NEW YORK - Here it comes: warmer weather. There they go: all those layers of clothes.
As much as women look forward to shedding their bulky sweaters, those of a certain age also might find themselves wondering just how much skin they dare to bare.
TV stylist Christine Schwab, who is based in sunny Los Angeles, says she seeks to strike that balance every day for her clients and for herself.
"I think you have to be careful with bare as you get past 40 or you run the risk of looking older," says Schwab, the boomer-age author of "The Grown-up Girl's Guide to Style" (HarperCollins, 2006).
Being too covered up, especially in dark colours, can be dowdy and hot, she says, but showing lizard skin on the chest or veins on the legs isn't much better.
The use of sheer fabrics and the idea of loose layers, Schwab says, have opened up a new world to women because they give the illusion of being bare without revealing too much.
Anything made of natural fibres furthers the summery vibe.
"I love a button-down white shirt. You wear it with a really pretty lacy white bra underneath and maybe you get a glimpse of lace through the shirt or you leave one extra button open," Schwab says.
Among her other favourite items are white ribbed tank tops under almost anything, as well as tissue-weight, long-sleeve T-shirts worn under sleeveless ones. On a recent Caribbean cruise, Schwab wore lightweight linen pants under sheer tropical-print, knee-length skirts.
For a little more coverage with a light-coloured garment, she suggests choosing a fabric with a tight weave or a pattern, like a jacquard or even lace.
"A sheer blouse can give you a sense of bareness but can be billowing too," agrees Talbots fashion spokeswoman Betsy Thompson. "When you're talking about sheer fabrics, sheer doesn't have to be nude."
Another tip from Thompson is to wear open, interesting necklines. "A little goes a long way. ... It could be a bateau, a one-shoulder or a plunging neckline."
The eye is drawn to that flash of skin, she says.
Stores tend to stock barely there clothes during the summer, so Schwab recommends shopping earlier for the lightweight, illusionary styles either during the winter resort season or if you take a vacation to an all-year warm-weather climate, such as Arizona. You'll be more likely to find the capri pants or layering shirts that are perfectly appropriate for most summer weather, she says.
Schwab also checks out surfwear stores for long board shorts. "If they're big on the waist, I gather them with a rope belt and wear a long-sleeve T-shirt with sleeves pushed up to the elbow."
Sleeveless tops have become a standard part of a warm-weather wardrobe, Thompson says, but the position of the armhole is important. "Think about where it hits you and the angles," she says. "Women's bodies vary greatly - pick your places."
On some women, a halter top is the most flattering, while a tank top is better on others. A cap sleeve, while it doesn't feel as bare as sleeveless, can sometimes create a more unattractive line.
The same thing happens with shorts and swimsuits: The line is more important than the actual length or leg opening.
While hot pants are probably off the list for most boomers or seniors, a Bermuda cut might not be more flattering than shorts with a 13-centimetre inseam, Thompson notes. Meanwhile, an angled leg opening on a swimsuit looks better on most women than the boy short, which offers more coverage but also tends to cut women off at a thick point on their leg.
