2SENIOR LIVING PROCESS
2 The Brunswick News / Thursday, September 26, 2013
Senior LIVING Lifestyle
AGELESS STYLES STAY FOREVER YOUNG By BETHANY LEGGETT The Brunswick News
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s women age, they often blend personal style with comfort when buying new clothes. With that in mind, designers have been incorporating sophisticated cuts and bolder patterns while maintaining longer sleeves and breathable fabrics that continue to appeal to the tastes of older demographics. Beth Brown, manager at Belk at Glynn Place Mall, 100 Mall Blvd., Glynn County, says she has seen a multi-generational move by designers to create similar colors and cuts that work for several age ranges. “Designers are incorporating styles and colors across the board for families. So you really don’t have fashion trends that only apply to one age group anymore. For example, we see trendy tunics across the board. Women of any size or any age can dress with the trends,” she said. Fashions popular this fall include bold, color pieces that shoppers can mix and match. Jackets, in particular, are popular as bold accent pieces for older women that can be dressed up or down according to the occasion. “We have several jackets that serve as statement pieces that can be paired either with jeans for a casual day or with nice pants for an evening out,” said Terry Trawick, shopping consultant at Maggie’s Boutique, 1616 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island. “Here on the coast, we have 50 degrees in the morning and 80 degrees in the afternoon. It’s important to get pieces that you can peel off as the day progresses, but also leave the lady not feeling too exposed.” A layered necklace, at Belk
An Issa dress, at Dazzle
Trawick says one of the store’s most popular items is a three-quarter-length top that is
made of a dry-fit material that comes in a sassafras plum color. “Some ladies don’t like to expose a lot of skin, so threequarter-length can help keep them somewhat covered, but is also comfortable and stylish, especially when paired with a large necklace,” she said. Besides plum, several other colors are popping up in clothes across showroom floors Large handbags, at Maggie’s Boutique this fall. “You used to go into a store in fall and just see brown. Now we have rich each year, but several stores are seeing inplums, toasty oranges and deep Kelly creased interest in other accessories, particugreens, especially in the South where larly handbags with big, bold patterns and we don’t have such cold weather, so clunky jewelry that can be layered on top of colors are important,” Brown said of clothing, as well. the displays in the Belk store. Boots are another ageless trend that doesn’t Carol Brubaker, owner of Dazzle, seem to be going away anytime soon. 3303 Frederica Road, St. Simons Is“I can’t talk enough about boots being popland, agrees. ular,” Brown said. “Shoe companies “You can’t be afraid of are making products that still color, no matter your provide older women a age,” Brubaker comfortable fit. said. “There Some specific is no subneeds, such as tlety this a cushioned fall. There insoles, are are big, bold found in more patterns and products. And colors.” brands that have Brubaker says attracted an older it is important to generation in the think of an outpast are coming fit as a whole, out with fashionwhere different able styles, too.” pieces come toAbove all, feel gether, rather than confident about just imagining what it the purchase, looks like on the store’s whether it’s an clothing rack. accessory or ma“Older women are jor wardrobe pursophisticated shoppers. chase, Brubaker They may not like the said. low-cut looks, but then “If you try it on they pair a shirt with a and don’t like it, scarf or several necklaces then don’t buy it. that covers them and gives Many older women a bit of glitz. The same have the option to goes for skirts, which are buy fewer pieces, trending about 2 inches because they can below the knee for this fall. dip into their faThey may wear tights unvorites through the derneath rather than leaving years. So they can their skin exposed, but older spend more or also women aren’t confined to look at having alteraturtlenecks and long pants,” tions done to give that she said. almost perfect look Scarves are a seasonal addithe needed polish,” she A fall-color top, at Dazzle added. tion to many autumn wardrobes