FASHION THEOVER 50S SHOW

By Colette Concannon

Being a teenager, the thought of turning 50 to most girls is a very scary thing. Its assumed life is over. No more fun, grey hair, grey clothes, no laughter and one just waits around to finish up! Now, in my mid thirties, I relish the thought of turning 50 one day. I aspire to be well travelled, have my own very success-ful business, dress in a unique funky style, be with a wonder-ful man whom I share my life with. I still want to be a bril-liant Mum to my daughter, but most of all to be happy in my soul.

We have more and more celebrities over fifty to admire; Susan Sarandon, Goldie Hawn, Oprah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Di-ane Keaton, Ellen DeGeneres, Kim Cattrall, Sharon Stone, Meryl Streep, Rene Russo, Helen Mirren, and Dame Judy Dench to name just a few. Women have so many options today from the clothes they wear, to the men they date, ca-reers (even in the recession). In fact many men find the older woman more attractive and al-luring. Women over fifty today are at last seen as charming, creative, intelligent, experi-enced and attractive. But what is the secret to being an over Fifty Glamour Puss rather than a Grumpy Granny?

Being lucky enough to work at a gym, I got to have a chat to all my clients over the age of fifty. I was intrigued to know their secret on staying & looking youthful. Could it be all the potatoes we eat, or the wind and rain we experience 360 days of the year? I got so many different answers but the common denominator between all of them ‘I feel like I’m still 21’. All of my bubbly, happy clients have always felt young and tell me that age really is just a number. The women I inter-viewed also feel that coming to the gym 3 or 4 times a week re-ally helps them both mentally and physically. One lady does hill walking twice a week with a friend. ‘We laugh most of the way up the hill and on the way back down’. ‘The fresh air does us the world of good but I also get to have a catch up with my friend’. My one client, An-nabel, is well over the age of 60. Her skin radiates and not a line in sight. She has a smile on her face whenever I see her. She has the devilment in her eye and I know when she’s up to mischief. Mary is a retired nurse but does lots of volun-tary work. ‘It keeps me out of trouble’ she says. She just enjoys people, laughing and loves good food. ‘Life is for having the craic’ she snorts!

I have two very stylish Aunts’. Helena has an expen-sive, conservative look similar to Jackie Onassis and is very cute. But my most glamorous, fashionable, stylish Aunt has to be my Auntie Philomena. I am sworn to secrecy on what age she is, or as Joan Collins once said ‘a lady who reveals her age, will reveal anything’. She looks like she’s just dashed

down the catwalk. This 5ft 7, skinny, blonde haired with diva like qualities, turned up at a family funeral looking like the lady from ‘The devil wears Prada’. I got a waft of her Cha-nel perfume before I even saw her. The door opened by her husband, she got out, all I saw was the diamond encrusted open toed heels, her tanned legs, a beautiful purple Mac (designer of course), slightly opened to reveal the most delicately soft grey diamonded dress. She had her huge D&G sunglasses on and as she closed in to air kiss me with her juicy tubes lip gloss, I got a belt from her DKNY massive bag that felt expensive. Not forget-ting her diamond bling bracelet that sparkled in the sunshine and if I had stood any closer, would have lost my eyesight. I felt like the ugly sister!

Auntie Phil is a firm believer on good skincare products. She has been using Lancôme since she was 18. Auntie Phil starts the day at 7am with a 50 minute run. She also cycles to work everyday. Her secret to staying young is keeping fit and helps her to feel balanced. She has a few close friends and shares cof-fees, chats and exercise with. She has a very close bond with her daughter Nicki. They take luxurious shopping trips to-gether, Madrid, London, New York. Auntie Phil believes keeping and feeling young is about having a light hearted at-titude to life, the love of a good man, and sharing good times with family and friends.

The over 50 woman of today can be whatever she wants to be. Whether she’s the happy hippy, the travelling

business woman, the classy wife, mother, and doting Grandmother (like my won-derful Mom) or the sexy god-dess – they all have one thing in common; life experience. They have a deep knowledge that us younglings still have to learn. So isn’t that exciting we have the opportunity to learn and become an Über 50 Glam-our Puss if we choose to?

We’ve definitely learned that the over fifty ladies’ who look older, seem unhappy with themselves, and take life a bit too seriously. I only have to look at my Grandmother, who is now in her eighties. She still enjoys her Guinness and don’t ever try to stop her from hav-ing it! She tells it like it is and takes it all with a pinch of salt. It seems life is what you make it no matter what age you are. It’s all about making that effort to enjoy each day and make it special. Maybe the reason be-ing 50 and over is so cool to-day is because these ladies just take it in their stride

Secrets of an Über-50 Glamour Puss

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When you reach 50 the challenge is simply finding wearable, mod-ern clothes to fit your lifestyle, budget and figure.

Fashion is now considered ageless, but that’s no consolation when you have to pick through racks of miniskirts and low-rise jeans to find styles you love, and keeping up with trends can be even more difficult because many fashion magazines ignore women over a certain age.Can I wear that?

Designers and magazines show styles that are aimed at the over 50’s but use young models, to show them off. Practically any fashion trend can be adapted if you follow some general guide-lines.

Watch your handbag: it is usually a dead giveaway to your age. Have some fun with your handbag choice by trying lively colours and different shapes.

Dont...1. Don’t get too skinny, and

don’t gain too much weight!2. Don’t wear baggy, shape-

less clothes.3. Don’t wear ditsy and fussy

prints like tiny florals.4. Don’t wear overdone,

fussy styles or details (gold but-tons, gold trim, etc.). They are ter-

ribly aging.5. Don’t think you have

to wear skirt suits to look well dressed. Skirt suits can be very aging. Trousers are much more youthful.

6. Don’t shy away from all black. It looks great, especially when textures are mixed: leather, crocodile, patent, fur, vinyl

7. Don’t expose your upper arms and neck: these are both tricky areas for most women over a certain age.

Do...1. Think young. Be unpre-

dictable.2. Effect a natural look in

beauty.3. Choose solids: camel, red,

gray, khaki and especially black and white. In fact, when in doubt, go for black and white.

4. Go for bold, classic pat-terns in black and white: hounds tooth checks, stripes, argyles.

5. Choose classic shapes. Shirtdresses, trench coats, pea jackets, car coats, jean jackets and jeans are youthful in spirit.

6. Go for unfussy chic: mini-malist, functional designs and details.

7. Only wear short skirts if you have good legs.

Fashion Do and Don’ts