THIS IS WHO WE ARE

Meet the three women rewriting fashion’s age rules — but can you guess their age from their clothes?

As the generation gap becomes blurred wearing 'age appropriate' clothes is no longer needed — three women have found styles that they want

These days, our icons come in a range of shapes, sizes and ages – from 70-year-old actress Felicity Kendal sporting a crop top and 25-year-old Selena Gomez fronting campaigns for “grown-up” accessories brand Coach, to 96-year-old American fashion icon Iris Apfel giving zero hoots in her oversized owl glasses, furry tangerine coats and outlandish statement jewellery.

“Age-appropriate is dead,” says Alyson Walsh, author of new book Know Your Style.

“The boundaries between generations are blurred. Women of all ages wear similar clothes – bomber jackets, trainers, culottes, midi-dresses – and shop at the same places. We’re able to say: ‘This is what we look like, this is who we are, get over it.’”

Here, three women who are firmly eschewing the notion of “dressing for their age” reveal the secrets to their style.

“I’ve always been inspired by the glamour of Old Hollywood. I watched a lot of old movies growing up, and Some Like It Hot was always on in our house. I remember lying in bed and hearing it on the telly, and from the age of around six I saw Marilyn Monroe and thought that was what grown-up women looked like.

I always loved playing dress-up. I’ve committed numerous fashion faux pas, including a shell suit, high-top trainers and giant neon earrings. But by the time I went to university, I was firmly into fake pearls and vintage style had taken hold.

I’m very aware that I have a different style from friends my age – it’s almost a given that I’ll be overdressed on any occasion. But I’m not afraid of turning heads. Even my wedding dress was inspired by the ‘50s. I had a red petticoat underneath white lace to match the red soles of my white Louboutin heels.

A lot of older people stop me in the street and say: ‘I used to have a dress like that,’ or tell me that they like what I’m wearing. I know it’s not ‘normal’ for someone my age to wear such old-fashioned clothes, but style is quite eclectic in this country, and I certainly don’t think I look like an old lady!

With vintage styling, you can become almost ageless. Take a beautifully cut shift dress and it could be worn by any woman of any age, from teens to pensioners. It works across generations.

No matter how I dress, I don’t think I’m more mature than other women. Essentially, I’m a 35 year old who’s never grown out of dressing up. We have so much choice when it comes to fashion now that what’s ‘appropriate’ or ‘expected’ or ‘older’ or ‘younger’ shouldn’t come into it at all. I look at people like Iris Apfel and think: ‘Too right – talk about goals!’

I’ll still be dressing like this in my 80s if I’m around. Well, I might not be able to walk in the skyscraper heels – but I’ll certainly try.”

“It was only when I took a friend shopping that I realised I dress ‘younger’ than my age. She said: ‘I love the way you dress, can you please find some similar outfits for me?’ So I took her to all my usual shops – New Look, Dorothy Perkins and Forever 21 – and picked out a load of stuff. As soon as she came out of the changing room in a V-neck leotard and flared trousers, we wet ourselves with laughter. She just looked wrong. I panicked a bit and thought: ‘Maybe I am mutton dressed as lamb.’ So when I got home I asked my sons if I dress inappropriately, and they said: ‘No, Mum, you’re just you.’

I love Boohoo – the last thing I bought was a pleated gold skirt that I wear with a crop top. There are a few items in my wardrobe that I’ve had since I was 18, like a sequinned minidress that I still wear all the time. Back then I was a 6, now I’m an 8, so why not?

People sometimes say to me: ‘If I wore that it wouldn’t go down well,’ which is a subtle way of saying it’s inappropriate. But Toby loves my style. Since we got together seven years ago, I’ve had about 50 hairstyles and a million different looks. He says it’s like going out with all the Spice Girls at once and never knowing which one’s going to turn up!

I think people’s individuality is coming out more in their sense of style these days. Age shouldn’t be a factor – fashion is about being happy and expressing yourself.”

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