Newsletter

Style at any age and the Mirror Mirror conference

— by Alyson Walsh

That’s me looking pensive, in an autumn sweater. This weekend is all about preparing for the Mirror Mirror conference – my talk about fashion, ageing and culture with Ari Seth Cohen on Tuesday evening. At London College of Fashion. It’s going to be fun. We have some surprises lined up and have decided to turn it into a conversation, rather than a formal academic lecture. Now I just need to step back from the blog and figure out how to explain the premise of That’s Not My Age, intelligently, to a roomful of strangers. Without polishing off all the complimentary drinks first.

As well as planning what I’m going to say, I need to plan what I’m going to wear. I’ve had my haircut especially, though it’s looking pretty dull at the moment and I haven’t had time to have the colour done (I have a few blonde highlights, bi-annually). But then I read a fantastic feature on Salon and thought hey, I’m a Silvery Still In The Game Dame – sod it, embrace the natural dullness and let the, er, blog’s personality shine.

I just wish my hair was more like this:

Photo: Garance Doré

 
Other preparations include: trialling a few beauty products. I’ve been sent Linda Rodin’s Olio Lusso which I’m slathering all over my face at regular intervals in the hope that it will make me look as fabulous as the New York fashion VIP (now there’s someone I can look to for style inspiration for my seminar) and some White Hot shampoo to brighten and boost grey hair.

Linda Rodin photo from J.Crew 2012 campaign

The photograph of moi was intended for knitwear designer Edina Ronay’s #pinkfridays blog post. I was asked to model a cashmere sweater for Breast Cancer Awareness, 25% of the proceeds go to charity, but because of the Malware Wars last week, they haven’t been able to use it. And yes, this was for charity, I sent the sweater back.

If you can’t make the talk and have any questions you’d like to ask or areas you think we should discuss,
please leave a comment below. I’ll make sure we cover it and feed back to you next week.

As Linda Rodin says, ‘You can’t chase youth. You’ll just look older with a face lift.’

Keep Reading

The art of layering

That’s me looking pensive, in an autumn sweater. This weekend is all about preparing for the Mirror Mirror conference – my talk about fashion, ageing and culture with Ari Seth Cohen on Tue…