Farewell Old and Fusty

Remember a few weeks back when I commented on the fact the Guardian Weekend magazine has started to use women from a broad age range in their editorials and this includes women over 60? Well this is what I meant……

Guardian Weekend 27/06/09

Guardian Weekend 20/06/09

Guardian Weekend 13/06/09

Yes they are all still under a size 14 but that’s not the point. The focus is on the fact that slowly the tide is turning and fashion is becoming more inclusive both regarding larger clothing sizes and older women. It makes sense. I was recently on a long train journey and had a pile of fashion magazines on the table in front of me to wile away the time and it sparked the interest of the woman sitting opposite. I would guess that she was in her late sixties and approx a size 10/12. We struck up a conversation wherein she started to vent about the difficulty she has finding suitable clothes for her age group that are both fashionable and age appropriate. The lady told me that she felt like retailers just don’t want her money because they think she is too old to be interested in fashion and while she was aware that shes older than the Topshop crowd she still wants to look current.

Sound familiar?

Fashion is obsessed by youth and thinness so its a welcome relief to see that there is at least one new designer prepared to buck the trend of catering only to younger people and create a collection aimed at the 60+ market.

The designer is Fanny Karst and  she’s a 25 year old designer who has noticed a gap in the market for fashion forward clothing for older women and so created the label, Old Ladies’ Rebellion to address this customer. Her creations aren’t cheap and dresses cost £500- 600 so are for the more well heeled older woman, but I love what she’s doing and would wear many of these items myself.  My favourites are the Pippi Longstocking- esque tights detailed dress, and the dress with the gloved hand at the hip. Smart and witty. Why should the youngin’s have all the fun?

Old Ladies’ Rebellion