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Craig Twist Fashion Correspondent

Hello summer!!!

What an overwhelming response from last week’s edition. I know it is still an issue when it comes to dressing the part or your age.

One of our Facebook follower called Gracious messaged: “ . . . can you also give tips on how older women should dress and look elegant.” 

Again, it was a long weekend with the holidays, but thousands of miles across the continent on the other side of the world in England there was the long awaited prestigious event happening at the Olinda Chapel Foundation High Tea at the Grand Hotel in Birmingham, graced by top musicians, Jah Prayzah and Gemma Griffiths.

High Teas are centuries old English traditions, especially in the posh or affluent societies where ladies and men alike are all dolled up to the nines for an afternoon tea and cake. 

Even though High Teas are semi-formal events as they have always been, ladies would be wearing bright and fun colours, dress length playing around the “murky territory” above the ankle and below the knees, some floral dresses and summery hats, cotton and linen materials as opposed to the heavy velvet, ball gowns and dresses, everyone looked wonderful as it was an evening event.

Back to our topic of the day on style mistakes that older women make, we will be referring to women in their late 40s, 50s and 60s.

If you are going to have just two takeaways from this article then better be dressed for the occasion and know your body type first, then dress to flatter it. 

As we get older our bodies change and we have to come to terms with it. 

We start having extra flesh in some areas around the waistline and arms which we are most likely going to spend the rest of lives trying to conceal or get rid of, however, it’s the natural course our bodies take and there is a little we can do about it. 

One of the few things we can do is to know our body types and dress accordingly.

There is a habit most older women have which should come to an end — their penchant to hold on to old clothes and shoes. 

I’m not saying you should follow trends, but the shoes or outfit you got on your wedding anniversary or birthday 10 or 15 years ago no matter how good you have looked after it, it has either passed its life expectancy, is out of style or both.

 If you don’t want to donate it to the Salvation Army charity shop you might as well put it in a trunk like the royals or opulent families and keep it for the next generation when its style revolves. 

Many women have the assumption that as they get older and heavier they have to start wearing oversized clothes to cover up their flaws or as a sign of dignity.

But oversized clothes actually have the opposite effect, they make you look even more heavier and older than you actually are, so avoid wearing clothes two or more sizes above your actual size. 

Getting older does not mean you should stop looking sexy, however, the show-more-show-less rule applies. 

If you decide to show a bit of flesh on your top half then show less of it at your lower half, same with the style tip that loose bottoms are worn with tighter tops to even your body and the vice versa is true.

When you are wearing trousers, always opt for cuffed, capri, three quarter trousers as they take your body shape and get slimmer towards the bottom, the gap between the hem and the shoe elongates your look and appear more elegant.

Cardigans, dress or long line tops that drapes down to cover the backside become essential and wardrobe staples.

Older women also feel like showing a bit of flesh, especially in warm weather climates, but this should not be excessive. 

Try wearing materials that allow circulation of air like linen and cotton instead. 

As you get older, you accumulate a lot of accessories and jewellery, consequently most women tend to heavily adorn themselves in necklaces, bracelets and chandelier earrings which only makes you look like a moving Christmas tree. 

In all fairness, most jewellery is best kept tucked in the loft or under the bed in a jewellery box, however, when worn by older women, subtle is classy and simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Lastly, wear the appropriate lingerie for your age and functionality.