The great late lamented Iris Apfel who died this year at the age of 102 was once told: “Young lady. You’re not pretty and you’ll never be pretty. Don’t let anybody ever con you into that. But it doesn’t matter. You have something much better. You have style.” Iris was a style icon her whole life, but as a wonderful new book* full of her wit and witticisms attests, she became more daring, more colourful and more like a living artwork, the older she became.
Few of us would aspire to look as outrageously flamboyant as Iris, but, as we age, we can aspire to cultivate a distinctive style whilst being true to ourselves exactly in the way that she was.
This week we have a little treat for you in the form of some street style fashion. Our brilliant LFF photographer, Amelia, had the idea of grabbing her camera and going out onto the streets of London to capture some images of random women that caught her eye for one reason or another. What attracted her attention might be about colour, or pattern, or shape or an overall ‘look’ which expressed the personality of the wearer.
In these photographs, we’re not trying to suggest that there are rules, conventions or a right or wrong way to dress as a definitely postmenopausal woman. What we are saying is that style is possible at any age, and that the unifying factor in all the images is confidence. Each of these women looks happy in her own skin. Her feet are firmly planted on the ground in very comfortable shoes, and she is going about her day secure in the knowledge that she looks appropriate (whatever that means), and stylish.
We have also included photographs of Julia and Julie just after they had an LFF makeup makeover from Sally, and one of me, all taken in the street outside our office in south west London.
I do hope you enjoy the photographs and feel free to leave a positive comment. None of these fabulous women has volunteered to be criticised, so please tell us what you notice, what you could learn from and what you like in the images below. And, yes, we do know that there are stylish women outside London! Thank you.
Iris - Top: LK Bennett , Bag: Aspinal of London, Shoes: Barbour
Luise - Dress: Zara, Bag: Uniqlo
Miriam - Bag: Coach, Trousers: Mango, Jumper: Next
Sue - Jacket: Turkmen Gallery in Pimlico, Bag: Kaleidoscope
Victoria - Top: Ralph Lauren, Jeans: Zara, Shoes: Velasca
Jane - Jacket: Etro, Shoes: Chanel
Jacquie - Small bag: Prada, Larger bag: Longchamp, Trousers: COS, Shoes: H&M
Julie - Linen Suit: M&S, T-shirt: M&S, Glasses: Eyeworks at Roger Pope optician Dulwich, Handbag: A shop near Bahia Del Duque hotel in Adeje Tenerife, Belt: Elliot Rhodes
Julia - Jacket: Seasalt, Trousers: White Stuff, Top: Massimo Dutti
Jacket: Reiss, Trousers: Daniel Mayer, Top: Pure, Shoes: Calla, Bag: Mulberry, Earrings: Oliver Bonas, Sunglasses: Rayban
*Colourful’ tells the story of Iris Apfel’s life and times and has just been published by Penguin.
Tricia x
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