Does your style change as you age or do you stay the same? This is a great question as it’s multi-faceted and there are a number of changes you may experience as you move through your life that will have an impact on your style choices.  What you wear at 20 is not what you’re likely to be wearing at 70 – not just because fashions change.  But because you are not physically the person you were all those decades ago.

by Zanita Careem

There’s a misconception that aging and fashion don’t go well together. There is no denying that our looks change as we grow older.

As a legendary Hollywood costume designer once said “You can wear anything you want as fashion is not the frivolity it’s often made out to be. So forget age-appropriate dressing.

Throw out the rule there isn’t anything a woman can’t or shouldn’t wear after a certain age.

As our wardrobe grows and we learn what suits us, it’s vital not being struck in a fashion time warp that is ageing but so is wearing head to live designer clothing so called luxury brands are not.

Shirlene Chiba, a beauty queen of yesteryear and still an icon in fashion said “with an over saturated fashion market aimed more towards those in the younger age groups, confidence can be a great barrier when deciding what to wear. As I grew older, I asked my self why shouldn’t I wear this at my age?”

“As mature women we should be able to dress fashionably without worrying about our age”.

“I have travelled to many parts of the world and my beauty business has been the pinnacle of my success. I dress to reflect my true self rather than what someone else thinks I should look like. It’s me whom I will be seeing in the mirror and I want to feel happy with what I see”.

Shirlene says fashion is about confidence and expression. Fashion changes with time and our body a;so change. I was slim and nowwith age i have gained weight. I dress fashionably but with elegance.

Do you follow any trends

Shirlene said “I love peeking at the new trends in magazines and fashion shows and it is so exciting to see the creativity that has gone into the pieces. ‘I don’t follow fashion blindly, I try to inject some new ideas from the latest trends but I always want to be simple, and elegant. I already know what suits me.

In the past years, catwalk have seen greater diversity and models have been making names for themselves as fashion stars of the 60’s and 70’s.

For example the Versace catwalk in Milan is still starring the original supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Chrristy Turlington, Cindy Cawford and Clandra Schiffer, who in their 40’s and 50’s turned out to be super models and stole the shows.

Shirlene, still an icon of beauty said “all you need to look glamorous is that special something, that secret ingredient, which is style”.

We don’t need to go high end but sometimes there’s more fun in finding a vintage or second hand item to add a little oomph to you wardrobe and update your looks.

However, there is no denying that we do look different as we grow older. As a result some people fall out of love with fashion simply because they don’t know how to select the best dresses to highlight their changing features. Thankfully, now people of all ages are keen to have a beautiful wardrobe and want to dress elegantly!

Our teens and 20s are all about experimenting and trying on a whole range of different styles and trends. The best advise to be simple and elegant without following fashions blindly.giously, . You want your clothes to take the fabulous person within and be confident.

She says one doesn’t need to have the genes of a supermodel. All you need is that special something, that secret ingredient, that elegant style. Here’s how to get it. Find out what suits you – but never stop experimenting. What flatters you most? what makes you feel confident or the best version of yourself? That’s what you’re aiming for. And this will change. Roll with it.

Consider where your eye is drawn and why. what makes your heart skip a beat? Think about your fashion background – the era you grew up in, the things that influenced you. Was it a favourite overseas trip on which you were charmed by a place’s style signature?

The former beauty queen also said sometimes it’s a misconception that aging and fashion don’t go well together: that as we get older, somehow all our interest in looking and feeling our best disappears. Well, it doesn’t. while our tastes may change over time – at least, they do for many of us -, the fun and creativity of fashion and the importance of self-care never goes out of style.

However, there’s no denying that we do look different as we get older. As a result, many people fall out of love with fashion simply because they don’t know how to best dress to suit their changing features. Not only that but for years, older people were neglected by the fashion industry. We have to have a beautiful wardrobe at our disposal, but one that is truly tailored to their tastes.

After all, clothes should be about feeling good. ultimately, whatever you feel best in is the best look for you, no matter what your age said Shirlene.

Here are some tips you may find useful when it comes to dressing for any season.

Buy clothes that work together

One of the main mistakes anyone can make when buying clothes is purchasing them as individual pieces rather than considering whether they go together. This means we often have an overwhelming amount of nice separate pieces but a complete lack of cohesive outfits.

When you’re shopping, it’s vital to asses not just how much you like an item of clothing but also how well it will go with your other pieces. Alternatively, you can shop with your existing wardrobe in mind and find pieces that match with it. Another method is to pick quite neutral clothes which you can then spruce up with accessories such as jewellery or jackets. This really allows you to be creative and keeps things simple.

Don’t overbuy

Most of us have probably been guilty of this at one time or another. Over the years, you end up accumulating a small mountain of clothes: none of which goes together, and none of it being particularly exciting. This is even more likely as we get older that mountain gets bigger and bigger and bigger.

Imagine what it would be if you look at all the time and money you have spent on clothes you didn’t really want and instead only bought pieces that you feel really great in. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to spend more on clothes Don’t be afraid to give unwanted clothes away.

Remember that overflowing closet is difficult to manage. Decluttering is a great way of getting everything organized, which can make choosing what to wear so much easier.

Comfort is often ignored in the fashion world, but the fact remains that it is a very important factor.

Getting older doesn’t mean you have to miss out on enjoyable and meaningful activities. So be creative, wear whatever makes you happy, and yes, have fun with it said Shirlene.