Spring and Summer Style for Women 40+ with Alison Lumbatis

Alison Lumbatis Fashion

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/yvspq7/alison_-_4_2_22_1059_AM7rjz6.mp3

EPISODE SUMMARY:

As a fashion and style expert, Alison Lumbatis is an entrepreneur who has used her knowledge to help women keep up with the latest trends and find styles that make them feel confident. In today’s episode, we sat down with Alison to discuss this year’s spring colors, styles for changing bodies, closet must haves, and feeling confident in what you’re wearing.

First, we asked Alison about this year’s current springtime colors. She told us that the most popular colors in clothing right now are shades of purple, especially lavender and periwinkle, green, and bright pink. She’s thrilled to see brighter and more vibrant colors returning to fashion and looks forward to integrating purples and greens into her own closet. We also asked about finding colors that are most flattering on our bodies, and Alison said a great place to start is by having a color analysis done. By finding which colors and palettes work with your specific body and look, it becomes easier to find clothing that makes you happy. It’s important to buy clothes that make you feel confident and that you find yourself excited to put on.

As we age, our bodies can change, making the search for styles that flatter our figures that much more difficult. To help ease some of the struggle, Alison recommended doing a complete closet clean out. When we have too many clothes, we become overwhelmed by all of the choices. By taking out clothes that no longer fit us, we narrow down our decision and can more easily choose outfits to wear. However, even when cleaning out our clothes, it’s important to keep a few staple items. Allison told us that one of the first and most important staple items you should always have is a good pair of jeans, ideally a darker wash pair that has a bit of stretch. After finding a particular brand of jeans that you like, you should then buy multiple pairs of different washes. For quality and budget friendly jean brands, Allison suggested shopping at J Crew Factory, Nordstrom, and even Amazon for bargains. Other clothing staples Allison mentioned were quality t-shirts, cardigans, and footwear that accommodates your lifestyle.

Alison runs a program called “Outfit Formulas”, helping people find the best styles and trends for their individual needs. When asked about the inspiration for the program, Alison explained that it came from working at home. After working a corporate job as a telecom engineer for years, Alison was given the opportunity to work from home for a few months. Rather than having to get dressed up for the corporate world, she now had the freedom to wear more comfortable clothing. However, after wearing yoga pants every day, she found that her motivation and mood went down significantly. When trying to find out why, she realized that part of the reason was her outfits. She never rebuilt her wardrobe for working at home, and the lack of getting ready affected her energy levels. Once she started piecing together outfits again, her work ethic returned, and she was inspired to help others find their own wardrobe inspirations. She wanted to make sure that her program was inclusive to all body types and ages, so her focus is less on brands and more on style choices themselves. Were she to only be focused on selling specific brands, her advice would not be applicable to as many people, since a large amount of brands do not cater to every size.

As a style expert, Alison has heard numerous fashion myths and hesitations. When asked about trepidation surrounding feeling confident while wearing shorts, Alison suggested that finding what works for your individual body is crucial. Instead of simply buying one pair of shorts and hoping they work, try on three different pairs, and take selfies of yourself in them. By having photographs to look back on, you can see which shorts you feel suit you the best. We also spoke to Alison about important must-haves in a closet, and she said that the staple items for anyone’s closet are jeans, t-shirts, tank tops, sweaters, jackets, footwear that fits your lifestyle, and accessories. After the basics are achieved, adding in a few seasonal trends that aren’t too expensive is a great way to add a pop of color and style to your wardrobe. For spring and summer, small floral designs are popular, so having some floral shirts in your closet will make your outfits mor trendy

For discussions about clothing and confidence, Allison spoke about how what we wear influences how we feel. When we feel confident in our clothing, we act more confident as a result. However, finding the specific outfits and styles that make you feel confident can be a challenge. For first steps, Allison suggested going onto Pinterest and pinning a few styles that stand out to you. When you’re finished, go back through the styles you chose and take note of what colors, cuts, and trends you found most appealing. A style of clothing that can have a huge impact on confidence is bathing suits, and when searching for the right one, Alison told us you can’t go wrong with a simple, black one piece, but it’s also important to try a few different styles to find which work best for you. For bras, Alison talked about how most women are wearing bras that aren’t the right size. Before buying a bra, you should get a bra fitting. Stores such as Soma and Nordstrom offer bra fittings, or you can even use measuring tape to measure your own bra size at home.

A popular but potentially uncomfortable fashion trend is high heels. For many women, they want the style boost a heel can bring without risking hurting themselves with a heel that is too high. Allison recommended that rather than increasing the heel length, you can find a smaller heel with an embellishment, pop of color, or design that makes the shoe stand out. Wedges and block heels are also a good alternative to higher heeled shoes.

Finally, we asked Alison for tips on how to boost your confidence when it comes to shopping and finding clothes. She emphasized that it’s important to find a community that can support you throughout your style journey. Many people may feel overwhelmed or that they don’t look good in anything, so it’s crucial to have a support system to lean on that can help you. Stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things is also a great way to find what makes you feel the most confident.

Alison Lumbatis

Alison Lumbatis is an entrepreneur, author of the #1 Amazon best seller, The Ultimate Book of Outfit Formulas, and the founder of the lifestyle blog Get Your Pretty On.

After over a decade as a telecom engineer, print model, and actress, Alison reinvented herself into a global online influencer, growing GYPO into a leading resource that helps women rediscover their worthiness through their wardrobe. Democratizing style for ‘every body’ and budget, she’s served over 10,000 members through her “Outfit Formulas” program and attracted an online audience of millions.

Now focused on helping women find purpose post-parenting, Alison’s helping women over 40 engineer formulas to create confidence and purpose in their next chapter. Her insights have been featured in Forbes, Redbook, and Life & Style Magazine, among many others. A sought-after speaker and podcast guest, Alison speaks to fighting feelings of unworthiness and the magic of reinvention to making the next chapter the best chapter.