Dressing with confidence
When it comes to style, feeling comfortable and confident matters. Experimenting with different outfit configurations, trying new colours or going bold with accessories add flair and personality, but on a day-to-day basis I want to put clothes on and forget about them. Feel-good favourites are the items I come back to. For me, the just-smart-enough combination of casual cargo pants or slouchy, sporty trousers and an outstanding jacket is a winning formula. The versatile jumpsuit is another top choice. Add chunky boots or trainers and I’m ready for action.
Recently, I was invited by Me+Em to take part in a style feature for their website. In the name of transparency, I must tell you that the collaboration was friendly rather than financial and I was offered one of the outfits in return for my time. I’m a big fan of Me+Em’s take on modern workwear, or ‘intelligent style’ as founder Clare Hornby calls it. The easy-to-wear separates are relaxed enough for working from home and smart enough to look the business when I leave the building. This is the kind of timeless, ageless, effortless style that women want to wear, right now.
Part of dressing confidently concerns dressing to please yourself and feeling authentic. Finding reliable clothes that fit well and suit your lifestyle means you won’t spend the day wishing you’d worn something else. Dressing for ourselves, rather than following fashion commandments or the latest trends (do they even exist anymore?!), is an approach that benefits all women, because self-acceptance and feeling comfortable in your own skin are the hallmarks of great style.
Style Notes: In the top photo I’m wearing the Me+Em cotton twill jumpsuit and above, I’m kitted out in the nappa leather biker jacket, the merino stretch jumper in marmalade, and leather trainers.
The relaxed shearling jacket and the check wide leg track pant. And below is the full-length shot of the jumpsuit with the chunky Chelsea boot.
Photographer: Charlotte Hadden
Read the full Me+Em feature HERE and there’s another article on dressing for your height HERE.
Please note that affiliate links used may gain a small commission for That’s Not My Age
Discussion (20 Comments)
Sierra says:
Another lovely article. Thank you Alyson. I think that marmalade colour jumper really suits you!
Wish I had your long and elegant neck
Thanks also for the link to dressing for your height, will have a read. Best wishes.Each outfit is absolutely fantastic and you look gorgeous in them all. Love the orange with olive green and the off white Chelsea boots are an unexpected “lift” to the all black. Just great – off to check out the pieces.
Sarah S says:
You look great Alyson – all the outfits are so good on you. Hope you picked the jumpsuit though…. – just fantastic!!
Rach with an E says:
You look amazing in all of them and I love the orange jumper too, but I’d bet money on you keeping the jumpsuit. You look really happy and confident in it – a beautiful photo.
Sara says:
Delighted when I received the Me and Em newsletter to see you feature, Alyson. The khaki just looks so good, especially with the orange; khaki is rarely anything but good, it suits you so well. I have several Me and Em items, VERY carefully chosen (the prices!) but everything has gone on for years, looking just as good as when new and not out of style, as against “fashion”. I always shop their sale, as there are bargains to be had. Occasionally I do wonder how the price is arrived at and those items will not be in my wardrobe. The shearling jacket won’t make it, nor the lovely but pricey military coat. I too sent for this season’s chelsea boots, in khaki, but apart from the cost (I had saved up), they were uncomfortable. Imagine my delight when John Lewis launched their Anyday range and a pair of olive-y Chelsea boots were featured, at a sixth of the Me and Em price, comfortable too and now residing in my wardrobe, awaiting a little more autumn before their first outing. I wish Me and Em still did their slim/skinny trousers as the track pant does nothing for me, too reminiscent of the athletic track, never my look.
As I am now retired, I can dress completely for myself, a great bonus, and I too love casual but with some style, I hope. Only problem is when occasional events require a spot of dressing up and most of my smart clothes have been long relegated. My Me and Em jackets still do the honours, so that’s a start.Sandra Marshall says:
I love Me and em, but thought I couldn’t afford them. But as I’m now trying really hard to buy 1 good thing rather than lots of stuff in a sale, perhaps I can. I love the orange and khaki too. Will check out the links
Jaxx says:
All great looks. I like Me+Em’s style but they are very expensive. I’ve returned things as they were OK but the quality or fabric wasn’t worth the high price.
Stephanie says:
Yes absolutely. I think the key phrase there for me is dressing “authentically “. Spot on.
Linda Gallacher says:
You look great in all of them, and so relaxed in the photos. Especially liked the shearling jacket and checked trousers – fab, I hope you picked that.
Patrish says:
LOVE all of these. And, you! Wow. Great hair and makeup too.
The wide leg track pants are amazing.
I am 5’11” and I noticed how nice and long they are on you at 5’10”. Do they come that long or did they have to be fiddled with
to get that lovely break?Hi Patrish – thank you. The checked track pants are nice and long, no tweaking required.
Vicki says:
Clicked through and fell in love with their offerings only to find when trying to purchase they max out at size 12 US. Sad.
Linda H. says:
Alyson: That black jumpsuit with the Veronica Lake hair is Va-va-voom! Mr. Alyson may overheat. Lovely!
mrsglimmer says:
You look great in all of these outfits, with the jumpsuit and the khaki and orange combo being particularly splendid. Me+Em know what they’re doing getting you to showcase their clothes! Unfortunately I don’t have the budget for them, or your fantastic height and shape. Their petite recommendations in the article aren’t to my taste (or age appropriate) either as it’s your style that I yearn to emulate! However, seeing you in these has encouraged me to shop my own wardrobe to try different clothes together and also to pick up similar items from the high street. I got a couple of pairs of wide legged joggers from M&S with a side stripe last year that I aim to continue styling up.
Once again, thanks for the inspiration!CC says:
The clothes are wonderful. I think I’ve been so beaten down by pricing that the amazing shearling jacket seems well-priced to me, in addition to being stunning.
Nicola Emmerson says:
You look great Alyson – lovely choices. Sizing though! Another store that stops at a 16, my heart drops every time I click on the links to see the size ranges. There’s so little choice for us size 18s and over, do you get any insight from companies into why this is?
Thanks Nicola, I think it’s very short-sighted of companies to have such a small size range and though I don’t receive insight from them, my guess is that it’s a financial decision – or they don’t want to hold onto too much stock. Both seem ridiculous as there are plenty of customers out there willing to buy!
Wow! I’m dying to know which outfit you chose and why. I was sure it would be the jumpsuit as it is so flattering on you, but then I saw the check pants and shearling jacket! Gorgeous!
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Super clothes attractively combined here in the illustrations. I particularly like you in the orange and khaki outfit Alyson. Just what I’d wear. Suntan looks good also.
I’m curious which of these outfits you chose. It’s easier to wear these clothes well as the pictures show if one has your height and slenderness.
That said I did visit their Brook Street shop a year ago and try on several pairs of the smart casual track trousers. I ended up buying a black pair with a stripe down the side. Slimming and leg elongating I hope for someone of my size 5’5 if that. I recently removed the bottom elastic and redid the hem. They are the right length.
Thanks for the link to the Me and Em website featuring your interview. And the link to the dressing for your height article also.