I’m 50+ with a belly and have found the perfect jeans to flatter the middle-aged figure
“STAFF!” a fed-up fifty-year-old recently wrote on Mumsnet: “What are fat middle-aged women wearing these days?”
She went on to explain how she had come 2nd during breast cancer treatment and now, at 6ft 1in and around 18st, was living in leggings despite having an overflowing wardrobe.
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It was no surprise that she was flooded with responses.
Many women can relate to feeling like they’re not feeling like themselves as they battle menopause, change their bodies, and make judgments about what to wear and what not to wear midway through life.
The advice ranged from opting for classic clothes like French to having a capsule wardrobe.
But the most common tip she received was to look at Instagram accounts like @rantsandbigpants,@fabfatand40plus and @dressedtothemax.
Maxine Sumner Woolley, the woman behind the latter, says in her biography that she is “small, round and over 50. . . making midlife beautiful.”
Her Instagram is full of bright, bold photos of herself embracing her size 16 frame and not being afraid to show off her boobs.
But she’s also had her own battles with midlife fashion.
The former city worker says: “I lost my way after I turned 50 and went into deep perimenopause.
“I always looked at younger women on Instagram and wondered where my tribe was.
“I thought there had to be more women who looked like me and I wanted to find myself and help others do the same.”
Maxine, mother to Eleanor, 21, and stepmother to Meg, 29, and Tom, 26, has 33,500 followers but insists she has the same body issues as everyone else.
Maxine, 6ft tall, says: “I have to get myself in the mood to try on jeans in a warm dressing room and dread going jeans shopping, but I still enjoy helping other women enjoy of clothing.”
Here are her golden rules for dressing fabulously at midlife. . .
NEVER HIDE YOUR CURVES
I taught myself to understand and work with my shape. It’s important to celebrate yourself with clothes because it not only makes you look good, it makes you feel good too.
Hiding your body under shapeless clothes will only make you look bigger, if you are aware of it.
A belted dress with a V-neck is flattering for a full bust and thanks to the belt you can make it as tight as you want.
The rest of the dress can still be flowy and comfortable, but defining your waist will show off your shape.
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BALANCE SHEET RATIO
I’m bigger in my hips, so I tend to wear more flowing shapes on my lower body, like wide-leg pants and flowy skirts.
You can still wear high-waisted and hip-hugging trews to show off your curves, but the fluidity of a wider silhouette at the bottom of your body will make you look taller and slimmer.
I balance that width at the bottom of my figure with a more fitted top and a structured blazer with shoulder pads that give the illusion of height. And vice versa. For example, if I’m wearing straight-leg pants, I’ll wear a looser top.
BLACK IS NOT EVERYONE’S FRIEND
Don’t always assume that black is the solution to looking slimmer.
It doesn’t do me any good, and my face makes me look pale and older than I am. I only wear it in a color I love, like green, and in a texture that gives it some depth.
If on occasion I wear a black sweater, I make sure to lift my appearance and complexion with some accessories combined with a bright lipstick.
BUILD OUTFITS AROUND MARINES
As we reach midlife, navy blue is kinder and more forgiving than black. It makes an outfit instantly look chic and expensive, and it doesn’t cost you any color.
It matches many other colors, such as bright yellow, orange, pretty pastel pink and golden green.
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SHOW OFF YOUR ASSETS
Since I’ve always had fuller breasts, I’ve learned that a well-fitting bra can define your shape, making you feel much more confident in your clothes.
I get measured every year. Sizes also vary a bit between styles and brands, so I don’t assume my usual size will fit every time.
INVEST IN BASIC
TIMELESS basics are the backbone of my wardrobe. Always remember the price per wear: if a jacket costs €50 and you wear it 20 times, the price per wear is €2.50. Bargain, right?
My basic pieces are items such as blazers, denim, sweaters and trousers. Then I buy a few cheaper, trendy items that I will wear for a season or two.
YES, YOU CAN WEAR SHORTS
MY rule is to make sure the leg shape is slightly wider than your thigh so that at the hem there is a gap between you and the fabric.
This way, the shorts don’t dig into your thighs and are more comfortable to move in. A style that has almost an A-line shape is even better. They have the added bonus of making your thighs look slimmer if that bothers you.
NEVER FEAR COLOR
SCIENCE has discovered that wearing color can boost your dopamine hormones, making you feel happy.
I like to mix color with neutrals and I love a tonal look – the same color from head to toe – because it gives the illusion of height.
My favorite shades are green, blue and orange shades. But ultimately, color will work for every skin tone.
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LAYERS
During perimenopause I found that I could no longer wear man-made fabrics because they made me hot and itchy and the hot flashes got worse.
Now I wear cotton, linen and viscose. In the worst case scenario, if I was about to have a hot flash at any moment, I would wear several thin layers that were easy to take off, such as a cardigan, shirt and chunky knitwear.
TOSS THE SKINNY JEANS
I KNOW it can be daunting, but I always push myself to try different shapes and styles. For example, switching to wide leg jeans instead of skinny jeans has completely changed the way I see myself.
TWEAK AS YOUR BODY CHANGES
OUR bodies and our tastes change, so I do a complete wardrobe overhaul every year and never keep anything that’s just right.
You should wear what you love and what makes you feel good.