Can You Guess Our Age From Our Clothes?

When it comes to age, a fashion revolution is in full swing. We meet the women rewriting the rules... 

- Lizzie Pook

When it comes to age, a style revolution is underway. It all started with grey hair on the catwalk and laughter lines in high-end fashion campaigns. These days, our icons come in a range of shapes, sizes and ages – from 70-year-old actress Felicity Kendal sporting a crop top and 25-year-old Selena Gomez fronting campaigns for ‘grown-up’ accessories brand Coach, to 96-year-old US fashion icon Iris apfel giving zero hoots in her oversized owl glasses, furry tangerine coats and statement jewellery. ‘age-appropriate is dead,’ says Alyson walsh, author of new book Know Your Style. ‘The boundaries between generations are blurred. women of all ages wear similar clothes – bomber jackets, trainers, culottes, midi-dresses – and shop at the same places. we’re able to say: “This is what we look like, this is who we are, get over it.”’ Here, three women who are firmly eschewing the notion of ‘dressing for their age’ reveal the secrets to their style.

‘I haven’t grown out of dressing up’

Charlotte white, 35, is a cake designer. She lives in Bedford with her husband Chris, 51, a music buyer.

I watched a lot of old movies growing up, and Some Like It Hot was always on in our house. I remember lying in bed and hearing it on the TV, and from the age of six I thought Marilyn Monroe was what grown-up women looked like.

I’ve committed numerous fashion faux pas, including a shell suit, high-top trainers and giant neon earrings. But by the time I went to university, the vintage style had taken hold of me.