Lois Joy Johnson

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In fashion, everything old is ‘new’ (and even cooler) again

Lingerie drawers and kitchen junk drawers have a lot in common. Both are always crammed with items that women are reluctant to throw away. I get the lingering appeal of jar grippers and mushroom cleaners, but why hold on to old push-up bras, sheer beige pantyhose with snags and itty-bitty thongs not worn since 1999? The answer is a combo of nostalgia, buyer’s guilt and “someday” thinking that turns otherwise practical, mature women into lingerie hoarders. Want a fresh start? I asked Cosabella br…

Some women always look pulled-together and fashionable (even at the grocery store or gas station) and it drives the rest of us crazy. What do they know that we don’t? As a fashion editor, stylist and personal shopper specializing in women 50-plus, I’ve dressed thousands of women for photo shoots and real life, and I have learned that style boils down to just a handful of tips. Here are the wardrobe-boosters the fashionable crowd have been keeping to themselves. Pass it on. 1. Wear modified versi…

Jackets are the “fixers” in your closet. They’re wardrobe magicians that turn a blah outfit into a stylish one, give layers of tees and sweaters a pulled-together look and make us appear better-dressed, poised and polished or just plain cool … all in the five seconds it takes to slip one on. But before you donate your oldies and splurge on a new blazer, biker or bomber, read this because the best (and only) jackets to own now are those in sync with our 50-plus bodies, lifestyles and attitude. He…

If your first thought is, “C’mon who really does this?” The answer is: plenty of people. Anyone who has lost or gained weight, relocated to a different climate, changed their lifestyle or work situation, is dating again or for whatever reason just cleaned out their closet and said, “What now?” That’s who! As a fashion editor and wardrobe consultant/personal shopper, I know how diverse women’s needs, tastes and daily lives are at 50 and older, but there’s a practical strategy that works for all.…

No soy maquilladora, pero soy una editora de belleza que ha trabajado codo con codo entre bastidores en sesiones fotográficas con nombres famosos como Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier y Charlotte Tilbury mucho antes de que existieran los “maquilladores de celebridades”. He maquillado a miles de mujeres de más de 50 años y he visto a profesionales transformar a famosas y supermodelos con la cara limpia sin maquillaje en amazonas glamurosas. Ha sido una clase magistral que ha durado cuatro décadas y que…

The idea of spending as little as possible to look as expensive as possible is not new. Savvy women have been faking it forever by shopping for designer duds and accessories on sale. However, the “quiet luxury” trend has everyone from mass market retailers to fast-fashion sites opting for a rich look without the boastful logos and initial-plastered prints of the past. Here’s how to get cashmere posh on a cotton budget with six buys that elevate everything you wear: 1. A tailored coat in a sophis…

What’s considered a splurge these days? It can mean anything from a $45 lipstick to $200 jeans. Every woman has a “someday” beauty and fashion bucket list in her head, but what’s on it varies from person to person, bucket to bucket. Though fast fashion knock-offs and drugstore dupes continue to pave the way for cheap chic, the urge to splurge is far from over. Want to get a little extravagant without breaking the bank? Here are the beauty and fashion indulgences that’ll make you say, “No regrets…

¿Te suena familiar esta situación? Ves a una amiga, una vecina o una compañera de trabajo con un par de fabulosos pantalones nuevos y piensas: ¡Me quedarían geniales a mí! A esto le sigue el drama del probador, en el que te pruebas talla tras talla, marca tras marca, en un intento frustrante de encontrar un par de esos mismos pantalones que te quede bien a ti. La verdad es esta: probarse pantalones es muy parecido a salir con alguien. No vale la pena llevarse a casa todo pantalón atractivo. Te p…

Does this sound familiar? You see a pair of fabulous new pants on a friend, neighbor or coworker and think, I would look great in those! This is followed by dressing room drama as you flip from size to size, brand to brand, in a frustrating attempt to find a pair of those very pants to flatter you. The truth is this: Trying on pants is a lot like dating. Not every pant with eye appeal is worth a take-home. Here are the new top six styles and how to meet your match: 1. Black pull-on ponte pants I…

Holiday gift buying is a mix of fun, frivolity and fear this year as prices rise, budgets shrink and our lists of recipients grows longer. Though your heart says “splurge,” your head is probably murmuring “be sensible.” It takes a little more digging to find the special somethings that balance cheer, love and affordability, but here are the best beauty and style options for friends and family that clearly shout, “It’s a wrap!” If she’s … 1. Trendy Whether she wears black leather pants and stacke…

Whether your hair has always been baby fine or has gotten thinner over the years, you are not alone. It’s a common 50-plus issue. Hair only grows a half-inch a month, so even if you pop hair gummies daily, you’ll still be dealing with the same wimpy locks for at least six months to a year (and opinions vary greatly in the medical and hair community as to whether these extras really help). Many women want a faster fix — something less drastic than extensions but more immediately visible than dail…

Here’s the good news: The holidays mean more socializing and not just on screens! The bad? The festivities often collide with unanticipated skin, hair and makeup mishaps. Sometimes you do get a little advance notice, like a botched haircut the day before a party. Other times it’s a last-minute blooper like cake-y makeup or a smudged manicure just as you’re out the door. Perfecting imperfections ASAP is my specialty. As a veteran beauty editor, I’ve picked up the tricks that work like instant Pho…

We look at celebs our age and wonder: Are dark roots on a mature blonde tacky or terrific? Does anyone do a single process anymore? Is going lighter after 50 the best solution for all? Would her hair color work for me? The last question is key. Every woman who colors her hair shows her colorist celebrity photos and says, “I want that!” For the inside story, I asked L.A. celebrity colorist and Olaplex brand ambassador Tracey Cunningham — whose clients include Jennifer Lopez, Julia Louis-Dreyfus,…

Your New Year’s resolution is zero clothes shopping for 2024? Be realistic. Who isn’t having a post-holiday uh-oh moment? If winter splurges are catching up with you, know you’re not alone. Everyone wants to backpedal their budget, plump up their wallet and stretch their spending dollars in the months ahead — all while maintaining their fashion chops. Here are six ways to minimize the cost of clothes, maximize your looks and save a bundle: 1. Shop secondhand clothes and accessories. Call it pre-…

Here’s how most women choose a new handbag: “I’ll know it when I see it.” Not a totally bad idea since any accessory purchase is partly emotional. However, that strategy is very time-consuming and won’t help you narrow down the search to the color, style and useful features that’ll make your choice “the one.” Aside from those in pursuit of a pre-loved designer bag, most women 50-plus just want a more updated piece of shoulder candy that freshens their look without breaking the bank. Here are six…

Women 50-plus may be the most experienced consumers of skin care. Each season new products still entice us to buy products that smooth, plump and erase all evidence of time, sun exposure and lack of attention. Social media may tout them as the latest Holy Grail solutions, but don’t believe everything you see on TikTok. Some new skin care products are worth it, but others are definitely not. I’m not a dermatologist, but I am a beauty editor with over 40 years’ experience. Here’s my honest 2024 gu…

You’re never too old for jeans, but your jeans may be too old for you. There’s a not-so-quiet revolution brewing in jeans-land as more women shed skintight skinny jeans and jeggings for looser, body-friendly styles. Updated jeans with boot-cut, flare, straight and wide legs are dialing up comfort and fashion. Do you wonder if wider-leg jeans will make you look wider too? Which rise is most flattering? Ankle, crop or full length? Should you opt for denim in white, black or a blue wash? Here’s all…