Age before style — Chic50Style

Age before style ?

Your age your style

Why does it matter anymore.

Why is it still important to care about your appearance

I don’t have the same shape body etc

Why bother ?

Whether you like it or not, change is inevitable especially how you feel or look about yourself and how others see you. If you start every day looking in to a wardrobe that’s not working for where you are now in your life what message are your clothes sending out. Outdated, poor fitting, unstylish, your body has changed your life has changed over the last few years is it time to take action.

Fashions come and go but your body stays, you can buy new looks every season, but you will need to identify and respond to the signs of ageing. Looking and deciding how you dress your outsides can profoundly affect how you feel on your insides.

“ Just because something is ‘in’ it doesn’t mean it needs to be ‘in’ your wardrobe

Clothes mark the journey of our life.

They are forever attached to important events from school uniform, first dates even wearing your first pair of jeans. The wardrobe of life from a wedding dress to maternity smocks some outfits make unimportant events memorable.

Is your wardrobe age appropriate now ?

As you age so should your look

Throughout life’s journey the joy, pain, ups and downs, threats to health, moves, loss of jobs and dreams need to be taken into account. The body shape we thought wasn’t good enough in our 30s, and 40s has long gone. The thighs we thought made our legs look bad are marked with varicose veins and cellulite, and our hands have aged along with our laughter lines. Trademark thick just washed hair is now speckled grey with a life of its own.

Waistline

The thickening of the waist and the nightmare of clothes no longer fitting due to the slowing of our lifestyle, the lack of time to exercise, the onset of menopause. This is reality we must accept.

Starting over?

That’s right have you stood in front of those wardrobe doors and you have nothing to wear except maybe a few fallback items? Chances are some of your clothes were mistake purchases, need repair or are so old they don’t fit ..or they are no longer right for where you are with your body or your lifestyle. Common mistakes are too many black outfits bought twenty years ago that somebody said you looked great in, a holiday area with a swimming costume you used to look great in and a sale item your keep for when the time is right.

The pile of clothes you promised yourself you’d lose the weight for ..get rid of…nobody needs that unnecessary therapy every time you get dressed

Take action

Chuck it out

Old clothes don’t get better with age, if your waiting for them to come back in to fashion forget it your body will have moved on. Those left over garments worn today will only make you look older and dated.

Move on

Only by clearing all your old baggage can you rebuild for your new current self. I donate at clothing banks or thrift stores. To me it’s like clearing the mind, creating space to embrace my future wardrobe needs.

Going forward

The key to dressing well is surprisingly easy. Figure out what works best & stick with it. The right fit is essential from length to shape forget about the size on the label you need what flatters. I have skirts in size 4 and I also have them in size 14.
The above dress is a size large with adjustable straps it covers everything and when I’m hot this is my go to for bloated stomachs…add nice earrings or new season sandals done. I wear this in the garden or on the beach I’m not a fan of my upper arms but at times to hell with it.

Belt up

Why does this work ?
Firstly it’s my husband’s shirt it’s big it’s not even done up. The belt is not tight I’m wearing a huge Dior ring and new season bag for interest.The jeans have the top button undone nobody needs to know.

Classic me

Casual

A scarf covers the bust and stomach but adds colour.

Elegance

Cool sleeves and a chiffon skirt an invitation on the hottest day of the year. Two colours the necklace & bag added interest.

Shake up your shopping

I never thought I would be putting this in writing but ( huge gasp) I haven’t brought anything in Zara this season except a pair of sandals and a striped top. Normally my bedroom looks like the Zara shop floor but something has changed or have I changed. Don’t get me wrong the dresses are beautiful the trousers in great colours are just not what I want. The dresses I like have spaghetti straps down the back or are cut so short they look ridiculous on me. The trousers length-wise are fine but round the waist not flattering. I went back the next week I even went to larger shopping mall nothing.

Instead I headed to M&S and brought this dress.

Stop

Loyalty to a brand I totally understand but if it’s not working maybe it’s time to move on or look around shops especially when most brands focus on 18-30.

M&S

Pure cotton breathable, it’s elegant, fresh a wonderful length I love it. The wearability with a denim jacket, wedges, sandals & with a neutral colour just add a colourful cardigan perfect.

What works for me

I interact daily with women around the world on what works best, how to avoid mistakes and how to enjoy fashion. It’s easy to make any trend look fabulous.

Colour… the top picture on the left is a soft red cashmere jumper and palazzo pants in a dark plum one of my favourite photo sessions. A bold colour boosts your mood a matching bag and lipstick pack a punch, I get an instant uplift especially with red it gets you noticed and for the right reasons.

2. Double denim…timeless a classic look that can be adapted for all shapes. I prefer a relaxed cut in dark denim and tend to favour wider-cropped swing pants in summer. Denim doesn’t date and white denim is always on trend. Stay away from distressed-hole denim or midriff showing leave that behind you’ve moved on.

3. Boucle jackets …I love them, a classic Chanel-inspired look every season I buy a new colour or different trim. Surprisingly easy to pick up in a thrift store I have about 12 and I usually wear them with a vest, t-shirt or thin cashmere sweaters great with jeans, and trousers and just add a rope of pearls for extra glamour.

4. Balloon dresses…women worry these dresses add weight or look like tents. Choose a design and length that works for your body shape do you want it to flare from the bust or waist? Menopause adds belly baggage and along with hot flushes, I can’t think of anything more comfortable than throwing a voluminous dress over your shoulder allowing unrestricted movement and comfort.

5. Animal prints see the post “Call of the Wild” for me it never dates, it adds a splash of colour available in varied prints I cannot imagine the wardrobe without it.

A touch of daring

Age appropriate

The scene in SATC 2 everybody’s nightmare and a reality check for Samantha

SJP

Metallic a definite no go, again the dress has been altered on the v neck and shortened.
WWD

To avoid

See through or lace the dress has been altered in length and the v neck sewn on Julia Roberts.

Frills and chiffon

Stay away from chiffon and frills and anything to fussy.

Fifty years of style

There are a few stars who have grown up in the limelight & manage to adapt and accept that a change in appearance, wardrobe etc is an alternative to plastic surgery or botox. The ladies below are examples of how growing old over decades can be done with style, panache and understanding. What’s the link between CONFIDENCE and owning your look?