THE SEVEN AGES OF fashion
You can dress to impress at every stage and age, says Amy E Williams…
THE TRIBAL YEARS (TEENS)
You are experimental and know your own mind…hmm, and so it is that you get together with your BFFs on Saturday afternoons and spend your (annoyingly limited) Bank of Mum and Dad funds on identikit dresses in New Look. Then it’s straight to Topshop for artfully ripped shorts and hair bobbles. You happily raid your elder sister’s wardrobe and wish your mum would stop going on about having rocked baggy jeans in the mid-1990s. Expert eye ‘This is the age to wear a crop top,’ says fashion director and personal stylist Arabella Greenhill. ‘After 21 forget it.’
BRANDS
Brandy Melville for sweatshirts, vest tops and chokers; Boohoo for party dresses, and New Look for everything else.
Invest in a Uniqlo wear-with-everything down jacket. And hang on to anything your granny gives you, as it’s guaranteed to come back into fashion.
THE WEAR ANYTHING YEARS (EARLY 20S)
Forget dressing like your friends; now you want to look worthy of an influencer at London Fashion Week. Thank God for Zara, which has become your new religion, as has following bloggers Lucy Williams and The Frugality on Instagram and beating everyone to Vita Kin-inspired tops and rip-off Gucci loafers. Waste is a concern, so thrift items balance things out (and make life more difficult for pesky copycat pals). Expert eye ‘Urban Outfitters and Levi’s are a must. Pick up floral pieces and sexy lingerie you can flash under anything,’ says blogger Camille Charrière.
BRANDS
Zara for catwalk-inspired separates (and grown-up handbags and blazers for job interviews); Asos for shoes, sunglasses and festival outfits.
A good-quality leather jacket will last for ever… or at least until you stop worrying about Brexit.
THE CAREER YEARS (LATE 20S)
For what might be the last time, you find yourself trying to look more grown-up – you need that pay rise. It’s time for a dose of demure with midi hemlines and buttoned-up blouses. And as every weekend from March to September will be eaten up by hen dos and weddings, occasionwear is essential. Whistles is tempting; Self-Portrait less risky, and Reformation maxis bought from the US will be perfect for next season. Expert eye ‘The key is to smarten up without compromising on personality,’ says Katherine Ormerod of workworkwork.co. ‘Pretty dresses can be as effective as a power suit.’
BRANDS
& Other Stories and Mango for inexpensive high-street style; Victoria by Victoria Beckham and MSGM for payday investments; Toast for a pared-down Margaret Howell vibe, and Kitri Studio for tops and day dresses.
Classic jeans from a quality brand that fit you like a glove – buy the best pair you can afford.
THE GROWN-UP YEARS (30s)
Just as your income justifies those Net-a-Porter binges, along come commitments beyond your credit-card bill: marriage, mortgage, motherhood. You give in and embrace Boden – after all, it does the best cashmere crewnecks – and realise (with small children, a demanding job, or both) that a uniform is essential. Your saviour is Amazon Fashion where Zoe Karssen sweatshirts and box-fresh Converse arrive by 9am the next day. Expert eye ‘Start layering,’ says Arabella Greenhill. ‘Try polonecks under smock tops with straight-legged jeans. Wear block colours and invest in shoes, which, unlike silk dresses, won’t get ruined by babies.’
BRANDS
Me + Em and MiH Jeans for uniform-friendly basics; Ganni for knitwear and dresses; Massimo Dutti for workwear in every colour but grey, and splurge in the shoe hall.
Knee-high leather boots that will work during pregnancy, in the office and at weekends. Chloé versions are the dream, but Marks & Spencer offers a surprisingly good pair for a tenth of the price. ➤
THE HAVING-IT-ALL YEARS (40S)
In possession of a senior position at work you convey authority through clothes, often resorting to black shift dresses as if what you gained in promotion you somehow lost in personality. Outside the office Sweaty Betty leggings suffice for coffee catch-ups with the benefit of making you appear younger and fitter than you are. Competing with mothers at the school gates is futile and un-feminist…but a high five was surely due when at least three mums asked you where your Madeleine Thompson knit was from. You secretly shop on Vestiaire Collective for coveted designer items you never need to declare as second-hand. Expert eye ‘There is a danger of a rut; you might be ageing yourself without realising,’ says Arabella Greenhill. ‘Opt for white leather sneakers – Whistles has good options.’
BRANDS
TK Maxx for covert designer bargains; Tibi and Raey on payday, Masscob for bohemian-leaning style. Snap up the designer handbag you’ve always wanted. Not the copy. A classic Loewe, Céline or Fendi fits the bill.
THE WHO-CARES YEARS (50S)
At long last the aim of the game is to look the best you can for the age that you are. Navy is your new best friend – a facialist told you it would be more flattering than black and you decide it might be more cost-effective than Botox. It also mixes well with the rainbow palette you know you should be embracing. For eveningwear, jumpsuits are saviours, especially fitted styles worn with heels. A-line dresses with capped sleeves in heavy fabrics hide a multitude of sins, as does tailoring from the higher end of the high street. Expert eye ‘To me there is nothing more chic than a tailored YSL-inspired blazer. That, a good colourist and a sleek bob is my post 50s goal,’ says Camille Charrière.
BRANDS
MaxMara Weekend and Joseph; Finery and Warehouse for fabulous prints and colours – and because none of your friends are shopping there… yet. A blazer from Blazé Milano or Stella McCartney will last for the next 30 years.
THE FREEDOM YEARS (60 PLUS)
The kids and job might be out, the golf course, a spot of volunteering and costume jewellery are in. You wear chunky necklaces over high-necked tops Anna Wintour-style, and bought five pairs of earrings for less than €30 on a recent expedition to H&M with your goddaughter. You also happened upon Asos White while browsing for Christmas gifts – it’s your new secret for fabulous avant-garde shirts and wide-leg pants. Waterfall cardigans over silk blouses are still useful cover-ups – soft pink and blue versions are far more flattering than black. Expert eye ‘The age of the granny is gone,’ says Arabella Greenhill. ‘You can hit your 70s in the jeans and grey sweaters that transcend generations.’
BRANDS
J&M Davidson for beautifully cut dresses, skirts and coats; Zara for embroidered bomber jackets and colourful flats, and Cos where you find a friendly shop assistant to adopt as a personal stylist. Break-the-bank knitwear from Avoca or Connolly England.