Fashion rule book? Rip it up, says YOU’s Contributing Editor Trinny Woodall. In her ultimate guide to ageless dressing – with more than 70 brilliant tips – she shows us how to look great and feel amazing every single day.
Fashion rule book? Rip it up, says YOU’s Contributing Editor Trinny Woodall.
I’ve been doing makeovers for 30 years, but I’m still surprised when I hear women tell me that they can’t wear certain styles, colours or fabrics after the age of 50. I’m here to tell you to rip up that old-fashioned rule book. Fashion no longer has age limits – teenagers and their grandmothers wear the same pieces, from the same store, just styled in different ways. Today it’s about embracing ageless dressing: choosing clothes that flatter in sophisticated fabrics, knowing your body shape and what colours suit you best. It’s also about still daring to take risks. You don’t have to look conservative just because you’re in your 60s, 70s and beyond and you can – and should! – still shine at any age. For decades I was led by style rules, but more recently I’ve followed one mantra when it comes to clothes: ‘Does it make me happy?’ If you feel happy in what you’re wearing, you will radiate happiness to those around you and that’s what dressing should be about. So here, over the following pages, I’ve shared my favourite summer outfits; they’ve brought me that sense of happiness and I hope they’ll do the same for you.
1. We all have a long dress that we bought for an event but now only wear once a year. Well, it’s time to give it a new lease of life. There’s great freedom in a long, wafty dress in a chic fabric that can be worn casually for day and glammed up for evening. I like a style with a high neck because it frames the face and maximises the colour impact – cornflower blue suits me best, but choose the right hue for you. To take your dress from day to night, add statement jewellery – a long necklace, earrings or a cocktail ring would also look great.
2. I like my arms and am happy showing them off, but if you prefer keeping yours covered pick a dress with sleeves
3. Choose a maxi dress in a colour that makes you look the most ‘alive’
4. team your maxi with a pair of white trainers (if it’s a dress you usually wear with heels, choose platform trainers). It’s an instant moderniser
5. Dress, £185, essentiel-antwerp.com. Ring, £98, merola.co.uk. Trainers, £80, frenchconnection.com. Necklace, Trinny’s own, for similar try johnlewis.com. Blazer (opposite), Trinny’s own, for a powder-blue jacket go to jigsaw-online.com
6. My blue Zara jacket is 15 years old but goes perfectly with my new blue dress
7. A crossbody bag or wicker tote keeps the look casual for daytime
8. Bag, £150, raefeather.com
9. Blazer, £275, reiss.com
10. Dress, £120, stories.com
11. For a day look, add a jacket in a slightly paler tone than your maxi
12. Dress, £150, uterque.com
13. Dress, £395, LoveShackFancy, beachcafe.com
14. Dress, £55, weekday.com
15. If you are an hourglass shape or want to show off your cleavage, choose a maxi with a V-neck and that nips in at the waist
(Trinny’s make-up above: Eye2Eye in wisdom, £18; Flush Blush in wiggs, £25; Lip Love in sacha, £24, and BFF cream skin perfector in light/medium, £35, all trinnylondon.com)
16. Why do people think it’s only for the young and petite? Nonsense. The trick to wearing white well? Think layering and textures. Sheer is also a playful way to add white to your look as it’s not about showing off skin, just creating the illusion of doing so. Here I’ve teamed my favourite Zara gilet with a statement top. Keep your trousers well-cut, but neutral. Finish off with a metallic shoe (a bit of shimmer goes with everything).
17. We all know a red lip rocks with a black dress but it looks fab with white, too
18. Blouse, £35, oasis-stores.com
19. Mix fabrics such as broderie anglaise with silk – it will give your outfit definition
20. Dress, £180, uterque.com
21. Don’t fear sheer! You can always add a cami underneath
22. Trousers, £34.99, hm.com
23. Clothes, Trinny’s own. For a similar blouse try nastygal.com. For a long waistcoat, go to mango.com. Karenmillen.com sells white wide-legged trousers
24. Jumper, £85, frenchconnection.com
25. Contrast a flowing top with crisp tailoring to keep it smart
26. Sandals, £30, next.co.uk
27. Flats, £16, sainsburys.co.uk
28. Shoes, £62, office.co.uk
(Trinny’s make-up, this page: Eye2Eye in wisdom, £18; Lip2Cheek in pia, £25; Lip Glow in lyla, £16, all trinnylondon.com)
29. Wearing bright colour from top to toe gives you presence when you enter a room. A zingy silk shirt with matching pyjama-style bottoms is one of my staple looks. Not just the more modern way to wear trousers, its forgiving cut skims my legs, while the contrasting waistband and loosely tucked shirt highlights the waist.
30. When wearing a strong shade, tone down lips but swirl on lots of blusher so your face has colour, too
31. Clothes, Trinny’s own. For a similar shirt and trousers, try serenabutelondon.com. Superga.co.uk sells white platform trainers
32. Flats, £55, charleskeith.com
33. Sandals, £29, topshop.com
34. Dress, £350, Cefinn, matchesfashion.com
35. Bag, £8, sainsburys.co.uk
36. Team different colours together – I’d add neon jewellery to this jumpsuit
37. Jumpsuit, £298, meandem.com
38. Top, £45, and skirt, £69, cosstores.com
39. You may have noticed i’m a huge fan of white trainers – they go with everything and always up the cool factor
40. Trainers, £130, Michael Kors, houseoffraser.co.uk
(Trinny’s make-up, this page: Lip Luxe in Eugenie, £22; Lip Gloss in Maddie, £16; lip light transformer in Cicely, £24, all trinnylondon.com)
47. This is the ultimate summer dress. Both pretty and chic, it will look the part at every formal event in the diary, from weddings to the races. For outdoor dos, wear with platform heels as stilettos will sink into grass. The broderie anglaise fabric also makes it a winner – far more forgiving than lace, this gives the impression of being sheer but doesn’t reveal so much skin.
41. Dress, £229, tedbaker.com
42. Dress, £139, baukjen.com
43. Blouse, £165, reiss.com
44. Dress, £625, delavali.com
45. If you prefer separates, try tailored trousers with a flattering silk top for a sleek, chic look
46. Trousers, £625, Stella McCartney, net-a-porter.com
48. A strong lip will hold its own against a colourful print
49. For timeless chic, an occasion dress should fall to just above the ankle, which is the most flattering length for any woman
50. Dress, £740, Zimmermann, net-a-porter.com. Shoes, £620, aquazzura.com
51. every woman needs a metallic shoe in her life, as it will go with every look
52. Shoes, £60, aldoshoes.com
53. Hat, £20, monsoon.co.uk
54. Don’t be afraid of wearing statement jewellery with a print dress. Go for dazz ling earrings or a dramatic ring
55. Earrings, £48, butlerandwilson.com
56. Ring, £105, monicavinader.com
57. Hat, £13.99, hm.com
(Trinny’s make-up: Lip Luxe in Eugenie, £22; Lip Gloss in maddie, £16; lip light transformer in Cicely, £24, all trinnylondon.com.)
66. And sparkle is not just for the party season. Shimmer lifts every outfit and will make a casual ensemble look sophisticated. This skirt is my summer friend – I can wear it anywhere, from running errands to going on holiday. Add a white jacket for a meeting or smart dinner, but make sure it’s short-waisted and has one button. Finish off the look with a statement lip for a modern ‘undone’ look.
58. Top, £95, reiss.com
59. A long shimmery skirt is the foundation for my summer capsule wardrobe
60. Dress, £230, Bec & Bridge, harveynichols.com
61. Skirt, £59.99, mango.com
62. Wedges, £35, Office, houseoffraser.co.uk
63. Dress, £38, dorothyperkins.com
64. Add statement jewellery to up the drama – just make sure it’s of the same tonal palette
65. Necklace, £50, anthropologie.com
67. Vest, Trinny’s own, for similar try reiss.com. Skirt, around £600 mariefrancevandamme.com . Trainers, £80, frenchconnection.com. Necklace, Trinny’s own, jcrew.com sells similar designs
68. When wearing long jackets, choose one that extends to your trouser hem for a polished finish
69. Clothes, Trinny’s own. For a sequined jacket, try zara.com. For a white T-shirt, visit michaelstars.com. Reiss.com sells black tailored trousers. Wedges, £425, clergerieparis.com
70. In stead of a tailored jacket, throw a sequined kimono or gilet
71. Kimono, £89.99, zara.com
72. Shirt, £45, riverisland.com
(Trinny’s make-up: Lip Luxe in Swainy and demon, £22 each; Eye2Eye in moon and star, £18 each, and Flush Blush in Electra, £20. right: eye2eye in empress and emperor, £18 each; flush blush as before; lip glow in maddie, £16, and lip luxe in eugenie, £22, all trinnylondon.com )
Photographs: Dan Kennedy
Hair: Fabio Nogueira
Make-up: Michelle Campbell at Frank Agency
Producer and director: Sian Parry