FashBlog.com

By Janie Blank

This was our 40th reunion but I think the problem of what to wear might be universal. Women especially seem to vacillate on whether or not to even go. They have an image of what they used to look like- if not in high school then at the last reunion they attended. And if they weigh more or think they have aged then they start to think of excuses not to attend.

It was on a Holiday weekend and it was held at a classmates very large and comfortable home. The theme was a barbecue and it was to be mainly on the lawn. However weather interfered, turning rainy and quite cold. I had two outfits in mind and I like one much better than the other but was originally worried it might be too hot. This was not the case and that is the one I wore. I felt really comfortable in terms of how I looked as well as the actual comfort of the outfit itself. This goes a long way in helping to enjoy the party.

Interestingly enough, we had our largest turnout in years. I thought we all seemed five or ten pounds heavier than five years ago but that might be due to changes that most women experience during their fifties. On the other hand, I thought we all looked good and dressed very appropriately. Maybe by the time you have been out of high school for forty years you have developed a fashion sense of what you look good wearing. You also might just be more comfortable in the skin you are in. You are not too outrageous- unless it flatters you and you can get away with it.

Rule #1 Wear Something Becoming

No matter your age, your shape or your taste in clothes, you need to wear something that looks good on you. By now we all have a favorite palette that reflects our taste and hopefully looks good on us. I know mine is pinks and purples and as of late some turquoise with the purple. These seem to be popular color combinations this season. About six years ago my hair turned a platinum color and different shades seem to flatter me now than when my hair was just blonde. I went through my black phase and still have a half a dozen black pants and black sweaters in my closet but I think as I age color seems to soften and flatter more than black does. Learning what is becoming on you as you age is an ongoing process.

Rule #2 Wear Something that Flatters your Figure

One thing I really noticed was the apple and the pear shapes. When we were young most of us were thin, a few were dumpy but now the shape you are is very pronounced. I am a pear so I have to worry about my hips. My midriff area is still relatively trim. The apples have the flat butts and really thin thighs but they still have the same excess weight, they just carry it all above the waist.

Some did a better job of hiding their flaws than others. Because it was so chilly outside jackets worked and this can cover up some flaws for both apples and pears. Another thing I noticed was that several girls who were what I would term dumpy in high school were thinner than those of us who were thin back then.

Although the theme was barbecue I decided to wear a skirt. Surprising about half the group also decided to go for the dressy barbecue look. I can only think of a handful of women who wore jeans and most all had the figures to pull it off.

One was tall and thin and had on a pair of jeans that was low cut and had one of those little short zippers that I cannot wear. They make my tummy bulge out above the waist. I am definitely not hip hugger material! When I commented on how thin she was she said she lives on coffee and cigarettes. I thought I had better spend some time with her because she may not be around for the forty-fifth!

Rule #3 Wear Something Age Appropriate

Make sure you do not dress too young OR too OLD. I think one is as bad as the other. Looking matronly is almost worse than trying to look a little younger or more fashionable than your age might dictate. When I was young I would go for the latest style and seemed to be able to pull it off. Now I have to figure out how to adapt it to my age.

That being said, we have one classmate who looks amazingly young. She is a vegetarian and does not smoke or drink either. Maybe there is something to that! She had a tattoo of a garland of flowers gently cascading down her back and had on a dress that was open in the back to show it off! There surely was no one else like her there but she definitely knows how to show off her assets! Because she has always been a non-conformist, I will say she got away with this somehow! However, I do not think anyone else could have and I would not recommend it.

The reunion was a great time! Fortunately, I do not have one debacle of bad taste to describe out of a crowd of over one hundred, more than half of who were women. I think we have all learned these rules long before now and applied them to our best advantage at the reunion.