Breton chic

Chanteuse Francoise Hardy personified style for me back in the 60s. In this iconic photo she wears the simple striped t-shirt that was typical of her classic and rather androgynous style.  Fast forward to 2011 and Breton style t-shirts are everywhere again - but if the thought of wearing horizontal stripes makes you run for the hills then think again. It is possible to wear this left bank chic look on less than perfect bods if you stick to narrow stripes. I bought this £10 one from Gap (it comes in a long sleeve version too) and it looks great with jeans and a classic black jacket. Tres chic n'est pas?

Kinky boots?

Love the coat and bag but not sure about the boots. I usually admire how Madonna pushes the envelope on what to wear at 50+ but over the knee is hard to wear at any age, even with her great pins.

SJP A Swedish Has Been?

A friend remarked to me the other day that something happens to women's feet over 50. Half a century of stilettos, sling-backs and platform boots have taken their toll. When fashion editors cheerily recommend killer shoes to finish of that new outfit they have no idea how this literally may be the case! In winter we can stomp around bang on trend in chunky biker boots but come summer the challenge to find a sandal both fashionable and comfortable is a perennial nightmare. But thanks to fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker and some Swedish clog makers this summer is looking positively rosy for those worn out plates of meat.  Swedish Hasbeens come in gorgeous colours and a range of heel heights. They look great with skinny jeans like SJP is wearing here (if you have the shape to carry them off) but they will look just as good with some peg top trousers or a summer frock .... I can't wait to get my hands on a pair!

Mary Portas takes up the cause!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/7437111/Mary-Portas-has-a-new-fight-fashion-for-the-over-40s.html

In this Telegraph article Mary Portas cites that for the older woman "It's about fashion that's age-appropriate that can also be glamorous and sexy."  In her next series, which will air on Channel 4 this autumn, she will investigate why British fashion fails properly to recognise women in their forties, fifties and beyond. 

Boots with an edge

I've been wearing these boots from Pied a Tierre with jeans and simple slim leg black trousers for months. They add edginess to a simple outfit - especially if you roll the trouser hem up. Accessories are a great way to update a classic outfit.

Hurrah for fat faces!

OK so she's over done the filler a tad but doesn't she look gorgeous these days? Much better than when she was young. I read somewhere that she hated her fat face when she was a teenager and her mother said she'd be so grateful when she got older. Mum was right. She's living proof that some things do get better with age.

Face or Body?

There’s a saying that for women past 50 the choice in looking good is either face or body. Apparently it’s one or the other you can’t have both. Is this really the best option we have post 50? And is Madonna’s (over) worked out body and worked on face a desperate attempt to fly in the face of conventional wisdom? Call me shallow but I think when it comes to style and beauty women aren’t obliged to drift into middle age invisibility and the menopausal fashion tedium that is Per Uno. Most of us don’t have the time or budget that Madonna or want to go to such extremes has but nevertheless I believe it's possible to be still be a stylish woman that gets noticed. I talk to so many women that have lost their style confidence as they've got older, and find it a struggle to find stylish clothes that suit bodies that just aren’t the same as the young bodies they are designed for. So I've started this blog to explore all things fashion, style and beauty for women post 50 (but hey if you're in your 40s your very welcome too!)