That's Not My Age

Spread the Warmth

2012-02-08T14:14:00.001Z

Did you know that Friday 10 February is Age UK's Bobble Day? An annual fundraising event where people are encouraged to get their woollies out, wrap up warm (shouldn't be difficult at the moment, it's bloody freezing) and donate money to charity. And this year, as part of the Spread the Warmth campaign, a team of talented knitters from Grannies, Inc have been clicking away to create a limited edition bobble hat:

Meet Granny Patsy

and Granny Holly.

Hats cost £35, are 100% merino wool and £8 goes towards the campaign to help prevent older people suffering and dying during winter. It's a brilliant idea, isn't it? So, come on put your hand in your pocket and Spread the Warmth!

Click here to donate. Click here to add a bobble to your Twitter photo and here for the Facebook 'Knit Me' app. And, er, get knitted.

Vincent Cassell and the simple grey sweatshirt

2012-02-06T21:34:00.000Z

If you ever needed evidence that the simple grey sweatshirt is a timeless fashion stalwart, then here it is. Vincent Cassel in Jil Sander. How good does that look? Classic, easy to wear and chic, That's Not My Age loves a sweatshirt. As I've told you before, here and here. I see it as a reliable everyday essential for both men and women. The kind of thing Jane Birkin would throw on (with jeans and Converse) for a bicycle ride to the boulangerie. Or Steve McQueen would wear for a Great Escape. It's all about effortless style. Blending in rather than showing-off suggests a degree of understated confidence. And, as Monsieur Cassal, 45, says he prefers dressing down to standing out:

'I used to be more self-conscious about style because when you're younger, you want to exist, you want to show everything you do. The minute I started being recognised, I became much more discreet.'

Ines de la Fressange wears her sweatshirt with chinos.


And so does Steve McQueen.

Kate Moss goes for jeans and a classic seventies look.

But you don't always have to play it down. Or stick to a casual dress code. For a more pulled-together look try the essential grey sweatshirt with coloured jeans/pants and a tailored jacket. Or dress things up - like J.Crew's Jenna Lyons, a woman who knows how to add sparkle to preppy basics - with sequins and faux fur:


Jenna Lyons goes for the Brooklyn mash-up.

And here are some of my favourite grey sweatshirts:

Isabel Marant's classic Dora sweatshirt

When in doubt, there's always Gap. Might have to buy this one, I like the wider neckline and zip fastening.

If you can put Dov Charney's sexual harrassment charges to one side for a moment, how about American Apparel?

For summer, I wear mine with a maxi skirt and flat sandals - much more modern than a cardigan.

That's not me. It's an old Net-a-Porter picture.

How would you wear the simple grey sweatshirt?

Photos
Vincent Cassel photo and quote: The Observer
JennaLyons: David XPrutting
Kate Moss: handbag.com
Ines de la Fressange: disneyrollergirl
Steve McQueen: A Continuous Lean

Help. I've bought a Barbour!

2012-02-03T08:13:00.000Z

From Balmoral to Brick Lane, the quintessentially British Barbour has become a national treasure. And now, the traditional uniform of Tories, toffs and Shoreditch Twats has found it's way into the wardrobe of a mid-life stylist. Vintage faux fur coats are all well and good, but they don't have the technical ability of my lovely new quilted jacket - and at my age, a breeze around the buttonholes could be fatal. I'm too old to be cold. My teenage self would be appalled, but at least I've opted for a chic navy blue biker-style and not a waxy green number, you know, like the one worn by HRH and the Countryside Alliance.

Not an attempt to look posh. Or ironic. Keeping up with the Camerons? We're not all in this together. My purchase was driven purely by practicality. With a commute to work involving a twenty-minute bike ride to the train station, I want to stay warm and dry, and look relatively respectable when I reach the other end. I want to look warm and cool. And this Barbour is much cheaper than a Belstaff. Sorry, my official photographer was busy, hence the still life picture. You'll just have to imagine the quilted jacket with navy trousers and brogues - oh no, am I turning into Sloane Ranger? Make that one without a trust fund or an SW7 postcode. Nah. Now that Ines de la Fressange has embraced the hunting/shooting/fishing vibe, (see below) I think I can get away with it.

Tally ho!

Boden does Parisian Chic

2012-01-30T20:51:00.000Z

Has anyone else noticed that the Boden catalogue has gone all Parisian Chic for spring? When Ines de la Fressange published her style guide last year, grown-up women swooned. A Mexican wave of approval swept the blogosphere as we all agreed we wanted to look like Ines. Be like Ines. And so, here we have un petit hommage. Shot in the French capital, on a gorgeous model (quite similar to Ines' daughter Nine, don't you think?) wearing timeless basics - the blazer, the tan leather jacket, the jeans - to create that pared-down, 'made in Paris' look.

Meanwhile, in an intriguing sartorial twist over at the haute couture shows last week, Ines de la Fressange swapped Parisian Chic for English Heritage:

Make that flannel, corduroy and tweed. Maybe she's working on another style guide? What do you think?

Laura Linney's guide to ageing

2012-01-29T14:10:00.003Z

Another Sunday, another decluttering session at That's Not My Age Mansions. I'm feeling quite virtuous as I've already given two bags of books and clothes to charity, and now I have two more. Though, it's always a bit dangerous when you uncover old photographs and realise a) that you didn't actually look that bad when you were younger and b) there's a point in your forties when all the elasticity drops out of your face. But award-winning actress Laura Linney, 47, has spoken. And I've taken a reality check:

'Worrying about ageing is kind of a waste of time - and time is valuable. I hear someone complain about ageing and I just feel almost violent, you know? I don't want to spend my life in my 40s feeling bad about being in my 40s, and then all of a sudden I'm 50, and I will have missed a whole decade! I think it's pretty damn good to age and I hope I always feel this way.'

On that note, I'll get over myself and on with the tidying.

Photo and quote: The Guardian/The Times.

Martin Margiela Carpet Boots

2012-01-26T12:25:00.000Z

Look at these magic carpet boots from Maison Martin Margiela. Beautiful aren't they? Sitting happily in the middle of the fashion/interiors venn diagram, they'd be right at home at That's Not My Age Mansions. And, as January is all about staying in, carpet boots feel like the perfect footwear for lolling and lounging and looking good.

Just like the rug in the Big Lebowski, these boots could really tie an outfit together. The Persian carpet colour scheme, with its indigo blue highlights, means they'd look fantastic with jeans.

Classic J Brand jeans.

And as January is the Sunday morning lie-in to December's Saturday night out, let's add a cashmere sweater.

Striped sweater by Chinti and Parker.

Or a bath robe if you really want to do it like the Dude. But for a trip out - in a parallel universe where I can actually afford designer clothes - I'd throw on the gorgeous Haider Ackermann jacket that Tilda wore. With jeans of course:

How would you wear a pair of carpet boots?

KARL by Karl Lagerfeld: the preview

2012-01-24T08:19:00.001Z

Let's take an exclusive look at the KARL by Karl Lagerfeld collection for Net-a-Porter. Now, isn't that the best logo you've seen all year? If there's one silhouette that says fa-fa-fashion, it belongs to the Kaiser. Love it. So, the KARL line launches on Wednesday 25 January, has an affordable price tag (starting at £50 for KL's signature leather gloves, to just under £1000 for a biker jacket) and, as you can imagine, carries a lot of monochrome.

Dress like Karl? Fun, but no thanks, was my initial reaction to the range - as I recalled a set of dancing Lagerfeld-look-a-likes spotted the last time (and it was the last time) I went to a festival.

But it's not all Zoolander and high camp. Classic black and white always looks elegant and oh-so French. The soft leather biker jacket, silver Lurex tunic and distressed metallic jeans all have a whiff of Emmanuelle Alt's pared-down, rock and roll style, and as Natalie Massanet states, ' It's a very strong, well-edited collection with a great mix of street attitude and timeless chic. It also is an entire wardrobe that mixes and matches well with itself.'

I'm pleased to see KARL has given white jeans his leather-clad thumbs up. Every summer I battle with the Hurley/Middleton aversion but now the balance has swung back into the Ines/Karl camp, I can confirm that, this season, white jeans are classy not trashy.

And there were sequins. A simple dress and a sparkly biker jacket that was borderline Cher in Bob Mackie but on the right person...

Not everyone wants to be Karlified. There's a tipping point when imitation turns into fancy dress. So, the Kaiser can keep his big collars and leather fingerless gloves. More Jackie Stewart than Jackie O. Madonna may have been sporting the Chanel gloves of late, but I'll keep my age spots on show, thank you very much. When in doubt, just ask yourself, 'Does this say Parisian Chic? Would Ines wear it?' I think we all know the answer to that little fashion conundrum.

A moth-free wardrobe

2012-01-22T13:19:00.000Z

The annual wardrobe decluttering project hasn't quite got off the ground at That's Not My Age Mansions but preliminary preparations are afoot. One of my favourite Christmas presents was this hand-crafted, moth-repellent bag containing homegrown Kent lavender. Made from vintage-style fabrics by a crafty friend of mine, who carefully pointed out, 'It's not magic but it smells quite pleasant.'

Also available with a mosquito logo (containing citronella) for summer. For further information contact: arsbiscuits@aol.com

Style Icon: Felicity Green

2012-01-20T11:15:00.001Z

It was an absolute joy to hear Felicity Green in conversation last night, I love listening to fascinating people talk about their life and work. The first woman to join the board of a national newspaper - Green worked for the Mirror Group in the 1960s, when Fleet Street was an exclusively male environment and London was in full swing. The 85-year-old journalist with over 60 years experience in industry, spoke of her days as fashion editor on the Daily Mirror; of taking the mini skirt to Moscow, meeting Mary Quant and giving Harold Wilson's wife, Mary, a home perm. A delightful raconteur with strong opinions about style, Green insisted that the host for the evening, Susie Stone, remove her belt before the talk began, 'That dress shouldn't have an interruption!'

Then it was back to a childhood in Dagenham, where her fashion sense came from watching films. Skipping school to go to the cinema every Thursday afternoon with her father, Green was inspired by the Hollywood greats, 'Norma Shearer was my favourite. I kept a big scrapbook full of her pictures - but then I caught whooping cough, vomited all over it and the book had to be burned!'

And the octogenarian fashion expert's tip for looking good at any age? 'Look at this dress I'm wearing now (a simple black tunic), I'm 80-odd but I would have worn it in my twenties. Women mostly go wrong because they read an article saying 'Puff ball skirts are in' and think that they have to follow the latest craze. Experiment with fashion, just don't buy anything this year that you'll look daft in next year.'

Read Felicity Green's advice on how to develop your own sense of style here.

What are your tips for achieving timeless style?

Margaret Howell MHL shop opening

2012-01-18T12:04:00.000Z

That's not my walk-in wardrobe. Trying to find something in my closet is like trying to find an honest tabloid journalist at the Leveson inquiry. I long to have neat-freak tendencies, a Sleeping With The Enemy approach to storage. But, no. This is the newly opened MHL shop in Shoreditch, London. Which is excellent news for grown-ups - like me - who love Margaret Howell's Great British style.

MHL
19 Old Nichol Street
London
E2 7HR
(020 7033 9494)

The shop is open Monday - Friday 11am -7pm, Saturday 10am - 7pm and Sunday 12 -5pm.

Dresses with sleeves: over to you

2012-01-16T11:00:00.003Z

Had enough of uber-glamorous Hollywood movie stars at the Golden Globes? Then you're in the right place. Today, That's Not My Age is keeping it real with the latest instalment of Dresses with Sleeves. As Carey Mulligan said, 'It's not a natural thing to stand on the red carpet in a pair of shoes that you would never ordinarily wear, and a dress that you would never ordinarily wear.' So thanks to everyone who sent photos in, of dresses they would ordinarily wear. Here's my first round-up:

For Goodwood Festival last summer, Kim Hunt (above) - one of the team behind the Modern Love label - wore her cowl neck dress, off-the-shoulder. As slow fashion and perennial style are the brand's main themes, my winter style advice would be to keep it on-the-shoulder and pair with black opaques and platform heels/ wedges.

'Lending weight to the campaign for non-dowdy arm coverage,' fellow blogger, Lisa from Privilege looks classy in Narcisco Rodriguez.

'This old See by Chloe frock has always been good to my upper arms,' says the eternally glamorous Faux Fuchsia ( Cult Australian Blogger).

Judith from The Style Crone always looks chic. And is never knowingly under-dressed. Here she is striking a pose in a vintage geometric print Diane Von Furstenberg maxi.

Rose from Forever On The Catwalk Of Life in Phase Eight, 'It's only drawback is that people know where it came from, unlike most of my clothes which have a mysterious quality to them. Or is that just my imagination?!'

And finally, with apologies for the quality of her phone-sourced photograph, here's Maggie in a silk Zara dress, ' There's not a single working camera with a memory card in the house - one of the perils of living with teenage girls.'

More dresses with sleeves next week. In the meantime, keep those pictures coming.

Austerity Chic

2012-01-14T11:48:00.004Z

As usual, there are more receipts than bank notes in my tatty old purse. And even though my credit rating would make Merkozy frown, I'm thinking of buying a new wallet. So, I've been checking out the new collection from Beyond Skin. Made from 100% recyclable fabric, the purses are available in a range of eye-catching patterns and prints, and with a little scrimping and saving, mine will soon be bulging like Madonna's new cheeks.

Did you see The Graham Norton Show last night? I'm getting a bit worried about Madonna's face.

That is my age: I'd rather be warm than cool

2012-01-12T18:13:00.000Z

You may remember my friend Caroline, she bravely appeared on the blog - in control pants and very little else - the December before last. We thanked her for her services to womankind and Caroline generously agreed to do some more modelling. Here she is with her clothes on, road-testing the Women's Luxe Down Parka from Lands' End:

One freezing morning last month, waiting for a bus, I was transfixedby a girl ahead of me in the queue. She was setting off for work wearing – as youdo in mid-December - a lightweight leather jacket, miniskirt and ballet flats.No tights, of course, no hat, no gloves – in fact, no concession at all to thefact that it was around 0 degrees out and completely Nordic. From the way shewas holding the edges of her jacket together, it was obvious she was frozen,but I suppose she figured it was worth it. After all, if she’d worn a coat likea normal person, the rest of us in the queue wouldn’t have been able to admireher beauteous 21-year-old form.

Underdressing in winter is one of those youth thingsthat makes me glad I’m old. Young women evidently believe that if they wrap upin a scarf, hat and down jacket (ie, what I was wearing), they’ll look frumpy. Well,maybe they would. But guess what? They’d feel so much better, because nothingbeats the feeling of not freezing your butt off. I know she wouldn’t havebelieved that, though. It’s something you don’t discover till you’re 40.

And therein the dividing line between youth and middle age. WhenI was young, my winter coat was an unlined linen swing coat, under which, inreally cold weather, I might wear acardigan. Looking stylish was the goal, and if I froze, well, it was in theservice of fashion. But now, twenty-odd years later, I’d never leave the houseon a cold day without a down jacket, gloves, scarf and hat. (For especiallyArctic conditions, I also have little glove-warmers – plastic sachets youpre-heat in the microwave and then wear inside your gloves. Though talkingabout them is making me feel a bit orthopaedic, so forget I mentioned them).

Basically – and the 20-year-old me would be aghast by this –when the temperature plummets, I caremore about comfort than glamour: I’d just rather be warm than cool. Maybe this isa point all of us reach eventually, when we realise that it’s okay to let go ofcertain ideas about how we should look. I appreciate that it’s the thin end ofthe wedge, but sometimes you have to bow to the demands of yourinner thermostat.

Which brings me to the coat I’ve been road-testing. That's Not My Age asked me to try out a Lands’ End down parka, and the thing hasbeen a near-revelation. I’d been getting through the last few winters in a Gapdown jacket, which was fine, but this jacket is something else. Not only is itmuch warmer, it has the kind of little touches that make me groan withpleasure: a fleecy neck and cuffs (think how chilly your neck gets), soft, deeppockets so you can thrust your hands in up to your forearms and three additionalbuttoned/zipped pockets for carrying things. There’s also a detachable hood anda belt, neither of which I use (the belt might make me look more hourglassy, butI prefer the extra waist-room). I’m delighted by this jacket as I haven’t beenby an piece of clothing since…I can’t even remember. I may never be cool again.But, dammit, I’ll be warm.

Has your wardrobe changed over the years? Do you care more about comfort than glamour?

PS The parka's in the sale!

Technology for grown-ups

2012-01-10T14:19:00.002Z

Don't let the title fool you, this is not a technology masterclass. Though, I can tell you it was the iPhone's fifth birthday yesterday. No, I'm a Luddite, the world's crappiest computer-user. Wikipedia says that technophobia is an irrational fear or dislike of advanced technology - but I'm not afraid, well apart from having a video close-up of my wrinkly face beamed across the world on Skype - I guess I'm just stubborn and lazy. I haven't got the time or the inclination to read through the instruction handbook. More of a silver slacker than a silver surfer. And everyone knows YouTube is the font of all knowledge, anyway.

So, Manhattan Brother has recently moved over to Mac. He calls to tell me to prepare for some Face Time, or was it Skype? Is it possible to do both at once? Kind of like stereo. Or a scene from Videodrome? Anyhow, I check all the settings on my phone ready to go face-to-face, fortunately I'm at a friend's house and she has a wireless network so we think we've got it covered. In New York, Wi-Fi is like oxygen, as Manhattan Brother reminds me every time he visits and ends up trawling the streets like an internet-junkie looking for his next connection. I may have carried on drinking the caffeine and cava this month, but 2012 is the year Wi-Fi will be installed at That's Not My Age Mansions. Anyhow. Back to Face Time. Now that my friend has found a magnifying glass to read the tiny Wi-Fi code on the box there's more frantic texting. But no video call. Manhattan Brother reminds me about the code, I text it to him. And wait. Nothing. In the end I pick up the phone and have a good, old-fashioned, trans-Atlantic telephone conversation, adding, ' Oh and by the way, I knew you couldn't log on from 5000 miles away. Honest.'

Technology doesn't always make life easier, as Joanna Lumley told the Mail this weekend. Lumley says she keeps her mobile phone switched off, would never join a social networking site and prefers to use pen and paper.

Tell me, how do you feel about technology? And now I'm off to make friends with someone who subscribes to WIRED.

Happy Birthday Mr Bowie

2012-01-08T13:00:00.000Z

When heroes become pensioners, you know you're middle-aged. From the Dries Van Noten autumn/winter 2011 menswear collection to Kate Moss on the cover of French Vogue, David Bowie is as influential today as he was 40-years-ago. You'll not see him dragging his ageing carcass around the globe on some greatest hits tour. No, he's keeping quiet - and dignified - though BBC economics journalist Evan Davis seems to think Bowie selling bonds on his future back-catalogue may have started the credit crunch. I'll say no more. Here are some photos.

The Man Who Fell To Earth, 1976.

December 2011 French Vogue. Photographed by Mert & Marcus

Kate Moss 2003 British Vogue. Photographed by Nick Knight.

Tilda Swinton for Another Magazine. Photographed by Craig McDean

Bowie at Cannes 1978 (Getty Images)

Dries Van Noten A/W 2011

David Bowie and Iman, New York 2010 (Getty Images)

Dresses with sleeves

2012-01-06T11:30:00.000Z

Meet the sleeves of my favourite dress. An old LK Bennett sale bargain. Bought approximately seven to eight years ago, if memory serves. Did you hear that the latest research from University College London (published by the the British Medical Journal) shows that brain function declines from the age of 45? Earlier than previously thought. Now, there's something I knew already. My brain hasn't been functioning properly for years. Anyhow, back to my favourite dress. Which is made of silk and doesn't get to play out very often, I save it for special occasions like weddings, job interviews and so on. This is about as smart as I get. Ever.

Not quite the same style but beautiful in all it's khaki-silk-arm-covering glory is my dress of the week from Irwin & Jordan.

And people, this blog needs you! I'd love to post pictures of you and your favourite dresses with sleeves. So if you'd like to be involved please send a photograph to me at info@thatsnotmyage.com.

Very much looking forward to hearing from you.

Quote of the week: Sarah Mower

2012-01-05T07:20:00.001Z

Top fashion writer and the British Fashion Council's ambassador for emerging talent, Sarah Mower, is an early contender for the That's Not My Age Quote of the Year. Which as we all know is much more significant than an MBE:

'You can't do much about how old you are – I am not a Botoxer or filler – but I hold onto the idea that dressing well is the best revenge against ageing!'

Hear, hear.

Photo: Andrew Crowley
Quote: Another Mag

Meryl Streep does loungewear

2012-01-03T16:00:00.000Z

Let's ease ourselves gently into the New Year with a lovely photograph of Meryl Streep looking beautiful and Zen-like inside the January edition of American Vogue. When discussing the shoot, Streep said to Anna Wintour, 'I'm an actress of a certain age and shape. What could Vogue possibly do with me?' They agreed on a relaxed style and natural surroundings, and lo, the 62-year-old became US Vogue's oldest cover girl. As well as the new goddess of loungewear. In Vince top and Lauren by Ralph Lauren pants.

It's not easy retaining the holiday feeling when work gets in the way. So, I'm going to suggest we use this image to help promote inner calm. Turn it into a screen saver. Much better than a generic palm tree-lined, sandy beach, don't you think? And whatever happens with the economy/Euro/US presidential elections we will have the world's most most talented actress and new goddess of loungewear to help us through.

And sorry, obviously I can't sign off without mentioning Iron Lady. Like most sensible people of my age, I feel conflicted about this movie. Adore Streep. Hate Thatcher. And whilst I know that I should be grown-up and let go of my student-y feelings, I cannot forget this is a film about the woman who blighted the eighties with marvellous things like the Poll Tax and Section 28 (anti-gay legislation) and said, 'There's no such thing as society.' Anyhow, Iron Lady is out on Friday in the UK and if I'm still in holiday-mode at the end of the week, I might just check it out.

Rant over. And breathe. Here's some Streep-inspired loungewear:

First stop for easy-to-wear separates, Eileen Fisher - now available in the UK.

Sportier than Streep but right up my strasse - Etoile Isabel Marant sweatshirt and pants.

Or how about a classy navy silk top and wide leg pants?

How are you feeling about going back to work/the Iron Lady?

Forty and fabulous: the new recruits

2011-12-31T10:30:00.000Z

Apart from the London Olympics and the David Hockney exhibition at the Royal Academy, in 2012, I'm looking forward to welcoming some fabulous new members to the Style Begins at Forty Brigade. I know, I know, all that tedious stuff about yoga, diet and well-being, it's like she's middle-aged already, but Hollywood Princess/Queen of the Kitchen, Gwyneth Paltrow will be joining our ranks - and boring us silly with anti-ageing advice - come September.

He's already figured out the perfect way to deal with a receding hairline and under-eye bags, Jude Law is approaching mid-life sartorially prepared.

Doesn't seem like five-minutes since we hailed 15-year-old Vanessa Paradis singing Joe le Taxi. My advice for mid-life? Keep wearing the Chanel.

Excellent as Stringer Bell in The Wire and bonkers-tastic as Luther, drug dealer-turned-cop, Idris Elba hits the big 4-0 in September.

I don't believe it! Marshall Mathers III joins the Mid-lifers Club in October. Gotta feeling Eminem is going to get a whole lot angrier in his middle years.

Forever 39, Patsy Stone, needs to take a reality check and tune into That's Not My Age. Growing older is Absolutely Fabulous. Honest. Sweetie, darling.

Grown-up style: 2011

2011-12-29T09:59:00.001Z

Not a good year for dictators - or Dior designers - but for grown-up women everywhere, 2011 meant business as usual. Here are some of my highlights.

Parisian Chic became the style du jour and muse-turned-author Ines de la Fressange, 54, showed us that flat shoes rule the red carpet.

Michelle Obama, 47, answered critics by saying she wears what she loves - and we should too.

Research proved that women of a certain age relate to older models, and 41-year-old Stella Tennant picked up a gong at the British Fashion Awards.

Iris Apfel, 90, confirmed our suspicions, 'Most of the young people today look dreadful. And celebrities look even worse.'

Sofie Grabol, 43, star of The Killing, inspired a trend for Scandinavian knitwear, saying, ' I have affection for that jumper. It speaks of a woman who doesn't have to signal she's competing with men.'

And last but certainly not least, Christine Lagarde, 55, looking fabulously French in Chanel and Hérmes, came along to save the Euro. Not an easy task, but she's the best-dressed person for the job.

What are your 2011 highlights? Happy New Year!

Photos
Michelle Obama, Christine Lagarde, Ines de la Fressange: Getty
Sofie Grabol:The Gentlewoman
Stella Tennant: Grazia and Juergen Teller Celine ad
Iris Apfel: Architectural Digest

It's Christmas!

2011-12-25T10:00:00.000Z

Apparently, millions of people will be shopping online on Christmas Day. Silly buggers. Though, maybe a couple could drop by/follow me on Facebook. When you read this, I'll be lying on a friend's settee scoffing Quality Street and waiting for Downton. We're off to the countryside for a few days, to stay with pals, and do as little as possible. Thank you all for your kind comments this year, they're the fuel to my persistent ramblings - and are much appreciated.

Wishing you a very merry Christmas.

Back in a bit.

Alyson
x

Red: not just for Christmas

2011-12-23T08:00:00.000Z

As Diana Vreeland said, ' I can't Imagine becoming bored with red - it would be like becoming bored with the person you love.' So, hold that thought as we undertake a study in scarlet style. Here's Karen Elson looking fabulous in the latest Banana Republic ads. A fairytale Christmas in New York. Without Shane McGowan. Or come to think of it, Jack White:

How beautiful is Deborah Turbeville's photography for the spring/summer 2012 Valentino campaign? Read more about it here.

Forget Daphne Guinness, the MAC collection I'm looking forward to is by ninety-year old Iris Apfel. Available January 2012.

Love this combination of Chelsea boots and sequins. Pure Casual Glamour. Thank you Penelope Chilvers.

I'm dreaming of a red Jaime Haydon sofa....

Tilda Swinton is the boss of singular style. Here she is picking up a Marie Claire Prix de la Mode Award in a claret Haider Ackermann tuxedo jacket.

Check out Jim Shi's feature on red and symbolism in the FT. And don't forget you can follow me on Facebook now. Happy Christmas!

Silver shoes for grown-ups

2011-12-21T10:00:00.000Z

Time for some festive sparkle. Now, being a classy, grown-up site and a tat-free zone, this means a subtle display of elegant silver footwear. Back in September when London Fashion Week was well underway, I met Fiona Orde (the lovely lady in the first picture). She looked fabulous in her classic trilby hat, winter white layering and kick-ass silver boots. I even managed to overlook the fur stole. Being a child of the sixties, I'm a huge fan of futuristic footwear. So, for a friend's cocktail party last week, embracing Casual Glamour to the max - and trying hard not to feel too resentful about missing The Killing II - I teamed a grey marl t-shirt with my new M&S sequin skirt and an old pair of shiny slingbacks. These shoes nearly ended up in the charity shop bag during my last wardrobe workout - they're actually quite battered when you see them up-close, but now I'm glad they were spared.

And here's some more metallic footwear:

Which all goes to show that shiny shoes are incredibly chic and it is possible to wear them without looking like a five-year-old at a children's teaparty. To prove that we're talking perennial style, just take a look at the Chanel spring/summer 2012 catwalk:

The Guiseppe Zanotti silver boot, Pierre Hardy hi-top and Miu Miu glitter pump are all from Net-a-Porter and even though it's sale time there are some sizes still available.
Glitter Chelsea boot, Topshop.
Ballet pump, Beyond Skin.

Photos
Fiona Orde: Fashionistable
Catwalk: Elle

Helen Mirren's gloves

2011-12-19T15:46:00.000Z

OK, so initially I wasn't overly keen on Helen Mirren accessorizing her gorgeous Dolce & Gabbana dress with leather gloves, but three days is a long time in fashion. Since I discovered they were made by Irish designer, Paula Rowan (an expert in, ahem, 'glovemaking'), I've spent an awful lot of time cruising the website and have come to the conclusion that if I owned a pair, I wouldn't want to take them off either.

Here are some of my favourites:

Gotta love the animal print, though I can imagine Ines de la Fressange in chic navy leather.

And, I'd quite like to find this elbow-length sheepskin pair in my Christmas stocking. Cosy.

Paula Rowan has a pair of black studded leather men's gloves (I know, I'll say no more) called Ronnie Wood, so I think it's about time Helen Mirren had a style named after her. Don't you?

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Dresses with sleeves: Helen Mirren

2011-12-17T10:19:00.003Z

It wasn't going to be long before my new regular 'Dresses with Sleeves' feature got round to Dame Helen Mirren. Back in 2008, DHM complained about the dearth of dresses with built-in arm coverage:

'There are no dresses with sleeves and we need to bring back the sleeve: fine, see-through ones, long or short,' she said, ' There are so many wonderful things you can do with sleeves that people used to do, and then they stopped.'

Three years later, at the Channel 4 British Comedy Awards last night, here's the Dame looking fabulous in Dolce & Gabbana. With sleeves. Which leaves me to conclude that the combination of the grey pound and a new demure sensibility - courtesy of the Duchess of Cambridge - is having an impact on fashion. Anyway. Forget about Kate Middleton, let's talk about Helen Mirren. This isn't the first time we've seen her in Italian designer fashion - and, even though her latest dalliance with D&G involves lace detailing, gloves and a hair style that yells Desperately Seeking Susan, I think the overall effect is very fine. Sassy not muttonous.

Whilst I was watching the TV show, my phone pinged, it was a text message from a friend, ' Doesn't Helen Mirren look fab? Do you think she's finally succumbed to the knife?' But, that's a conversation we'll leave till another day.

What do you think of Dame Helen in Dolce & Gabbana?

Photo: The Huffington Post

Alexander Shulman's Office

2011-12-15T12:39:00.067Z

Look, it's Alexandra Shulman in her Vogue office. This photograph, taken by the lovely, talented and very entertaining (OK, I know him) Mark Harrison, has just been acquired by the National Portrait Gallery for its Photographic Collection. Office envy can get the better of a woman, so rather than let this ill feeling fester, I'm wondering if Alexandra Shulman could just send the latest cohort of Condé Nast interns round to That's Not My Age Mansions to help me tidy up.

For a while now, I've been thinking that that things are getting out of control. Having a portfolio career basically means having three jobs, and no spare time. And a very messy home. Mr TNMA recently asked if I could actually see the magazine skyscrapers that are gradually turning the place into a David Mach-style installation. Or could they possibly only be visible to him? I think he's worried that all my compulsive hoarding will lead to us both being buried alive beneath a mountain of old newspapers. To be discovered in three-years time when the rancid stench gets the better of one of our neighbours. So I've promised that on my next day off, there will be a major de-cluttering session.

Once I've sorted out the Christmas presents:

What does your office look like? And do you think the National Portrait Gallery might be interested in my photos?

Mark Harrison is with Lucid Representation

Happiness and Amanda Harlech

2011-12-13T18:37:00.075Z

People, this is a double first. Neither Amanda Harlech nor an image of male genitalia has ever appeared before on That's Not My Age. Don't worry, I'm not going to make a habit of posting pictures of men's privates, it's not that kind of blog. But this is art. In fact it's an oil painting by Lady Harlech herself, curator of the 'Happiness Exhibition' at the Haunch of Venison. This is a lovely idea. Lady Harlech's posh friends, sorry, fellow 'celebrity patrons of the arts' have all donated their interpretation of happiness in order to raise funds for the Royal Academy Schools. Amanda Harlech is very nice by the way, and doesn't look half as scary in real life.

A very swanky do, sponsored by Krug, my friend and I sampled their wares and declared it, 'The taste we were born to drink.' This was our version of happiness.

Gorgeous Virginia Bates was there, I'm going to do a whole post about her soon:

Manolo Blahnik contributed a pair of beautiful shoes:

My favourite items were Bella Freud's photograph of her parents, and Neil Tennant's David Bowie album sleeve.

'I look at it and it reminds me of such a happy, wonderful and exciting time,' says Erdem about this dress from his 2009 collection.

Dame Viv has donated one of her t-shirts.

Doesn't he look young? I'm talking about Tony, not Leo Blair.

And here's a full-length picture of Lady Harlech embracing Casual Glamour in Chanel jacket, skinny pants and tan riding boots:

Alex James made an appearance. He carries his cheeses in a battered old suitcase, when I asked how much Good Queen Maud cost he said, 'It's quite expensive.' Didn't see any up for auction, though. Tight git.

If I were to create my own version of happiness it would probably involve food, and something from my globe collection:

How would you interpret happiness?

Happiness runs from 13-20th December 2011. All pieces will be sold via silent auction throughout the week. For all enquiries call 020 7845 7800

The Margaret Howell Calendar

2011-12-12T14:32:00.007Z

There's only one fashion calendar that means anything to me, and that's the Margaret Howell calendar. This year's is called Sea & Coastline and contains a selection of work by British printmakers including Charles Bartlett and David Gentleman. Call me old-fashioned, but I like to greet the new year armed with the right stationery. A proper calendar and a proper diary. Electronic versions might be quick and easy but where's the beauty? To me the transition from one year to the next, involves an afternoon spent scribbling down friend's birthdays and wistfully reflecting on the past twelve months, mulled wine in hand. And, so what if the Margaret Howell calendar remains on the January page for the entire year, I can sleep at night safe in the knowledge that I'll still know what day it is, even if my computer has a seizure.

Do you still buy a calendar or a paper diary?

Chic winter coats

2011-12-09T13:33:00.004Z

Grown-up style is all about developing a look that suits and sticking with it. Not flip-flopping after every fad that hits the high street, like an Emperor penguin on ice. But this doesn't mean a one-way ticket to Frumpsville. Ines de la Fressange looks effortlessly chic in a tailored jacket, jeans and Roger Vivier footwear. A simple formula, updated with the latest accessories or a new trouser shape. Proving, it's what you choose and how you wear it that counts. Here are my three tips for making the most of a winter coat - probably one that you own already.

1. Team a tailored, more masculine overcoat with a polo neck jumper and white trousers a la Ines de la Fressange/Phoebe Philo/Jackie Kennedy. Totally timeless, no?

2. Belt up. Ever since I read Parisian Chic I've been hankering after a wraparound leather belt to wear with jackets and coats.

Like this lovely French femme photographed by The Sartorialist.

Of course, the ultimate belted coat comes with a MaxMara label inside:

3. For those of us who like to look like we haven't tried too hard, there's the looser, more deconstructed style of coat. Worn with trousers tucked into boots.

I found a similar version in a second-hand shop in Brixton.

If it works for Patti Smith...

How will you be wearing your coat this winter?

Photos
On the street: The Sartorialist
Ines de la Fressange: Zimbio
Jackie O: Oprah
Maxmara: The Guardian
Patti Smith: www.pattismith.net

Pin-Up Girls

2011-12-07T18:36:00.005Z

There are some things that should be avoided at Christmas, like most of my relatives, Oxford Street and novelty jumpers - even if they are by Stella McCartney. In order to bring comfort and joy to the wearer, grown-up knitwear should be simple and elegant. Which is why I like the new Pin Up range from Benetton. Special figure-flattering technology (that's hidden seams, between you and me) makes the most of womanly curves. Think proper fifties sweater girls, or Nigella in a form-fitting cardi on the front of her latest Christmas cookbook. Knitwear that doesn't need a sense of humour.

Party dresses with sleeves

2011-12-05T19:41:00.003Z

Parties to go to, people to see, upper arms to conceal...it's that time of year again. Much as I like a healthy dollop of sparkle, when it comes to Christmas, I find it's best to turn it down a notch. To keep it chic. Opt for a simple black dress with a bit of personality: feathers, lace or a sprinkling of sequins, and party like a grown-up.

From the top: LK Bennett, Day Birger et Mikkelsen, Monsoon, Mint Velvet Isabella Oliver

Feelgood Fashion

2011-12-03T17:58:00.007Z

Of course, wellbeing is not all aromatherapy oils and energy-boosting drinks, clothes have mood-enhancing properties too. I always feel pretty perky in my Burberry trench, quite cheerful in my black sequin jacket - that was until I saw Gary Barlow on the January cover of Esquire magazine...

And now it just feels wrong. Too showbiz. A bit naff. I need a subtle update, a classier shape, a less glitzy finish, like this Lurex print jacket from Comptoir des Cotoniers:

Good isn't it? Though at £170, I'll be considering the health of my bank account and waiting for the sales.

Do you have any mood-enhancing items in your wardrobe?

Aromatherapy Associates Boutique

2011-12-01T15:28:00.002Z

This is where I'd like to be right now. Lying on a treatment bed (is that what they're called? I don't get much spa action) at the Aromatherapy Associates boutique. I'm now officially declaring this Wellbeing Week at That's Not My Age - think I need a holiday. Or another strike day. Call me irresponsible, left-wing and weak, but....everybody out!

So, the Aromatherapy Associates boutique and treatment rooms is in Knightsbridge. As you can see it's very posh, but not intimidating or flashy, or overly expensive come to think of it. The staff are lovely and welcoming and the natural products are amazing. Mood-enhancing, skin-smoothing and therapeutic too. If I were a rich woman, this is where I'd buy all my Christmas gifts. In fact, he doesn't know it yet but, the Blog Widower is getting an Intensive Muscle Release massage for Christmas. Don't worry, it's fine, he never reads this blog so I'm not spoiling the surprise. Unfortunately, Mr That's Not My Age is too shy to go on his own, so I'll have to book myself an anti-ageing facial too. Shame about that.

Anyhow. I had a treatment here a while ago and felt so fabulous when I came out, I practically skipped to the tube station. Now I'm going for maximum results by regularly using the Overnight Repair Mask, with frankincense and rose, which smells utterly gorgeous - and the Fine Line Face Oil to 'encourage natural collagen.' Nobody in their right mind would call my lines fine - Doris Salcedo's crack springs to mind - and don't be rude, I'm talking about the artist's 2007 installation at Tate Modern. Anyway, the products are superb, if you're in need of pampering, plumping and firming, this is the place to go.

And you get free macaroons.

www.aromatherapyassociates.com

Berocca Boost: the elixir of mid-life

2011-11-29T08:48:00.013Z

You know you're middle-aged when you get excited about a new vitamin drink. But this ain't no ordinary supplement, this is Berocca Boost with guarana. The elixir of mid-life. Nobody told me I'd feel so tired. That I'd be working twice as hard in my forties as in my thirties, for the same amount of money. That I'd enjoy drinking coffee and going to bed early. It's not very radical but I'm looking forward to tomorrow's strike day just so that I can have a lie-in.

Guarana is a natural energiser I first encountered in the rave-tastic early nineties, when I was young enough to party every night and still manage to sit upright at my desk the following morning. These days, I limit myself to two nights out a week, and one of those is a pilates class.

Berocca with guarana, more exciting than Marni for H&M. Well, almost.

How do you keep going? Do you have any energy-giving secrets you'd like to share?

How to wear snakeprint

2011-11-27T16:49:00.086Z

Today we inadvertently upped the casual glamour quotient by embracing texture and print. I'm wearing a vintage M&S faux fur jacket (complete with St Michael's label) and my new snakeprint sweatshirt, and Mr That's Not My Age has opted for an old Harris Tweed jacket and his star print scarf from Sandro. The thing to remember when combining fabrics is not to go crazy - and end up looking like a sample sale in a Christian Lacroix factory shop - but to go easy, and just add a couple of interesting elements to the mix.

Take a closer look, gorgeous isn't it? I love a sweatshirt, particularly when it's as eye-catching as this. Easy to wear and chic, and that as every woman over forty knows, is a winning combination.

Once we'd optimized our texture and print, we hit Columbia Road flower market, where I felt it was too early for Christmas trees. And no matter how long-lasting the pussy willow is, I'm not sure those furry buds are going to be around come Boxing Day.

So, we bought some amaryllis instead and then headed for lunch. Passed Rev's church in Shoreditch. How good is that programme?

To Story Deli, where both the metropolitan-rustic decor and the pizzas are excellent.

Story pizzas have a very thin, crispy base and so I'm sure they're quite healthy. I opted for organic goat's cheese and pumpkin. The Story Deli storyboard is inspirational - sorry, couldn't get a close-up, no photography allowed. Apparently.

Mary Portas: spring/summer 2012 collection

2011-11-25T13:15:00.038Z

Now here's a Friday treat. For spring/summer 2012 Mary Portas has fine-tuned her fashion line. Whilst I liked the idea of the first range, there were a few random pieces - like the black jodphurs with grey suedette patches and an inexpensive-looking animal print sweater - that felt more Grazia than grown-up to me. Her second collection (apart from the, ahem, leatherette pencil skirt) feels much more cohesive. The Queen of Shops has consolidated her strong points and come up with a fine selection of - dare I say it, Diane von Furstenberg-inspired, printed dresses and some Portastic footwear.

Oh and a little bird told me there's a range of fancy pants - key trouser shapes in 10 different prints - coming soon.

What do you think of the new Mary Portas range? And has anyone bought anything from Mary & House of Fraser?

Carmen Dell' Orefice

2011-11-23T21:51:00.013Z

At the Carmen Dell' Orefice exhibition today, I realised that I have something in common with the grey-haired model. Just like the woman who lost all her money to Bernie Madoff, with my lack of pension provision, I'll be working when I'm 80-years-old, too.

CDO's impressive career spans 65 years and is currently being celebrated by the London College of Fashion. Shunting my thoughts on cosmetic enhancement aside for one blog post, the octogenarian model's longevity serves to increase the visibility of older women in the media. Surely, a positive thing?

Young Carmen doesn't really look like old Carmen. But see how she can dive (bottom row, middle):

Old CDO is good for a quote:

There's a lovely selection of old magazine covers and adverts.

Look at those cheekbones:

She worked with all the best photographers, Avedon, Beaton and Penn.

'For me things picked up again in the early 1980s when I was 49. I hadn't been working very much just modelling flannel nightgowns for Macy's and such, and one day Norman Parkinson showed up. He said, "You know, for an old bag, you don't look so bad. How about some pictures in Paris." Those pictures were in French Vogue and they were wonderful.'

'I projected a strong personality for a grey-haired ageing population - I gave them the permission to be themselves. Then my career was on the high road again, and it didn't really stop. Now I consider myself a cover girl. I am 80-years-old.'

Carmen: A Life in Fashion is on at the London College of Fashion, John Princes Street, London W1 until January 14. And you can see her recent BBC interview here.

Photos
First picture and black & white portrait: Models 1.
Cowl neck dress: Tim Peters.

Quotes: Financial Times.

Dresses with sleeves

2011-11-21T20:39:00.007Z

I've decided to create a new regular feature - it doesn't need explaining. Suffice to say that dresses with sleeves look slicker, hide wobbly triceps and are the reason why Diane von Furstenberg is a very wealthy woman.

From the top: Libelula, Hobbs, Mary Portas, Hobbs, Diane von Furstenberg.

Scandinavian Style: The Killing

2011-11-19T11:05:00.036Z

Feeling quite excited today. My sinuses are no longer creaking in agony (thank heavens for acupuncture), there's a Christmas gift guide in the weekend newspaper - I love a gift guide. Being such a tightwad, I never buy anything but I do find the under £10 section particularly fascinating - and series two of The Killing is on telly tonight. I can't wait for the latest installment. There were more twists and turns in the last series than a waltzer ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Fantastic.

Sofie Grabol, 43, who plays Detective Lund has a new jumper (see above). Her fairisle sweater became something of a cult item in the first series, causing the actor to remark, 'I love that sweater and yet I hate it. It's so strong that it's almost wearing me. So before we made the second series we had a meeting and I said, "The audience wants the sweater so I'm not going to give it to them."' To help her grow to love her new scarlet chunky knit - and liven up those long, dark Danish days - here's how I think she should wear it:

This sequin maxi is by M&S and has my name on it. The velvet slippers are Penelope Chilvers. The sweater is another winner from Gudrun Gudrun. Oh and apparently Jumper Number One does make a comeback.

Will you be watching The Killing?

Liberty Print by Edwyn Collins

2011-11-17T11:09:00.015Z

I totally understand why Obama didn't want to wear an Hawaiian shirt at the APEC meeting this week. There's something quite tragic about men in party shirts. Like David Miliband's attempts to look nonchalant (in Paul Smith) after losing out to brother Ed - trying to signify fun, sartorially, often looks desperate. Having said all that, I'm prepared to make an exception for this lovely Liberty print shirt. The ornithological drawings are by the fabulous Edwyn Collins, 52. After suffering a double brain haemorrhage six years ago - with the help of his wife and manager Grace Maxwell - Collins made a slow recovery. Paralysed and unable to speak, walk or use his right hand, he started drawing, re-learnt all his songs and finally went on tour again. So, much respect for Edwyn Collins and for Liberty who have turned his drawings into a print for spring/summer 2012. The Jackdaw shirt is from Barbour's Heritage collection and will be available from My-Wardrobe.

And here's Edwyn Collins, with his band Orange Juice, singing Rip it Up:

Photo: www.edwyncollins.com

Aggie MacKenzie - and your chance to win a cookbook

2011-11-14T19:39:00.002Z

Aggie MacKenzie, 56, has just returned from a 400km charity cycle ride in Kenya. She says she's fine post ride, a few painful days with very swollen, surnburnt lips but that was nothing compared to the women with blistered frottoms. Yes, there! You may remember Aggie from the TV series How Clean Is Your House? I know her from my former, more glamorous, life. Many years ago - when Aggie was head of the Good Housekeeping Institute - we bonded over bicycles in the National Magazines car park. So, back from the bike tour, I finally had chance to catch up with the TV-presenter-turned-celebrity-chef (well, she's been on Come Dine With Me) and chat about cooking, cleaning and other stuff:

TNMA: Do you have a cleaner?

AM: Yes, she comes once a fortnight. I tidy up before she comes. It's a bit disrespectful not to clear up. I tidy the surfaces so the person can get cleaning - they're not there to pick up after you.

TNMA: OK, so we probably tidy up once a month, is that enough?

AM: A home needs to be clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy.

TNMA: Very diplomatic. You look very healthy and happy on the cover of your new cookbook what's your secret?

AM: I look a bit like Gloria Hunniford. Well, I do yoga once or twice a week, still cycle around London and I run round the park every morning. But I looked shit that day.

TNMA: So have they Photoshopped it?

AM: To be honest, I'm not sure. Probably.

TNMA: Do you have any style tips for my readers?

AM: Don't wear fuchsia, unless you want to look like a desperate divorcee. That colour is fucking grim on me. And get a good haircut. I like mine short as long as there aren't any spikey bits at the back, like a chicken. At the Abergavenny Food Festival a woman came up to me and told me she had two chickens called Kim and Aggie - though I'm not sure that's got anything to do with my hair.

TNMA: So what's your best vegetarian recipe then?

AM: Probably one of the puddings. We're really very meaty, the book's a bit thin on the veggie front because it's what we eat here. Oh I do a good fried cheese sandwich with sliced white bread, that's the best thing.

TNMA: Well, I'm partial to a cheese sandwich, but what about a pasta or risotto dish?

AM: Oh yes, there's a pumpkin risotto recipe in there. I once went to a risotto-making day with Valentina Harris and she took us through the method: chop the onion finely and cook it very slowly, don't let it colour. Add the rice, cook for ages till it's toasty and then the rice should sigh as the white wine goes into the pan.

TNMA: I like the idea of the rice sighing. So apart from a vegetarian cookbook, what's next?

AM: I've been studying a course in psychoanalytic psychology. It's hell but I enjoy it in a sado-masochistic way. I'd love to do a daytime telly programme on women who are obsessed with cleaning. Where the root of that is. A lot of that stuff is subconscious - you have to dig in, to unravel it and sort it out. I want it to be helpful to the person.

And now dear readers, I'm going to be helpful to you. To win a copy of Aggie's Family Cookbook all you have to do is answer the following question:

What's the topping for the Queen of Puddings?

There's only one copy, so all the correct entries will go into a hat to be drawn by Mr That's Not My Age on Saturday 19 November. Alternatively, you can buy a copy here.

And don't forget to check out Aggie's website and blog.

Jenna Lyons and the J.Crew spring collection

2011-11-11T14:54:00.055Z

I know I'm not the only one to have a grown-up-lady-crush on Jenna Lyons. I've heard the rumours. The 43-year-old president and creative director of J.Crew turned the American label into a global phenomenon by adding sparkle to preppy basics. Think tomboyish trousers for evening and sequins for the supermarket - actually, make that an Elle Decor photoshoot:

Lyons summed up her clever approach to fashion in The Times this week:

'When I think about how women dress these days, I notice how work clothes are too camp, and weekend clothes are kept separate. I think it works best to mix both sides of the closet...I try to think of ways for women to get dressed in an outfit that will work in an office as well as for going out to dinner in the evening.'

And here's a small preview of the J.Crew spring/summer 2012 collection. Sadly, Jenna Lyons wasn't in town, think she's got more pressing matters to deal with:

My favourite piece is this chambray denim blazer with jet beading - apologies for the wobbly photo, think I got a little overexcited:

Denim and Lurex, sequins and stripes. Now that's what I call Casual Glamour.

J.Crew is available in the UK at Jcrew.com and Net-a-Porter - and there's a London shop coming soon. Though I'm not averse to a trip to New York.

Photos
Jenna Lyons: handbag.com and Elle Decor

Mary Portas and Clarks: Spring/Summer 2012 Preview

2011-11-09T12:25:00.005Z

Some women hyperventilate over Manolos and Kirkwoods. Go apoplectic over Louboutins and Choos. Not me. I get excited by a pair of Clarks. So, imagine my delight at the sight of the latest Mary Portas spring/summer 2012 collaboration.

Warning: contains flat shoes. And snakeprint.

Style Inspiration: Loulou de la Falaise

2011-11-07T19:22:00.052Z

Loulou de la Falaise, 63, collaborated with Yves Saint Laurent for over 30 years, creating fabulous jewellery, providing a woman's perspective on fashion and an enduring friendship. She died at home, just outside Paris, on Saturday. Her idiosyncratic style - with a love of colour and texture - was a source of inspiration for YSL. 'He had a phenomenal sense of colour,' she said about the designer,' But he needed me to jerk it out of his system. He had it in him because he was brought up in colour, but then there was all that sort of good education and Parisian conformity. Most people think that if you use colour it won't be comme il faut and I think I showed him that colour was not vulgar.'

Loulou de la Falaise, Yves Saint Laurent and Betty Catroux.

'Everything was terribly inspiring,' de la Falaise reminisced about seventies Paris, 'The models were great fun, they were very inventive themselves style-wise and designers were very influenced by the way people put together a look. We didn't have any money and that made us all the more inventive.'

Photos: style.com and zero1mag
Quotes: The Beautiful Fall by Alicia Drake

More Tweed

2011-11-05T10:40:00.061Z

When it comes to tweed, take your lead from Mr That's Not My Age (below) by mixing texture and colour. The Blog Widower is no accidental style inspiration, after all, he was wearing red jeans well before the fash-pack. So, after my last post Project Forty mentioned that she'd bought a vintage Aquascutum skirt for £3.50 and didn't know how to wear it. Here are my recommendations:

1. Avoid the frump factor by pairing with a vibrant shirt, embellished cardi or stripey top. Just go easy when mismatching, or risk looking like an illegal rave at the Edinburgh Woollen Mill.
2. Smarten up with heels and opaque tights - see Boden picture above - but don't rule out flats. I'm quite partial to a pair of Mitford-style brogues and coloured hosiery. And I like what J. Crew have done here:

We're off to a firework display at our local park tonight and - weather permitting - I'll be wearing my tweed jacket with old jeans and boots. A bit like the image below, but with mud and low-flying firecrackers.

Oh and this military-inspired jacket is from Boden. Have a good weekend.

Lip Service

2011-11-03T13:30:00.025Z

Not a reference to menopausal hair growth but a chance to raise awareness of men's health and give money to The Prostate Cancer Charity and the Institute of Cancer Research. This Movember, Tatty Devine will donate 50p from every piece of their moustache jewellery sold to the cause.

www.movember.com

How to wear tweed

2011-10-31T20:29:00.012Z

Shoulder pads aside, my old Ally Capellino jacket suddenly feels very au courant. It was given to me by a very kind friend, who used to work for the designer back in the eighties. And, can we have a round of applause for the Blog Widower, please? This is Mr That's Not My Age's first appearance on the blog, he's usually sitting in the bath taking the photos. But as you can see he's out of the tub/embracing wool tweed this autumn too.

So how to wear tweed without looking like Charles and Camilla? This very traditional fabric can feel quite stiff and formal, so it's best to loosen things up with softer fabrics and casual styling. As Mr TNMA proves, in his mossy green jumper, a flash of colour helps lift a heavy fabric. And I've been wearing mine with a pair of faded jeans and a basic t-shirt. Though recently, I've switched to this stripey Markus Lupfer top, for that extra Francoise Hardy-factor:

Classic brogues and tweed go together like the Monarchy and an unpaid tax bill - just avoid looking like a fogey by keeping everything else modern:

Day Birger et Mikkelsen have gone all Coco Chanel by teaming their lovely women's jacket with simple jersey separates and costume jewellery. If you're feeling the need for tweed, check out Toast. One of my male friends turned up last week looking very dapper in the jacket, below. That's not my friend, that's a model - but the young chap gets away with double tweed because erm, he's young, and his impressive beard lends a hanging-out-with-Tilda-in-the-Highlands, bohemian twist.

Will you be wearing tweed this autumn?

And there'll be no comments about our matchy-matchy outfits, thank you very much.

Autumn Colour

2011-10-28T11:04:00.057+01:00

This is how I'd like to look this weekend. As if I'm off for a super-chic ramble, decked out in a lovely cable knit sweater and wool pants, with a rucksack full of flapjacks. And I'd add these elegant lace-ups from Rae Jones:

The combination of burgundy and camel is very fine. Rich, warm berry colours flatter a wintry complexion and make an excellent autumn neutral. For a special occasion, I might even Gucci-things-up by wearing Bordeaux with teal.

Talking of berries, I've been taking an anti-ageing elixir by Cosmetofruit. The phrase 'Drink your way to beautiful skin' grabbed my attention, at last I thought, my kind of beauty regime. Containing grape and blueberry, the elixir tastes fruity and delicious, and it comes with a special metal spoon-type thingy so that you can measure the recommended 4-ml daily serving. So, I've been drinking it for the last six weeks and have to say that, relatively speaking, I'm looking healthier than I usually do at this time of year. My skin has more of a glow - same amount of wrinkles, but I'm not quite so pasty - and it also seems to work as a hangover cure!

I've never tried an elixir before, have you?

Cable knit sweater photo: Toast

We need to talk about Tilda

2011-10-26T21:57:00.009+01:00

It's been an intense few days. I spent the entire duration of We Need to Talk About Kevin in a state of buttock-clenching anxiety. Which was probably quite good for my core muscles. Pale, gaunt and tortured, Tilda Swinton, 50, is perfectly cast as the mother of a teenage sociopath:

The award-winning film is like a Martin Margiela ad - visually rich and stylised. Though I need to be careful here because in the latest issue of Vogue, Swinton the Serious Actor eschews fashion, ' What I wear for myself in life is what I feel like wearing at the time. And when it comes to walking down a red carpet in a foreign city, it just becomes a question of what's the right thing to wear tonight. It's no more complicated than that.'

Here she is wearing the right thing at Cannes this year:

And again in W magazine:

And if that wasn't enough tension for one week, I dragged the Blog Widower to see Jerusalem with Mark Rylance, 49. Fantastic. I'm more of a film fan than a theatre-goer - as a youngster, my mum always used to take me to the cinema on my birthday - so this is easily the best play I've ever seen. Powerful, poignant, wild. Rylance is superb. The performance of his career, and all that. Go and see it if you're in London soon (it's on till 14 Jan 2012) - oh and Daisy from Downton is in it too.

What have you been up to this week?

Photos
Tilda Swinton Vogue pic: Alasdair McLellan
Tilda red carpet: Getty
W magazine: Tim Walker
Mark Rylance: Andy Hall
Sophie McShera (Daisy): thisislondon

Scandinavian Style: GUBI

2011-10-24T20:26:00.004+01:00

If you're thinking That's Not My Age Mansions is like Downton Abbey without the servants - and bonkers storyline - think again. It's actually a fifties mansion block in south London. With interiors as with fashion, I tend to prefer a mixture of old and new. Mid-century treasures and modern Scandinavian pieces. I know, I know, I'm a middle-aged cliché. I like The Killing, Nordic Bakery and Scandinavian design. I'll be talking about pension plans next.

Danish interiors company GUBI's new website is like design porn to me. Whilst Mr That's Not My Age watches Kevin McCloud, I sit at the computer, all a-fluster in my dressing gown. Set up by the Gubi family in 1967, the Copenhagen-based retailer sells contemporary items alongside iconic classics, like this reissue of a Jaques Adnet mirror. First designed in 1950, in collaboration with Hérmes - check out the equestrian-style leather and brass detailing. Beautiful isn't it?

This Gubi stackable chair would make a decent replacement for the set of four dining chairs I picked up for fifty quid in a junk shop on Coldharbour Lane:

And this is the Greta Grossman Grasshopper lamp. Try saying that when you've been on the ale.

Do you have a favourite design style? And talking of Downton - what do you think really happened to Mrs Bates?

Dressing up or dressing gown?

2011-10-21T10:25:00.052+01:00

Some mornings I get up and go straight to the computer. Today, for example, I'm sitting here in a white towelling dressing gown, knee socks and a pair of old Birkenstocks. A portfolio career means working from home a couple of days a week, so half the time I exude casual glamour, the other half, I'm undressed. And in the summer months, I go feral. When sifting through/sending emails and blogging, I'm quite happy in my bath robe. Though if I'm working, I'll make more of an effort. Call it off-duty chic. Like Madonna going to the gym but without the crappy logo t-shirt. Which is why I'm liking the pyjama trend. Slouchy clothes that feel elegant and relaxed are perfect for computer work, lounging and leaving the house in. Like Tommy Hilfiger's matching silk pyjama top and bottoms, and these J.W. Anderson pants I spotted at London Fashion Week - I'd wear them with the woolly jumper:

Here they are on the catwalk:

What do you wear when you're working from home? What's your house style?

Tommy Hilfiger photo: Marie Claire

How to wear print

2011-10-19T19:54:00.003+01:00

How to liven up a neutral wardrobe without looking like Anna Dello Russo: part two. Carefully chosen pattern and print is like a double espresso to an exhausted wardrobe. Or so I thought this morning when I donned a leopard print dress. Then I opened up a copy of Stylist magazine and saw the Versace/H&M collaboration. Don't ask me to tarnish the blog with a picture, we'll have no Russian-prostitute-goes-Euro-trash garb on this site. And I'm referring to the Versace collection, not my animal print frock - thank you very much.

So, if I had the money of an oligarch, this beautiful Modern Love dress would be hanging in the closet of my superyacht. Right now, I'd wear it layered over a plain long sleeved t-shirt (it's important to get the plain: pattern ratio just right) - the grassy-green colour in the digital print would make a lovely highlight. And Mary Portas' Armery would work too.

Though having given the 'hosiery for arms' a whirl, have to say I found it a bit tight around the pit area. But then, I am funny about clingy armholes - and apparently, La Portas is developing her size range. Anyhow, patterned or printed fabrics also act as camouflage, a clever way to confuse the eye - just think of those First World War dazzle ships.

Do you have any tips for wearing print?

Read more about Modern Love here.

Why so colour shy?

2011-10-17T22:16:00.005+01:00

My wardrobe is permanently stuck in neutral. Shades of navy, khaki, charcoal and camel create a natural backdrop. And whilst I've dabbled with hot denim, I'm inclined to agree with Christian Dior who once advised, 'Two colours in any outfit are quite enough.' Subtle tones are easy to match, easy to wear and, for the colour shy - like myself - form the perfect, attention-swerving camouflage. Think Emmanuel Alt on a budget, as opposed to Anna Dello Russo on Ketamine.

So, much as the first outfit (from the Milly autumn/winter 2011 catwalk) looks like fun, head-to-toe is always a no-no. I'd wear the scarlet trousers with a camel sweater and the pussy bow blouse and raspberry cardi with denim jeans. Want more colour? Use accessories. Just not those Prada sunglasses.

How about you? Are you courageous with colour - or do you shy away from vibrant shades?

Last photo: Camel coat, Acne, from www.my-wardrobe.com

Monica Bellucci for Eric Bompard

2011-10-15T10:30:00.037+01:00

How gorgeous does Monica Bellucci look in the latest ads for French cashmere company Eric Bompard? The perfect 21st century sweater girl. 'When a beautiful, prestigious brand uses my image, I always take it as a compliment,' says the 47-year old film star. Here's Monsieur B expressing his admiration:

And here's my pick of the collection, you know how I love casual glamour.
Fortunately, there's a store on King's Road, London:

To go behind the scenes at the Bompard campaign click here.

And just because...

Hooray for Diane von Furstenberg!

2011-10-13T13:33:00.066+01:00

First on my list for the 2012 Style Begins at Forty Awards (SBAFtAs) is the fabulous Diane von Furstenberg. Not only did she organise a fashion flash mob along the banks of the River Seine, this week. Go Diane!

DvF very eloquently told the fashion world what she thinks. You may have heard about the Milan Fashion Week Shenanigans. We've had 'it' bags at dawn, and Anna Wintour saying she'll boycott, all because the Italian style mafia want to extend their autumn/winter 2012 shows. The outcome would mean Milan Fashion Week overlapping with New York, whilst poor old London is stuck in the squeezed middle. But, the creator of the fabulous jersey wrap dress and president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America has spoken:

An Open Letter to the Fashion Community from Diane von Furstenberg

Fashion shows are meant to allow designers to show their collections and vision for the following season.

Everyone goes through huge efforts at a large expense to make it easy and pleasant for the editors and retailers. The market has expanded greatly in the last years with Asia, Middle East, Russia and Brazil growing so fast. It requires a lot of coordination and planning.

Editors, retailers and designers like the consistency of every designer always showing on the same day of the week season after season. It makes it so much easier for everyone to plan and attend shows. Clearly, year after year, the calendar changes. There are 7 days in the week and every new year the calendar advances 1 day. Some years it will be better for some cities, some years not.

That is what is happening in September 2012. I believe our friends in Milan did not understand that. We did not change from the decision when we agreed to start Fashion Season in New York on the same day every year, which is on the second Thursday of February and September. It is the nature of the calendar.

I also believe this conflict is a misunderstanding. I am convinced it will be resolved and that the agreement that was made 3 years ago at great cost and effort is valid and will be kept.

As the President of the CFDA, I represent my fellow designers. We share the same goals as Milan, Paris, and London. Everyone at the CFDA has great respect and admiration for the designers working in those cities Our shared goal is that we want the editors and retailers to see our work and to do theirs.

At a time of great uncertainty in the world, we are lucky to be part of an industry that is flourishing and that provides an enormous amount of jobs. We should not jeopardize that by being apart. It is most important that we show unity, fairness, and that we work together to ensure everyone is given equal benefit from our work.

As we say in fashion, the show must go on!

Diane von Furstenberg

So, three cheers for DvF, and here are some gratuitous dress shots:

Mary Portas: Queen of Frocks

2011-10-12T10:55:00.110+01:00

People, guess who that is in the stripey A.L.C dress chatting to Mary Portas on last night's episode of Queen of Frocks? I'll give you a clue: forty-something style blogger with the initials TNMA. Yes. It's me! And after reading all the tweets about Liz Jones' cosmetic enhancement and Robert Smith-inspired eyeliner, I'm relieved that you only get to see the back of my head. Not that I have a scary, frozen face to hide. No, I like to keep it natural. Wrinkles, wonky teeth and all. Anyhow. In August, That's Not My Age was invited to preview the Mary & House of Fraser shop-within-a-shop, Channel 4 were filming and as predicted most of the footage ended up on the cutting room floor. Phew. But you can read my review of the collection here.

You know how much I love Mary Portas because I've told you so, here and here. I find her mesmerising. Brilliant, talented and funny. And she looks amazing. Portas-tic. Though I disagree with her comments on female politicians and old biddies, I know she's right about Kate Middleton. Right to focus her new business venture on women over forty. Portas admits she's no designer - so there's definitely an element of risk involved in this project - though having Antonio Berardi on speed dial and a three hour-long TV series certainly helps!

Have you seen Mary Queen of Frocks? Or the Mary & House of Fraser collection? What do you think?

Penelope Chilvers' Velvet Chelsea Boot

2011-10-08T10:09:00.030+01:00

Thanks to David Cameron's mid-week economic advice, we don't have to pay off our credit cards just yet. As in the last Great Depression, simple clothes adorned with fancy accessories is the way to go. Which is probably why this plush, claret velvet, Chelsea boot feels right for now. An easy way to rev-up my pared-down aesthetic, and for the first time in my life, wear Cuban heels. The androgynous, late sixties feel makes me think of Keith Richards in Anita Pallenberg's clothes. As Keef so eloquently puts it, 'Anita had a huge influence on the style of the time. She could put anything together and make it look good. I was beginning to wear her clothes most of the time. I would wake up and put on what was lying around. It really pissed off Charlie Watts with his walk-in cupboards of impeccable Savile Row suits, that I started to become a fashion icon for wearing my old lady's clothes.'

Cubana boot, Penelope Chilvers.

Age-defying style - or mutton dressed as lamb?

2011-10-05T17:35:00.010+01:00

It's been a muttonous week. First, Joanna Lumley says there's nothing wrong with dressing young, shopping at Topshop and wearing cheap clothes. In an interview with Woman & Home magazine, the 65-year-old actor admits she enjoys 'mutton-dressed-as-lamb shops' and experimenting with fashion, 'The other day I put on a pair of old Jean Muir shorts I found at the back of the wardrobe and I felt fabulous. Mind you, nobody said anything about how I looked - not a compliment in sight - so maybe I didn't look that great. But, gosh, I felt fabulous,' adding, 'It's important to be daring and not worry what people say.'

And then, Ewan McGregor pipes up, in the Observer, ' I turned 40 in March. But I don't feel it - you never do. I have to ask my wife: "Do I look a cock, or is this alright, the way I'm dressed?" Because you don't want to be 'that' guy, but you also don't want to listen to that voice either. I want to wear skinny jeans when I'm in my seventies. Why not? Who cares?'

They have a point. It's important not to give up on fashion - and to wear what you like. Clothes have the ability to make us feel fabulous and confident, so long as they fit and flatter. Mixing high street with investment pieces - like, erm, Jean Muir shorts - is the modern way. But it's wise to be demure. Fine to show off your good bits, but don't let it all hang out. Joanna Lumley rules, but I do hope she was wearing opaque tights with her shorts.

Photos
Joanna Lumley: Telegraph
Ewan McGregor: Zimbio

Ari Seth Cohen talks about the Advanced Style Book

2011-10-04T10:19:00.008+01:00

When Ari Seth Cohen asked to take my photo in London, last year, I was both flattered and alarmed. Flattered because Cohen is the young man behind the Advanced Style blog who wanders the New York streets looking for fabulously stylish women. Alarmed because I'm in my forties, and ASC has a strictly-over-sixty rule. I know my Botox-free face makes me look older than my years but I won't be buying a Smythson bus pass holder just yet. Anyway, enough about me. I can fret about my wrinkles any time. Let's talk about the Advanced Style book. The senior street-style blog designed to ' help people get over the fear of getting older, and embrace the wisdom and strength that comes with age,' will be available in book form, spring 2012. Don't know about you, but I'll be pre-ordering a copy here.

And the good news is, That's Not My Age got to ask ASC for the lowdown on his latest project:

TNMA: I noticed that you have Gitte Lee on the cover of your book - not a New Yorker! - what is it about Gitte that makes her a cover star?

ASC: The book will have photos from my travels to Italy, London, Paris, and Scandinavia, as well as the best shots from New York. Gitte Lee is a perfect mix of modernity and classicism. She is a strong, confident, stylish older woman and I immediately thought of her as a cover option. She has a great sense of personal style and is a wonderful role model for people of all ages.

Here's Gitte Lee in Italian Vogue - and below in London, where she met Mr Advanced Style.

TNMA: With so many fabulous images to choose from, how have you managed to edit them down? Can you tell me who are your favourite Advance Stylists, and why?

ASC: 'This edition will only feature the women I have photographed. I would love to do one that features men, in the future. The editing process was difficult, but I wanted to keep the book as diverse and inspiring as possible. I don't necessarily have favorites, but there are a few ladies that I have had the opportunity to photograph several times, interview, and become friends with. They will have special long features in the book. I love 91-year-old, artist and performer, Ilona Royce Smithkin's spirit and colorful take on life. Another special woman is Ruth who just turned 100-years-old. She practices pilates once a week, lifts weights, and lives by the saying, "Celebrate everyday and don't look at the calendar."'

Here's the lovely Ruth:

TNMA: You said that your grandma would be proud of the book, is she your inspiration - and how would you describe her style?

ASC: My grandma was my best friend. She always encouraged me to be creative and she is the reason I moved to New York. I was more inspired by her spirit than her style. Style is not only the way we dress, but how we carry ourselves and my grandmother was a wonderful and intelligent woman.

TNMA: What would you say are the top three style tips recommended by Advanced Stylists?
ASC:

1. If you try to imitate too much, you will look like nothing. Never compare. You are you! Ilona Royce Smithkin, 91.
2. Style is about the right jewelry, the right know-how, the right neckline, and above all, the right attitude. Joyce Caparti, 80
3. We must dress every day for the theatre of our lives. Lynn Dell, 79.

Here's Lynn (on the right, with Linda Fargo):

TNMA: And finally, are there any downsides to the job?

ASC: 'The downside would be not having enough time to tell everyone's stories. I wish I could share all the wonderful stories I hear everyday.'

Hope that means the Advanced Style Menswear Issue is coming soon!

What to wear for an Indian Summer

2011-10-02T16:55:00.071+01:00

No, I'm not off on an Ibizan yoga retreat, it's hotter than Spain in London at the moment, and this October heatwave means a return to summer holiday clothes. So, out came my Les Prairies de Paris harem pants. The soft crinkly cotton is perfect for covering varicose veins and keeping cool. I tend not to wear vests around town, so there was a brief 'does my bum look big/arms look wobbly?' moment, till I came to my senses. Thought sod it. When it's 30 degrees, who really cares?

I'm also wearing Nike/Liberty print hi-tops and some sunscreen. Having sensitive skin, I usually opt for Avéne or Dermalogica but this year I'm wearing Nia 24. Don't let the 24 fool you, it's actually factor 30. And it smells like fresh laundry. Which I like.

The flowers at Columbia Road flower market were looking lovely today.

And so was stall holder Irene Duffy. Irene loves a jaunty scarf and elegant shirt. She's 89-years-old and has appeared on the blog before.

We all know that polka dots are the new stripes:

I do like this layered outfit (above). It is October, after all. And though it's scorching hot in the middle of the day. Mornings and evenings are much cooler - and darker. Which is very disconcerting.

Outside one of the second-hand furniture shops, three boys were making use of the display chairs and the shade:

Then it was back home, past The Shard which is nearly finished and looking pretty fabulous. We can see the top from That's Not My Age Mansions.

A swift spot of flower arranging - these burgundy dahlias are my nod to autumn colour - then off to the park for a picnic.

Feels like summer, looks like autumn. I'm trying not to think about the ice caps. And yes, I'm back to lopping my head off in photos. It's the quick, easy, pain-free way.

Fashion Grows Up

2011-09-29T12:04:00.015+01:00

If there's one thing that will change the fashion industry's obsession with youth, it's money. I'm not talking bungs and bribes - Cash For Wrinkles, anyone? Or the super-rich. Really, who cares if Daphne Guinness would rather binge on couture than eat? No. It's officially time for designers and retailers to wake up and smell the grey pound. All Walks Beyond The Catwalk, whose aim is to increase diversity in fashion and prove that 'real beauty is good for business,' have just told me about some research by Ben Barry a PhD student at Judge Business School, Cambridge University, that supports their philosophy.

'In my research, featuring 300 women in Canada, the US and UK, equally segmented between 14-65 years of age, over 90% of women between 40-65 increased purchase intentions when the advertisement featured models reflecting their age and size,' reports Barry. 'Women over 40 possess more overall spending power than any other age group, and they spend more on women's apparel than younger market segments. Moreover research has demonstrated that ageing does not reduce fashion interest among individuals.'

Women over forty want clothes that fit, flatter and look fashionable. And we want to see them on older models. Time for change, don't you think?

PS Why stop at 65? The fabulous New Yorkers snapped by Ari Seth Cohen for Advanced Style still care about fashion - and Alexis Bittar has been using 67-year-old Lauren Hutton in his ads this year.

All Walks Beyond The Catwalk.

Scandinavian Style: Gudrun Sjodén

2011-09-27T07:24:00.014+01:00

Gudrun Sjodén tells me minimalism is boring, as I sit in her office in pared-down denial. It's the Swedish designer's 35th anniversary and I'm in Stockholm to celebrate. Zesty colours, bohemian layering and an emphasis on hand-painted, Scandi-style prints are the brand's signature look. Jeans and a t-shirt, are mine.

Just as the Queen raises a flag when she's in residence, the 70-year-old with a medal for her contribution to fashion, hangs a floral appliqué handbag over the end of her desk to let people know she's in the office:

Gudrun loves gardening and travel and this is reflected in her use of natural fabrics, botanical prints and globally-inspired designs, always shown on a diverse range of models. ' Clothes look nicer on shapely women than 18-year-old girls,' she points out, adding, ' And it can be a problem when young men make things for women, their emphasis becomes young and sexy. They don't understand older women who are more intelligent than them! But it will change.' Glad to hear it.

The open-air catwalk show is at Rosendal's Garden - and I'm beginning to think layering-up is a good idea:

Like a Swedish Marimekko, the label produces fashion and homewares. And as with Scandinavian interiors, a combination of clean simple pieces perked up with a dollop of colour is best. A little really does go a long way. Even Gudrun admits that her personal style has evolved over the years and now she wears bold pattern against a plain background.

How do you wear pattern and print? And is Gudrun right about young male designers?

The perfect autumn jacket

2011-09-23T16:32:00.016+01:00

For in-between days, when it's still warm enough to get away without a coat, I like to layer-up in a lightweight jumper (usually John Smedley), jacket and scarf. As I'm always in jeans, this velvet blazer from Boden would make my trademark outfit feel special. It's unexpected and fun and not as formal as plain black.

Wonderful Marcel Wanders

2011-09-20T18:23:00.005+01:00

Sigh. It's Marcel Wanders. The charismatic Dutch product designer is in town for London Design Festival, and to launch a range of gifts for M&S - That's Not My Age met him at the preview party last night. Wanders is friendly, funny and very tall (probably around 6' 5, if you must know), and, as you can see, good-looking. Even in my crappy photo. By the end of the evening, a collective middle-aged crush had enveloped the room and a gaggle of forty-something women were planning to move to the Netherlands.

But what about the product? People, this is being hailed as the Democracy of Design. The 48-year-old charmer says, ' It's great to make crazy high end objects but it's good to make stuff that affects the life of many. Things that reach the heart of people, not just the homes.'

And here's a better photo of Wanders, who describes his laid-back, suit-and-trainers style as 'fashionably sophisticated.' I'm liking that concept.

You may recognise his knotted chair, designed for Droog in 1996. When I asked the internationally-acclaimed designer if he could make a cheaper version for Marks & Spencer, he admitted, 'It was a limited edition - and not that good for the environment.' Fair enough.

Wanders likes to connect the past and the future, hence the Henry VIII cufflink set, 'Choose a different wife every day and a favourite on Sundays!'

The multi-talented Marcel Wanders can turn his hand to anything. From tartan scarves and heavy glass urns, to printed umbrellas and expensive chocolate cakes - there are over 150 gifts in the collection. Here are some of my favourite bits and pieces:

That's Not My Age's verdict: This is the first time M&S has worked with one designer over a range of product areas and it's a brave move. Unlike the Terence Conran collaboration, which sits perfectly with the brand, some of Wanders more Baroque/masculine designs are very un-M&S. The traditional customer might not get it, but you can't keep churning out ditzy floral print mugs and Wallace & Gromit biscuit tins. And according to my sources, the store has a wider customer base and more younger shoppers at Christmas- and they will probably love some of the more kitsch-y stuff.

Wanders has been signed-up for five years. What do you think?

Marcel Wanders for Marks & Spencer is available (online and in 60 stores nationwide) from 12 October 2012.

Style at any age

2011-09-18T12:29:00.014+01:00

Fashion has always been fixated with youth. The pressure to stay eternally young is what inspired me to start That's Not My Age in the first place. The need to see more older models, more wrinkles, more diversity and less ageism in fashion. I know I'm not alone, there are tons of fabulous bloggers of a certain age out there (you can find a fair few in my Blog Roll) and by promoting older models and using photos of ourselves and other mid-lifers, I'd like to think we're doing our bit to help shift attitudes.

I love this photo of Joan Burstein by The Sartorialist. Scott Schuman has the ability to beautifully capture stylish people of any age:

And, ta- dah! This morning, I opened the newspaper and found two age-related articles that helped take the edge off my hangover. One on the fact that grey haired, natural chic is on the up - I'm not going to be the one to say I told you so - with a great quote from Caryn Franklin, journalist and co-founder of All Walks on the Catwalk:

"Our culture is fearful of ageing," said Franklin, "and especially ageing women. I say, 'Stop apologising for getting older. Embrace it.' I want young women to see that beauty ages beautifully and there is no need to feel that getting older is something that has to be medicated, managed with surgery or be obsessed about."

And the other on the need to see more middle-aged women on telly. Chairman of the BBC Trust, Chris Patten, says he'd like to see more mature women presenting programmes:

"First of all, I'm 67, for heaven's sake, and I'm married to a charming and beautiful 66-year-old, and I would be delighted if she was the face of anything on television."

And I don't think the former Conservative Party chairman was using his position at the BBC to find his wife a job. There are over 20 million Britons over 50 - let's hope that this is a watershed, not a fad.

Quotes: The Observer

A model with a conscience

2011-09-15T14:31:00.005+01:00

Meet Mak Gilchrist. She's been modelling for over 25 years and has worked with some fabulous people like Peter Lindbergh, Arthur Elgort, Bruce Weber and er, me. Back in my more glamorous fashion editor days, Mak was one of my favourite cover girls. Charming, down-to-earth and intelligent. Not one to be consumed by the more superficial aspects of the fashion world, and like myself, a bit of a hippy at heart. She's appeared in tons of magazines and ad campaigns and was the face of Chanel’s Allure:

And if that doesn't impress you, Mak was one of the supermodels in Robert Palmer’s Addicted to Love video:

Not so long ago, we met up again - this time at a bus stop, not a fashion shoot. Mak has been neglecting her own back yard, of late, to do a spot of Guerilla Gardening. The site near her south London home was bombed during the Second World War, two end-of-terrace houses never replaced. So, with the help of Lambeth council and a group of local volunteers, this strip of bare earth has been turned into The Edible Bus Stop project. An organic community garden. And it's fantastic. Really inspiring. Neighbours stop by for a chat or to help out, there's an elderly man who keeps an accurate record of all the plants and when someone tried to help themselves to the produce, patients from the hospital across the road banged on the windows and scared them off.

There's a committee who meet regularly to develop the garden and discuss plans, to negotiate with the local authority and neighbours. I asked the forty-something model if she'd thought of a career in politics, ' Oh I'd sooner be the one who whispers in the politician's ear. I've never sought the spotlight. As a model you're not promoting yourself, you're shining a light on the product. I've always seen myself in a promotional role.'

So, tomorrow instead of going to London Fashion Week, I'm off to The Edible Bus Stop's Green Carpet Catwalk Show, organised as part of International Park(ing) Day.

Fashion shows start at 13:15 and 14:00 on the Concert Hall Approach, South Bank, London SE1. If you're in the area, please come along.

Mak Gilchrist photos: Premier Models

Port, Rum and Johnny Depp

2011-09-12T21:00:00.055+01:00

Well, can you believe it? This is 48-year-old Johnny Depp's first appearance on That's Not My Age. I've just been reading about his latest film The Rum Diary, based on a book by Hunter S. Thompson, in this month's Port magazine. Port is a newish magazine for grown-up men, which I like very much. See, I told you I was a tomboy. There's an interview with director Bruce Robinson and some exclusive photos from the film, including - brace yourselves - one of Depp ransacking a minibar in his underpants. Sorry to disappoint you but he's wearing black nylon socks and patterned boxer shorts and I'm not going to publish it. Well, maybe if you ask nicely...

Anyhow. I much prefer these images by photographer Mischa Richter who was born in England but grew up in New York and Cape Cod. They're from his book Saudade, out now. Saudade is a Portugese word which apparently translates as a longing or yearning for something, kind of like feeling homesick.

'Bob and Ernest lived on Anthony Street. When I was a child this was the street my friend and I took to the beach. I must have walked past Bob & Ernest hundreds of times. One summer, I returned to where I grew up and noticed how much it had changed. I took a portrait of Bob & Ernest because to me they had not changed one bit. The next summer I went to see them, Ernest had died. The following summer, I went to see Bob but he had died. I guess you can't stop change.'

The Rum Diary is out in the US on 28 October and the UK on 4 November 2011.

Androgynous Style

2011-09-09T13:13:00.059+01:00

I've always been a bit of a tomboy. That's what happens when you have two brothers, and like riding a bike. So, I'm happy when women's fashion takes a masculine turn. When Tilda Swinton shows up on the red carpet in a suit, or Catherine Deneuve in a YSL tuxedo. These images are from the final J+ Uniqlo collection. Good, aren't they? And here's the designer Jil Sander:

Another woman with trend-defying style, here's what Sander told the Guardian this week, 'My personal style has stayed pretty much the same over the years. For work, I like a perfect pair of trousers and a white shirt, designed according to the spirit of the moment.'

And there's a great interview with Jane Birkin in this month's Vogue, sadly the accompanying photo has been airbrushed to the max. I know I've met Jane Birkin! Anyhow, her advice for looking sexy is to, ' Wear men's clothes and smile. Old stuff is grand, especially men's trousers. I feel very sexy when I'm wearing those.'

Personally when I think of old men's trousers, I feel very sick. The thought of a pair of smelly tweed pants with a stained crotch is enough to make me throw up all over my keyboard. Sorry, Jane but I wouldn't be found dead in a pair. Anyhow. This is what I love about Tomboy Style:

1. Tailoring is an easy way to smarten up, and sculpt the figure - always a flattering option when the flesh starts to get a bit wobbly.
2. Comfy shoes rule. I wear heels on special occasions. I have a job where I'm on my feet a lot. And I ride a bike, unlike Kelly Brook, I prefer to cycle in flats. Which is why I wear classic brogues and loafers.
3. Minimalism looks sharper than maximalism. End of.

And here are some of my favourite looks. The top picture is Hobbs NW3 and the overcoat and casual outfit are from Toast:

Oh and there's a fabulous blog called Tomboy Style. You should check it out.

Jil Sander photo: Getty

Timeless Style

2011-09-07T13:28:00.005+01:00

Been thinking this week about trend-defying style. About women who do their own thing regardless of what's in fashion. Joan Collins' kitsch-y glamour hasn't really changed much since her Dynasty days - and I admire this decade-defying look, and the confidence required to stick with it.

There's a great Andy Warhol quote that sums the phenomenon up perfectly:

'When a person is the beauty of their day, and their looks are really in style, and then the times change, and ten years go by, if they keep exactly their same look and don't change anything and if they take care of themselves, they'll still be a beauty. You have to hang on in periods when your style isn't popular, because if it's good, it'll come back and you'll be recognised as a beauty once again.'

Here are some of my favourite stars of timeless style:

Grace Jones takes the life-as-performance approach to fashion.

Mary Quant and her timeless bob

Jane Birkin, always effortlessly chic.

Caryn Franklin. A sharp dresser with fabulous hair.

Who do you think has timeless style?

Coloured Denim

2011-09-05T19:11:00.027+01:00

Yep, coloured denim is hanging around like Silvio Berlusconi at an 18-year-old's birthday party - but don't be alarmed, this is good news. I grew fondly attached to my hot pants over summer and am not ready to chuck them just yet. Oh no. They're going to help ease me gently into autumn.

This season I'll mostly be wearing them with a mannish jacket or a lightweight v-neck jumper, and eventually my old overcoat. The yellow pair from Boden could be the dollop of mustard I've been looking for to perk up my nearly neutral wardrobe. And I like the idea of the red Jaeger trews with the flat ankle boots - though I was alarmed to see the Sunday Times call these 'Flankles' yesterday. A fashion hybrid too far, don't you think?

If you're still not sure about coloured jeans, click here for my advice on how to wear them.

That's Not My Age

2011-09-04T10:30:00.049+01:00

Well, hello. After two full years of blogging, I thought it was about time I finally introduced myself. So, here I am - out from behind the dashboard. When I started this malarkey it was the done thing to remain anonymous, but times have changed. And I've been putting this off for long enough (mainly because I wasn't quite sure how to go about it, and also, I don't like having my photo taken). So, here goes: my name is Alyson. I'm a freelance fashion and lifestyle journalist and an academic. I was fashion editor of a well-known women's magazine for many years but now the majority of my work is online. Which is how That's Not My Age came about.

These pictures were taken by my lovely friend Dvora at Fashionistable, an excellent photographer with a very strong vision. Yes, she really did make me stand in the middle of a very busy road for this next shot - as you can imagine, I much preferred sitting on the bench. Mr That's Not My Age says I look like I'm wearing the pedestrian crossing but I'd just like to point out that it's actually my new favourite dress by A.L.C., a prized stake-out from the Liberty sale.

Talking of stripes, have you seen the French football team's new Breton-style away kit? C'est fantastique:

PS I washed my hair especially!

Quote of the week: Celia Birtwell

2011-09-01T09:35:00.004+01:00

Look, it's lovely Celia Birtwell, again. The 70-year-old designer concurs with Mary Portas when she says shopping beyond a certain age isn't easy:

'There's nobody who designs for us. I find it really difficult to get dresses now, I'd love to do something like that. But people (in the fashion industry) are scared of it. They say, "Oh no, nobody buys clothes when they're over 60! Old people don't shop, only to go to a party or a funeral." I've had that,' she says. 'Somebody quite important said that to me.'

Do you have difficulty finding flattering, age-appropriate clothes? And don't you think Mary & House of Fraser should commission a Celia Birtwell range?

Photo: Independent
Quote: Telegraph

Pachacuti Hats

2011-08-29T09:07:00.009+01:00

That's Not Me. It's Carry Somers. The founder of Pachacuti (pronounced pa-cha-cu-tee) the UK's only fair trade hat company, and winners of the Observer Ethical Fashion Award 2011. Hooray!

After completing an MA in Native American studies, Somers went off on a PhD research trip to Ecuador, in 1992, armed with a copy of Anita Roddick's autobiography. Inspired by the Body Shop's influence on the beauty industry, Somers decided to do the same for fashion. With just £500 and no background in design, she produced a knitwear collection which sold out in six weeks, 'Seeing the tangible difference this made to the producers’ livelihoods, I gave up my PhD to run Pachacuti.'

Widely known for their Andean Panamas - the Archbishop of Canterbury wears one! - Pachacuti also have an extensive range of felt hats. As of next week, their Fedoras will be available from Net-a-Porter and then on the company's website www.panamas.co.uk from September:

'I have a collection of felt cloches in different styles as these are just so useful for winter weather, withstanding any amount of rain,' says Somers. So does she have a closet full of Panamas too? 'My collection varies somewhat from year to year, as I'm very good at putting my hat down at shows, such as Chelsea Flower Show, and then coming back and finding it has been sold!' This year, Yasmin le Bon and Sol Campbell both bought hats, think we can figure out who's wearing yours, Carry.

Here's Helen Mirren in Pachacuti at last year's Chelsea Flower Show:

The company's priority is to build sustainable rural livelihoods for the Chilean weavers, who are often single mums or the wives of miners, by supporting local communities and funding social programmes. Somers travels to South America about three times a year for training and research purposes, and recently when some of the elderly producers mentioned they found working on the finer styles difficult due to poor eyesight and arthritis, Pachacuti raised money for glasses and introduced a range of looser weave crochet hats, ' Surprisingly, the brightly coloured and patterned styles we introduced are woven on average one hour faster than the same Panama hat in a natural colour.'

Hats off to Carry Somers!

You can buy Pachacuti hats online at www.panamas.co.uk or from their Derbyshire store (19 Dig Street, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 1GF. Tel: 01335 300003). Prices start at around £40.

Banana Republic Mad Men Collection

2011-08-26T11:05:00.055+01:00

Don't know about you, but lately I've been missing Mad Men. Let's be honest - in spite of some top-notch acting - The Hour just didn't cut it. I blame the script. And, now that Sky Atlantic have nabbed series five, Mr & Mrs That's Not My Age will have to wait for the Mad Men box set. But that's OK, we love a box set. Staying in for a three-episode bender is a grown-up way to spend a Saturday night. In the mean time, Banana Republic have launched a collection designed by Janie Bryant, the costume designer for the show - so should the mood take me, at least I can dress like Betty Draper.

What do you think of the collection? Will you be going all Madison Avenue this autumn?

Available in store and online now.