Dress to impress for festive celebrations whatever your age

As the lines blur around what is considered to be ‘age appropriate’, older women with the party season in their sights are combing classic styles with on-trend accessories, says Margaret Jennings

WITH four weeks left to Christmas Day and even fewer to get ready for the actual party season, the older woman can remain cool, calm and collected — unlike the younger version of herself who in times past was probably in a tizzy by this stage.

While fashion experts all agree that the lines have become blurred about what “age appropriate” means any more, most mature women do know that trying to zip themselves into a tight golden sequinned micro mini might send Santa Claus fleeing back up the chimney with a scary look on his face, rather than charming him into a mistletoe kiss.

Nevertheless, attitudes have changed and even women in their 70s and upwards are ‘rocking it’ in leather jackets, cool blazers, black jeans or leggings and bold, beautiful accessories, according to Clodagh Shorten, owner and buyer for Cork’s Samui boutique, who has been 33 years in the fashion business.

“I find there is not a huge discrepancy anymore between generations; it just comes down to personal taste in the end,” she says. “Older women are much more fashion aware — they’re online, they travel and they know they don’t have to dress in a fuddy-duddy way.

“Many of my more mature clients tend to see value in buying investment pieces; they will spend their money on one good item rather than buying lots of cheaper items, says Clodagh, who is 50 herself.

“While, indeed I have a number of customers over 55 who like to buy more fashion-forward pieces that look amazing on them, the preference is for great quality, good-fit, classic pieces — a piece that will last for years and still look well.”

But how do they feel a bit special for the Christmas? “Fur is really on trend — it can add a glamorous touch — like a little jacket over jeans, or with a cashmere top, or over a dress — fur accessories like neck wraps can be worn with a little black sexy wedding dress and it really glamorises it. And we have fantastic jewellery that adds bling and makes the outfit more dressy to bring it into the night,” she says.

Separates are leading the way this Christmas, according to fashion stylist and model agency owner Celia-Holman Lee, who was 65 last week.

“There’s a lovely selection out there at the moment of every type of knitwear, blouses, and skirts. I haven’t seen anything knockout this season in dresses. The skirts and the knitwear are ornate — with diamante on them.

"There’s a huge choice in the style of skirts but remember if you wear a straight skirt then make the top wide, and if the skirt is wide at the bottom then keep the top sharp. That balances out your shape. Team them up with nice strong good looking ankle boots — not bulky ones, but soft ones that you can wear with a dress or trousers.”

Christmas is a time to flaunt strong colours too — though again, don’t confine yourself to the festive season. “Colour should be worn by everybody no matter what their age — though soft colours like lilac, blue and pinks don’t suit women with grey hair — they should wear burnt orange, fuschia pinks, poppy reds and forest greens,” says Celia.

Want to tighten your purse strings this Christmas? Make do with what you already have in your wardrobe, says practical Celia. So, if you have a dress you love but it’s too short, then “dickey it up”.

“Wear it with leggings, jeggings or cigarette trousers with ankle boots of a high heel,” she says.

“I had a steel grey strapless wedding dress I love and I went to The Zip Yard (the clothing alterations chain) and got them to add a black band to the bottom of it and to the sleeves, to lengthen them. hey give advice on how to transform an outfit. For instance if you’re now not happy with your neckline when you look in the mirror, then you can get a piece of lace put over the neckline of a top or dress you love.”

And the LBD? Creative director at Marie Claire, Nina Garcia, says you should have at least two.

In her book The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own, she advises:

“Choose the best material you can find and nothing too tight or too shiny. To avoid being accused of playing it safe, make sure you have a dash of daring — such as a dangerous stiletto or bold jewellery and make sure it shows off your best assets.

“Remember the reason the simple garment is so enduring is because it understands the essence of style: to step back and let the woman shine.”