Ageless style

Fashion experts say age-appropriate dressing simply translates as finding out what does or doesn't work for you. And being stylish, right up to your fifties, is about learning to adapt fashion trends to suit your preferences.

First, all the fashion advice you are about to read in this article is applicable to the 30-plus woman. (However, if you are younger, you could pick out a pointer or two.)

Instead, as reiterated by style experts, it means expressing yourself elegantly and stylishly through choice of clothing that makes you look your best.

And this means you can always look great even if you are in mourning for the loss of your twenties.

Every woman wants to look young, says Brian Rennie, chief designer of Escada in Germany.

"But being fashionable is not a matter of age, but of style, intelligence and personality. I know youth culture is a trend of modern times, but [women should realise that in the world of fashion] the emphasis should be on stating individuality [at any age]."

"A woman can do this by taking inspiration from fashion, mixing trends and colours, and creating her own personality through clothes. And despite changing fashion silhouettes, the ‘fit' of a garment has always been a crucial sartorial element."

So, if you are in your thirties, it would be safe to assume that the ripped jeans and the tank tops of your younger days have been replaced by more structured apparel.

If you are in your forties, your body may not favour spaghetti straps or fancy necklines, so you have opted for safe cuts that flatter your form.

And if you are in your fifties and beyond, you have seriously begun to look at muted colours and simple patterns to state elegance.

By now you are beginning to wonder, "Does ‘dressing up' lose its fun as one grows older?"

Rennie doesn't think so. Style, he says, is not dependent on age.

"A woman can look stylish at any stage in her life. Depending on the brands she prefers, she should know how to combine different styles, and at times, even how to wear a slightly eccentric or glamorous outfits with nonchalant allure."

"The rule for everyday clothing is, it has to be practical not provocative, and yet not too boring; accessories, such as bags, also play an important role. Further, I believe fashion without accessories is like a concert without music, so these have to be chosen carefully."

Lifestyle changes

There are noticeable lifestyle changes in the life of a woman as she graduates from the classroom to the boardroom.

Apart from external influences, her personal priorities also undergo significant alterations, especially with marriage and motherhood taking up large tracts of space.

As a result, her body is always in a constant state of transition, and it is challenging for her to refashion her sartorial tastes.

"A woman's style is constantly influenced by the demands in her life," says Istvan Francer, the design director of Theory, a New York-based fashion label.

"Whether she is a stay-at-home mother or a working woman, her lifestyle will dictate what works for her. In this context, age is certainly not a problem; a 25-year-old woman is as beautiful as a 75-year-old woman, as long as she understands the evolution of feminine appeal."

Francer also says style is about tailoring current fashion dictates to one's individual style.

"A woman should never chase fashion. She should use key trends and incorporate them in her fashion schedule to fit her individual and unique sensibility."

"But the most important [fashion consideration] for a woman at any age is comfort. She should know her body, and be aware of how it changes from her twenties into her forties and beyond."

Adapting to changing trends

As a woman moves from one age-decade to the next, the signs of change are hard to miss … expanding dress sizes, marked differences in the texture of skin, varying comfort levels, etc.

A woman should adapt to these accordingly.

"She shouldn't hold on to items from her youth, especially when they no longer work for her. Such items only keep her mentally young by tying her to the past," says Francer, who advises women to accept the ageing process gracefully.

Mature women should be more conscious about wearing certain trends such as miniskirts or styles that draw attention to the midriff.

"There should be subtlety of style to accompany the appeal of an older woman, and she should never overaccessorise. Dressing should be about a sense of confidence and self awareness that comes only with age," he says.

Francer's views also concur with those of Theory's president and founder, Andrew Rosen, when he says, "Clothes can be mixed eclectically so they work for individual lifestyles."

Fashion and Asian women

Across the spectrum, on a different wavelength, are Asian women.

Valaya is perceptive of how rapidly Asian women are embracing global fashion trends.

"Glamour is an essential part of life, but so is stating one's individuality. There is a fine line between elegance and bad taste. However, if a woman allows comfort and appropriate clothing to guide her, she can create an individualistic yet elegant statement."

Fashion also means adapting to physical changes, according to him.

"If you have a fit body, you can opt for sleeveless styles and interesting necklines. Otherwise, avoid risky cuts and tight-fitting fabrics. The best way to find out what does or doesn't look good on you is to analyse your body shape. Remember, the mirror never lies."

Valaya says Asian women look good when they match ethnic-influenced accessories with their attire.

"This always works," and recommends experimenting with saris, kurtis, bags and shoes.

Retailer's perspective

A retail salesperson knows how women shop. He observes them as they pick and choose and drop outfits, at times with utter hesitation and at other times with total confidence.

"My job," as senior sales supervisor at Salam, Wafi Mall, Dubai, says Hatem Hamadah, "is to make sure every woman who walks into the store finds something that makes her look good."

Hamadah, who has been in the retail trade for more than 10 years, knows women tend to get idealistic.

"Many women prefer younger styles that may or may not suit them. If a particular garment does not flatter them, we are trained to offer alternatives."

"However, comfort is the determining factor for a majority of Dubai-based women shoppers. Some favourites among mature women include embroidered T-shirts, long skirts, classic handbags and matching