Q. I’ve always loved wearing low cut tops and dresses but recently I’ve noticed that the skin on my décolletage is beginning to look quite lined. Do you have any advice on how I can disguise the problem area - without having to cover it up completely?
A. One of the most overlooked yet biggest giveaways of a woman's real age is a sun-damaged cleavage and chest baring fashions are very much in Vogue at the moment, but what can you do if your cleavage is not looking as glamorous as it might?
If your chest seems a little crepey or your bust is not quite as perky as you‘d like it to be, you may be confused as to what you can wear. My advice is to show just a hint of cleavage for a fashionable yet timeless look. If, on the other hand, you have your heart set on a sexier style, opt for dresses and tops that have a transparent chiffon neckline.
Evening clothes with bits of veiling here and there are perennial fashion favorites. Designers know that a daringly deep decolletage, for instance, doesn't seem nearly as extreme when the plunge is filled in with a wisp of chiffon. It makes it seem more discreet, although it isn't really. And many women of a certain age have learned to appreciate the charm of a gown with shoulders, sleeves, even a back, of sheer net or chiffon. It gives the illusion of bareness while masking any errant bumps and sags.
Other fabrics such as lace, essentially, play the same visual trick, they hint at seduction, without revealing too much. Remember that prevention is key. The skin on your neck and chest is especially thin, making it less elastic and more vulnerable to sun damage, stretching and creasing. So it's vital that you wear a high SPF sunscreen over the whole area all-year round - even in winter. Problem solved.
