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‘Oh, I couldn’t. It wouldn’t even occur to me. And now what? I couldn’t get away with it.’
How many times in a week do we take breaks from what is possible and decide not to try something based on the assumption that it wouldn’t be right?
How often do we think, ‘Oh, that looks like fun, isn’t that lovely?’ But it is not correct for me’ When do we mean that it is not suitable for a woman over fifty?
Well, big mistake. Enormous. The day you stop trying the new and unexpected is the day you start looking every inch your age.
What suits us best will change over time, we all know this, and it is worth being attentive to what suits you and what no longer suits you.
But erring on the side of caution is the enemy of style, and sticking only to what you know is a sure route to looking boring and practically the same year after year.
And there’s another good reason to keep an open mind: the older you get (surprisingly), the more it’s worth taking a little risk.
A 25-year-old woman looks good in extra-wide bell-bottoms, but a woman over fifty looks interesting and bold and gets extra style points for wearing the look of the season and not playing it safe.
It’s the clothes you didn’t think you could wear that deliver the most results, when it turns out you definitely can.
I’m not saying that everyone should run out and buy a pair of silver leather pants, but, if there’s something you’re avoiding simply because you think it’s not for people your age, you love it and would gladly go outside. dressing room using it: try it.
You might be surprised.
NB: A useful rule when expanding into I Didn’t Know I Could (IDKIC) territory: don’t expose parts of your body you wouldn’t have 20 years ago. These are the IDKIC risks to take this season.
a layer
In general, capes are cute for the young and cool, or a little widowed.
The exception, and the cape you can happily wear into middle age and beyond, is the one that reaches to the waist, to be worn in the evening over a dress or baggy velvet trousers.
The new style that meets current and wearable requirements is the cape cardigan.
This is one of those items that you don’t see the point of until you try it on and then it makes you feel elegant and original.
Juan LuisThe Style (£55) It comes with flat beaten silver buttons that give it a Danish designer feel (minimal but bold).
You can wear it over a slim polo collar, long-sleeved t-shirt or plain shirt with trousers or jeans, heels or flats, and add a hood (£25) if you want it to be more of a jacket.
It’s still a ‘no’: long black wool capes; You’ll look like an extra in Call the Midwife.
An OTT fur coat
There’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to faux fur, but you can’t go wrong buying something that looks expensive, feels expensive, and has an element of “Ooh… Hello.”
A good place to start is the M&S X Sienna Miller faux fur jacket in black with shawl collar (£79, brandsandspencer.com) a glamorfier classic that you will wear forever.
Or opt for this brown fur from Reserved (£89.99, reserved.com)
It’s still a ‘no’: sweet colors
a vest
We never thought we’d wear vests again, but then… things change, including how to wear them.
This season’s batch is slightly roomy and made to be worn as your favorite tank top, with wide-leg pants, although they also look great as part of a suit.
Attempt Anyday Navy Asymmetrical Vest (£39.00) johnlewis.com) and navy blue wide leg pants (£45) or, my favourite, the long black vest that covers the hips (£45).
Or choose Monsoon Blue Striped Vest (£55) and pair it with your matching wide leg pants (£69).
Those with good arms can wear nothing underneath or a soft shirt with a little volume in the sleeves.
It’s still a ‘no’: fitted vests and halter necks.
A Studio 54 pantsuit
A black tuxedo becomes more difficult to wear with age: too severe and not special enough.
These are the years when we need to increase the brightness or color, or just confuse expectations a little.
The answer is the Studio 54 pantsuit. It could be a white wool-blend double-breasted jacket: another look from the M&S X Sienna Miller Collection (£125) – with the game flat front wide leg pants (£79) plus the vest (£69) also if you want.
The combination is snappy, Savile Row and sexy and means you don’t need to think about what goes with it.
It’s a timeless, timeless, and a little daring look (ivory in winter), so there’s no reason not to get on board if you like a party pantsuit.
It’s still a ‘no’: sequin pantsuit
a kilt
A kilt tops the list of things you instinctively avoid after your twenties, and if you’re talking about a tartan mini kilt, it’s a good rule to follow.
But there’s another type of kilt, new for fall, that’s plain wool and ends at the calf, so it has the DNA of a serious grown-up kilt, with a bit of hillbilly attitude; so try Plumo’s Boyd kilt (£249, Plumo.com) to get the look.
Jaeger for Marks & Spencer made a beautiful midaxi kilt that sold out almost immediately, although Autograph’s dark slate kilt (£99) is still available.
Wear it with a shirt or a short sweater and boots and make the boots fashionable. A knee-high pointed toe kitten heel style in crackled leather would be the perfect combination of femininity but pointed.
It’s still a ‘no’: Scottish mini skirts
leather pants
When leather pants automatically meant tight rock n’ roll leather pants cut like five-pocket jeans, they weren’t for everyone and almost no one over 50 (with the exception of Chrissie Hynde).
Today, leather pants are a more elegant type of pants and 100 percent more affordable.
For starters, they’re mostly leather (lighter, softer, much cheaper) and the best ones are made like your favorite men’s-cut black wool pants, not skinny jeans.
Wear it with a velvet jacket and a lace-trimmed slip top at night or with a funnel-neck sweater during the day.
It’s still a ‘no’: leather leggings
Mango wide-leg leather-effect trousers (€49.99) and elastic-waist leather-effect trousers (€55.99, store.mango.com)
a baseball jacket
Did you last have one of these in 1980? Yes, we know, but it was turquoise and red with vinyl covers, while this It’s cream faux shearling from M&S. (£69) and it looks like something Vogue editor Anna Wintour might have in her wardrobe.
You can wear this one with all winter whites (a turtleneck and an A-line skirt) or all browns, blue denim or black.
The key to keeping a baseball jacket suitable for adults is a luxurious look and what you wear it with.
Keep it elegant and pair it with a skirt.
It’s still a ‘no’: a leather bomber.
A black lace slip dress
That? Like the ones Kate Moss wore in the nineties? Well, yes, in spirit, but this slip dress (£75, johnlewis.com) is long, instead of thin straps it has a V-neckline trimmed with lace, front and back, and now you can wear it with a small leather jacket on top and flat shoes, not sneakers.
We always advise against black, but if you dress it elegantly and don’t skimp on makeup and party hair, this is another timeless look.
It’s still a ‘no’: ivory or pastel slips.
ballerinas
I still can’t see a grown woman in Mary Janes, but ballet flats peeking out from under baggy pants look stylish as long as they’re not too flimsy.
Dune cherry red ballerinas (£52, dunelondon.com) either M&S Silver Leather Pointed Toe Heels (€39.50) They are a good starting point.
Again, you may have to think back to the last time you wore silver heels, but these are great for elevating everything from your maxi dress to your pants.
Still a No: mary janes