<p>reflected on this thread as I sat in temple this morning at a Bar Mitzvah. I saw 2 pairs of hose. One black and the other a pair of black tights. Black hose on a woman in her 40’s. Tights on a woman of 75. I think the older woman was the best dressed in the place. Young but age appropriate. A black knit dress with a cowl neck worn with an antique pin on the collar, black tights with black 3 inch high pumps.
The big surprise was that the majority of women were dressed in pants, including the cantor. The color of choice was overwhelmingly black. I did notice lots of colorful handbags. One woman wore a dress similar to the Terre Jon dress from a few threads above. It was a pretty floral. As I sat looking at her and the sea of black I realized I really need to go bold and add some color to my wardrobe.</p>
<p>Just went to a very formal wedding. My cousin was the MOB. She wore a dress that wouldn’t have been out of place at a prom - slightly off the shoulder, fitted bodice, skirt flared out a bit just below the hip, with some crinoline under it. But it was a dark teal color, and she’s in shape and young looking so she carried it off beautifully. The groom’s stepmother was also quite thin and wore a bright aqua halter-top fitted dress. Can’t remember what the groom’s mom wore.</p>
<p>This thread is making me realize I should probably get something to wear to my nephew’s graduation at Rice. I’m average height, I weigh about 20 pounds more than I’d like. Not too busty so those wrap style dresses don’t work on me at all. I wouldn’t mind going dressy pants with a good top, but am not in the mood for more black pants.</p>
<p>^^^ make sure it’s lightweight for warm weather. It’s been gorgeous here lately with very low humidity, but it looks like summer weather is now upon us. I think it’s going to be highs in upper 80’s soon with high humidity.</p>
<p>(Congratulations to your nephew!)</p>
<p>Re the Rice graduation - don’t know what your hair does in high humidity, but be prepared!</p>
<p>I’m in the market for new glasses frames. Want something fairly substantial to hide all the sad things happening around my eyes. Anyone on this quest?</p>
<p>[Tadashi</a> Shoji - Draped Jersey Dress - Neiman Marcus](<a href=“http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod93690004&ecid=NMCIGoogleBaseFeed&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=T279X]Tadashi”>http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod93690004&ecid=NMCIGoogleBaseFeed&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=T279X)</p>
<p>Okay, so this is the dress I found at the Nordstrom’s Rack, in “Galaxy Blue.” Trying to decide whether I can wear it for D’s wedding (I’m about 5’8" and not quite as thin as these models). Any opinions?</p>
<p>This is very similar to my Tadashi dress - the one my DD refers to as “soap opera mommy.” She says this tongue in cheek and has assured me that she means it as a compliment. Mine is in black, and the sleeves are narrower.</p>
<p>I have seen the dress online in the galaxy blue and I am sure it is stunning. The material is wonderful and if you are tall and relatively slim, it will look fabulous. I wear mine with a simple strand of pearls and drop earrings. </p>
<p>I think you have a winner.</p>
<p>Love it. Strikes just the right balance of style, femininity, elegance, maturity for MOB.</p>
<p>Sewhappy - I hate buying frames. Hate it. </p>
<p>We have a great small optical boutique in my hometown and I have been very happy with the frames I have purchased there. I love the fit of the frames from this company and I have received a lot of compliments on my current pair</p>
<p>[::</a> Eschenbach Optik :: Frames for women::](<a href=“http://www.eschenbach-optik.com/en/Frames_for_women.630.0.html?&L=2]::”>Eschenbach Online)</p>
<p>Mine are very similar to the 903005 pair.</p>
<p>Coming out of lurking to say thanks for all the great links! I will also be looking for a MOB dress for next summer. Have to lose the weight first but I am working on that! I am really liking the Tadashi Shoji dresses so that’s a good start!</p>
<p>Is it assumed that MOB/MOG dresses are solid colors? I’m just curious. I looked at the Tadashi Shoji dresses at NM; they are all solid but one, which prompts my question. (I am not in the market for a MOG dress, but have been helping friends, all of whom have chosen solid colors)</p>
<p>Here is the one multi color dress, obviosly not as formal as many of the others:
[Tadashi</a> Shoji<em>-</em>Layered Twist Dress<em>-</em>Neiman Marcus](<a href=“http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod108270036&cmCat=search&searchType=&parentId=&icid=src_Tadashi+New+Arrivals&rte=%252Fsearch.jhtml%253FN%253D0%2526Ntt%253DTadashi%252BShoji%2526_requestid%253D17041]Tadashi”>http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod108270036&cmCat=search&searchType=&parentId=&icid=src_Tadashi+New+Arrivals&rte=%252Fsearch.jhtml%253FN%253D0%2526Ntt%253DTadashi%252BShoji%2526_requestid%253D17041)</p>
<p>My hair never looks good. Right now its long. It used to be wavy, but it’s more frizzy these days. I am way too lazy to do much beyond pulling it back into a French twist or chignon. I’m contemplating cutting it really short again, but I hate going to the hairdresser often enough to keep it really short.</p>
<p>I’m thinking jersey floral or those black and white dresses from up thread. I’m rather tempted to go to a local store that sells retro shirtwaist type dresses. I just love them!</p>
<p>I think long hair can be aging when you get past a certain age. It is expensive to get haircuts often, but your hairstyle and glasses are the fashion images that are with you every single moment! I was just reading a blog about French women and their style and the author mentioned this. Haircuts and color are very important there to being stylish. </p>
<p>Sigh…we sure do have to try harder for every year we get older.</p>
<p>I just emailed Not Your Daughter’s Jeans corporate office to suggest they start a line of dresses for over 40. I want not too low, shoulders and upper arms covered, just below knee length, flattering, stylish, not too clingy. I told them there’s a huge market that’s wide open!</p>
<p>mafool, I like that multicolored dress. I don’t think there’s any reason the mother of the bride or groom has to wear solid color. As I have said before, moms are not part of the dang wedding decor after all.</p>
<p>I agree with your perspective, Alumother. I am also trying to come up with a reason that I need another dress, because I like it, too.</p>
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<p>Yes, exactly!</p>
<p>And thanks for the comments on the dress (and to this thread for first alerting me to Tadashi Shoji!).</p>
<p>Re: short hair. I got all my hair cut off this year and I LOVE it. L.O.V.E it. Now, I notice how many other women my age have very short hair. I think it must be a developmental stage of menopause: the no longer need the signifier of long hair to feel like a woman or attract/keep a man, not having to be a slave to hair stage. It’s liberating!</p>
<p>Of course, the ugly little secret is that it requires just as much, if not more, maintenance to have that devil-may-care Amelia Earhart look. Oh well.</p>
<p>Personally, I think I look better with longer hair, at least past my jaw line but these hot flashes which are driving me batty, seem to originate at my nape and travel up my scalp and just generally hang around my head. It seems kind of stupid to keep hair longish, when it’s so uncomfortable. Maybe I’ll just have to liberate myself, as well.</p>