Update your holiday wardrobe, with some of the fabulous new clothes from the 2008 cruise wear collections, and bid your winter blues goodbye. This year has brought in florals of every colour imaginable, vibrant shades, and geometric and exaggerated prints. Keep a sharp look-out for crisp khakis, transparent fabrics, paint-splatter patterns and ethnics.

The problem is, while the magazines are full of gorgeous things, how can you be sure that what look great on a twenty-something, will look just a beautiful on you, a woman almost twice her age?

Gladiator sandals: These Greece inspired sandals are the new ‘it’ resort footwear. So, don’t be scared off by the over the top, sky-high variants you’ve seen on the leggy super models and Wild Child celebrities. If you’re over forty and want to try this trend out, you can easily choose more refined variants:

Instead of trying on high, white sandals which you don’t think quite suits you, slip into Pelle Moda Vixen’s elegant $112 low version, which is infinitely more suitable.

Metallics are still the hot new neutral. So try on the gorgeous Manolo Blahnik gold gladiator sandals, made for the jet-set. It goes perfectly with nearly everything you might choose to wear—shorts, pants, dresses. The far-less expensive pair from Frye is also a great choice. They’re elegant and classic and a great bargain at $55.

Mini Sundresses are everywhere and these thigh-high dresses are very cute, too. But if you’re forty, there’s a chance that you’ll wish you’d not pulled one on. Besides, unless you have great, toned legs, this style will make you look less chic and more little-girlish.

Not Too Short Mini are a better option, but you need to decide how short is not-too-short. As it’s vacation wear, you can safely try something a bit shorter thsan usual but more than four inches above the knee adds a touch of desperation you don’t need. Spaghetti straps are not a very good idea, as your arms might be soft and fleshy at 40+. Instead, you could go for wider straps, or keep a shrug on hand, to help cover up.

If the dress is very short and loose and flowing, like, say the $195 Vince Sundress, you can try to team it with leggings. It does, however, take a great deal of confidence to carry this off without looking like you’re in maternity wear.
Have fun shopping for your cruise holiday