Cardigans are traditionally layering pieces that we use for warmth or for covering up. Fashion items come and go, but cardigans have been in our closets for a long time and are not going anywhere anytime soon.

According to Wikipedia:

“The cardigan was named after James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, a British Army Major General who led the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War. It is modelled after the knitted wool waistcoat that British officers supposedly wore during the war. The legend of the event and the fame that Lord Cardigan achieved after the war led to the rise of the garment’s popularity – supposedly, Brudenell invented the cardigan after noticing that the tails of his coat had accidentally been burnt off in a fireplace.”

Fashion designers like Coco Chanel took the clothing item and brought it to runways and into fashionable women’s closets and the rest is history.

Cardigans can be dressed up or down depending on how they are worn and accessorized. Michelle Obama wore an elegant short cardigan with pearls when she met Queen Elizabeth. It actually had a lot of people talking and the topic became “sweatergate.” If someone knows how to wear a cardigan, it’s Mrs. Obama!

Here at Sixty & Me we love our cardigans. They are in most of our closets as a staple piece and are often part of our capsule wardrobe.

Personally, I tend to shy away from the brightly printed cardigans, unless that will be my signature piece of clothing in my outfit. Cardigans should complement your outfit rather than overpower it.

Great Cardigans for Senior Women

Brands and retailers are now offering cardigans in all shapes, fabrics, and colors, and the selections go from super trendy to more traditional looking.

Cardigans can be button-down or open front, long or short, bulky or flowy. They are often made with cashmere, merino wool, cotton blends, synthetic blends, or even linen.

Here I’ve shopped around for some of the best cardigans for older women and have put together a list of various styles, fabrics, and price points.

Short Lightweight Cardigan

I love this elegant cardigan in a cotton/modal blend with three-quarter sleeves from Talbots. It’s the perfect cardigan to wear over a sleeveless dress or with your favorite T-shirt and jeans. Gives a very classic Chanel look. Also offered in Plus Size.

Floral Printed Short Lightweight Cardigan

I couldn’t resist this beautiful floral print. Wear a simple solid-colored cami underneath in order to keep the attention on the cardigan – because this one demands it.

Cable-knit Buttoned Cardigan

If you love the comfort of classic cable-knit sweaters in the winter, this one is a wonderful option. It is a synthetic blend that provides coziness and warmth – sure to get you through those chilly evenings.

Mid-length Cardigan with Tipping Detail

The classic hip-length, cotton blend cardigan with contrast tipping detail from Talbots easily made my list because of its timeless and stylish features.

Mid-length Striped Open Front Cardigan

Many women are fans of stripes, and a striped cardigan is always a good idea. This open-front style  from Talbots has a dropped shoulder and I love the natural color combo – Ivory/Sand Castle.

Metallic Gold Mid-Length Cardigan

This chic, open front, golden cardigan is the perfect layer to add a little sparkle to your day or night. Button snap detailing at the sleeve and large pockets give it some extra style and interest.

Pocketed Open-Front Cardigan

Anne Klein designs collections with the mature woman in mind. This blush-colored pocketed cardigan caught my eye for its classic and elegant look.

Cascade Front Cardigan

Cardigans have come a long way and have become more stylish over the years. This long cascade front open cardigan from Macy’s looks great on all body types.

Rib Hem Mid-length Cardigan

This mid-length open-front cardigan at Macy’s has a ribbed hem for added texture. The synthetic blend cardigan is offered in several different colors.

Shawl-Collar Open-Front Cardigan

If you’re aiming for a nice, casual look, this shawl-collar, open-front, ribbed cardigan provides exactly that. Offered in soft pink, it is versatile and pairs well with jeans.

Cashmere D-Ring Cardigan

A twist on a classic. I like the D-ring tie on this soft cashmere cardigan that adds just enough interest. The style is great if you have a small waist and want to show it.

Chenille Pointelle Cardigan Sweater

This super-soft pointelle textured cardigan with pockets is the perfect layer to finish your casual look.

Cable Zip-Up Cardigan

Zip-up cardigans are perfect if you have mobility issues in your hands, like arthritis for example. Buttons may have become difficult to manage and zippers make life easier. This cardigan has a small cable knit design that I love, and it comes in several colors.

Long Ombre Open Front Cardigan

Go in style with this chic ombré cardigan. Wear it open or use a belt to accentuate your waist – either way looks great.

Classic 3-Button Cardigan

This is the classic take on the cardigan. The style pairs great with everything from linen shorts to skirts and jeans – the options are endless. It’s made of lightweight knit fabric and sports ¾ sleeves.

Which cardigan style is your favorite? Do you have a particular style or fabric that you prefer? Tell us in the comments below. Share your favorite cardigan style with the community.

Summer House Fashion: Season 5 Episode 2

I know what you did wore last summer! Based on the previews for this week’s episode of Summer House the gang has to come up with innovative ways to entertain themselves (i.e. a roller skating party) since they can’t hit up their go-to hotspots in The Hamptons. And while they do that, we’ll of course be trying to come up with innovate ways to fit all of our new summery purchases into our closets (which in true SH style, we may need a drink or 3 for).

*Additional looks will be added after the show airs*

Fashionably,

Faryn

Paige DeSorbo’s Orange Floral Eyelet Dress

Click Here to Shop Her ASOS EDITION Dress on Sale

Style Stealers:

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Paige DeSorbo’s Pink and Red Floral Print Outfit

Click Here to Shop Her Princess Polly Skirt

Click Here to Shop the Matching Head Scarf

Top Photo & Info: @Paige_DeSorbo

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Lindsay Hubbard’s Pink Dress on WWHL

Click Here to Shop Her Notice Dress

Photo & Info: @LindsHubbs

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Paige DeSorbo’s White Polka Dot Ruffle Skirt

Click Here to Shop Her Zara Skirt on eBay

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Originally posted at: Summer House Fashion: Season 5 Episode 2

As we all know, just about any makeup will look great on us when we’re 20 or 30, but how products perform on our over-50 skin is a whole other ballgame! So today, we’re going to take a look at the six new makeup products launched earlier this year from the new clean beauty makeup line called Merit.

Some Background on This Brand

Merit is a vegan, cruelty free brand that’s free of any added artificial fragrances, sulfates, phthalates, and parabens. It also meets the very strict European Union standards for clean beauty products including its ban of 1,328 potentially harmful ingredients.

According to the Merit site, the brand is formulated with skin loving ingredients, including plant based squalene, Vitamin B5, and antioxidants. The brand founder also partnered with Biba de Sousa, a well-respected Hollywood esthetician, to eliminate 73 ingredients which have been designated as “clean” but can nonetheless trigger acne. The “mantra” of this makeup line is “less is more.”

Now I want to be fully transparent. The founder of this brand, Katherine Power, is the co-founder of Who, What, Wear which is an online fashion and beauty site. My youngest daughter is the Beauty Editor for this site which is why I have access to these products.

I’m very grateful to her for giving me five of these products to try. However, my first impression will be honest and objective.

The Six Products

Brow 1980

Although I didn’t have the brow gel to try out, I want to tell you a little about it. The brow gel was inspired by the fluffy, brushed up eyebrow looks of the 1980s and is both gel and pomade in one.

What I want to mention though is that unlike many brown eyebrow products, this one does not have an auburn undertone.

Perfecting Complexion Stick

The product I was most curious about is called the Perfecting Complexion Stick, and it’s meant to be a combination of both foundation and concealer. This product took two years to develop and includes a blend of vegan emollients that prevent water loss from the skin so the skin stays moisturized.

It’s meant to be applied only where you need it – whether to camouflage a few areas of your skin or to apply it all over your face. It provides a light-weight second skin finish and is buildable – the “your skin but better” concept. It’s also designed to be neither too matte nor too dewy and comes in 20 shades.

Be sure to check out Elise’s YouTube channel which specifically focuses on makeup tips, techniques, and product reviews for those of us 50+. Don’t forget to subscribe!

Clean Lash Mascara

Mascaras from clean beauty brands are notorious for being less than excellent because they’re difficult to create. During focus groups, the biggest complaints most women had with mascaras were that they smudged and clumped. Naturally, these were the two main hurdles Merit has tried to overcome.

The Merit mascara, called Clean lash, is a tubing mascara which is supposed to provide lift and length. It has polymers which wrap around each individual lash rather than just coating the lash as regular mascaras do.

So tubing mascaras provide a very even coat of mascara. Natural ingredients for shine have also been added, and it’s designed to avoid damage to the lashes.

Flush Bomb Blush

The Merit blush is called “Flush Bomb” and comes in five colors. It is designed to be very emollient, lightweight, and hydrating so it can melt into the skin. And it’s also buildable. It can be applied directly to the cheek, using your fingers, a brush or a makeup sponge.

Day Glow Highlighter

Their highlighter is called Day Glow and comes in two colors: Cava which is a pearly champagne color, and Bounce which is a rose gold color. It has a balm like texture which is meant to provide a dewy glow with no glitter or shimmer.

Shade Stick (Lip Oil)

And finally, let’s talk about the lip product, Shade Stick. It comes in five colors from a very soft, natural look to pink, peach, corals, and a berry shade called Sangria.

The Shade Stick is a tinted lip oil that has a blend of hydrating ingredients, including shea butter, rosehip, grapeseed, and avocado oils. It is designed to set into the lips like a stain but without the drying effect of a stain. It’s also designed to have a high shine finish without tacky dry down.

First Impressions of These Products

The Highlighter

I have to say that my favorite product of the lot is definitely the highlighter. It has a similar look to the Clean Beauty RMS Brand product called “Living Luminizer” which is a favorite of mine and which provides a stunning glow. But the Merit product is far easier to apply since it glides on, and it’s less expensive!

The Merit highlighter has no glitter or sparkle so it doesn’t draw attention to fine lines. It just provides a soft, radiant, natural looking dewy glow. Many stick and cream highlighters can be difficult to apply, but this is absolutely effortless.

The Blush

The blush applicator is uniquely shaped and very easy to use. It can be applied directly to the cheeks from the applicator, unless you want to use your fingers. It creates a lovely natural flush and is buildable. In my book, it ticks all the boxes for what I want in a cream blush.

The Perfecting Complexion Stick

The Perfecting Complexion Stick is a little heavier than I had anticipated, but that’s understandable since it’s a combination foundation/concealer. In my first application, I applied too much, but even then it didn’t look cakey.

It has far better coverage than I expected and creates a soft, natural look. I used a brush to apply it, which worked well. But in the future I may dab it on in the spots where I most need it and then blend it out with a dampened makeup sponge.

The small applicator tip makes it easy to apply to very specific areas of the face without making a mess.

I’m extremely impressed with this product – especially since many clean beauty brand foundations offer only a light coverage. This product will definitely be a regular in my makeup routine. And since it comes in 20 shades, it’s easy to find a perfect match.

The Mascara

Since I have extremely sensitive eyes, I’m unable to wear most mascaras – even mascaras from clean beauty lines. When I heard that the founder of Merit also had very sensitive eyes, I was hopeful that this mascara might actually work for me. And I was not disappointed.

If you have very sensitive eyes, you might want to check it out. However, if you do not have sensitive eyes and do not feel the need to purchase from a clean beauty brand, there are other mascaras on the market that create greater volume.

The Lip Oils

Lip oils are definitely having a moment in the beauty industry and the lip oil from this brand is particularly hydrating, applies easily and can be built up to a rich, lustrous color if desired. But I have to confess that I’m definitely a “bullet lipstick girl,” so this is not a product that I’ll use on a regular basis. And because this is a lip oil product, it will transfer onto a face covering.

Some Additional Thoughts on Merit

Since I’ve had mixed experiences with other clean beauty brands, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Merit, but I have to admit that I was very impressed. The products are meant to create a natural, no makeup look and provide easy, effortless application and they absolutely live up to that expectation.

It’s clear that a great deal of thought went into both the formulation of the products and the design of the packaging.

I love sharing new, exciting products with you and hope you enjoyed learning about this new minimalist luxury clean beauty brand.

Have you tried any clean beauty brands? If so, what’s been your experience? If you’ve tried some of these brands, what are your favorite products? If you haven’t tried any clean beauty brands, are you interested in checking any of them out?

Heather Gay’s Season 1 Reunion Dress

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 1 Reunion Fashion

As the inaugural season of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City comes to a close I have to say the ‘Wife I’d most like to be friends with outta the bunch is Heather Gay. She’s fun, an expert at flirting, a successful business woman and can also give me botox. Plus, on top of all of that, based on the label on her dress I’d have to say she is an extremely, extremely loyal friend. I’m just not sure I’m fit to fight with the other woman who it looks like may want to claim her…

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Koa Johnson for JXA Fashion

Photo + Info: BravoTV

Originally posted at: Heather Gay’s Season 1 Reunion Dress

UPDATE: FEBRUARY 11, 2021. Tessica Brown is free from her Gorilla Glue nightmare, thanks to a treatment performed for free by a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. According to TMZ, the procedure took four hours and included a blend of medical grade adhesive remover, aloe vera, olive oil, and acetone.

“The surgery went well. She had a lot of irritation on the scalp especially the edges of her hair, of her head because of all of the chemicals that she has put in, and the hair was actually very, very tough, very, very matted down, and it would not lift up. She’s very, very lucky that she did not sustain a lot of injury to her scalp,” Dr. Obeng told TMZ. “She’s been through a lot. I hope that you guys will learn from Tessica’s injuries, or Tessica’s ordeal—make sure that anytime you guys grab something, make sure you read it.”

It has not been an easy few weeks for Tessica Brown. The Internet can’t look away from Brown’s plight, her decision to use Gorilla Glue instead of hair spray, leaving her hair permanently (it seems) stuck to her scalp. Luckily, we’re seeing a lot of support for her; She knows she made a mistake by grabbing the spray-on glue when she was out of her usual Got2b Glued hairspray. Like everything right now, it all started on TikTok.

“My hair has been like this for about a month now,” Brown says to the camera. “It’s not by choice.” She explains how she usually uses the Got2b Glued spray when she’s done doing her hair to “keep it in place” but she was out so she used Gorilla Max Strength Construction Adhesive. “Bad, bad, bad, idea,” she says. Brown reveals she’s washed her hair 15 times and her strands won’t move. The video, which was posted on February 3, has more than three million likes and 128k comments, including from celebrities such as Shai Jackson and major influencers.

Trigger warning: these videos can be difficult to watch.

Source: Instagram

Brown took to Instagram and Twitter to continue speaking about her journey, where she now has more than 600k followers watching and feeling her pain.  After taking advice from some dermatologists on TikTok, Brown went to the ER over the weekend and was given acetone. So far, it doesn’t seem like anything is working.

Source: Instagram

Folks are rallying around her, sending her not only advice and good thoughts but also money. Her GoFundMe has raised almost $11,000 for her medical care. Beyonce’s longtime hairstylist Neal Farinah offered to help, as well as estheticians like Nayamka Roberts-Smith.

https://twitter.com/chancetherapper/status/1358193173844160513

Reporter Darian Symoné Harvin reached out to Gorilla Glue, which sent over a statement. You can read it in full on  Harvin’s Instagram.

Source: Instagram

As of publication, the last we’ve heard from Brown is when she took to Instagram earlier Monday to thank everyone for their support. Needless to say, we’re sending our own hugs and well wishes as we watch her every move.