Would love to have your thoughts on what a 54 year old grandma can wear to an American Idol concert with her granddaughter. I am pear shaped 16w bottom heavy but would like to look cool to make my granddaughter proud. If you could give me some tips I would appreciate it. Oh and I cannot wear heels because of a bad knee…

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Dear Kathy,

I have two words for you.... Rock on.

Your email warmed my heart. I think it is selflessly sweet that you're seeking concert fashion advice in order to make your granddaughter proud, but I've got news for you Kathy... I'm pretty sure your granddaughter is already proud of her Not-your-run-of-the-mill-Nana. Having a grandma who wants to hit the concert circuit is pretty cool regardless of what she's wearing, but I'm going to personally see to it that you are the hottest grandma in the arena. I don't know when the concert is, so let's not dilly dally and get down to stylin' business.

First off, let's address your bottom half. I don't know if you recall my advice for pear shaped beauties, but in terms of pants, dark wash stretch bootcut jeans work wonders on a pear-shaped bod. This pair from Jessica London balances out your curves, and the stretch fabric moves with you whether you're jumping, standing, sitting, dancing or cheering on top of some nice bearded man's shoulders.

Considering your top half, wearing a perfectly faded and broken in concert tee is always a safe choice. Vintage or modern, Adam Ant or Adam Lambert, wearing a commemorative band tee to a rock concert is like wearing your iPod playlist on your sleeve, a concert uniform that you can never go wrong with. If you don't have a concert tee handy or want to look a little more polished, go a little mod with this cool graphic tunic from Modcloth that shows off your waist and flows outward, concealing your pear-shaped parts. You'll find a wide variety of tunics out on the store racks now, from halters to cap sleeves and long sleeves. Try on a few until you find your perfect fit. Oh, and bring a little denim jacket or a light hoodie/sweater, just in case it gets a little chilly in the arena.

As for your feet, Converse sneakers are usually the concert footwear of choice, but some strappy metallic sandals or colorful flats will keep you feeling comfortable while showing off your toes and leaving your knees rocking steady. Just make sure they're closed toed if you plan on visiting the mosh pit. In terms of jewelry, don't wear anything priceless that you'd cry over losing, a little hammered cuff completes the look with a little solid gold thrown in for good sparkle.

With these tips in mind, I'm sure you'll be able to pull off a look that will get a thumbs up from everyone, even man-boobed Simon Cowell.

Have a great time cheering the Idols on Kathy, and I'd love to hear an update.

I'm sure you're already your granddaughter's American Idol.

xoxo,
sammy

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