Gerry Cupido
LITTLE girls love playing dress-up. They enjoy going into their mother’s wardrobe, trying on their favourite dresses and clicking about in mom’s high heels – even if it means tripping over long dresses or wobbling on stilettos five sizes too big for their tiny feet.
What little girls don’t realise is that mom’s clothing collection and the different styles in the closet are the result of many years of shopping. No matter how old you get, you will always find something to borrow from her wardrobe... whether it’s something retro or a modern classic.
As we get older we go through so many changes. Our bodies, lifestyle and level of maturity change as the years tick on. As we change, so does our taste in clothing. And there are those women who struggle with the transitions and how to dress for their age and new bodies.
The fabulous team from Ruff Tung, designers Bridget Pickering and Ludwig Bausch, who are known for their all-inclusive designs, offer the following advice on how to get through the various ages with style and finesse. AGE 20-35 Dear younger self, you may not know this yet, but life isn’t a dress rehearsal! Now is the time to experiment. Start to understand your body shape and what suits you. Navigate your way through the fashion trends and fads, and play with all kinds of looks and colours.
The fashion world is your oyster but please don’t take it too seriously!
Learn to love yourself and don’t dress to impress others. Don’t listen to your peers, as hard as that may seem. Throw all caution to the gods of style and have no regrets – ever! Your own sense of style is created by you for you! KEYNOTE: Go for age-appropriate lengths. Dress for the occasion. Be wary of fashion fads. AGE 35-50 Note to self: Fashion trends come and go, much like your self-confidence and fashion mojo. Admittedly this is easier said than done but don’t get lost in all those excuses. Having had lots of kids and battling to lose those pesky 5kg or get your six-pack back shouldn’t be the reason that you forget about yourself.
You are in your prime, and don’t let anybody tell you different. Think outside the fashion box. Seek style council and keep building on your wardrobe.
Try new styles for your body shape. Shop around for seasonal trends that suit you and that will add value to your wardrobe. Your teenage daughter’s fashion fads are to be ignored. And the biggest no-no: leggings aren’t trousers!
Never underestimate the power of a good dress and that ultimate shade of lipstick you were too scared to wear when you were in your 20s. KEYNOTE: All day active wear. Age-appropriate hem and necklines lengths are key. AGE 50 AND ONWARDS Dear future icon, please remember to set the example for my younger self as you are the matriarch of fashion after all.
In fashion years, the 50s are the new 40s, and the 60s are the new 50s. Gone are the days of the purple rinse; silver hair is now a major fashion statement.
Don’t give up on your underwear. It’s time to put gravity back in its place.
Forget the rules. You have earned your style stripes but ensure you update key statement pieces such as dresses, trousers, cardigans and blazers to help build your confidence.
By this stage in your fashion career you have accumulated enough, so keep the classics and pass down those beautiful vintage pieces for daughters and/or granddaughters to re-invent. KEYNOTE: Don’t keep special items for those special occasions. Wear all your diamonds at once!