Later
Life Network |
Retirement Guides |
Pre-retirement Courses |
Site Map | Text size A
A A |
Contrast
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Looking Good in Later Life 30
| ||||||||||||||||||
Anyone who has looked after her (or his) appearance over the years has the edge in later life compared to ravers who burned all their candles at both ends. But skin, hair, eyes, lips, silhouette still show the years after fifty. Extra skin dryness, puffy eye areas, sagging around the chin, wrinkles – they all can benefit from special treatments.
|
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.
Fashion or comfort clothes? What do older women want? Heather Redmond casts an eye over mail order shopping
I too love mail order catalogues but I do give a toss about fashion. Despite my pretty unfashionable lifestyle I like to be a little cutting edge. This can be problematic as, generally speaking, fashion for the older woman is not high on the agenda of those who dictate trends. Take my favourite form of apparel– the ubiquitous T shirt. Ever since they came into fashion I have worn them. In younger days bought them by the sackful. Now I’m lucky if I can find one that suits me. As with clothing in general, they make no allowance for the changing needs of age; a neckline that accommodates a changing neck, chin and shoulders, or sleeves that adjust to larger arms. Does the rag trade not realise that our waistlines have grown, and hips, bums and tums have spread or dropped? It’s no good offering us size 16 versions of skimpy size 10 creations. They’re just not right. And where are all the interesting looking older models to identify with? They can’t all be size 10 or dead. My friend Mary is not concerned about cutting edge. She says that, unlike in her younger days, fashion comes in at fourth place after colour, comfort and fit. And favourite for her is a pair of black trousers bought mail order from Penny Plain three years ago. They are smart-casual, and, she says, very comfortable, with an elasticated waist and legs that are just right. Her breakfast, she says, is greatly enhanced when a catalogue slides through the letter box as she finds it helpful to see a range of clothes hanging on a model rather than a rail. For me, catalogues are about fantasy and I get very excited when they come rolling in as I take my morning coffee. As a once-upon-a-time actress I don’t get to dress up any more and can indulge my fantasies of playing Dallas queens, sports personality of the year, Aga mums or Tea With The Queen. Such riches of imagination and so early in the day. But in reality what a disappointment. They are so seldom just right. Fashion doesn’t speak to the older woman and as a result we go classic. Anything so long as it’s black, not too clingy, isn’t too revealing and is reasonably comfortable. It’s possible, of course, that I’ve missed out and there’s a horde of companies just waiting to send me inspirational paper emporia of lovely clothes that are casual, chic, a tad fashionable and of the right colour range (spring, if anyone is listening). But has mail order heard of the Grey market? Doesn’t seem like it as I trot to the post office with yet another return. What do other laterlife contributors buy? Helen Franks, laterlife features editor: “I have bought a few items mail order. Mainly sweaters in cashmere when there are sales. I bought one from Selective a couple of years back which is fine-knit and good under jackets. I toy with La Redoute because their designs are fairly classic so you can’t go wrong, but haven’t actually ordered from them. As for general buying, I vary. Sometimes it’s Primark for very cheap and cheerful. Other times I might buy from East because I like rich velvety clothes in jewel colours and they have plenty that are pretty easy to wear. And sometimes I splash out. One of my favourite, enduring items is a simple black zip-up cardigan from MaxMara. It cost about four times more than an M & S equivalent but it remains chic and sharply cut after about four years.” Jeanne Davies, feature writer: “I’ve had too many disappointments with mail order catalogues, so I stay with my favourites shopping venues. For parties I wear a Ralph Lauren outfit bought in their sale a few years back. It’s a red silk slightly fitted jacket over black silk trousers and camisole top, and I feel like the bees knees. Just right- a good fit and stylish.” Jill Churchill, columnist on antiques: “For tough outer clothes I go to Racing Green. They are simple and stylish enough, but practical too. Boden has lovely classic, wide-legged linen trousers. You have to take a chance when you order first time, but once you know they suit you, the choice is terrific. And they do blouses with sleeves. Others I like are: Damart for sleeveless silky-feel sleeveless vests. I wear a black one with a bit of lace showing under suits. Wrap is nice for flowing skirts and lots of linen. And my favourite, though pricey, is Peruvian Connection mail order, for long velvet coats and ethnic clothes. I think the secret when buying mail order is to choose items where fit is not important. When I want to go shopping for clothes, I veer towards the department stores where there is a large variety in terms of price and labels.” As for me, I have to admit to finding a great source of T shirts. The Boden collection is mostly too girly for the more mature, but their T shirts suit me. They have the right neckline and sleeves, fit well and are good quality with a reasonable range of colours. My own current favourite. Just right.
‘I will be 45 years old this year and I don’t have many more years left to be glamorous… Shortly, you can expect to see me in sensible shoes, wearing sewn-together duvets for warmth and comfort.’ We say no to that! Contacts: Boden: www.boden.co.uk Penny Plain: www.pennyplain.co.uk Selective www.selective.co.uk La Redoute www.redoute.co.uk Wrap: www.wraponline.co.uk Damart: www.damart.com Racing Green: www.racinggreen.co.uk Peruvian Connection www.peruvianconnection.com
…………………………………………………………………………… Reminder…. Mother’s Day Sunday March 21st The latest Nutrimetics catalogue contains a good selection of gift ideas including Heaven Scent, a range of soap and body moisturisers perfumed with rose and waterlily. To obtain a catalogue, visit the Nutrimetics product page.
|
|
|
Previous editions of Looking Good in laterlife Edition 1 (including a visit to Estee Lauder) Edition 2 (including a visit to Clarins) Edition 3 (including a visit to Medestea Internazionale Edition 4 (including a visit to Martha Hill Skincare) Edition 5 (including a visit to Harrods) Edition 6 (including a visit to Belgravia Centre) Edition 7 (including a visit to Vichy Laboratoire) Edition 8 (including a visit to Avene Spa) Edition 9 (including fashion tips) Edition 10 eyebrows, eyelashes, sun and skin Edition 11 (including a visit to Lasercare Clinics) Edition 12 - Lasercare Clinics offer their expertise on common skin conditions Edition 13 - Ageing skin in the new millennium Edition 14 - A visit to Helen Sher Edition 15 - More from Helen Sher and Lasercare Clinics Edition 16 A visit to Champneys London Clubs Edition 17 - Seeking Cosmetic Surgery Edition 18 - Does hair dye cause cancer? Edition 19 - How not to look
like mutton dressed as lamb.. Edition 20 - What cosmetic dentistry can do for you - Part one Edition 22 - What’s new at Estee Lauder? Edition 23 - Lancome - a perennial favourite Edition 24- The latest from Clarins Edition 25 - East meets west with
Shiseido Edition 26 - Nutrimetics Edition 27 - Nutrimetics - Special offer Edition 28 - Nutrimetics workshop Edition 29 - Exfoliation
|
 |
Previous Visits laterlife.com occasionally visits one of the great cosmetic houses, up-and-coming beauty collections or other organisations of interest to the more mature visitor.
Edition 1 Estee Lauder Edition 2 Clarins Edition 3 Medestea Internazionale Edition 4 Martha Hill Skincare Edition 5 Harrods Edition 7 Vichy Laboratoire Edition 8 Avene Spa Edition 11 Lasercare Clinics Edition 14 - Helen Sher Edition 16 A visit to
Champneys London Clubs
|
laterlife interest Don't forget to take a look at the rest of the features sections of laterlife.com: laterlife interest containing a variety of articles of interest for visitors to laterlife.com written by a number of experienced and new journalists. It includes both one off articles and also regular columns of a more specialist nature such as healthwise and talkback Also don't forget to take a look at our regular IT question and answer section called YoucandoIT by IT trainer and author Jackie Sherman. To view the latest articles and indexes to previous articles click on laterlife interest here or above. To search for articles about a certain topic, use the site search feature below.
|
|
| Back to laterlife today | |
|
|||||
|
