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How not to look like mutton dressed as lamb..
Jeanne Davis offers fashion advice to women of a
certain age
“As I get older, my shape seems to change. The styles that looked so great aren’t as
flattering any more. What do I do?”
Thickening waistline, protruding
tummy, flatter buttocks, flabbier upper arms - fashion designers do not address the
challenges of ageing. High Street fashion is even
worse - mini skirts, skimpy tops are only for the young and slim.
But don’t give up. Take a critical look in the mirror and analyse what is
happening to your body. Forget the sylph-like nymph of your twenties. You can
dress with just as much flair and flattery if you adjust your fashion sense and follow a
few guidelines.
It’s not about following the fashion trends.
It’s about dressing to flatter you. Here are
some do’s and don’ts…
Do look for styles with sleeves. Try on jackets with set-in sleeves and a straight line
from shoulder to hip bone or longer. A rounded back instantly looks straighter, heavier
shoulders are slimmed down. If you must buy a T-shirt, go for the set-in sleeve and the
v-neck and a cut that skims not clings. Classic tailored shirts that skim the waist look
elegant and can be worn outside trousers. A shirt tucked into trousers emphasises a protruding tummy.
And speaking of scaffolding, do try Pilates,
an exercise system that will straighten your spine,
square your shoulders and lengthen your body by at least an inch. Clothes will look so much better on your now restored
youthful frame.
Instant face lifts
Hats. We forgot about hats when the bouffant hair become the
“new look.” Try some on again. Not the oversized buckets women put on for weddings. Think smaller and more casual, the softer cloche
with a brim, the trilby. Look at yourself in a
mirror with a hat and without. Notice how hats
flatter the shape of your face and remove years.
It’s time to review
 Colours. With
age, skin tone and hair colour change. The colours
you always thought suited you best may not do the most for you anymore. It’s time to experiment When you go shopping choose
something different, Hold it up against your face. See
whether it “picks you up.” You may
be surprised. That deep rust or bold red that you
said you “could never wear” may now light up your eyes and skin.
Tips for free
 Trinny Woodall of the Trinny & Susannah
TV fashion series offers
this advice to the Laterlife woman. “Study
what Judy Dench and Maggie Smith wear. And Joanna
Lumley. Their sense of style for their changing
bodies is appealing and elegant.”
The Queen got out of her fashion rut
when she appeared in a well-cut trouser suit recently. She
looked taller and slimmer, far younger than when encased in her matronly dresses.
Remember. Keep
experimenting with new looks and colours. Fashion is fun.
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A vast industry is out there to help with all and every beauty concern. In
this column every month laterlife.com will report on ideas and products, old and
new. The practical results of everything from creamy cleansers to mud baths will be
brought to you. All with the focus on maturity of course.
