Discovering Your Style Identity in your 50s and beyond
Fabafterfifty: style over 50
-
Article by Judith Brady “When you say that a woman has style, what you’re really saying is that she’s true to herself” Nicola Maramotti, MaxMara I love this quote, it sums up what style is all about – a confident expression of who you are, a distinct way of dressing that is completely and uniquely YOU – and it’s incredibly powerful. So how do you get some of this power for yourself? When working with clients, style identity is always my starting point. It’s no good me showing them the best styles and colours for them physically, without first finding out what’s going to really gel with their style persona. Have you ever tried something on and although it fits you well and the colour is flattering, you just don’t feel comfortable and think “it’s not me”? That’s a sign that it’s not reflecting your style identity. Women over 50...
-
Dresses with Sleeves – Peplums CAN work over 50
Article by Ceri Wheeldon None of us want to look like mutton dressed as lamb, so when it comes to updating our wardrobes we do need to pick and choose our ‘on trend’ pieces carefully. This is why I think a plain peplum dress can instantly update your look, without appearing as though you are trying too hard. This navy dress by Jaeger is simple and elegant and creates a flattering silhouette. It is also great for covering tums. A statement necklace would work well with this dress – and heels are a must. Neutral accessories for a daytime look, with bold. Jaeger peplum dress £125 available from House of Fraser. Fab after Fifty style tip: if wearing to a wedding, choose a wide brimmed hat to balance the look. An alternative dress with sleeves and a peplum is this navy dress with lace by Adrianna papell from John Lewis....
-
Dresses with sleeves: One shoulder for glamour over 50 !
Article by Ceri Wheeldon Both Kim Cattrall and Vanessa Williams looked very ‘Fab after 50’ when sporting one shoulder dresses for the red carpet this week. A bit of a cheat when it comes to me suggesting dresses with sleeves I know – can I get way with dresses with sleeve on this one occasion? I hope so! I have found some one shoulder evening dresses that I think would work for women over 50, and have also added a sleeveless one shoulder dress for those who are happy to show off their arms. The first is by Ceme London (featured above right) – a one shoulder dress on jersey with a side split. The ruching is great for disguising tums and the cobalt blue I have shown is particularly striking. This dress also comes in black and dark purple. At the time of writing this dress is available in their...
-
Back in black: Lesley Joseph on style, dressing up and the long-awaited return of Dorien
Article by Fabafterfifty. Lesley Joseph may have thought she’d laid to rest the outrageous flirtations of Dorien Green, but the Birds of a Feather favourite is back, and arguably flightier than ever. Showbusiness is a strange animal. You’ll get some actors who are the absolute antithesis of their characters – step forward Pam St. Clement (that’s Pat in EastEnders, of course) who, away from the television cameras, delivers a flower of received pronunciation that’s never once been heard within a mile of Albert Square. In contrast, some actors appear to ‘become’ their character, or their character ‘becomes’ them… take anything involving Danny Dyer as a reference. Yet with Lesley Joseph the boundaries are ever so slightly blurred. Certainly, she talks with an excited rhythm, a pace and urgency that is every bit the echo of Chigwell’s finest, yet thankfully, when it comes to fashion, the 67-year-old is a rather more...
-
The Challenges of being Stylish over 50
Article by Judith Brady Hello everyone, I’m Judith Brady and I’m delighted to be Fab after Fifty’s in-house style expert. I’m soon to celebrate my 53rd birthday and I know some of the new challenges that age can bring (adjusting to a changing body shape post menopause) as well as some of the benefits (not caring as much what other people think!). I’m here to share my expertise and experience from helping hundreds of women develop their own fabulous style, let you in on some tricks of the trade and inspire you to forget about your age and dress to suit who you are now – body and spirit! OK so you’ve reached 50 or 60 or 70 – so what! You’re not desperate to follow every trend, BUT you still want to look modern and attractive, just not ‘mutton dressed as lamb’ – sound familiar? That’s probably what I hear...
-
6 of the best dresses with sleeves for special occasions
Article by Ceri Wheeldon. “Where can I find a dress with sleeves to wear to a wedding?” is a question I am frequently asked. I know in the past I have featured one dress at a time, but I have had a lot of requests to group my dresses together by occasion, so I am starting a ‘Six of the best’ series. I’m starting with special occasions – all six of these would be ideal for weddings, christenings or a day at the races. I think all six dresses would bring a touch of elegance to any occasion – and would definitely make sure that you are stylish over 50! These particular dresses are all available from John Lewis. I’ve enjoyed choosing them- I hope you enjoy my ‘new’ dresses with sleeves series 1. LK Bennett pale quartz dress with sleeves Price: £295 Understated yet elegant. 2. Coast Vivianna purple lace...
-
Make-up tips to match your pink hair Helen Mirren style from Ariane Poole
Tips from Ariane Poole With Helen Mirren hitting the headlines for dying her hair pink and showing us all we can take a risk and look fabulous at any age, I asked our make-up expert Ariane Poole to suggest some quick make-up tips for anyone wanting to achieve a similar look. Ariane’s make-up tips for pink haired ladies: I thought Helen Mirren looked terrific with her pink hair. Everything worked’. Looking at the photos of her at the BAFTAs you can see that she has stuck to cool tones. Eyes should be kept neutral with definition in charcoal grey or navy. It looks as though Helen Mirren is wearing false lashes – alternatively wear a good volumising and lengthening mascara. Well defines brows are also a must to frame the face. With pink hair it’s all about balance. Emphasise the eyes and lips – again for lips a cool pink tone works...
-
Denise Welch shares her tips for being stylish over 50 when starting over
Interview with Denise Welch How do you bring your style up to date when starting over in your 50s? Denise Welch shares her style inspiration. Denise Welch hasn’t been a stranger to headlines of late. The 54-year-old actress and presenter has had what she herself professes “an eventful year”, and with new book ‘Starting Over’ lifting the lid on recent events for the star, it’s no surprise to find that Welch is looking for a bit more normality for the remainder of 2012. But to learn that such normality starts with a pair of pyjamas? This we must hear more about. “After everything that has happened recently, it’s nice to get back to basics, and I’m always aware that I’ve returned to normality when I do the school run,” she laughs. “I don’t dress for it; in fact I’ve gone as far as heading out in pyjamas. I don’t compete...
-
Helen Mirren dyes her hair pink – would you be as daring with your hair colour?
Article by Ceri Wheeldon Is the pink rinse the way forward as opposed the blue rinse? Helen Mirren is used to taking centre stage at red carpet events. At the BAFTA awards it was her pink hair colour and not her acting which became the topic for discussion. Reactions were mixed, ranging from stunning and flattering to dismay at the departure from her usual blondle locks. Love it or hate it, would you be so brave? I know I deliberate at changing the shade of my blonde highlights or taking just an inch off the length of my hair! At least it shows that she’s not stuck in a style rut! It seems Dame Helen’s change of hair colour was inspired by the winner of America’s Top Model. Definitely vibrant over 50! Have you had a daring change of style or colour? -
How are women over 50 supposed to look?
Article by Ceri Wheeldon This weekend went with my husband to a reunion dinner with four families who had all holidayed together over a period of 15 years while the children were growing up . Interestingly, the older generation (all now in their 80s) commented on how none of the younger generation looked our ages. Lovely to be complimented, but is it true, or is it just that perceptions of how women over live and look today just haven’t caught up with reality? Is it just that those of us in our 50s today have a more youthful attitude to life in general than the generations before us, and hence look more youthful too? From the clothes we wear to the way we style our hair, we have so many more options open to us. We are far more likely to have developed our own individual styles and dress accordingly....
Follow Us
