It's been a muttonous week. First, Joanna Lumley says there's nothing wrong with dressing young, shopping at Topshop and wearing cheap clothes. In an interview with Woman & Home magazine, the 65-year-old actor admits she enjoys 'mutton-dressed-as-lamb shops' and experimenting with fashion, 'The other day I put on a pair of old Jean Muir shorts I found at the back of the wardrobe and I felt fabulous. Mind you, nobody said anything about how I looked - not a compliment in sight - so maybe I didn't look that great. But, gosh, I felt fabulous,' adding, 'It's important to be daring and not worry what people say.'
And then, Ewan McGregor pipes up, in the Observer, ' I turned 40 in March. But I don't feel it - you never do. I have to ask my wife: "Do I look a cock, or is this alright, the way I'm dressed?" Because you don't want to be 'that' guy, but you also don't want to listen to that voice either. I want to wear skinny jeans when I'm in my seventies. Why not? Who cares?'
They have a point. It's important not to give up on fashion - and to wear what you like. Clothes have the ability to make us feel fabulous and confident, so long as they fit and flatter. Mixing high street with investment pieces - like, erm, Jean Muir shorts - is the modern way. But it's wise to be demure. Fine to show off your good bits, but don't let it all hang out. Joanna Lumley rules, but I do hope she was wearing opaque tights with her shorts.
Photos
Joanna Lumley: Telegraph
Ewan McGregor: Zimbio
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ReplyDeletehttp://www.esquire.com/features/what-ive-learned/helen-mirren-quotes-0811
I have had a post connected to your´s ( slightly ) in mind today.
ReplyDeleteI have to gather my thoughts.
Hmmm interesting. Not sure whether the 'average' 65 year old could get away with muttonous Top Shop dressing a la Lumley but then again she is hardly an average 65 year old so she can effectively make her own rules I guess!! And Ewan, dear Ewan - he most probably can do exactly as he pleases so gorgeous is the man!! x
ReplyDeleteYou know, I'm not really sure what I want to be. But I'm not sure what I don't want to be either. Maybe I don't want to be bothered to decide. Don't know.
ReplyDeleteWell more power to her! (But I won't be caught in shorts : >) and I agree about Ewan - he is so delicious, I don't care what he wears.
ReplyDeleteAs always, it seems to be about balance, except for those bold enough to go eschew that and head for the extremes. Sounds as if Lumley's at least aware of other's opinions (speculating about lack of compliments) and McGregor gets his wife to help him stay within certain parameters. I'm passing on the shorts, myself, but finding other ways not to give in to the stiflings of age.
ReplyDeleteSemi-Expat - I agree. Can't quite imagine Joanna Lumley in Topshop myself, and she never looks cheap (or like she's wearing cheap clothes).
ReplyDeletematerfamilias - yes, despite their proclamations, both seem to care about what other people say.
Hmmm. It's a hard one. Can fear of looking like MDAL make one go too far the other way? What's worse? I guess, in the end, it's always up to the individual ...
ReplyDeleteJoanna Lumley has the confidence, carriage and figure to wear almost anything and not look like MDAL, whereas if I pulled on a old pair of Jean Muir shorts someone would call the butcher!
ReplyDeleteIf you feel happy in your own skin why the heck not? x
ReplyDeleteMs Lumley obviously doesn`t have agricultural thighs and calves so could probably pull that look off! Though if they were Topshop shorts, the outcome might be different!I think it`s all about what you feel comfortable in..I`d feel comfortable in anything Jean Muir!....I wish!
ReplyDeleteI love experimentation and trying new looks. Half the fun is the process of putting together an ensemble and I've mixed vintage with contemporary for years. But I want to feel good when I walk out the door, so full length mirror please.
ReplyDeleteGo JoLum (with opaques!) that photograph is either heavily photoshopped, or she's had some serious work done... and Monsieur McKewan. Fashion is full of bull, cocks, mutton and rather too many sheep...
ReplyDeleteYes too the opaque tights, my skin is no longer up to public viewing, I'm like saggy shar pei but I was fat before so it's a small price to pay for fitting into lovely clothes.
ReplyDeleteLove both their attitudes...
ReplyDeleteI feel we should all be allowed to dress how we like even if we are over 40. There was an article recently in the Sydney Morning Herald about this topic too: http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/blogs/style-files/mutton-dressed-as-lindsay-lohan-20111005-1l7u2.html It's great to see some people just enjoying themselves with their fashion even if it doesn't fit the norm of what we should be wearing after 40.
ReplyDeleteLilacs in May - JoLu,love it! I'm hoping it's Photoshop but will check out her Greek Odyssey just to make sure.
ReplyDeleteHa! Love your advice for Joanna Lumley - a good pair of opaques are the best trans-age accessory, no? xx
ReplyDelete