Allure at 50+: A hard shop
I recently replied to graying pixie, in a recent post about hair: "Even if women don't want to look overtly sexy, most of them want to look like they might be in the game."
This was the attitude with which I went shopping last weekend.
I sought a dressy top for the round of holiday parties. The usual retailers offered missy camis way too junior for me or dowdy beaded sweaters. The few things I liked in luxury shops were stratospherically pricey or not made in my size.
On the ver
ge of resignation, I stopped by a neighbourhood boutique that carries clothes by Montreal designer Veronique Miljkovitch.
I found my deliverance, the "Amber", a sensuous draped jersey tunic shown here in grey; mine is a glowing sapphire. With jersey palazzo pants, earrings and cocktail ring, it's ready for a party– but with jeans and boots, it will read casually cool. Le Duc's gift, lucky me!
I also loved this silk and stretch cotton "Scarlett" top, shown on the web site.
Veronique's pieces are fresh, sensuous, and discreetly but definitively sexy. And her Large is a 14, not an 8-with-no-bust.
Clothes like this are rare as a blue rose.
This is what the big-brand designers and retailers don't get: women 50+ want to look like we still have (or would consider having) a good time that involves our bodies. Think of Catherine Deneuve– we want to be womanly rather than matronly. (I do know one woman who is not interested, and deliberately dresses to telegraph that choice, in overalls.)
If I make it to eighty and beyond, and if blessed with the acuity of my mother and aunt, I will still desire clothes that offer allure. I'm grateful I found something for this season, but why is it so almighty hard?
This was the attitude with which I went shopping last weekend.
I sought a dressy top for the round of holiday parties. The usual retailers offered missy camis way too junior for me or dowdy beaded sweaters. The few things I liked in luxury shops were stratospherically pricey or not made in my size.
On the ver
ge of resignation, I stopped by a neighbourhood boutique that carries clothes by Montreal designer Veronique Miljkovitch.I found my deliverance, the "Amber", a sensuous draped jersey tunic shown here in grey; mine is a glowing sapphire. With jersey palazzo pants, earrings and cocktail ring, it's ready for a party– but with jeans and boots, it will read casually cool. Le Duc's gift, lucky me!
I also loved this silk and stretch cotton "Scarlett" top, shown on the web site.Veronique's pieces are fresh, sensuous, and discreetly but definitively sexy. And her Large is a 14, not an 8-with-no-bust.
Clothes like this are rare as a blue rose.
This is what the big-brand designers and retailers don't get: women 50+ want to look like we still have (or would consider having) a good time that involves our bodies. Think of Catherine Deneuve– we want to be womanly rather than matronly. (I do know one woman who is not interested, and deliberately dresses to telegraph that choice, in overalls.)
If I make it to eighty and beyond, and if blessed with the acuity of my mother and aunt, I will still desire clothes that offer allure. I'm grateful I found something for this season, but why is it so almighty hard?
Comments
It's so true, and one of the reasons I started blogging; it's really tough to find clothing that is sophisticated, womanly and not dowdy. (Many women here in So Cal respond to this conundrum by trying to dress like their teenage daughters.)
I could live in the Carmen dress on that website, absolutely live in it!
And I bet you'll be living in your new top -- it looks gorgeously versatile.
Pseu: I cringe when I see that, then wonder if I am hopelessly out of it.
materfamilias: Yes, Any Direct Flight. Wish you had hopped that plane with Pater! Carmen dress is sensational. Versatile yes but not that warm so I will wear a cashmere shawl with it sometimes.
I like both of those tops--the sapphire will look nicely festive and not overly Christmas-y.
While I don't dress as a 20 something, I do find that I stress a lot less about age-appropriateness than many my age. Does that have anything to do with not being a parent? I wonder...
I just looked through a Lucky Magazine as well as a Vogue at the hairdresser. I saw not one item I could wear or would want to wear. Retailers are in trouble, I do have money in my account for a holiday outfit, but from what I have seen, I doubt I will be buying anything new this year.
Leaf & Petal
439 California Ave.
Palo Alto CA
(650) 329-8070
I wish she sold online too.
I always wonder why clothing manufacturers think that once past a certain age there is no desire to look attractive?
I also wonder to myself - will I ever suddenly have a desire to wear crimpelene and boxy clothes? If so when does this happen and why?
by the way - if you could just send me that Sydney top I'd die a happy woman!
If I couldn't sew, I would go crazy.
I'm over 50 though I sure as hell am not "mature". This makes dressing complicated as I don't want to be either mutton dressed as lamb or the mad art teacher. But fortunately I get a lot of compliments on how I dress, on a ludicrously limited budget,so haunting these style blogs does have its practical uses.
alittleonthe side: Used to sew but my skills, uneven, resulted in me making splendid men's shirts and dresses that looked like laundry bags. I deeply admire skilled sewers.
lagatta: Check out Veronique's things- the studio in Mtl might have sales. Full price is not super high, my tunic was $160. Thanks for haunting this blog.
And of course that grey is one of my favourite non-colours.
I do understand the look you are shooting for and it IS so difficult to find; especially in sizes 12 and up which often accompanies the mature female body. You have been an immense help to me by sharing the idea of womanly but not matronly; I'll be keeping that one in mind as I shop. Am going to try to find some time to visit Palo Alto specifically to shop at Leaf & Petal. Thank you for sharing the shop name.
I'm "only" 39 years old and, you know what? I have the same issues with dressing as you specified for the 50+ group. Too grown-up to want to be in tiny tops and low-rise jeans but, for goodness sake!, I'm still a vibrant woman who wants to look appealing.
Duchesse, I think you ought to start your own clothing label. Whoever's currently making clothes for the over-30 woman doesn't seem to have a clue.
lagatta: I thought it was reasonable too, given the level of design.
It has always been this way. Back in the Cretaceous, when I was young, clothing that would fit a grown-up body was dowdy, shapeless, and made of synthetic fabrics in busy floral prints. Older women dressed that way for one reason only: they had no other choice!
I sorta hoped that as baby boomers aged there would be more demand for affordable, decent-looking clothes for grown women. But nooooooo! Clothing that fits a grown-up body is dowdy, shapeless, and made of synthetic fabrics in busy floral prints.
I've simply given up on trying to buy things I can pay for that don't look hideous on me. I live in Costco jeans, and honi soit qui mal y pense.
I have gone into shops and they don't even look at me. I'd like to conjure up something to say in those situations, but as yet I have not.