More than 20 years ago singers Tiffany and Debbie Gibson were the ultimate in bubblegum pop. Over the past few years these middle-aged women (both are about 40) have been doing projects — including hitting the stage — together again.
Honestly, I don't have a clue what either singer sings because I wasn't into that type of sugary music the first time around either. It's just that the fashion choices concern me (like the fact that 40-something Debbie Gibson was seen ontstage in a crop top – tummy bared – that had a giant red heart on it. Egads.)
Why is it that aging stars try to dress exactly like they used to? We've seen it with Cher who boldly re-wore a bodysuit from decades earlier. Note to Debbie,Tiffany: if even Cher can't get away with it, neither can you. Even Madonna is starting to look a little long in the tooth to carry off cone bras.
What's wrong with these pop stars aging with some dignity? There are plenty of cute, youthful styles out there that women of means (and with stylists) can take advantage of. Most of the time it's not what you wear, it's how you wear it.
Take for example Debbie Gibson's stage outfit in the above pic: she is wearing a belly-baring lime green top, pink feathers in her ear and white hip huggers. Tiffany is wearing a too-small leather vest and an armful of bangles. It doesn't help that both middle-aged ladies look like all of their accessories came off the markdown rack at Claire's. Even worse: both singers look like their wardrobes actually came from the '80s.
Learning how to dress youthful without looking too young takes some finesse. Most of all, it takes restraint. The best advice I can give women over 40 who want to dress younger is to take a youthful element – maybe it's a studded belt or a fedora, and mix it with a classic (dark, bootcut jeans, a basic tee shirt, a button-front shirt, etc.) When you start mixing young pieces with skin-baring looks – like Debbie Gibson and Tiffany – you start to look like, well, Debbie Gibson and Tiffany.
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