You’re never too old to go bold

My latest confidence trick? Bright eyeshadow. It’s easier to wear than you think – at any age

I’ve started ramping things up when it comes to my eyes

OUR BEAUTY DIRECTOR’S HERO BUYS

Away with friends for the weekend – and not for a particularly dressy affair – I had one of those ‘wow’ moments when a friend of mine walked into the dining room one evening wearing bright red eyeshadow. This, by the way, is a woman who, much like me, leans towards more au naturel make-up most of the time. But she looked seriously fabulous – block capital ‘WOW’ worthy with her bold painted lids. We all told her as much.

In response, she said that this was her two fingers to the menopause and to feeling invisible or overlooked at times. She’d decided that she was going to have some fun with her make-up and embrace boldness.

As far as I’m concerned, she’s totally right – and not alone. Who says age has to have anything to do with make-up or deciding what you want to put on? You’d be amazed at the number of beauty launches I go to where the brand will tell me they are aiming their products at millennials (ages 25 to 41) or even generation Z (ages ten to 25). But why on earth limit your customers that way? Who’s to say if you’re 40-plus you can’t and won’t love it, too?

So I’ve followed my friend’s lead and am now ramping things up – for daytime as well

Alove of fashion should never be confined by age. Every week in my new column, I’m going to take you through a look that can be embraced at any stage in life. Beginning with jeans. If, like me, you find shopping for them a stressful process, pause for a moment – I may have found the perfect pair. La Redoute has collaborated with Wrangler to create a high-waisted, boot-cut style that feels as good to wear as it looks and is infinitely more flattering than skinny jeans.

WARDROBE STAPLES FOR EVERYONE BY FASHION DIRECTOR SHELLY VELLA