by Sybil Henry, The Style Concierge

Shopping Strategies to Tackle the Top 3 Figure Challenges for Women Over 40.

Remember the good old days when shopping used to be fun? It would start with enthusiasm and end with excitement about all of those great purchases. But, after age 40, as our schedules have expanded (and often our waistlines too), shopping has lost its luster. If you want to recapture that shopping after-glow and look great, try these strategies that can save time and also counter a few figure challenges.

Jiggly Arms (Lost Muscle Tone)

• Steer clear of wearing sleeveless or cap sleeve tops alone
• Try a shrug (short sleeve, half-sweater). They look great over sleeveless tops
• Buy short sleeve tops long enough to cover the largest part of the upper arm
• Avoid tops with tight or clingy sleeves, instead choose fabrics that skim the arms
• Off the shoulder tops can be feminine and sexy while concealing arms

Crinkly Cleavage (Lost Skin Elasticity)

• Avoid tops that reveal too much cleavage
• Try on all tops to ensure they are not cut too low. They should end just above the top crease of your cleavage; if the crease shows – too low.
• Bare your shoulders instead of cleavage. Shoulder skin remains toned long after other areas have given way to aging. By showing your shoulders, you can still feel pretty, sexy and feminine.

Muffin Top (Thick Waistline)

• Choose tops that skim your torso rather than cling to it
• Avoid stretchy fabrics that accentuate your middle
• Small scale, dark prints will camouflage your tummy
• Embrace solid dark colors that will slim your torso
• Choose smooth fabrics; avoid bulky or chunky fabrics that add extra weight
• Look for pants with a slightly higher waist; lower cut pants can cause muffin top

By taking an honest assessment of your body, you can shop strategically to emphasize the positive and cleverly camouflage areas you want to de-emphasize. Try these tips and you’ll find that your shopping angst and your wardrobe may just improve. Shopping really can be fun again!

Sybil Henry brings her passion and experience from the fashion and beauty industries to find the best products and services to help women win the battle of aging. She is founder of the website, The Style Concierge and delivers free weekly emails every Hip Monday, Healthy Wednesday and Sexy Friday. Each email highlights one incredible product or service solution to live hip, healthy & sexy over 40! Please visit www.TheStyleConcierge.com for more information.

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