This has to be the hardest post I have done so far. It has taken me days of research and I am still very dissatisfied. As far as the internet is concerned, fashion is for the under 50’s generation.
Fashion for over 50’s is a a very ambiguous thing in terms of what is available in store, online and if you are looking for a guide on what to wear there is close to nothing, anywhere. One good website which is a bit of fun and does show women with great style is http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com.au/ but it does not tell you what shops to visit or give you a list of fashion brands suited to your desire to dress well and still have a bit of an edge. So despite a LOT of looking and reading I am going to list a few brands that I think are worth looking at for the over 50’s. However please don’t hold it over my head as I figure I need to do a lot more research on the topic.
Here is a list of designers and please don’t take too much notice of my imagery as there was NOTHING on the web so these are just a splash of reference. Here above is Calvin Klein who does a beautiful minimal but sharp cut, great clean fabrics and very suitable for over 50’s that want to look fashionable and good but in context!
Etro is such a beautiful brand for the over 50’s who want that loose style that has a boho, aztec feel. A very expensive choice but a good one to go off in terms of style. I would also look at Diane Von Furstenberg, Valentino, Carolina Herrera, Bruno Cucinello, Joseph, Jaeger, Ann Taylor, Wolford, Jil Sander, Piazza Sempione, Missoni and Donna Karen. 
Lastly, Giorgio Armani! For those that want that casual but elegant look but not at that price visit stores in Sydney like MyCatwalk in Double Bay, Directions in Double Bay, Lara On Queen in Woollahra and Mary Reeds. A great Equipment shirt from MyCatwalk and a pair of Gap pants is a great look. Here are a few tips from the UK Guardian….by Fiona Sibley
Katharine Whitehorn wrote recently about her experience of dressing elegantly in her mature years. It can’t always be easy to shop the more fashionable collections when everything appears to be modelled on younger women, but depending on how you see it, therein lies the creative challenge: to wear clothes that express your personality, whatever your age.
For women over 60, formalwear certainly seems less challenging than casual dressing. Tailoring and eveningwear are fairly timeless, whereas informal daywear sometimes seems to belong more naturally to a younger generation. The secret to good dressing at any age is to know what suits you, and your body shape. If you have fabulously slim legs at 70, then you’re fortunate to be able to pull off an elegant trouser suit that some women in their 20s couldn’t.
With that in mind, there are definitely flattering styles that help all of us to age gracefully. Skirts cut just below the knee are good, as many women retain slim calves. Trouser suits are smart, and can be loosened up with colourful blouses. Dresses tend to require sleeves, but can come in any style or length, and as for shoes – flats and heeled boots are all within reach. Avoid capricious super-trends, though: women of any age can look chic and modern without looking trendy. Another rule of thumb is not to swamp your figure. You may get more petite as you age, so if you can, keep your figure streamlined, but avoid clinging fabrics.
Mirren (63) always looks ravishing in the sort of head-to-toe metallics that can be picked up at high street store Coast – elegant tailoring in bold silver fabrics offsetting her beautiful white hair and slim figure. The Queen’s style icon status is much more Austin Reed, teaming 40s-style frock coats with wide-brimmed hats. Lumley embodies that quintessential English elegance: alternating chic black eveningwear with country tweed à la Jean Muir.
Yet formality needn’t always be the name of the game. Remember the famous poem penned by Jenny Joseph back in 1961? “When I am an old woman I shall wear purple, With a red hat which doesn’t go and doesn’t suit me.” It’s true: retirement is an age to please yourself, and some women can’t wait to rebel creatively against a lifetime spent dressing to conform to work and family expectations. Our glamorous over-60s are happily spending their retirement enjoying themselves, and need a wardrobe to match.
The last point to note is practical: many ladies in their 60s and upwards are dressing on a budget, and expect value for money. With this in mind, we’ve trawled the high street and the best of the labels to find clothing to make over-60s look – and feel – their very best.
Other brands that are worth looking at are Sportscraft, Susan, Mela Purdie, Easton Pearson, Carla Zampatti and Ralph Lauren.
I hope to have more posts to support the fashionable over 50’s set here on ChicFinds. X
ChicFinds 