Summer is here, and black is THE fashion colour to wear, but these are the trends I will NOT be wearing:

Sheer tops
I’m sorry but beyond 50 sheer is not a good place to go to – bra straps, love handles and a tummy  – nothing can be hidden in a sheer top, and any bit of you that doesn’t look good gets worse when you sit down.

Perspex shoes
One of the key looks this summer in shoes, how on earth can your feet be comfy and not sweaty when encased in anything plastic? And don’t start me on that scourge of foot fashion, the Croc, which now seems to have expanded into a dire range of plastic footwear. Each pair should come with a complimentary tube of athlete’s foot cream!
Then there is the Perspex bag  – and boy, are they expensive! How come a piece of plastic can cost £’000’s?

Ruffles
Well, what can I say? Have you ever tried to iron a shirt festooned with ruffles? Time taken to iron one flouncy shirt equals time taken to do all the rest of the ironing put together. Also I think most ruffles just make you look fat, unless you are a size zero model, and are a terrible trap for crumbly canapes.

Dungarees and jumpsuits
What daft designer thought that one up? There is no-one who looks good in dungarees, other than Andy Pandy. They are gross, full stop. Whilst on the subject of trousers I would consign all baggy pyjama style and pleated trousers to my Room 101. They are just so unflattering, on everyone.

Heavily clashing prints
I must admit I am in two minds over this. The theory sounds great but the reality? Having just seen this  “patterns in your face jacket” from Jaeger I’m not too sure. I just have a sneaky suspicion that anything multi patterned will stay firmly at the back of my wardrobe in favour of plain summery colours, and black of course!
Likewise florals  – how many women do you know who look good in florals?

Open toed boots for summer?
We wait 6 months to get our loafers, strappy sandals and peep toed shoes out, and blow me, the fashion trend is open toed evening boots! Duh??

So that’s it. For me it will be a diet of no clashing colours, no frilly bits or floral prints, no Perspex shoes, and not a onesie in sight. This is definitely a summer to choose your trends carefully and avoid these fashion pitfalls.

Most women have a nucleus of 25% of their wardrobe which gets worn 75% of the time, so a clear out means you can access the pieces you wear much more easily and identify the gaps that necessitate a new purchase! 

Aim to sort and streamline your wardrobe each spring and autumn as you get the next season’s clothes and shoes out. Be ruthless, and unless they are timeless quality pieces (some clothes do have several lives) give to charity (or sell on eBay) anything that does not make you feel good, that looks tired or that you haven’t worn in years. Those suits or dresses that you kept because you spent a lot of money on them years ago, or the shoes that were a bargain in the sales but you can’t remember when you last wore them are prime candidates

So ask yourself the following questions:
-do I look good in this?
-does it flatter my shape?
-will I realistically wear it again?
-when did I last wear it?
-does the colour suit me?
-is it too young for me now?
-is it a classic?
-is it completely out of fashion (padded shoulders!)?
-would altering the hem line give it fresh life?

A good friend can be really useful for this, and then you can repay the favour. But beware – retro is very popular & fashion has a habit of repeating itself.

Paying a professional to go through your clothes is expensive, but actually good value – they will rejuvenate your wardrobe, ruthlessly discard what doesn’t suit you, show you how to wear what you have to maximum effect and identify key items to buy that will complement what you have already.

For an e boutique site full of storage ideas and useful products to make clothes storage more efficient go to Total Wardrobe Care

If you have used a wardrobe consultant let us know on the FORUM and we will add her to the site.

Or you could go “Swishing” It’s a relatively new event for getting ladies together to swap their unwanted but good quality clothes. What you think of as last season someone else will regard as having classic style. You have to take at least one item of good quality clean clothing or an accessory that you would be pleased to wear but now want to hand on. Your items are graded & exchanged for vouchers and then you begin to browse. You could even set up a Swishing session yourself to raise money for charity.

Designer Alterations will alter hemlines, waistlines or even copy a favourite dress.

Although 50 is no longer considered old, (and of course I would say we are in our prime!) inevitably it does mean that certain trends and styles should now be off limits. Lets face it, as we age, some previously toned body parts do regrettably begin to sag and lose that peachy youthful look. In my view, even if you have the size 10 body of a slim 30 year old, as we approach our 50’s a touch of elegance and sophistication is required.

As many fashion experts will attest, dressing younger doesn’t make you look younger. Having said that, neither should you fill your wardrobe with staple classics – ‘classic’ can look dated and old fashioned. On the other hand the season’s pleated skirts could look horribly like Country Casuals on anyone other that a young Kiera Knightly beanpole.

So what’s a cool, fashionable middle-age woman to do?
Well, for starters, 50 does not mean you can’t have fun with your wardrobe or keep up with some of the latest trends. Women in their 50’s should feel just as comfortable and elegant in their clothing as they do in their own skin.

Fortunately, there are plenty of hot trends for 2013 that are wearable for women of all ages. From brightly-coloured pants suits to sleek Bermuda shorts, clothing trends for this spring are cool and classy, much like the women sporting them. Click here for the latest on this summers trends for our age group.

Brilliant Bermudas

This spring introduces a sharp update to Bermuda shorts.

Yes, when one normally thinks of Bermuda shorts, retirees on a golf course or chowing down at a buffet at an island beach resort usually comes to mind; however, these knee-length shorts are no longer reserved for the older crowd. Designers have added diverse prints, charming pastels, and a polished fitting to Bermudas. Ideal for chic ladies who want to keep cool, yet look conservative, these slouchy, smart shorts have a flattering fit and can be worn in the office or to brunch with friends.

Designers used fabrics like silk, cotton, and denim; frilly, flirty details; and dainty prints to create these splendid shorts. Click here for some more key spring runway trends that middle aged women can actually wear.

Alluring Colours

Spring is the time when everything around us comes alive and, for many of us, so do our wardrobes. This season it’s the “brighter, the better” when it comes to colourful attire. Delicious tangerines, terracotta’s, and pumpkins, plus hues of amber and honey, are some of the stunning colours that designers used in their spring and summer collections this year.

These diverse shades of orange aren’t the only colours you’ll see this season – rich reds, calm yellows, dark blues, and deep purples are also going to be a hit in the 2013 fashion scene. Items in these bold colours should be a fixture in your wardrobe, particularly in your beach wear.

Swimming costumes, beach dresses, and cover ups are available in an array of radiant colours and can easily be found at M&S

These fabulous and flattering colours aren’t strictly for the beach or pool either, as designers have also created sophisticated, tailored pants and relaxed, loose-fitting tops in some of these dazzling tones. And don’t resist the temptation to show off your colourful apparel in the office since many businesses and companies have a more relaxed dress code, particularly during the warmer months. No matter the item of clothing, incorporate these colour trends in your own personal style this season.

And remember, being trendy in your 50’s means you can give all those fashion misses a wide berth – jumpsuits, zig zag tights, and wedge trainers. No no no!

Whistles have some fabulous fashion, for working ladies too.

The sales are finished and it’s time to turn our minds to spring fashion trends.

First of all you need a quick new year wardrobe detox – pass on to charity anything you haven’t worn for two years, including those sale purchase shoes that were a bargain, but never really fitted.

The new trends to look out for are :

A smart hoodie – yes they really are in fashion now curtesy of Alexander Wang, although a smart trophy sweatshirt will do just as well.

Watch out in Debenhams for their Designers at Debenhams range – this year Marios Schwab, Jonathan Saunders and Preen are stars of this years collection.

Hunter is expanding from its welly range into Hunter macs, and they look rather neat – Burberry better watch out.

Wide stripes in bold combinations are heading our way ( think convicts) – mercifully in vertical format rather than horizontally.

The mid heel shoe is on the rise, thank goodness as I can never last more than a couple of hours in stillettos.

Leather and lace continue to lead the style trend, and for work trouser suits are making a comeback, with heels.

And finally, have you looked at Jaeger recently? What a transformation! I know they are more expensive than the high street, but the quality is excellent and the styles are very wearable. I am seriously tempted by a whole stack of their new pieces.

Here are my wardrobe essentials for the winter

So the clocks have gone back, and winter beckons. This is a time to cheer up your wardrobe with a new ‘essential” item.

Fortunately, his season’s fashion must-have is perfect for the middle aged stylish woman. Pack up the summer’s capri pants and get yourself a pair of fashion’s latest – the seven-eighth trouser, or more precisely a slim trouser that flatters big calves by thankfully ending well below them and instead shows a little bit of ankle.

Suddenly seven-eighth trousers are everywhere, and in all shades and patterns – jacquard, tartan, paisley, check etc. Personally I would go for a chic black as, unless you are very brave, you have to be willow slim to look good in paisley trousers. Think sort of rock chic for the over 40’s. Pair them with a loose, sloppy jumper or a not-tucked-in top, and ballet pumps for everyday wear. In the evenings high heels or wedges look great.

And why oh why did I give my leather trousers away! Every celebrity and style icon seems to be papped in a pair, and they are so versatile. The ultimate day to evening winter wear item. From Net a Porter, via Zara to M&S – they are everywhere. If you can’t afford the real thing, wax coated trousers are the perfect alternative. You can dress them down with ballet shoes or smart trainers, or ramp it up with high heels. Keep your top half casual and voila’ – you have the instant Elle Macpherson look.

M&S Per Una Speziale Baroque Print Trousers

M&S Per Una Collection

V&A BallgownsThe V&A is a real treasure trove of exhibitions and entrance is free, although they rightly request a £3.00 donation. A couple of weeks ago my daughter and I went to the Ballgowns exhibition, and it is well worth a visit. It was an extensive exhibition with some classic designer dresses from the 1920’s onwards, donated by the wearers.I found it interesting to see that whilst materials and patterns changed, many of the dresses were still wearable today – until you got into the extreme designer wear section where the neoprene and feather numbers would have looked a little out of place at a local charity ball.

Most interesting were the dresses that were accompanied by a photograph of the wearer, and I felt that it was a shame there weren’t more of those.

From the Emmanuel’s (of Princess Diana’s wedding dress fame)  was a dress that Liz Hurley wore for an iconic Estee Lauder ad in 1999– the perfect floral full skirted wedding dress.

Emmanuel dress for Liz Hurley in Estee Lauder adsThere was an amazing feather concoction by Alexander McQueen, which Daphne Guinness wore in 2011. Guinness had earlier intrigued those who passed by the window of Barneys, the New York store, by getting ready for the evening event in the window!

Dress worn by Princess Diana

There was an instantly recognizable dress worn by Princess Diana – I can’t remember who designed it, but here it is and I’m sure you will recognize it.

Some designers had donated their dresses, but I felt they could maybe have chosen other pieces that would have done them more justice. anyway, my daughter found her ideal wedding dress, which she duly photographed for future reference for an as yet completely unknown  event.

Anyway here are a selection of my favoutites – go and enjoy it whilst it is on, and after that you have the whole amazing V&a  to wander round, though I always find a couple of hours at one go is enough – by then I need a quick whisk round the shop, a coffee fix and some fresh air.

Daphne Guinness' dress

Wedding Dress?

Metallic Leather

Foil dress

I love the new season’s flatties as my days of teetering around on stilettos for anything more than an evening out are long gone. Platform wedges are fine, but for comfort and ease a round toed ballet flat is my shoe of choice. From the high street styles of Top Shop, Dorothy Perkins and Asos to French Sole ,  A Piedi and Pretty Ballerinas the choice is huge. Even better, they can be cheap enough to have fun with for just a season and not worry if they fall apart come winter.

It’s hard to be cheerful when you’re wearing clothes that are too tight, are itchy, or nearly trip you every step you take.  If you think about it, your clothes can potentially affect just about every moment of your day.  When picking out clothes choose fabrics that are smooth and soft and make sure they fit you well