You may be surprised to hear that at 32, I am already starting to feel old. This is mainly due to the fact that my younger sister is constantly reminding me that I am eight years ahead of her. But as she still likes to borrow my clothes, I can only assume that I must be doing something right?
Getting older has always been a much bigger deal for women than for men.  But change is never a bad thing, and that is exactly what getting older is…change.

In terms of fashion, there are no hard and fast rules for growing old stylishly. Okay, hot pants are a no-no, halter-neck tops can be tricky, and the whole skirts and leggings combo?  The less said about that, the better.  But growing older and staying stylish can be simple if you practice the following:

Acceptance.  Until someone discovers the fountain of eternal youth, we will ALL continue to age.  Gravity can only be held back for so long.

Be comfortable in your own skin.  I am much more aware of who I am as a person, than when I was 22.  I am self-assured and know exactly what I want out of life, which is a great place to be.

With this strong sense of self comes a certain confidence in the choices I make, especially when it comes to my wardrobe.  Okay, so I am a fashion stylist but that does not mean that I have not made mistakes in the past – there are just no photographs (fingers crossed) to prove it.

The capsule wardrobe.  What you should be aiming for is the capsule wardrobe. These are key pieces such as the little black dress, black tailored trousers, and a white shirt to name a few. They are timeless and interchangeable. If you can get this right, then you can add in other pieces that can be worn with your capsule wardrobe or on their own.

Must-have willpower.  Don’t be tempted to rush out and buy the latest ‘must-have’ item unless you know for a fact it will suit you and you have (3 min) other items in your wardrobe you can wear it with.

Quality counts. The older I get, the more I earn and I can afford to buy better quality clothing.  Inspect the stitching.  Know what you’re getting for your money.  Don’t get me wrong, there is no harm in entering the wonderful world of ‘discount’ stores now and then.

Getting older does not have to be doom and gloom, style is a state of mind.

Lisa Maynard-Atem, STYLISA
www.stylisa.com