I was flicking through a “vintage” copy of one of my favourite fashion magazines (that’s what I call the 6-month-old  issues lying around the house that are still only half read) last night looking for inspiration when I came across an article that totally uninspired me (yet it’s made me write this post, so in a backward way, it did inspire me….huh). Anyway…. it was one of those “How to dress for your 20’s, 30’s, 40’s etc” and it made me think, just because I have turned one year older (from 20 to 30) does that mean I have to  suddenly re-assess the way I dress!?!?!

I definitely believe that your personal style will evolve  but slowly, in its own time. Just because I now tick the next age-bracket box up doesn’t mean I should automatically change the height of my heels, the tightness of my jeans and the length of my hemlines! Am I no longer allowed to shop in Sportsgirl or Dotti? (some would argue that NO ONE should be allowed to shop in Dotti but I still reckon if you look hard enough you will find a diamond in the rough). I spent the last year of my 20’s telling people I was already in my 30’s – my customer is generally a little older so the little white lie was to make them feel like they weren’t been talked to by a 20-something that knows ‘nothing about fashion’, so for me the line was already blurred.

In fact one of the things that I love so much about the label that I work for is that fact that women of ANY age can wear the clothes and look great in them – making them age-appropriate is all about HOW you wear them, what accessories you put with them, how you do your hair and makeup, what you wear the clothes with (black leggings versus sheer black pantyhose for example).

My mum looking fab in a Sacha Drake dress - no age restrictions here!

Don’t get me wrong, I DO think it’s appropriate to dress you age (I even wrote about it here), but I think that your lifestyle, body shape and own sense of style should define what you wear more. So thank you fashion mag for a) making me feel old by upping me a whole decade (20’s to 30’s is a big jump you know!) and b) making me feel like I am mutton dressed as lamb for rocking my harem pants yesterday (apparently only for those in their 20’s!). No really, I love all my fashion mags (just look at the piles and pile around our house – sorry honey!) they all have an amazing fashions section which never fails to excite me.

One of my favourite quotes of all time (and strangely, the older I get, the more it makes sense) is “beauty is wasted on the young” well I think by saying we should change the way we dress so dramatically because of our age , we ARE wasting beauty on the young! If you have something that you love, wear it no matter how many times you have celebrated your 25th birthday (I’ve just celebrated the 5th anniversary of MY 25th birthday).

Reading over this, I realise it sounds a little like I am contradicting myself (see here) but the point I’m trying to make is, why does someone else dictate when we have to reassess our wardrobe. If you feel totally comfortable wearing something in your 40’s that fashion magazines say should be worn in your 30’s – AND IT STILL LOOKS GOOD – then go for it!

Have you ever suddenly found yourself in ‘the next age bracket’ and unsure what to do or how to dress?