One of the reasons I wanted to feature black and white + one colour, is that I believe it is one of the easiest ways to look young, hip and modern this season.
The black and white trend is huge and adding a colour makes it just that little bit more fun and very suitable for many women over 40. Black and white can make us look a little pale and adding a bit of color solves that problem.
The ladies did not disappoint and came up with some wonderful combinations. Enjoy!
Lorraine
Renita – My Life While Shopping
Beverly – Beverly Like Hills
Deborah – Stylish Murmurs
Trina – Teatime with Trina
Sacramento – Miss Papelicos
Alice – Happiness at midlife
Greetje – No Fear of Fashion
Excellent work ladies! This should give you some great inspiration to try black & white & one colour yourself.
For now, what do you think of these black & white & colour looks? Will you be wearing it this coming season?
Sylvia is 40+style’s editor-in-chief and has been helping women find their unique style since 2011. An alumni of the School of Color and Design, she is devoted to empowering women of any age to look and feel their best. Read more about Sylvia and 40+style on this page.
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Hi there, I’m a new reader, referred to you by long-time friend Renita (My Life While Shopping). I was so inspired by this!! I did not actually submit any photos…but I did come up with some great outfits at home as a result. I recently expanded my jeans wardrobe from blah every day same color denim to cords and jeans in every color of the rainbow. Pairing them with B&W is brilliant!!
I hope I can submit something for the dress-with-pants challenge. I feel as though only “skinny” pants work with that combo…and, alas, I do not have the skinny legs!!
Great to hear that you got inspiration from this challenge Betsy. I hope you do. Skinny pants are the easiest to use, but I actually find that normal pants work well as well. I have already received one submission from someone who does this brilliantly. Here are 2 of my own examples: https://40plusstyle.com/do-you-have-a-signature-style/ and https://40plusstyle.com/how-to-wear-capris-and-cropped-pants/ Good luck!
New reader here! Love your site! Will return … and often!
Great to hear Barb. Welcome and see you soon!
Well done, ladies. So much variation; cool!
Ladies, I was SO impressed with all of these outfits ! Greetje, I love your outfits with the big red bag, it looks so stylish, and the jeans with the green scarf. Lorraine, love the polka dots with the aqua, especially with that lovely scarf. In fact, I love all the polka dot outfits. If I met each and every one of you during the day, I would be thinking how very stylish everyone is. You have given me food for thought ……
By the way, hope everyone in Europe gets some better weather soon, no fun to have snow in the Spring – and I am sure we will be seeing a lot of you here in Florida soon !
It’s snowing here in the UK as I type! Wishing I was in Florida!
Hi, I am so totally with you about age its just a number keep up the good work!! p.s. any tips for hair over 40?? xx
Thanks! Have a look at this article: https://40plusstyle.com/hairstyles-for-women-over-40/
Thank you, Sylvia, for including me in this challenge. I love your dress challenge ideas, its such a fun way to get us thinking out of our norm and comfort zone. But the best part is when we get to see what everyone came up with. Thanks to all of you challengers, I now have several different ideas. Love the royal, yellow, and reds.
The next challenge will be just that a challenge, but I’m up for it. (I might be in the category of needed to do some shopping anyways).
First of all there are so many great looks! I’m it sure which outfit I like more!
I’d like to try this new tunic/dress over pants challenge, because it will really be a challenge! I never, ever wear a dress over pants. Will leggings do? That I can manage, but woven trousers? It looks great on you but I’m not sure how to pull it off.
Great you’re joining us Heather! Yes, leggings will be allowed, but try to wear them as pants then (so not with boots as they would just look like tights) so you will stay within the spirit of this challenge. Or do you think I’m being too strict here haha
Everyone looks so put together, gorgeously confident, and wearing looks I’d love to own. I’m going to start visiting and participating often. I have been missing out!
Spashionista (Alicia)
So inspiring! I adore the striped black and white pants, but had been intimidated by them! Seeing them on a real person, instead of a teen model, makes me realize they look adorable! I’m excited to find a pair that will work on my shape 🙂
Love these challenges! Thank you,
Kim @ popcosmo.com
Thanks for your feedback Kim and your first comment at 40+Style!
Thank you soooooooooooo much.
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Oh, everyone looks so stylish! Black and white really takes a good photograph. I am not picking a favourite because, honestly, you all look beautiful in your outfits today!
Sue xo
Beautiful and stylish ladies!
I love Greetje’s polka dot coat!!
So nice to see familiar faces as well as new ones whose blogs I can check out now.
Annette
Lady of Style
Ah.. Annette….it is a dress not a coat. I had to check haha… I thought to myself “Do I also have a polka dot coat??”
Oh… I should have put my glasses on 😉
But it is still gorgeous!!
Annette
Lorraine – All of your outfits are great, the colour and proportions work so well.
I prefer the second photo of the spotty skirt with the scarf and think it give you a lovely silhouette.
Renita – both looks are lovely
Beverley – Your jacket in the first picture is the same as my new jacket which I’m wondering about how to style. This is an option I could use. You look great in the striped trousers too.
Deborah – I love both the outfits you have chosen here. They work beautifully and I can’t choose which I prefer. Your hair is lovely too by the way.
Trina – Your striped skirt is stunning and you have the figure to carry it off beautifully. I love the bright pop of colour in the top, it’s perfect with the black and white in the skirt.
Miss Papelicos – I love your boots and they work so well with the black and white of your outfit. Nice choice.
Alice – I love all four outfits and you have worked the colour into the black and white really well.
Greetje – well what can I say, you give me inspiration all the time. I’m so glad Sylvia used all the photos. It gives us so many options and ideas. Not just in the use of black, white and a colour, but also how to use different pieces of clothing in a well proportioned and stylish way.
Aileen, your kind words made my day… thank you:)
Aileen, you are so very kind and thoughtful to comment on all of us.
Thank-you for your feedback Aileen. I am very much a ‘work in progress’ so I am grateful for any comments!
What a lovely examples. I found it easy to do, as you can see from the many photos (you were supposed to choose from the selection I sent you hahaha.)
But I admit not having succeeded to add a fourth colour.
The next challenge is tough for me like Alice says, as I am not a fan of that style. The fashion industry is, I know. I have seen many outfits like that the past two seasons.
When is a dress a tunic and when is it just a tunic? (Trying to save myself here.)
I did make a selection! Initially I had fewer, but then I thought: well that one’s nice too, and that outfit is so different and that one is Greetje’s favorite. In the end I decided to use quite a lot of them because it’s great inspiration for everyone else out there, which is really what this post is all about. You don’t mind do you?
As for the next challenge, I’ve seen you wear the look several times Greetje. A tunic or short dress over your skinnies for example will do fine. Remember the dress can be short. Normally any dress would cover your bum. So any top will need to be longer than that.
No I don’t mind at all. Just feel a bit shy about it. But you are right, it is all about inspiration. I love the yellow pattern dress of Lorraine, the red shoes of Renita (have to wear my red shoes more often with trousers). Beverly with solid white and a solid colour on top and black and white below (did not think of adding a white jacket), and so on. Each lady gives another idea. I do like my fellow bloggers. Isn’t it fun how Trina and I came up with an almost identical outfit?
I nearly had a fit when I opened up 40+ Style and immediately saw myself!!! Perhaps it is too early in the morning? I must find another pose!
My favourite outfits are the two horizontal ‘prisoner’ striped skirts of Trina and Greetje. They work well yet I worried about horizontal stripes on my jumper so would not have dared to go for the skirt too.
Greetje, the dress I am wearing was bought to wear as a tunic but my other half said it wasn’t too short as a dress. I thought it would be rejected as the white looks grey due to the black lining!
Even if it had been grey, we get the idea what you can do. And that’s what the challenge is about. Your opaque tights are perfect to wear with the dress. Really nice and feminine.
(So cute, that husband of yours. I love how he loves you. And I always agree with him.)
He’s so cute – he has just given me a pot of anti-wrinkle cream!!!!!
Don’t you just love him?!
The innocence of the man… yes I love him.
Love how everyone styled for this challenge! Everyone looks wonderful! Next month challenge will be a toughie for me, I have never worn a dress over pants (besides tunics over leggings).
Alice
That would qualify too Alice. Just a long tunic or top (something wide over your bum) will do too… Hope you join in again!
What a fun challenge, and thanks for including me:) All the outfits look wonderful. Adding a colour certainly lifts black and I think the black, white and one colour combo looks very fresh. Excited about the new challenge.. I wear dresses and tunics over pants frequently… now off to find some photos.
Terrific job by lovely ladies!! Pop of color with B&W really makes the outfit so much fun!
Everyone looks beautiful! Very nice combinations!!