Evening Looks for Women in their 50s

There's no reason to go out for a night on the town dressed like the mother of the bride. For most black-tie events, long is no longer the rule. Dress lengths for women in their 50s range from floor-length to knee-length and everywhere in between.

Finding the perfect dress for a black-tie event is always harder when you wait until the last minute. Plus, you tend to spend more. Keep an eye out for the dress of your dreams year-round so you'll be ready when the invitation comes along; or you can always fall back on that famous wardrobe staple, the little black dress.

For women of any age, a black dress is perfect for an evening out, and the perfect black dress is one that is versatile enough to take you from business functions to the red carpet. Follow the guidelines for choosing a style to compliment your body, and dress it up with jewelry, shoes, an elegant evening bag and a wrap. Be careful not to go overboard with too much bling.

Accentuate the Positive

The key to looking classy and elegant is to show a little skin and highlight your best asset be it legs, arms, back or cleavage. Consider these guidelines before you "say yes to the dress."

If your shoulders and upper arms are in great shape and your chest is not too big, say "yes" to strapless.
If your neck is not flabby and you have nice cleavage, say "yes" to a V-neck style.
If your arms are toned, say "yes" to sleeveless.
If your arms are a little jiggly, say "yes" to three-quarter sleeves.
If your back is in good shape, say "yes" to a dress with an open back.
If you're comfortable with showing some leg, say "yes" to a dress with a slit skirt.