Iris Apfel… and when you see her, you can’t help but look. The American interior designer, known for her eclectic, theatrical love of clothes, is 100 and has recently collaborated on a collection with H&M.
Whatever you think of her flamboyance, in the face of this info, who’d dare decree the time to start toning down your style is half a century earlier?A post shared by H&M (@hm)I don’t pretend to be an expert, but as lots of readers have been enquiring about items I wear, many of which are years old (the Fair Isle and cable knits) or inexpensive (the retro print skirt and vintage satin ankle boots, £1.50 and £15 respectively from eBay), here’s my two pennies’ worth. Firstly, scare and dare yourself a little – like when I plonked a yellow fedora with turquoise trim on my head.
It became my favourite hat, flagging that my sartorial quest is not yet invisibility.There are plenty of celebs who offer inspiration, from Helen Mirren’s elegance to Carolina Herrera’s unfailing ability to work a white shirt. I love building signature looks every so often, focusing on interesting yet reliable pieces that neither render you silly nor sombre.
One that’s worked for me over the past decade has been the tulle skirt of a graceful length.However, I only stocked up once I’d found a version that laid flat over my hips, rejecting plenty that puffed out from my waist and made me look like an angry, aged fairy in a life-size jewellery box. The lesson? No matter how much you’re drawn to a look, persevere to find the example that fits and flatters you (and never be afraid to size up for a looser, lower-slung fit).I’m also a fan of contrasts.
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