Baby boomers do not need to dread their wardrobes

Finding the right clothes when you reach middle age can be like wandering around in a fashion limbo somewhere between baggy dad jeans and the latest pages in Vogue — even retailers seem confused about whether boomers should dress like their parents or fashion-forward children.

For a generation that wants to look younger but not too young, it actually isn’t as bad as it seems. There are some advantages to being somewhere in the middle. The fashion industry right now is a criss-cross of trends and styles, with an emphasis on staying true to oneself.

For folks who came of age during the ’60s and ’70s, that has a nice ring to it.

“There are no rules. That’s the fun thing that’s going on with fashion. You know, fashion is more about individuality right now rather than so much about one specific trend,” said local fashion stylist Christie Moeller.

Making the current styles accessible is also taken more seriously in the retail world than one might imagine. Geoffrey Henning, vice president of women’s design and fashion at JCPenney, noted that the company has design teams that look for ways to adapt the latest trends to the boomer customer, including her changing figure, through characteristics such as color, texture, fit and proportion.

It could mean a material or cut of fabric that allows more give in the hip area, a boho blouse in crepe instead of sheer fabric, cardigans to cover the arms or longer blouses that don’t have to be tucked in.

“I don’t think fashion is necessarily an age thing, I think it’s really about understanding your body and where your comfort level is. And you can be just as stylish being a baby boomer as a 20-year-old,” he said.

For Moeller the key is starting with a classic silhouette, or the overall outline and shape of a garment, that works for one’s body and accenting it with a certain style, not creating an over-the-top “costume” look with every piece giving a shout-out to a specific trend.

If it’s the bohemian style for women, it could mean wearing a peasant blouse, some cropped denim pants and a pair of nice slip-on tennis shoes, she said. If this fall’s trendy gothic look hits home, one can experiment with colors such as dark plums and midnight blues, or buy a statement coat that reflects what Moeller calls the style’s “Tim Burton” look.

Sometimes building an outfit can simply be a matter of reaching into the closet for a piece that is suddenly new again, said Leah Benitez, a fashion instructor at the Art Institute of Las Vegas. In fact, this is where boomers have an advantage.

The classic Audrey Hepburn-style cigarette pant that tapers at the ankle is a minimalist piece that always works, she said. The mod and bohemian looks from the ’60s and ’70s, including shift dresses and off-the-shoulder designs, are popular now across the generations, and an accessory such as a longtime favorite necklace can suddenly become a great vintage piece that brings an outfit together.

There are classics that should be part of any women’s wardrobe, acting as a kind of backdrop for different looks, the experts noted. Benitez’s list includes a good pair of jeans, a black or tweed blazer, a lightweight chambray top and a little black dress. Henning recommends staples such as an A-line skirt, a lace shell to go underneath a jean jacket or blazer, a boat-neck tunic and shift dress.

For boomer men a great look always starts with the fit and silhouette, including some basic style rules. Moeller, whose styling has appeared in GQ magazine and advertising layouts for companies such as Toyota and Bombay Sapphire Gin, wrote a blog earlier this year about when a man, of any age, should tuck in his shirt. One of the rules: If the shirt hem is even, leave it untucked; uneven, tuck it in and wear a belt.

Older men tend to wear baggy denim, but jeans actually should be straight-leg style and fitted, as opposed to tight, while big, boxy shirts and suits can age a man as fast as he can say Buster Browns, she added.

“It doesn’t have to be a skinny suit or a European cut, you can have whatever lapel you’re comfortable with, just make sure your clothing fits you,” she said.

As in women’s fashion, it’s also hard to go wrong with the classic silhouettes.

She points to celebrities such as Daniel Craig and George Clooney, who stick with “a great fitted, classic look,” such as dark denim jeans and a quality pullover shirt with a great shoe or jacket. The classic silhouette of a nice gingham shirt with a collar, tucked into jeans with a brown belt and pair of brogues is always a good look, she added.

In the end, the clothes should reflect one’s personal style, not every trend that comes down the runway feels age appropriate and comfortable. Your wardrobe also should instill a feeling of self-assurance and, yes, fun, the experts noted.

“If you buy the wrong thing at the end of the day, you’re not comfortable in it, you know that, so always dress where you know you’re confident and comfortable,” Henning said.