Over 40s who do androgeny without looking butch?

[LemmingSqueezy]

Can you think of examples? Send me pictures/links...?

I never think it looks 'butch'
What do you mean?

Sorry, rubbish word - you're right. I expressed that poorly and will expand on it. I've always dressed androgynously. Now I'm a bit older, it's started to give a different vibe. Don't know the word for it. Just wondered about women over 40 who do this well.

I think as you I get older (and fatter) I need to increase the drama and eccentricity to carry off an androgynous but not butch look. More swirl, more texture, more accessories.

I think androgyny can look too masculine if you aren't slim but I don't think age is a factor in this.

My mum is 69 and tends to dress androgynously e.g. flat shoes like brogues or loafers, mannish trousers, white shirts, plain knits, reefer jacket. She is very, very thin and has her hair in that slightly wavy lob style that everyone seems to have right now (she's had that type of hair for at least 10 years). She does wear make-up (natural looking) and she always wears stud earrings, but not much other jewellery apart from a plain watch and her wedding/engagement rings. Nails are always filed and painted with clear or very discreet pale pink polish.

She shops at Zara and Uniqlo for every day.

If you're looking for photos, check out Inés De La Fressange.

I'm just getting back into androgyny again after 20-odd years in dresses and tube skirts! But the last time around, I had a very androgynous shape whereas now I'm curvier and I think I need to soften things up a bit. I've been looking a lot at Katharine Hepburn and I think wide leg, mannish trousers with either a silk shirt or a jumper with a deepish V-neck are the way for me to go. But that's more about body shape than face.

Inés De La Fressange and Katharine Hepburn both excellent searches - thank you

Annie Lennox obviously does this well too.

Tilda Swinton?

Isn't it more of a body type than a look?

One of my best friends is always trying to figure this out. I know that she's realised that soft fabrics are the way forward. She also wears jewellery to soften it all up. She doesn't have pierced ears but takes care over her necklaces and bracelets. She wears mostly Zara.

On nights out she wears a drapey plain top with a soft jersey blazer over it and silver jewellery. And lots of mascara which seems important with short hair.

Oh and she's started to be wary of black after years of wearing it a lot. More khaki mixed with various greys and some pale pink now.

Btw her "pub shoes" are Toms. Give a nice bare ankle and look casual and androgenous but never manly.

Is it more the 'handsome woman' feel rather than grungy androgyny you're aiming for, OP?

She's a bit more rock chick but have a look at Caroline de Maigret too.

Also Leonard Cohen for me. Yes I know he was a man but what I take from him is the power of beautifully tailored clothes.

It's been a while since I wore tailored trousers and I'd forgotten how important the fit and the fabric are. I'm coming to the conclusion that they're hard to do on the cheap.

Pauline Black always looks great.

goo.gl/images/vRWyW9

I think Trinny can sometimes look a bit like this. She's very glam and looks fabulous but I do think her style veers on the edge of this look.

It's not about body type or any other physical quality imo. It's about being playful with clothes across sex/gender divides and being yourself.

Check this great article out.

But in the Annie Lennox photo, e.g. if she didn't already look androgynous there is no way she would do so in that dress.

Or is it the hat and the hair? Even so, if she had massive boobs and hips it would be difficult to pull of as androgynous.

I googled "curvy androgyny" and came up with some good pictures, and this article
www.alreadypretty.com/reader-request-menswear-looks-for-curvy-women/

Cate Blanchett? I think body shape is a factor, tbh. It's much easier to pull off if you're tall and willowy rather than tending towards solid and boxy.

The first person I thought of was Diane Keaton. She's always kept her signature look but updates it for the times so she never looks like she's in costume.

She was on Graham Norton a few months ago and looked amazing. She was sitting next to the extremely beautiful Jessica Chastain but Keaton's look was far more eye catching.