Age-Appropriate Fashion

Hi Annabel, 

My question is about style and shopping resources. I've always loved fashion but I am a dismal shopper these days. How does one dress when one is 63 and not quite ready for the rocking chair but doesn't want to look like she is age-inappropriate?

Thank you, 
L in FL

Dear L,

What a timely question. I recently read a piece by the L.A. Times fashion critic Booth Moore about Gwyneth Paltrow, age 40, who wore black Lycra hot pants to a book signing in Beverly Hills. Ms. Moore asked readers whether it's time to re-write the rules of age-appropriate fashion. As I responded via Twitter: Technically Gwyneth can pull of those hot pants, but as a fashionista, she's better than that.

Getting older doesn't mean succumbing to a lifetime of low heels, frumpy tunics, and St. John suits. On the contrary, it's a time to invest in fine fabrics and fabulous pieces you'll love for years to come. By now you know what complements your figure and your lifestyle. I think it's possible to play to your strengths while staying innovative and au courant.

As for how much is too much, I offer women over 60 the same advice I'd give women under 30. Make judicious choices. Wear the short skirt OR the racy neckline. Not both. If you have beautiful arms or lovely legs, showcase them in a way that makes you feel confident and divine.

The factors that determine what works and what doesn't are specific to the wearer and highly subjective. Take, for example, 40-something Jennifer Aniston, who looks unsure and uncomfortable wearing a Dior playsuit on a recent red carpet. Meanwhile, Helen Mirren (23 years her senior) can still wear a bikini with the best of them.

For style inspiration, I suggest subscribing to emails from the online retailer Net-a-Porter. You'll get a regular peek at what's new and fresh, all presented like a magazine spread you can shop. Imagine buying an entire season's worth of glorious new things while wearing your silk pajamas! You can try on everything at home and send back whatever fails to delight.

Here are a few ideas to ignite your next shopping trip, virtual or otherwise:

1. A too-die-for evening dress by Alexander McQueen.

2. A Jimmy Choo clutch your daughters will beg to borrow.

3. A chic, monochromatic outfit from Gucci.

4. Fabulously utilitarian summer shorts by Marni. (Side note: The sandals shown with this outfit are not recommended for anyone of any age.)

Hope you find some truly fantastic things!

Graciously yours,

ANNABEL MANNERS

Got an etiquette question? Send it to annabel@annabelmannes.com!

Celebrity Etiquette: Who Needs a Manners Makeover?

I don't know about you, but I've always thought that in times of crisis, civility matters more than ever. Let's lighten the mood with a look at three celebs who could use an Annabel Manners Taste Makeover....

The Boorish Brit

First we have an instance of discourteous conduct captured on film. Say hello to television personality Simon Cowell, who's rudely shirking his gentlemanly duty. He should have helped this floundering female out of the car whether she was his date for the evening or not! And since we're offering constructive feedback, that shirt makes him look like a wee little pirate. 

The Enfant Terrible

Next up is the underwear enthusiast picture above. I don't know if you've heard, but while he was in Amsterdam, pop star Justin Bieber stopped tweeting shirtless self-portraits long enough to visit the Anne Frank House. He signed the guest book with, "Anne was a great girl. Hopefully she would have been a belieber."

(For those not steeped in teenybopper culture, a "belieber" is a Justin Bieber fan.) 

To be fair, many of us were narcissistic twits at the age of 19. But honestly, who turns a visit to a Holocaust museum into an opportunity for cringe-worthy self-promotion? This boy needs a minder whose entire job is faux-pas patrol.

The Accidental Floozy

Finally, we have a country musician who I'm sure was aiming for chic but ended up looking tawdry and desperate. Miranda Lambert won big at the Academy of Country Music Awards -- there was no need to let her ta-tas do the talking. As true fashionistas know, it's possible to be sophisticated, fashionable and fetching without exposing giant swaths of skin. (Side note: this particular awards show was rife with fashion missteps. Sheryl Crow wore a dubious denim jumpsuit, Carrie Underwood was overpowered by flowers, and Shania Twain looked weirdly Wiccan.)

Dear darling, misguided stars and starlets, there's no need to hobble around gracelessly. I'm only an email away!

Men's Fashion: The Short Story

Honestly, I'm not sure what a person could feasibly do in this outfit besides paint the guest room or clean out the garage.

You probably think I'm talking about Ms. Spears, but actually, my quibble is with her current paramour -- the heartbreaker shown here wearing unforgivably sloppy shorts.

Meet David Lucado, whose entire outfit says, "I've given up completely. And I'm color blind."

I used to work in a flagrantly casual office where men would greet the business day in get-ups like this. Droopy cargo shorts. Tired t-shirts. The wrong sneakers. Horrid hats. Most baffling of all, some of them were also wearing wedding rings! I'd give an involuntary little shiver and think, "Oh, sir. Your wife is asleep at the wheel."

Today's Haute Tip: If your man has no innate sense of style, HELP HIM. Don't let him leave the house looking like Frumpelstiltskin.

• Do a ruthless closet sweep and eliminate anything baggy, dingy, dated or lame. 
• Insist on shirts that require an iron or a trip to the dry cleaner. 
• Put your kitten-heeled foot down the second you see pleated pants or ill-fitting shorts. Really, it's for the greater good.

Alas, Britney Spears has nothing to offer Mr. Lucado in the styling department. After all, this is a woman who's magnetically drawn to sweatpants, side cleavage and wardrobe malfunctions. The chicest thing about Britney is her ex, who currently has a hit single all about being dapper.

Learn from him, David. Let JT (or Jay Z) be your sartorial guide!

Gift-Giving Etiquette

Hello Annabel,

I just recently found your blog and am always interested in learning about appropriate protocol! Recently I have come across some gift-giving dilemmas and was wondering what your advice would be. For example, I was invited to a friend's wedding, attended, and gave them a nice wedding gift. They were subsequently invited to my wedding, attended, and did not give us a gift.

Now they are having a baby and I am anticipating being invited to a baby shower. My inclination would be to send a gift whether I attend the event or not, both because I think it's the right thing to do since I was invited and also because I love giving gifts and celebrating!

Now, if this was my friend I would probably reconsider the relationship and whether it had become one-sided. However it's tricky because this is my husband's friend so it's not up to me. I think we should just continue to send gifts when invited to things even if they never return the favor. Doesn't seem fair but that's just life, right?

Same question for a situation where a couple attended a wedding and did not give us a gift. Now they are engaged and we are attending their wedding. We still get them a gift, correct?

Thanks!
B

Hey B,

Your instincts are right on the mannerly money. Don't think of gifts as quid pro quo transactions, think of them as acts of generosity: something you give without expecting anything in return.

Sure, sometimes you might feel like Grace Kelly in a room full of Kardashians. So what? You're making polite, lovely choices because that's just who you are. How fabulous! There's no need to adjust your own standards in order to match hubby's clodhopping friends.

Here's the courtly rule: receiving a wedding invitation should have you scurrying for the registry no matter what. I always send a gift when I'm invited to a wedding -- even if I know for sure I won't be able to attend.

For showers (both bridal and baby), it's OK to skip the present if you can't make the bash. You can always send something to be opened in your absence if you're especially close to the person or you just want to celebrate.

Here's to keeping it classy like Anchorman. Take the high road and enjoy those parties!

Graciously yours,

ANNABEL MANNERS

Got an etiquette question? Send it to annabel@annabelmanners.com!

To the Manners Born

Oh, y'all. When a retired wrestler tops my best-dressed list, you know it's a very peculiar year for Oscar fashion.

Hello darling readers -- please forgive my looong blogging hiatus! I'm delighted to announce that Mr. Manners and I recently welcomed an astonishingly sweet baby boy. Life has been busy but wondrous! (Yes, the pregnant lady from this post was actually me, I just wasn't ready to announce it yet.)

Still, I couldn't let an entire awards season slip by with no commentary, so I'm back to discuss the overall lack of sparkle in an evening with lots of sequins.

Honestly, it might have been the snooziest Oscar showing I've ever seen. Everyone played it so maddeningly safe that it was a struggle just to choose a few faves. But in accordance with tradition: 

• George Clooney's GF pulled off Gatsby glam.
• I'm for more Oscar de la Renta in general, and I thought Amy Adams looked pretty.
• Jessica Chastain gets points for the fit and silhouette, though I didn't love the color.
• Sally Field wore that Valentino perfectly.

I wanted more from Amanda Seyfried and Jennifer Lawrence. I wish the draping on Melissa McCarthy's dress would move about 6 inches north. There were very few terrible dresses -- just a lot of recycled looks.

• Halle Berry, Charlize Theron and Adele looked great in styles we've definitely seen before. 
• Kerry Washington is SO gorgeous, but that gown underwhelmed.
• Kristen Stewart sulked her way through another ceremony and opted not to brush her hair.
• Jennifer Aniston is beautiful woman who's allergic to innovation.  

With that, I must sign off and feed the little prince. Stay tuned for more on manners and mommyhood!

xoxoxox

Can I Bring a Date To My Cousin's Wedding?

Hello! I have been searching the Internet for etiquette answers and I'm in need of some help. 

I have been dating my boyfriend for 5 years. We are high school sweethearts (I am 20 years old). I am also the youngest cousin in my family and my family has always thought of me as the baby. I am in college, but I still live with my parents. 

We recently just got invited to my cousin's wedding. Our invitation was addressed to "The Eichelbergers" and on the inside of the invitation it says to write down how many guests are attending. 

If I have 3 people in my household, do I write down 4? 

Should I ask if I am allowed to bring my boyfriend? Who do I ask? The bride? The bride's parents? I know weddings are expensive, but my boyfriend has become part of the family as well. I don't want to be rude at all! I also will not be mad if she says no.

Thanks!

Hi Miss E,

This is a very common wedding etiquette question. I'm glad to settle it once and for all, though I'm afraid you won't like the answer.

I'm sorry to say your boyfriend is not invited to this wedding. By addressing the invitation to "The Eichelbergers," the hosts made it clear that you and your family are the only intended guests. (If your boyfriend had been invited, his name would have appeared on the invitation or appeared next to yours with the words "and guest").

Unfortunately, there's no way to appeal such a decision without putting the bride or your aunt and uncle in an uncomfortable position. My advice is to attend the wedding with your parents. Once your friends start getting married, you and your boyfriend will have countless opportunities to go to weddings together. (In fact, you'll soon start to wonder how you'll ever afford so many bridesmaid dresses, wedding presents, shower gifts, hotel rooms and bachelorette parties.)

You probably think this means your family doesn't take your relationship seriously, or that they consider you immature. I'm sure that's not the case. When drawing up a guest list, sometimes there are tough decisions to be made. Not everybody makes the cut, especially in large families where many guests are already married or in committed relationships. 

Try to enjoy this wedding as a family-only function. Obviously you have good manners - your instincts told you to seek etiquette advice first before asking your cousin or (worst of all) showing up with a wedding-crasher on your arm! 

Graciously yours,

ANNABEL MANNERS

Got an etiquette question? Send it to annabel@annabelmanners.com!

Office Gaucherie

Oh, y'all.

I thought I'd covered every possible gaffe concerning nosy souls who love inquiring about other people's reproductive plans. Not so!

 

In a recent business meeting attended by yours truly, a woman shyly announced her pregnancy to a roomful of coworkers. Everyone offered their congratulations and asked benign questions like, "How are you feeling?" and "When are you due?"

Well, everyone but one brazen individual. Without a shred of compunction, this person asked:

"Was it planned?"

Readers, I nearly fell out of my conference room chair.

These women are not sisters, confidants, or best friends since Montessori. They're workplace acquaintances. At best. 

The mother-to-be was understandably flummoxed.

"Well... yes," she stammered uncomfortably. "We're thrilled."

I mean, what was she supposed to say? Here's a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation outlining our procreative strategy and objectives?

On the bright side, I'm taking this as irrefutable evidence that the world needs etiquette bloggers. As long as people pose rude questions, I'll never want for material! :)