"Deborah and Karen are two of the most engaging women you’ll meet, passionate about what they are doing, articulate, informed and great fun”

- Sarah Sturt, Editor of Kent Life.

Deborah Turner and Karen MacPhee are the founders of Hamlyn Nash Image Consultancy, specialists in providing advice on image, appearance and style to women and men in the South East.  

For further information go to:

www.hamlynnash.co.uk 

tel  07857 029 630

or email: team@hamlynnash.co.uk

by Deborah Turner and Karen MacPhee of Hamlyn Nash Image Consultancy

Part one:

In the past many people panicked at the thought of being fifty and reached for the Yellow Pages in search of a cosmetic surgeon. Thankfully, this trend now seems less popular and we are embracing 50 with a new found verve. You certainly don't need cosmetic surgery to look and feel good at 50plus. Inner confidence and knowing how to look good can immediately make you look and feel younger.

So what should you be wearing and what should you be avoiding? There are no hard and fast rules; it is about looking good on the outside so that you feel good on the inside. Everyone knows what makes them feel good and it is about embracing that and being true to you, not trying to please someone else or fit into a box that the media have created. Attitude and style have no age limit and these can make you look far younger than either trying to fade into the background or wearing the latest catwalk trends.

There are now shops catering specifically for over 50s for example, www.fiftyplus.co.uk but really there should be no restriction on where you shop; it’s about finding your own style, owning it and loving it. Your clothes and grooming (and makeup for ladies) should reflect how you want to be seen. It is worth thinking about how you want others to perceive you and then think to yourself, do they really see me in that way? Does my image truly reflect my thoughts and values?

If you are happy with the way you look and feel positive when you look in the mirror you will radiate confidence and this can automatically take years off you. It helps to know the colours and styles that suit your particular natural colourings and your body shape so that you can then build your own individual style around that basic toolkit and your individual lifestyle.

Getting older doesn’t mean trying to fade into the background and hiding yourself in large oversized clothes. They will just make you look larger than your true size and really will age you. Equally it is not about becoming a fashion victim and desperately trying to keep up with the latest catwalk designs and with what your sons and daughters are wearing. A good idea is to pick just one trend from the season’s new styles, be it a particular colour you can use as an accent colour with more classic staples, or one particular style that you know flatters your shape and personality.

Another easy way for ladies to look up to date is with accessories, there is so much choice these days and you really do not have to spend a fortune. Trusted supermarkets and other favourite high street brands now have a great range to compliment almost any outfit. For both men and women, new modern shoes are another good staple that can update and freshen up a whole look.

The good news for the ladies this 2007 Autumn Winter season is the return of a more sensible length skirt and dress – midi – just below the knee together with the skirt suit. For men the slimmer fit trousers are set to continue for a while, whilst if these do not flatter your frame opt for the easier to wear shirt with the rolled up style sleeves with button and tab. Things to avoid that may make you look at as if you are trying to compete with the much younger set are short skirts, tapered trousers, vest tops and slogan t shirts.

Bootleg trousers are the most flattering style of trouser and a knee length plain A line skirt suits almost everyone. Sleeves will nearly always be more flattering than straps or sleeveless but avoid short sleeves if you specifically want to minimize your bust. Deep scoop and V neck lines are also good for minimizing a large bust but the best remedy of all is ensuring that you have the right underwear to provide you with the required support and a super shape – when was the last time you were measured?!.Magic Knickers are always an option too with styles varying from support knickers to full shorts extending up to the base of your bra. For men, avoid patterned shirts if you have a large tummy and opt for a plain darker fabric to minimize and wear ties with diagonal or vertical lines but avoid polka dots.

If you are concerned about your size or your weight then certain items will look better than others. To look taller and slimmer, wear plain darker matt fabrics on larger areas, and patterned, lighter brighter colours or textured fabrics on smaller areas. Do not assume black is always slimming and safe. Only 35% of the UK population can wear black next to their face and look their very best. On the remaining 65% it can be ageing, creating shadows and an uneven complexion.

There is of course so much choice available now both on the High Street and on the internet, that it is advisable to get to know exactly what does flatter your shape and lifestyle and what to avoid. It makes shopping much easier and more fun when you can see at a glance if a shop caters for your sense of style or not – not forgetting the savings you will make on those ‘bad-buys’ – you know, the ones that hang in your wardrobe sometimes never to be worn!

Remember too that retailers have realised that ‘in their primers’ do not want to look like their parents did at their age. M&S of course almost lost sight of this but have significantly raised their game in creating a modern stylish look for this very market. Even their TV advertising is now embracing more mature models and the crowds are starting to return.

Part two:

The media and advertisers are slowly changing their perception of in my primers and leading this field in the beauty industry is Dove. Their latest campaign for the new Pro Age range of products celebrates ageing, challenging the concept that only young is beautiful.

The great news too is that they’re not the only ones, now there are lots of products out there to help us look younger, the anti-ageing market is booming. Whilst many claim to have miraculous results (and it’s always a case of buyer beware!) we do know that smoking and sun are the worst skin ageing factors, so simply by concentrating on avoiding these we can instantly start to reduce the effects of the ageing process. The basic message for both men and women is to always wear a moisturizer with a minimum SPF of 15, regardless of the weather or time of year.

For men this can sometimes be a bit of a chore and something they would never have considered doing in their youth and in part this ties in with the fact that in general, men hitting the 50 mark seem more reluctant to make an effort to look fit and attractive than women. However, predominantly young men but not exclusively this age range, are becoming more aware of how they look and the male grooming industry has grown nearly 900% in the last 5 years.

It seems men worry more about ‘feeling young’ than ‘looking young’. One reason may be because they tend to have a distinct advantage over women in terms of ageing in that their skin, being thicker, is less prone to wrinkling and drooping. Research shows that the average man’s skin does not start aging until 50, considerably later than women’s. So come on guys, make the most of your head start and make sure you look after your good looks for the next 50 years. If the thought of using your partner’s cream is still a little uncomfortable, slip a men’s moisturizer into your trolley next time you do the shopping and if used daily you will soon see the results.

But although women have a slight disadvantage over men in terms of the skin’s ageing process, of course we do have the added advantage of being able to use some great makeup products. We have found with some of our ‘in their prime’ clients that their makeup may need an overhaul. A make-up lesson is a great way to find out the new tricks and treats in the trade and they really are not that expensive (free in most department stores) – go on treat yourself!

If your cosmetics and your application methods are dated, you too will look dated regardless of how much effort has gone into your outfit. A good foundation that matches your skin tone is key – it should not change the colour of your skin and with today’s technology they also have many other benefits including lifting and firming if necessary!

Good grooming is a key point for both men and women over 50. It is about looking after yourself, being a little pampered and paying attention to detail, e.g. nails, eyebrows, facial hair for men etc. An aspect of grooming that we get a lot of questions about is hair. Again, it is really about how it makes you feel. Your hair frames your face. Although many of us worry about specific problem areas on our body, the area most people look at is our face. Hence the importance of a good skin care routine and for women, and well applied makeup surrounded by our ‘crowning glory’.

When it comes to hair, women shouldn’t feel pressured into going short because convention says you should. It is more about ensuring that your hair is in fantastic condition and receives regular, excellent maintenance. Colour too is a matter of choice although best kept to natural palettes - and if you decide to show your grey have an up-to-date cut. Of course, for men the salt and pepper look has always been and is likely to remain very popular – approach the dye bottle with extreme caution!

This is a great time of life to celebrate who you are and to make the most of your good points. The 50+ market is the fastest growing demographic and is increasingly being recognised by marketers and retailers as a dream market.  So make the most of the choice out there, exude confidence and feel great about how you look. They used to say ‘grow old gracefully’, but today 50+ is the trendy place to be!