Fashion life after 40!

Is there a fashion life after 40?

Why are designers and high street shops only interested in the skinny 20 something year old. Have we 40, 50 year and 60 year olds no spending power and no interest in style and fashion? Of course we have. Just because the body may have gone past it’s ‘best by’ date don’t we love to know what’s ‘in’. Even though pregnancies and maybe even menopause will have contributed to thickened waistlines and fuller stomachs you can still look and feel fabulous. None of my friends have yet succumbed to the elasticated waists or mumsy hairstyles. They all love to look stylish and up to date irrespective of the number of candles they blow out each year.
So what do you do to stay looking good?
Well start by investing in some good foundation garments. Any of us older than 45 or 50 will remember the dreaded roll on. I think this is the main reason that women of this particular age cry ‘absolutely not’ when it comes to magic knickers. Don’t! They are the greatest bit of undie engineering ever, not sexy I grant you but boy do they suck you in. In fact you won’t even know you’re wearing support. I promise! And the best thing is they come in every shape and size and are designed for each body flaw, stomach, hips, spare tyre etc . Whatever your problem is there is a magic solution. Next is the bra. Do you know that more than 80% of women wear the wrong size bra ?. When were you last fitted? If you answer ‘never’ you’re not alone, I know loads of women who are still wearing the same bra size for the past 30 years or so. Marks and Spencers offer a great service and will even bring you in styles to try on in the dressing room. Please do this though. You will be amazed at the difference a good correctly fitting bra makes.
Next, have a good look at your upper arms. Are they flabby? This unfortunately is a common problem after about 45 and nothing seem to work. I’ve tried everything, from arm lifting with bean tins to pinching the fat to break it up, it didn’t work.They still jiggle away and the only thing to do is cover up. It’s no big deal as I adore wraps, pashminas, and nice knits. The boobs have a mind of their own too so I just hoick them a bit higher. One of the biggest sins of ageing is a sagging bust. Try tightening the straps a bit and you might look 10 years younger. Promise! If you still have a good neck wear some fabulous neckpieces. There is the most amazing range of jewellery out there right now. Accessories can instantly update an outfit. You don’t even have to spend a lot. There’s something to suit every pocket. Your local boutiques will have a fab range and will even help you with accessorising that special outfit . If you are lucky enough to have a shapely waist flaunt it with a gorgeous belt. The latest ones just in are skinny belts. If the waist is fairly non existent but the hips are good then drop the belt to below the waist. This is a great way of lengthening the body. It’s an illusion but it works!
How about the legs? There’s a skirt length just right for every woman. Here’s an easy way to find your perfect length. Stand in front of a mirror with a towel. Move it up and down until it hits the part of your leg that looks the slimmest. Avoid skirts cutting across the widest part of the calf, you will look fatter. Either go above or below the widest bit and then measure the distance from the floor. This is a great guideline when buying skirts in future. And dare I say it, keep the knees covered, usually not a pretty sight as we age. They dimple and sag just like all the other bits.
For all you ladies who are carrying a bit of extra weight why not buy some beautiful shoes and bags. This is where you can really score points.
What you need to do is simply take the attention away from the bits you don’t like and draw the focus to the parts you love. Easy isn’t it?
Coco Chanel once said we get the face we deserve…or something like that. You get my drift. Love who you are and the body you have right now! Treat yourself to something nice. Go on, you’re worth it!