Fall Fashion Picks for Gray Hair Beauties

(or How to Dress Your Age When Your Hair Isn’t)

After the last bit of brown was cut off my head and I was left with a mass of platinum and gray, I went home and pulled out all my clothes and had a fashion show. Hmmm... how is it that my long cardigan now looks ‘hip’ (my husband used to call it old granny) and my top with a bit of ruffles on the sleeves look silly?

Because I look like I’m trying to be young? Nooooo. I am not old. Even if my hair has given up the ghost of pigment past.

Just because you have gray hair doesn’t mean you’re over the hill nor should you dress like an old lady. So here are some tips for what to wear and how to incorporate the latest Fall trends into the looks.

Rule #1: Say goodbye to sweet.

The ultra-feminine styles with their bows, floral patterns and delicate details make an elegant gray look too girly and young; like a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing, it’s no longer authentic. Instead go for structured looks that fit and follow your curves. Straight leg or boot-cut jeans, button-down fitted shirts and cardigans all look modern and chic. The long cardigans are back in style and if you have a waist, show it off by belting the cardigan. The navy blue silk shirt under the green jacket has a ruffle collar but it’s crisp and dramatic, not sweet at all.

Rule #2: Black is boring.

I love black and how versatile it is but when you’re gray, you don’t want to look like a black and white photo. Try a different neutral such as navy to create a head-to-toe look. The outfit on the right shows some great straight leg jeans paired with a navy top; this creates a long and lean line. Add a pop of color with a fitted green tweed jacket like the one shown.

Rich, deep and muted colors all look great on gray lovelies and this season has tons of beautiful berries, violets, emeralds and blues. Color is incredibly important and you want to ensure that the color temperature and intensity of your clothes matches your personal color temperature and personality. If you’ve never had a professional color analysis, now is the time to get one!

Rule #3: Add great accessories

It’s amazing how cool new boots or a new shoe or handbag can modernize an outfit. This is especially important now that you have gray hair! Try a knee-high boot over the jeans or add a bootie to your shoe collection. Big, bold jewelry always looks great in my book but keep it to one item. For example if you wear a bold necklace, don’t wear earrings. If you wear a big bracelet or ring, don’t wear a necklace. Make those big items stand out. Handbags are still the perfect way to update your style and the recent barrage of crinkled patent leather bags in yummy colors will certainly do the trick. Here I show a ridiculously pricey one in Navy by Alexander McQueen (http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/42760178/c/177622.html ) but as you venture in the stores, you’ll find lots of lower-priced options.

So that’s it. Wear structured clothes that fit, add rich colors to your closet, and tie your outfits together with some great, modern accessories. Now get out there and knock em dead!

Teresa Morisco is the President and Chief Stylist of Wardrobe 911 www.wardrobe911.com and went stylishly gray in June 2008. She now matches her Westie dog, Arthur.