Fashion Faux-Pas
When do I have to stop wearing jeans?
Never. I think as long as you're prepared to try every shape and size, you can always wear jeans. You can wear a relaxed jean, you can wear a skinny jean if you're a thin, middle-aged lady, but jeans worn with the right things can always be a part of your wardrobe. Yeah, I agree. Jeans always work, and again, I think you've got to look for a well cut jean. The fabric obviously has got to be the right fabric. Lycra is a blessing to all women when their skin begins to not have lycra in it. Also you go for the right cut; and another thing I think is the most important thing is to choose a dark color, because if you go for that, you've done washed out - the Levi's in the 1960's and 1970's that are shredded. It's not a great look because inevitably your skin is becoming a little bit raggedy itself. So don't do it with your clothes.
How do different cuts of trouser flatter different leg shapes?
When should I stop wearing mini skirts?
Right now, if you are middle-aged. Not a good look with wrinkly knees, flabby calves, it's just a no-no. Mini skirts actually shouldn't be worn, because the first sign of aging that women have is that the skin on the kneecap begins to pucker slightly. That is when you know that you are losing the elasticity in your legs. It is not a great look, to be fair. Also, I think you have worn mini-skirts from early days so it is time now to move on. However, I think that if you play tennis, a mini-skirt is fantastic. I think if you are on the beach, it is certainly preferable to shorts. If you are doing a little cover up of your bikini, I would never wear a mini-skirt, shorts to the knee is a much better look. If you look at the newspapers and J Lo and cellulite, imagine if you are middle aged, what you are going to look like. Just look at the back of your legs.
How can I keep wearing short skirts?
Are most trends just for young people?
I think trends are here for everybody. You know, that's what makes you a person who feels good about yourself. The key being, though, is to take on aspects of the trend and then adapt them to your lifestyle, your age, and to your budget. There are lots of different ways that you could use a trend, but yes, I certainly think that you should wear one top in the color of the season or a part of the look if it is a print that's happening. You know, look hard, see and then take something of it and build it into your wardrobe and build it into something that works for you. I don't think it should necessarily be about your age, it should be about lots of other things as well. I would agree with you on that. Trends are to be followed.
I have a good figure but don't want to frighten people when I turn round, help?
You'll have to be your harshest critic, and if you are, you won't make that huge mistake. You know, look at yourself. I think you can have a great figure and I think you can show it off, but I think the key question is showing it off as a silhouette, in opposed to showing it off, showing it all off. Have a great figure, but be a little bit more subtle, be a little bit more elegant with it. Still look sexy, still feel great about your body, but don't have it, perhaps all on show. Show a little part of it. So wear a great pair of jeans like we talked about earlier, that fit you and show what a fantastic bottom you've got. If you're going to do something like a wider trouser, then wear a lovely sweater that's a beautiful colour, that fits to your curves. But don't do it all in one hit because it's like somebody putting a banquet in front of you. Instead of feeling that you are going to be tempted by it, you feel quite overwhelmed and don't even want to go there with it. So less is more. That's probably the motto on that one.
What clothes or fashions should I steer clear of?
There is a huge world out there. The most important rule to follow is that you should wear something that is comfortable to you. Don't wear anything that is too outrageous because it centers from fashion. Stay within your style. There you're asking, "what clothes should I take care to wear?" We've gone there with mini-skirts. It's fair to say that mini-skirts are a no-no. I think very low tops that reveal far too much breast is not a great idea. It's quite difficult because armpits again devolve women, so you don't want to be too put away. Tops like these tend to go a little bit baggy, and it's not an attractive look. Knees aren't great. Otherwise, there are a lot of things that you can do, but I would say that they are the most critical things, in my opinion. Armpits, breasts, knees.
How do I wear latest fashions?
The most immediate way to update and actually dip into a trend of the season is to use your accessories. That's a toe in the water approach. There's nothing that actually makes your clothes look more this season than your accessories. They're the biggest daters. So by that, I mean a key bag, because a bag gives you a look of a season and the colour. And also footwear, because that's an easy way to use your existing clothes, but acknowledge a trend. And so obviously you would go round and have a look at what's around - you've only got to probably go to two or three shops and you'll very soon get a flavour of what's happening. And one thing that I think is really so very important for women to know about is that when we change the season, they tend to ignore their makeup and they tend to ignore their hair. Those are the biggest tell-tale signs. So even though you might decide, "Right, I'm going to buy half a dozen pieces", you will perhaps be wearing - and this is a massive mistake women make - the foundation you wore in winter, and you continue to wear it in summer. It's so wrong, wrong, wrong! As is the lipstick shade, and perhaps a colour around the eye shadow. So, yes, when I'm saying accessories, I don't just mean things that you're putting on your feet or carrying. Go to, for example, Estee Lauder, the most brilliant people for this. Their philosophy as a makeup company is to sit people down and give them what they call a mini makeover - it's six minutes. They're all trained to do that, and go on workshops and you will get an eye shadow and a lipstick look, and a makeup look that will give you what is happening currently with a style. So that's how you dip a toe in the water. Then, if you've got an independent boutique, go in and see what they've got and what they'll put you in, and then diffuse it down through the high street, choosing stores that fit your budget. Use free advice - it doesn't have to be expensive, just use the advice that's there. It's there for anyone to use, and that way you will bring yourself to look like you're a person of the season. You know what's going on, and you're not sort of behind the times. And it's a great way to do it, because you can go away and not be frightened, and think about and look at yourself, and then decide where you're going.
I find people in clothes shops intimidating to talk to when I need advice, how can I get round this?
I'm stuck in a rut, how can I be more experimental without looking stupid?
If you are a person that's in doubt, and you want to use the fashion that's the trend and you're unsure, I always think it's a good thing. The stores, even Mark's and Spencer's, now do a personal shopping service, and you shouldn't be shy about asking, "Could I book a slot, and could you show me how to put this together?" Certainly, any small boutique or shop would be more than happy to give you advice if you come in and if you're unsure. Even if you're not intending to actually buy the clothes, if it were me I would go and ask for the advice of an expert.
