FABULOUS AT EVERY AGE Lisa Armstrong on the style secrets of the season for every decade.
Altuzarra Spring/ Summer ’16 A o
TTHE NEW WIDE PANT Te
I won’t lie, everything changes when your pants morph into sails. But once you get the measure of them, the possibilities are rewarding whatever your age. For one thing, the new wide pants can look feminine in ways that your skinny hipsters never did. If you weren’t completely convinced that slim pants cut the necessary dash at weddings and formal parties, take note: There is no question that a pair of silky or crepe palazzos are dressy enough. Think of them as a maxi with attitude. Highlight the waist with cropped jumpers and jackets and tailored, tucked-in shirts. (This, by the way, is also how to refresh an old Breton sweater.)
Wide pants require a shoe edit as well, which is another way of saying that you’re probably going to need some new ones. You can’t just wear any old shoe with wide pants, They demand heft and balance. Chunky trainer soles are the utilitarian answer, substantial platforms with block heels the glamorous one. Either way you’re going to be showing some leg. Did I mention that the new flared pants are cropped? (Although, for evening, a longer version looks most chic. Trust me, I’m paid to spend time working these things out.)
The younger you are, the more leg you can show. Women over 60 should probably satisfy themselves with flashing a well-turned ankle, not because their calves aren’t worthy of exposure but because wide, knee-length trousers are more of a novelty act. Leave those to the twenty-somethings.