Buttons and Bows

Nice dress...for a sixteen-year-old.

I'll start off with some general principles - one BIG area where we go wrong is not dressing for our age within the era that we're into. The 1950s are a problem, because for the first time there were "teenager" clothes available. Cute full skirted dresses with ruffles, bows, all that fun stuff. Stuff that looks great on a teenager, not so great on a 50-year old. So what is one to do? If you look at what a 50-year-old wore back then, that can be a good guide to how much frippery looks good. Straight skirted dresses during the day, and simple shirtwaist dresses, full skirted dresses that aren't loaded up with ruffles and big bows for evening. A ruffled shelf bust can sometimes be fine, but skip the fluffy chiffon prom dresses.

This is NOT to say that you can't wear a beautiful 50s dress if you're not a teen; it's the TYPE of beautiful dress that is key. Beware of bows, they can go tragically wrong. Like Madonna in her skin tight hotpants at age 53, there are some things that just make one cringe. We're talking big bows on coiffure, big bows all over your dress, bows on your shoes. It screams juvenile, not a look we should be going for. Ever see "What ever Happened to Baby Jane"? If you haven't, I urge you to watch it, as it will cure you of age-inappropriate bows forever!

Now don't despair, there is a type of bow that is good for any age - the straight bow. You'll find these adorning vintage 50s and 60s shoes, as well as at the upper waist of fitted vintage dresses. So don't costume up like a five-year-old. Yes big bows are fun, but so is My Little Pony. Dignity and elegance is the motto here, keep this in mind next time you're tempted by that sugary confection of a prom dress!

An example of a beautiful and age-appropriate dress.

This bow, although large, makes the cut, as it's tailored.

The only good use of a large bow that I've seen on an over-30 was this fabulous little old lady I spotted in Beverly Hills a few years ago. She was wearing a medium pink trenchcoat, black stockings, sunglasses, and had her hair in a pulled back topknot with an enormous black bow; 85 years old if she was a day!  It was very "Parisian couture rich old lady", and just fantastic. So if you're that old, you can get away with a lot...even large polka dots. More on the fascinating topic of polka dots  in the next post!