Irene McAulay: our 90-year-old style icon
Photography: Liz McAulay
When we featured 90-year-old Irene McAulay and her daughter, fashion photographer Liz, in a special occasion style feature this summer the comments box flooded with compliments for the pair. And everyone wanted to know more about Irene. So here is the super-chic nonangenarian, back by popular demand:
Growing up in rural Northumberland, with the closest town six miles away, Irene spent most of her free time outdoors: walking and riding horses. After the Second World War, when inspired by the neat WAAF (Woman’s Auxiliary Air Force) uniform she loved wearing, Irene started to pay more attention to the cut and fit of her clothes. Back in the north east, Irene was working for the coal board when she met her husband at a dance in Newcastle; the subsequent years were taken up raising three daughters and supporting the family business. When her husband died, 10-years-ago, Irene moved down south to be near her family. Over the years her style has has become more polished and pulled-together, she invests in well-made separates and enjoys mixing and matching clothes in her favourite colour palette. Though when we chat on the phone, 90-year-old Irene admits to adding the occasional wild-card piece, ‘Sometimes I purchase an item on impulse, when I was 80 I treated myself to a beautiful black Versace dress!’
Here is Irene’s style profile:
‘I would describe my style as relaxed but tidy. I don’t like overly fussy patterns or designs and I would never wear frills or anything frou-frou. Clothes should be comfortable, good quality and made to last. I am very fortunate to be healthy and active so this is important to me. I also am a great believer in make-up. By 9 am every morning I am ready to face the world.
I’ve learned that neutrals mixed with navy are more suited to my skin tone and hair, so I tend to only buy clothes in those colours. The benefit being that everything goes together. I usually avoid man-made fibres. It was in my early ’80s that I discovered the joys of blue jeans with a little bit of stretch, they are now a mainstay in my wardrobe. I recently bought two dark denim pairs from a brand called Dream Jeans, and I usually team them with a cashmere jumper or silk shirt.
The cream trousers I’m wearing are from Mint Velvet, they are beautifully cut, fully-lined and go in the washing machine. They also have a tuxedo stripe down the side, which I like. The silver coat is from The White Company, another favourite of mine. The blue and white silk shirt is from Jaeger, bought about seven years ago – it is wonderful as it goes with cream or navy trousers and jeans. I love silk scarves, they brighten up a plain sweater. I’ve had this Hermes scarf for years, it’s my favourite, there are so many colours in it, it goes with everything.’
Photography: Liz McAulay
Our new phrase in the office, is Be More Irene…
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Discussion (31 Comments)
I think that kind of thing does actually help, Lesley. Though I finished marking papers when I left my lecturing position! As part of the research for my last book, I asked a wardrobe expert to go through my clothes with me, she asked questions and I did have to write about my style; then when I went off on a tangent, she pulled it back to what I’d originally said. Quite a useful exercise – it worked for me!
Mrs Tonia says:
I found it helpful when you asked me to articulate what it is I favour buying and wearing. One choses the same sort of shapes and colours pretty consistently and it helps to build a wardrobe.
My main colour as a neutral is in the khaki malarkey range. I’ve always worn it and tones all go together. When it’s available and in the shops I buy it so I’ve got the coordinated t-shirts, sweatshirts, scarves, handbags, coats and gloves and now trainers ready to throw on. And out the door I go with little thought adding black or red to the mix.
She looks absolutely super. A beautiful elegant woman who clearly knows what suits her and what she wants to wear.
Photos perfect here too.Sarah says:
Wow – she looks amazing! I’ve found my inspirational style icon for my eighties and nineties. At 54 I’ve got a while to go yet but it gives me time to work on it.
maudie says:
What a beautiful lady with such good taste. Why does it take until our ‘silver years’ to get a handle on our own sense of style? Ha – that is probably why my hair is so salt and pepper and not properly grey at 61 – I STILL chop and change my style which irritates me beyond belief. I still am concerned ‘what other people think’. My Pinterest boards are an insight into ‘me’ but husband likes one look (imagining I still need a corporate look) , kids prefer another, friends I trust more perhaps. I Tomorrow. Write down my own style profile (thanks, Lesley Somerville) – I NEED that clarity and focus.
AppleEverAfter says:
Ha ha, much sympathy, I chop and change as well, although it tends to just be that I get bored and try different things, that don’t necessarily work, more than caring about what others think (maybe I should). I call it ‘experimenting’ – perhaps it’s that you are an experimenter/explorer 😉 Ditto with the hair, mine is still mostly light brown at 62, whereas I expected to have the same bright silver very pretty hair that my (younger) sister has had for years … no such luck. In my worst moments I think of it as the ‘Trump hair greying pattern’ – how to make yourself truly depressed …….
Johanne Taylor says:
At 54 I assumed by the time I was 60 I might have my style sorted, but I too still chop and change. Mainly I like clothes and like to dress for how I feel on any given day: corporate, sharp, chic, pretty, sexy, etc.. I can’t meet those needs with one style formula.
I probably need to start with what I like, what I don’t like and what I’d never wear and formulate from there.
Fran says:
Women of any age could wear the clothes that Irene favours. As a woman of 52, I enjoy clothes, rather than fashion, which can have too many rules for me. It sometimes takes several years to obtain this state of mind, or it may just be me! More style icons would include Joanna Lumley, Joan Bakewell & Patti Smith.
Thanks Fran – both Joan Bakewell and Patti Smith have been featured on That’s Not My Age but an interview with Joan would be fantastic!
Karen Hendrix says:
Maria Balshaw, Director at Tate, would be a great person to feature. She has incredible style, confident intelligence and sparkling personality. Saw her give a lecture the other evening and couldn’t take my eyes off her outfit and her white pixie cut. A real inspiration.
Oh yes, I’ve been at events where Maria Balshaw is speaking. She’s definitely on the TNMA wish-list.
Julie Murrin says:
Alyson, I’m an American living in The Netherlands…for only 1 more week…and am so grateful to have found your blog! I love the ‘style stars’ you find and feature. After living in Europe for 4 years, I’ve found real style lives! Many women my age (59) in the states look like they are going to bed when they are out and about…and it’s something that I’ve always fought. Thank you for the work you do, and please let your subjects know how appreciated their input is for those of us who are no longer 25, but want to feel good mentally, and physically while going out in their wardrobe….whatever we choose that to be!
Margaret says:
More of this please. It gives us older ones some very helpful hints, and younger women something to aspire to. It made me realise that keeping slim as we age is important, Irene looks so good in her well chosen outfits, this article certainly made me reassess my wardrobe.
Jacqueline says:
I got married for the 2nd time in 1992 when my granny was 90. We went out to buy her a dress with specific requirements. Three quarter length sleeves and crimplene!
We found the perfect dress, not crimplene, in Debenhams. I wa therefore surprised to see her turn up to my wedding wearing a dress I had seen many times before with a non matching purple jacket.I asked why she was not wearing the dress we had bought. And she old me she was saving it ‘for a special occasion!’ I ensured that she wore it on her final outing!
Boadicea says:
Aw, that’s such a sweet story, Jacqueline. I would guess that your granny was brought up to save new clothes for ‘best’. I remember that time too. Such habits are hard to let go, believe me. My wardrobe’s full of such stuff, just ask my husband! Sorry your wedding didn’t count as a special occasion. but you showed a lovely sense of humour about it – and got your own way. Eventually. Love it!
So much to learn from this post and the comments as well. Thank you for featuring a style icon older than 60. When I was in my twenties, thirties, forties, and now fifties, I gave thought to how I wanted to look as I aged into my upcoming decades. Looking out for chic older than me women gave and still gives me, inspiration that my aging style is something to embrace. Irene is fabulous.
What a beautiful woman! Thanks for the inspiration. My style is all over the place, I’m afraid. I enjoy such a wide range of clothing. This has inspired me, though, to tidy up my style. At 65, I’m realizing, my look really can’t be the least bit sloppy or I look like I’m stuck in my hippy years. I love finding inspiring women in your blog posts!
Fiona Fulford says:
How fabulous! I’m so envious when people have a style. Mine would have to be called ..well… a muddle. I change my style daily. And I’ve never worked out what suits me at all.
Goddessinthedetails says:
Lovely piece – thank you. & talking of mother/daughter inspiration, have you seen Christy Turlington’s Insta feed, featuring her 80-year-old mother? It’s women like this that prove elasticated waistbands are not a certainty.
Yes, Christy and her super-stylish mum are the best thing I’ve seen on Instagram!
monique J johnson says:
Wow. She is a knock-out! What an elegant yet easy-going style she has, and she really knows what works for her.
Maisie says:
She is so elegant, a bit too classic for my taste, but perfect on her. I keep thinking that at 70 I should adopt a more lady-like appearance , in fact in the past I used to be really ” smart “, but for instance yesterday I wore black bubble trousers, an old denim jacket, and sneakers. And she still wears jeans, I feel like I’ve been given permission to carry on wearing them ! Still my go-to garment when I’m in a hurry and can’t be bothered to be creative. And the thing about keeping things for “best”, we really shouldn’t but it’s an old habit that is hard to give up !
Faye says:
So nice to see this lovely lady featured. Finding my own look has always been a struggle for me and I’m always looking for someone near my age (85) or older for inspiration. Jeans are my first choice to wear daily as we live on a farm and have few reasons to dress otherwise. But then, jeans can be dressed up sometime.
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I think for ‘homework’ we should all try to write our own style profile, just to give clarity and focus to who we are and how what we wear reflects that. Just for fun, I hasten to add, unless you want to ‘mark’ them, Alyson!