Older and bolder… my kind of women
FASHION COLUMNIST AND INFLUENCER JOANNE HEGARTY
To me, there are two distinct female styles. Firstly, the cool girls, who shop the trends, wear their boyfriend’s jumpers and show off the same designer bags to attract likes on their Instagram page. In the other corner, there’s the woman. Heavy emphasis here on the word woman. She exudes a quiet confidence and, one of the joys of getting older, a devil-may-care attitude to getting dressed.
True chicness, I’m convinced, is always about dressing for one’s self – and not bothering about impressing men or other women. And also having no hang-ups about the passing years.
A woman knows how to be alluring rather than a peacock. She’s not afraid of her sexuality and dresses to go out in a simple way, which emphasises her attractiveness all the more. She’s learnt what her fashion uniform is and is not swayed by the opinions of others. I believe you have found your own style when you dress for the reflection in the mirror, wearing what makes you happy and not adopting a specific label or trend for public applause.
Thankfully, a quiet revolution is taking place and the woman is finally winning. There are now so many strong, older role models giving fresh-faced girls something to look up to. There’s still a long way to go, but their style is getting more of the attention they deserve in films and TV – and the fashion world has at last woken up, too, with designers no longer desperate to cover up older skin.
Take the fabulous women on Sex and the City, greying hair and all. Or Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, aka Sylvie, Emily’s kick-ass boss in Emily in Paris, who radiates sophisticated sex appeal. Jennifer Aniston currently looks more happy in herself than she has ever done. While in Emma Thompson’s forthcoming movie,
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, the actress does nude scenes for the first time in her stellar career.
‘It’s challenging to be nude at 62,’ Emma admits, revealing her character stands in front of a mirror alone and drops her robe. ‘I don’t think I could’ve done it before the age that I am. Yet, of course, the age that I am makes it extremely challenging because we aren’t used to seeing untreated bodies on the screen.’ Bravo, Emma. Chic isn’t just about what you wear, it’s a state of mind – and you’ve got it.
Follow me on Instagram @thestylistandthewardrobe
Simple but beautiful. Necklace, €400, bymalenebirger.com
Say ahoy to the sailor collar. Jumper, €99.95, massimodutti.com
An investment piece that will last through the