Source: pasadenastarnews.com

Women in their 40s and 50s today are as healthy and beautiful as their mothers were at 30, and many women aren't frightened to show it off.

The good news is that some of the leading fashion trends of this year and next would be completely suitable for older women.

Pantsuits and "anything gray" are going to be enormous for fall, according to David Wolfe, original director for the New York-based Doneger Group, the world's biggest fashion consulting firm.

Retailers from Wal-Mart to Nordstrom pay plenty for Wolfe's words of insight on what's hot and what's not, and he says older women and their closets have many to look forward to this year.

"This spring, women were pretty happy with what's in the stores, and when fall comes, they are going to be ecstatic," he said. "There are so many grown-up clothes that are going to be flattering and sophisticated. The catch phrase is `60 is the new 30,' and it is in fact going to hold some water because older women are going to look beautiful in the fall clothes.

"We couldn't say that a couple of years ago."