What are the perfect tops for women over 40? – A style interview with Pauline from Covered Perfectly

I love it when women do the work they love and solve a problem when they see one.

Pauline could never find the right tops that would cover her arms and belly, so she decided to create her own and her company Covered Perfectly was born.

I asked her some questions about her new business and uncovered some secrets about the perfect top.

Can you tell us a little bit more about yourself?

I’m originally from the UK, and moved to the United States in January of 1992. Southern California is now my permanent home. I love it here and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I’ve always been a workaholic and I can’t see myself slowing down anytime soon. I’m happily single with one son. I love to travel and Spain has always been one of my favorite places to visit.

As a point of reference which age group do you belong to or perhaps you are willing to share your age?

I have no problem sharing my age. I’m 57 I guess that puts me in the 40+ age group!

Can you tell us a bit more about your business and why you started Covered Perfectly?

I started the company out of necessity. It seemed that the designers have forgotten about us, which is crazy because our age group has more spendable income than the younger generation. My main issue was that there was something wrong with nearly every top I owned. That was when I decided to design my own line. Being able to find the right tops in one place is so convenient.

What are the characteristics of a top that covers perfectly?

Great drape is important to cover all the parts you don’t want to reveal. Personally, my biggest issues are my arms and tummy area so I wanted tops that took care of both of them. It seems that there are a lot of women over 40 that have the very same issue. As one customer put it “your products are a dream come true for my style needs”!

How important are tops to your own style?

I’m a pants, jeans or leggings girl so tops are paramount to my wardrobe. That was another reason why I designed my own line. I love tops!

Do you have tips for the perfect tops in a warm and a cold climate?

That’s an interesting question as even in cold climates I tend to be warm. The main fabric I chose is MicroModal because not only is it super-soft against your skin, it is also a breathable fabric. Simple Comfort is perfect for layering in cooler climates.

What inspires your own outfit choices the most?

Comfort wins every time. I like to look good but I have to feel comfortable. My body isn’t perfect so I like tops that drape to cover those important parts that I would rather not reveal. You only have to look at the models on the web site to see that is what a Covered Perfectly top achieves.

Which of the tops are your personal favorites and why?

This is a hard question because I designed them so I love them all, especially, when I see them come to life on the models.

If I had to choose one right now it would be one of the new tops that I have named “Tracy” after one of my dearest friends. The loose sleeves are comfortable, the neck line is sexy and the drape covers your tummy area perfectly!

Which are your customers’ favorites? Do you know why?

Simple comfort has been the best-selling top since the beginning. Some of my customers own as many as six of them. I think the reason it’s been so popular is because of its versatility. It looks great with anything! You can dress it up for a night out with chunky statement jewelry or wear it casual with jeans. That’s why it made sense to add five new bold, beautiful colors and four new patterns to compliment the colors we already have. The most popular of the patterns has been the houndstooth. This one really pops under a black jacket. Simple Comfort is a must have staple for every woman’s wardrobe.

What are your plans for Covered Perfectly and how do you see it develop over the coming years?

My customers are very important to me, and the growth of the line will largely depend on their requests. I read every email and Facebook post and some of my most recent designs were based on their feedback.

I added Plus Sizes after receiving so many emails on the subject. Dresses are in the future as well as good quality legging suitable for over 40’s. We have already started to ship to Canada and Mexico for a flat rate of $14.95. I would love to go global so stay tuned…

Anything further you would like to add?

I don’t know about you but I have found that customer service in general is a huge disappointment. Because of that, my goal is to have the best customer service available. There will always be issues; it’s how you deal with them that makes the difference between OK customer service and excellent customer service.

I believe I’m achieving excellence with so many of my customers telling me just that, in the numerous emails I receive. Happy customers tell their friends and word of mouth is the best kind of advertising any company can have. Free shipping in the US also makes our customers happy.

Finally…our tops are made in the USA from start to finish. It’s important to me to help create jobs in the US as well as support? the economy.

I believe that Pauline found the perfect niche and I love many of her tops (with the houndstooth one being my personal favorite). I encourage you all to check out her store. You will receive a 20% discount on your first purchase if you enter the code 40+ at the check out. Happy shopping!

What would your perfect top look like?

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This article was sponsored by Covered Perfectly

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