ThePeopleAlchemist Fashion Edit: inspiring women everywhere - style has no age

Welcome to Day 5 of our Fashion Edit: inspiring women - style has no age, interviewing Jacynth Bassett, Founder of The-Bias-Cut.com. ( If you have only joined us today here are the links to Day 1 to 4, Fashion has No Age because no woman is invisible or irrelevant, Has Fashion become Old Fashioned? , The Bias cut: what is in a name? and Age does not matter). Q: Following on from yesterday " Age does not matter" discussion, what does ageless style mean then? A: It’s one year on since last year’s rather disappointing Vogue ‘Ageless Style’ Issue. Whilst sadly Vogue still has a long way to go (a couple of women over 50; Stella Tennant again; a plethora of anti-ageing articles; and one-piece on glasses mainly showing 18-year-old models isn’t good enough), generally speaking, we can agree that the concept of ‘ageless style’ is finally is being widely accepted by the media. Barely a week or two goes by now without a feature centred on the topic being in a magazine. Gradually more 50+ women are gracing the pages, showing off their fabulous style, proving that age should never be a barrier. The only issue is, celebrities aside, they nearly always seem to have the same aesthetic. Most non-famous women featured in these articles have one distinctive look. Bright colours. Clashing prints. Often accompanied by stacks of chunky statement jewellery and thick, oversized glasses. They’re kooky with a dash of eccentricity. Iris Apfel is an iconic example. And there’s no denying they all look fantastic. Q; Is that the only way a woman past her 40s can truly accomplish ‘ageless style’? A: The concept of ‘Style’ is very broad; its highly personal attribute results in it encompassing thousands of different aesthetics. This is something editorials readily embrace – at least when it comes to women in their 20s and 30s. But it seems as if, as soon as the word ‘ageless’ is thrown in, more often than not, the featured woman’s style fits the outline above, implying that once a woman hits 50 she must dress a certain way to be stylish. So whilst the purpose of these articles is to seem inclusive, the execution says something very different. Q: Do you think there is confusion between the word 'fashion' and 'style' then? A: Indeed. If we were talking ‘fashion’ this would make sense because, no matter what age, size or shape you are, there are looks that are ‘in’ and looks that are ‘out’. But when we’re talking style, that’s about projecting an individual statement through your wardrobe. So it’s very likely kooky and eccentric isn’t going to be you. If you look at this woman and feel their style speaks to and inspires you, then that’s great. Give it a go (after all, I’m never one to suggest shying away from colours and prints). But if it doesn’t, that’s ok too. And that doesn’t mean you aren’t - or can’t be - stylish. You can be eccentric and kooky. Or you can be elegant, sophisticated, sexy, edgy, riske, demure, feminine, androgynous, colourful or monochrome. Or something entirely different. All are right. In the countdown to our official launch, for example, we showcased 7 very different women, all equally chic, all with their own personal style. And all it takes is a quick glance at Instagram to see the eclectic range of both bloggers and other women over 50 showings off their latest look – all different, all equally gorgeous. Jacynth's message - It is time to move away from a restrictive interpretation and celebrate all aspects of ‘ageless style’. Because, in the same way, that style alone can have a multitude of interpretations, so can ‘ageless style’. Ultimately you define what it means to you; it’s not for someone else to. What does the ageless style mean to you? Comments below - thank you xxx