lot and when I share a picture of a frumpy shoe, I often get feedback like this: If you love the “frumpy” styles on this list, then wear them with confidence. But I’m here to show you why I don’t think they work, […]
These Trends Are FRUMPY | Bad Trends & What To Wear Instead
Back in the good old days, if you wanted to look modern, you just wore trendy clothes. I mean, if you wore the latest and “greatest”, what could go wrong? In 2023, the answer is—a lot. Between blazers that make you look like a linebacker (I’m not even sure I know what that is, but […]
The Best Fall Trends For Your Budget
Trends are trendy but they don’t need to be spendy. I’m quitting my job immediately and going into poetry. Seriously, you do NOT need to spend a lot to bring some updated pieces into your wardrobe. Here’s what I recommend: Start with what’s in your closet. Add whatever is missing to create your Wardrobe From […]
The Power Of The Personality Piece: 3 Signature Style Essentials
There are two ways to look at your Wardrobe From Scratch. If you, like many women, do not feel like 12 pieces are all you need for a full and functional wardrobe (or even if you do), read on. Because your wardrobe might be missing a little bit of spice. Seasoning. Salt. Salt makes yummy […]
Fall Accessory Trends You Need Over 40
If your current wardrobe is giving you a big case of the blahs, then you might be surprised if I tell you that the clothes might not be the problem at all. The problem might be in the accessories. Accessories offer the easiest and most affordable way to update our wardrobes, and they always fit. […]
10 Fall Trends You Already Own
I am not telling you not to buy new stuff. Nobody loves new stuff as much as I do. Seriously. Nobody. I am like a kid on Christmas morning when the new stuff hits the stores. You get the idea. I am all in on trends. But what I don’t love is this ridiculous notion […]
Wardrobe From Scratch | The 12 Building Blocks Of A Versatile Wardrobe
A good wardrobe is not one size fits all. And I’m not just talking about the size on the tags either. I’m talking about all of the things that take clothes from basic and boring to invaluable essentials. These are the details that matter. And that’s why I’ve added 3 different categories to help you […]