Women in their late 40s/early 50s as style inspirations. Your nominations?

[NotdeadyetBOING]

When I say style, I mean it quite loosely. So, for instance, I would happily include Liz Hurley on the basis that she is still in v. v. good nick even though I am less sure about the clothing sometimes. Nigella puts a smile on my face quite often - gorgeous in her 50s. Halle Berry is up there too. What I am keen for is people's top choices in terms of style too. Want clothing inspiration that is age appropriate (to the extent that that matters), but still on trend. Not quite ready to embrace comfy slacks and fleeces yet, but suspect my days of trotting about on Christian Louboutin heels are far behind me too…..

Typed this earlier but lost it...
Kate Moss too rough for me am afraid.
And nicola sturgeon not my style at all but each to their own.

I remember seeing sheila Hancock years ago on who do you think you are? And thinking she was very glamorous and arty.
Also dame gillian Lynn I think she is called, a choreographer and ex ballet dancer or some such.
Is 90 I think and wonderfully graceful.

My favourite Royal is Queen Letizia of Spain.
Always looks so chic and polished without being OTT. Wears a lot of Spanish high street stuff too.
I much prefer her wardrobe to Kate Cambridge's, and Kate a decade younger at least.

I always like the way Fiona Brucecdresses. Very simple but I always like her jackets.

Glyniss Barbour (not sure how you spell it) is absolutely stunning!!

Also Ines DLF is - I have her book about french style, which is good but trench coats look great when photographed by skinny her with sleeves rolled up but massively frumpy on me!! raining/bags of shopping bulky clothes underneath etc!!

Oh yes, Glynis Barber is wonderful.have loved her hair for 30 years.

Queen Rania of Jordan born in 1970, too young?

YY to Yasmin. Also think Carla Bruni, Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington (who I swear looks like Jessica Biels sister, despite being much older) look amazing.

Mine are 70+ never mind 50 but I nominate Vivienne Westwood and Lauren Hutton (not the Made in Chelsea upstart).

I also second Jane Birkin.

She's a bit older at 59, but I think she looks incredible. Christine Lagarde, head of the IMF. Or is it just all Frenchwomen of more mature years look great?

I think Nicola Sturgeon has had a bit of a styleover or had her colours done or something. I used to despair of her boxy jackets and 80s makeup that was not doing her any favours but she now looks a lot fresher and more comfortable. I loved her green referendum day outfit here OK she's not Kate Moss but that's not the point. She looked fab in that colour and in something fitted.

Julia Ormond. Gawj, no?

I reckon 1970 is borderline so let's let Queen Rania in!

Christine Lagarde is an excellent one. And good to have someone older. I want something to aspire to as well. Extreme intelligence always adds to someone's attractiveness I think so she gets extra points.

Julia Ormond - yes! And Christy Turlington was always my favourite supermodel and I think has aged v. gracefully (actually barely at all).

Was always massive fan of Kate Moss, but think she needs to adapt her style now she is older. I get furious with all the rags for slagging her off for looking old/rough as if she is supposed to magically defy the ageing process, but oddly dressing too young tends to be ageing. There is a really fine line there, I think.

YY Kristen Scott-Thomas
And the first one that sprang to my mind was Yasmin Le-Bon-stunning

Kate Moss - urgh. Grubby and not in a good way

I have a big girl crush on Tanya Byron. She hasn't been on tv for a while I think, but when she is she has great style - totally grown up but a little bit edgy but in a non - get me I'm 47 and still shopping at Top shop - sort of way.

Also Karren Brady seems to get better and better as she ages. I love the fact she isn't teeny tiny, and has similar proportions to me, but still manages to look really pulled together. Oh and also I like the fact she isn't afraid to grimace on The Apprentice - shows she hasn't ahd any work done.

KM looks old and lived in

Oh God, I would love to look old and lived in like she does!

I'm still feeling the Sue Perkins love from another thread. I think she always looks good in a realistically achievable way, IYKWIM.

Oh leave Kate alone. Why should she 'adapt her style' if she doesn't want to?

She's hardly late 40s though!

Looked up Caroline de Maigret and thought of Charlotte Gainsbourg, who I think looked awkward when young but is fabulous in her forties.

Agree KM shouldn't be hounded and no need for her to adapt her style if she is happy with it. Merely saying I think it makes her look older than her years now. Absolutely her choice, though. Painfully aware that dressing v. young when one is middle-aged can be a massive own goal on that front and that, weirdly, dressing in a slightly more classic way can make one look YOUNGER. Strange but true note to self: thrown out the spaghetti top dresses

Should add Salma Hayek to that list (48) and Teá Leoni (49). I'm loving her in Madam Secretary right now

I struggle with all the gorgeous tall, willowy women as a style-model for large-busted size 14 me, aged 49.

I look at Kirsty Allsopp and think 'hm, that dress would suit me too', but don't actually like that somewhat matronly look. Really hard to not look frumpy with a 34G bust.

I don't want to look younger particularly, just good , but agree with all the women mentioned here looking great - I still wonder how much of it is skin/bone structure/genes and how much is make-up/clothes. And how much is charisma?!

I agree Pacific
I admire Queen Letizia because I'm a similar body shape and colouring so I can imagine myself in her sort of clothes.
The high street ones, obviously

It's interesting that we have picked style icons that are vaguely similar to our own body shape. I realise I have done the same with Tanya Byron and Karren Brady.

I have always been deeply envious of "naturally" thin people,and yes yes, please can we keep that debate off this thread, so I'm actually quite delighted in a very mean spirited way that Kate Moss is looking a bit ropey these days.

rookie, in my head I am a long-limbed, coltish rock chick instead of a stocky, middle-aged mother of 4 whose body betrays her genetic background of strong farming stock
I could weigh 8 st and still be b r o a d.

If the body shape has to be similar for inspiration to compare, then I'd have to be in the curvy girl club. Dame Helen is a more realistic idol than Ines, at least until the medics learn how to transform a bog standard mesomorphic body into a lanky ectomorph.