The RHONY star talks about style, feeling sexy at any age, and how you can “make it nice.”
by Melissa Jacobs
Glittering in a black, sequined dress and thigh-high boots with sky-high heels, Dorinda Medley, star of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip and “Real Housewives of New York”, headlined the grand opening party for JWH Boutique in Wayne, PA. The store features a curated collection of designer clothes and accessories for women and children.
JWH Boutique is located on the storied Main Line, an area of the Philadelphia suburbs filled with upscale homes, country clubs, private schools and chic stores. Turns out, Dorinda loves the Main Line. “We lived in Ardmore, and I worked at the Laura Ashley (store) … in Suburban Square,” Dorinda said. “I love the Main Line. It’s so charming, so beautiful.”
Could there be a Real Housewives of the Main Line? Years ago, rumors swirled that Bravo exes floated the concept to a few well-known Main Line women, but none agreed to participate. There’s certainly enough glamour, drama and feuding for a RHML …
Meanwhile, Dorinda’s super fabulous style was on full display at JWH Boutique. What advice does the fashionista have for women? “Learn what looks great on your body,” she said. “We women tend to focus on the negative things about our bodies. But everyone has something good about their body. Focus on that. I’ve learned what I’m comfortable with and what makes me feel good.”
Her favorite neckline? “I love a V-neck, especially a good plunging V-neck,” she said. “I’m lucky that my breasts still look okay to expose … at least a little bit. I have a few years left of being able to do that.”
Pants? “Yes, yes, yes – and you know I love jumpsuits,” Dorinda said. “But often, I do a wide leg. That works better for me.”
Hemlines? “I avoid wearing anything that is below the knee,” Dorinda said. “That’s because I have good legs, but also because I am short-waisted. When you’re short-waisted and you wear something that is too long, it makes you look short. So you have to elevate the eye.”
The number one thing that looks good on women over age 50? Confidence. “I’m almost 58, and I’ve figured out what works for me and what I feel sexy in,” Dorinda said. “As you evolve and get more comfortable with who you are, you get more comfortable with what your body. I always say women shouldn’t let the clothes wear them. We should wear the clothes.”
We should also embrace our journeys, which Dorinda did by writing her memoir Make It Nice. “It was perfect timing,” she said. “I was put on pause at Bravo and Simon & Schuster asked me to write a book. And we were all in a time of reflection during quarantine. It was a wonderful time to sit, be quiet and reflect on my different roles: daughter, wife, mother, widow, Bravo-lebrity. It’s been quite a journey, and one I’m proud of.”
Want more Dorinda in your life? Get her book Make It Nice and read it while sipping her Bluestone Manor Bourbon.
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Interested in Main Line style? Read about Lisi Lerch’s new boutique and Clover Market founder Janet Long.