I am not sure older women can do 'artfully dishevelled'

[PittTheYounger]

without just looking knackered.

Plus she's a hoot.

What's wrong with being blonde at 46
because its often green

Yes, it will end up green if you go down the cheap-skate, DIY route of highlighting your hair.
But get it done properly and it shouldn't be green!

Pitttheyounger,

Liza Minelli in SATC (2), looked very trim when she did her dance routine, (dressed like Cilla), but the two younger women either side of her had more youthful looking legs, even though Liza's legs were slimmer, they looked old somehow.

I'm 46 and do boho-dishevelled...always have. So do many of my friends. I think we look bloody marvellous actually.

I have purple and blonde hair, wear hippy skirts or kilts, handmade stuff, biker boots, whatever takes my fancy. One friend often wears a tutu and boots, with leggings. I love it when people wear exactly what they like and not what people expect.

Yeah, I think the look suits you or it doesn't. It suits me, anywho (imo of course.

I do hope someone is going to bring up shorts after 40 soon. That was one of my favourite threads ever.

ComeHeather, have you always dressed like that?
People often look great if they're comfortable with wearing something. It gives you confidence.

I've never worn that look, so would feel awkward and unconfident, and I would end up looking terrible!

Ooh I was on that thread! Under another name. I wore shorts with tights for ages afterwards. And I'm no skinny minny either !

No I haven't always...I used to have a job where I had to dress very conservatively and it made me very unhappy. Since I gave it up I have dressed in a very boho way which makes me feel really happy. I know it sounds shallow but it really does cheer me up to wear odd things and odd combinations. It's sort of joyous abandon I think.

Floisme,
the dreaded Shorts Dilemma.

My legs are as slim as they were in my 20's and 30's,
but, they don't look the same as when I was in my 20's/30's I can't wear really short shorts anymore.

When women get older, their legs loose that rounded, youthful look, and that's why their legs don't look so attractive in shorts any more (they end up looking like Cilla in the pic on the previous page).

I still wear shorts, but they are slightly longer these days (come to mid thigh) instead of just below bum cheeks.

I'm of the school of thought that you can probably get away with any clothes you like as long as you've got a tube-load of Collection 2000 Lasting Finish concealer under your eyes.

I'm always so impressed by people who look fresh and rested that I barely notice what they're wearing.

I am making a note of that.

I'm nearly 40, and I absolutely can't pull off the polished and groomed look. I spent decades trying, and in the past couple of years I have come to accept and love my temperamental hair and muted colouring.

And frankly, I think there are few things in life more glamorous than a slightly eccentric elderly woman wearing
mismatched ancient tweeds and velvet, fabulous but currently slightly unfashionable perfume, a little bit too much jewellery and either no make up at all our a lipstick that would make a younger woman look as though she was trying too hard, but just makes am older one look as though she doesn't give a fuck what you think.

That's my plan for dressing in my eighties, anyway.

I want to look like Joan Collins when I'm old.
She manages to look well-groomed and look like she doesn't give a rat's arse what anybody thinks - all at the same time.

One thing I always thought makes Helen Mirren look deeply cool is how she wears chunky silver jewellery. She still covers her arms and legs, but she looks really modern with her accessories. (And I suspect she's a big concealer fan too!)

There are few things more ageing than a faded 30 year old gold chain with a fob pendant. Makes you look like your Mum.

Annarose,
I agree about the tiny gold jewellery looking ageing.
But, sometimes I think older women have gone too much the other way and are now ALL wearing cheap, Big, Statement jewellery.

So now I associate Over-Big jewellery except big watches with being ageing as well.

The joy of being an older woman in my case is that I don't give a flying monkey what other women think of my style or lack of it.
I wear what I like, don't dye my hair and I'm still happy, healthy and confident more days than not.
Perhaps I'm a man and never realised it?

But hey if you like it, fine

But it's not fine, is it? Hence the thread.

I am so sick of worrying about this shit. I should really be dressing like Ines de la Fromage? Dark demin skinnies, ballet flats, crisp white blouse, fucking nhs-colourd trench 'artfully knotted' like a 4yo? How arse-clenchingly boring.

I'm not yet 40. I think I shall start wearing red and purple NOW!

Does my bloody head in.

And fuck off with the 'legs' attitude. They're legs! Everyone has them. Mine do a great job at keeping me up. They even get an airing on the beach from time to time . Bare legs teamed with no bikini top= elQuintoConyo 'rocking' the beach

Sure madonna wears knickrs. Shorts would be covering up.

The boring old jeans blazer & white shirt look would look so frumpy on me. Id be better off dishevelled.

So, women under 35 can dress to lease themselves. Women ov3r 35 should dress so as not to offend.

Joan collins looks like she gets up v early to put on her make up and do her hair tho. Would prefer a less labour intensive look at her age myself. Think her hair might be a wig though. Not sure.

Yes i hate statement jewellery ! Unless it's decent & i chose it myself. Big statementy cheap jewellery is v ageing.

I suspect Joan Collins looks like a drag queen when seen close up.

Dont worry, elQuintoConyo, kind as it is of the op to give us style advice, I don't think we need listen to a man in white stockings and a powdered wig.

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I thought part of the point of growing older was that you stop caring very much about what other people think and suit yourself instead?

I have a fabulous aunt in her 70s who wears all sorts of funky colours and patterns. I'm sure she doesn't fit any approved style, but really who gives a monkeys?

I'm over 40 and sometimes I probably look a bit tired. So what? I'm not about to suddenly wear make up or have a personality transplant. I've not changed shape so the sort of things that looked good on me 10 years ago look good on me now (and those that looked crap then look crap now too).

I think you're probably right margot. She's a year older than my mum which always makes me ??