The worst style mistakes women over 50 are making right now | members only

Is your fling with long pants and flats causing dirty hems? Do midi skirts make your calves look bigger? High-rise jeans getting in the way of your bust? You’re not alone. No one is immune

to fashion mistakes as trendier fits and mature bodies battle for flattery and style. How do I know? As a fashion editor, stylist and personal shopper, I get the inside story straight from

the closets of women over 50. Here are the top current bloopers ­— and the best solutions — for all. (From left) Mafoose Women’s Perfect Tri Long Sleeve Tunic in Navy Frost; Lands’ End

Women’s Relaxed Supima Cotton Long Sleeve Crew Neck T-Shirt in Bermuda Blue Micro Stripe; Old Navy Women’s EveryWear Long-Sleeve T-Shirt in Black Stripe AARP (Target, Lands’ End, Old Navy)

MISTAKE #1: TRENDY TEES THAT DEFY MATURE BODIES Have you noticed the change in T-shirts? What used to be a reliable basic has become a trend-obsessed fashion item. Even go-to mall brands

like J.Crew, Gap and Banana Republic have tweaked some of our favorites with updates that are super narrow, clingy or cropped. All are potential body wreckers for women over 50. THE

SOLUTION: Do your homework. No matter how great that crew, boatneck or V-neckline seems, make sure the T-shirt skims easily over curves, bra bulges and a jiggly midriff. Tees with “relaxed”

or “semi-fitted” in the product name or description are your bet bet.  Try LANDS’ END WOMEN’S RELAXED SUPIMA COTTON LONG SLEEVE CREW NECK T-SHIRT IN BERMUDA BLUE MICRO STRIPE ($45,

landsend.com), LOFT AIRY RELAXED TEE IN DEEP SPACE BLUE AND WHITE ($22, loft.com) or OLD NAVY WOMEN’S EVERYWEAR LONG-SLEEVE T-SHIRT IN BLACK STRIPE ($10, oldnavy.gap.com). Also a good choice

are looser tunic tees like the MAFOOSE WOMEN’S PERFECT TRI LONG SLEEVE TUNIC IN WHITE, NAVY FROST OR BLACK FROST ($20, target.com) with a longer silhouette. Some crop tees are long enough

to cover and/or tuck in, while others are not. To find out, raise your arms over your head and stretch or dance around when trying on a crop top. If it rides up and exposes even a sliver of

skin, pass. Also check the fit at the shoulders and sleeves of any long-sleeved tee, especially if you have a big bust or full upper arms. If the shoulder line feels tight and the sleeves

squish your arms, the fit will have a sausage-casing look. Go for sleeves with an easier fit (you should be able to pinch some fabric at the fullest point of your arm), raglan sleeves or

dropped shoulders instead. (From left) Banana Republic Factory Hayden Wide-Leg Linen Blend Pull-On Pant in Black; Croft & Barrow Women’s Relaxed Fit Pull-On Pants in Odell Beige; A New

Day Women’s High-Rise Straight Trousers in Olive Green AARP (Banana Republic Factory, Kohl’s, Target) MISTAKE #2: PANT LENGTHS THAT DON’T MAKE SHOE SENSE Are your new wide-leg pants dragging

on the floor? Don’t blame your ballet flats! While women over 50 have worn full-length pants before (even wide-leg styles), they were usually paired with high heels, which prevented soiling

the hem. Long pants in wide and slouchy styles are trending once again, only this time around they’re worn with flats so that the hems cascade and “puddle” over the shoes. This is

considered a cool, edgy look. Don’t fall for it. THE SOLUTION: First of all, keep wearing your flats. Second, get the pants hemmed, and wear the flats you’ll be wearing with the pants when

you see the tailor. Loafers, sneakers, mules or sandals all work, and fans of a little lift can do mini wedges or tiny kitten or block heels. Many old pant-hem formulas include “breaks” at

the front and specific measurements, but do yourself a favor and go with ankle-length, which works with every shoe. Whether your full-length pants are slim, straight or wide, the hem should

hit somewhere at or above the anklebone. Check out the length of the OLD NAVY HIGH-WAISTED OGC CHINO PANTS IN A STONE’S THROW OR BLACK JACK ($20, oldnavy.gap.com), the BANANA REPUBLIC

FACTORY HAYDEN WIDE-LEG LINEN BLEND PULL-ON PANT IN BLACK ($60, bananarepublicfactory.gapfactory.com), A NEW DAY WOMEN’S HIGH-RISE STRAIGHT TROUSERS IN OLIVE GREEN OR WHITE ($32, target.com)

and CROFT & BARROW WOMEN’S RELAXED FIT PULL-ON PANTS IN ODELL BEIGE OR MINERAL BLACK ($25, kohls.com) on the models to get inspired.