Looking Great at 40

Fabulous at 40

By Anna Lynn C. Sibal

As the adage goes, life begins at 40. Your face may no longer glow with youth like it did when you were still in your twenties, and your body may no longer be as supple as it used to be. Probably, there are some sags and bulges where none used to be.

But despite the ravages of time on her physique, the fact is that a woman in her 40s is much more interesting than a woman in her twenties. She is more seasoned, poised, confident and wise. She knows what she wants and is not afraid to go for it. She has a more definite sense of style that is, if she allowed herself to develop it.

Sadly, many women simply let themselves go when they reach their 40s. They no longer bother to update their hairstyle and wardrobes. A woman in her 40s may think that because she is not getting any younger anymore, there is no longer any purpose to going out of her way to make herself look good. But that shouldn't be the case. There is no reason why a woman in her 40s can't look good. It's just a way of knowing how.

The first step to looking fabulous at 40 is accepting that you are no longer young and that you cannot turn back the time. The most sophisticated methods of nipping and tucking and other forms of cosmetic surgery will not stop your aging. Face it and let yourself age gracefully.

In relation to this, bear in mind that whatever worked for you in your twenties will no longer work for you now. You shouldn't worry anymore about following fashion trends either, which has always been more geared towards the young. Besides, dressing young will only have the opposite effect on you: it will just emphasize your age and make you look old. Instead, you should start developing a signature style for yourself.

As you settle into your 40s, there are a few things you should start avoiding. A mini-skirt is one of them. Sure, your legs may still look great. Legs always look great because they are among the parts of our body that age the slowest, but there is nothing sadder to look at than a woman in her 40s wearing those short skirts. Also, try to stay clear of baggy clothes, and instead opt for clothes that would flatter your body's shape, despite the thickening and the sags.

Once you begin to realize that you do indeed have to start letting go of your young-ish ways and to begin dressing your age, like a stylish woman in her 40s, here are tips that will help you create your signature look:

• Change your hairstyle to something short. Our hair begins to thin as we age, and keeping your hair short gives it a lift and body.
• Lighten up and wear lighter colors near your face. Soft colors, like white, beige and the pastels bring light to your face and lend a glow to it. You can still wear dark colors, but avoid bringing them close to your face.
• Begin wearing collars that hide the wrinkles of your neck and bring attention to your face. A turned-up or a stand-up collar perhaps, or a turtleneck, will do the trick.
• If you have seen Laws of Attraction, that movie where Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore played opposing divorce lawyers who eventually fell in love with each other, you would be familiar with the words of Julianne Moore's mother's character: The shoulders are always the last to go. She is right. Along with the legs, the shoulders are slow to age. You can wear clothes that flatter your shoulders.
• Bring attention to your legs. Mini-skirts are a no-no, but you can achieve this nonetheless by wearing nice, knee-length skirts with sexy shoes.
• Emulate the styles of Hollywood women who are in their 40s yet still look fabulous.

Life does begin at 40. You may not be young anymore, but you have the poise, the style, the grace and the confidence lacking from women in their 20s. At 40, the best is yet to come and you still have a long way to go.