A classic combo- high waisted, pleated front trousers with a fitted cardigan tucked in. This cardigan is particularly lovely as it is 100% cashmere and we love the velvet covered buttons. It is details like this that make all the difference. I was in Sézane this week and saw this lovely little cardi too. In fact, changing the buttons is such a clever way of breathing new life into an old garment. Merchant & Mills for example have a gorgeous selection of coloured buttons, as do Tribe.

If you are a bit self conscious of your tummy area then wearing your cardigan or jumper out (rather than tucked in) would also look great. In this case though I’d be tempted to add a little jacket over the top to complete the look - either something like this or a shape like this. As a very basic rule (rules can always be broken!) if you’re not very tall then go for a more cropped jacket with wide legged trousers.

Apologies if you are sick of seeing this jacket - it just happens to go with all the outfits that we have been wearing! I also hope that it is helpful to see how the same garment can be styled in a multitude of ways, particularly if it is a jacket which you are unlikely to buy multiples of. I also hope that we have demonstrated that a colour other than black, navy or grey etc can also be very versatile. I have said this many times before but mustard, burgundy, dark green - are all colours that are versatile and can be worn with many outfit combinations.

I adore this cardigan by Cotswold Knit - it’s fun and different whilst also being easy to wear. I have paired it with a skirt here but it would also look cool layered in a much more casual way over a shirt and under a jacket-with the segments of different colours peeking through. In fact a striped shirt in the same colours as the squares would look awesome.

Lastly, I’d just like to say thank you so much for joining us this year. I absolutely love this community that we have built. I started this blog because of the disparity I was witnessing between the amazingly dressed women that I was seeing out and about and the invisibility of these women in advertising and editorial imagery. As we age, style and clothes are such a fantastic way of staying true to our identity - ultimately feeling good in our own skin!

I have loved receiving messages from you, describing your own experiences, which always inspires and keeps us spurred on.

Never fall into the trap of thinking that you are too old to care (unless you genuinely don’t want to care - that is a different thing!) - wear the cool trainers and the barrel leg jeans, experiment with colour and layering textures, pick the statement glasses! If you’re feeling a bit blurrrgh, I promise you, a great outfit is a good place to start….. and on that note, HAPPY CHRISTMAS! See you on the other side!

Love from,

Hannah, Sue and our wonderful Alex xx