Scarves
A scarf can look fresh, youthful and funky, or it can cause people to look around to see where your Zimmer frame is parked!
It’s time to re-think your scarf strategies if you wear any of the following:
· A jaunty kerchief knotted at the neck with little tails pointing boobs-ward.
· Unembellished plain pashmina in black or any dark, solid, muted or dusty colour.
· Square scarf folded into a triangle, covering your head and knotted under the chin.
· Square scarf tied in any hideous fashion-regressive way such as diagonally across the shoulder, wrapping both shoulders, or made to look like any garment such as a cape, a skirt, a boob-tube or a halter-neck top – you’ve got to be kidding!
What’s hot?
· Unique antique scarves from vintage stores and op shops.
· A long thin scarf tied as a sash on jeans.
· A bright silk square scarf tied to the strap of a structured handbag as a cool bag ornament.
· A triangular scarf made from several textured fabrics or edged with crochet or lace. To wear: drape the pointy part in front, cross the ends behind your neck and bring them to the front to dangle beside the pointy part. Adjust, fold and drape together.
· A large beautiful square scarf folded into a triangle. Cover your head, cross the ends under the chin and tie a double knot at the back or side. Put on a pair of sunnies and you’ll look like a celebrity!
· Disguise a wrinkly turkey neck with a light silk scarf wrapped around and worn high.
· Loop and tie a long scarf in a hacking knot to add colour to a winter outfit.
· A long scarf worn vertically will visually elongate and slim the body.
· Secure your scarf in place with an outsize flower embellished with jewels.
· Stitch together your old 1980’s designer label square silk scarves and turn them into bright retro cushion covers.
Bracelets
Bracelets are the one group of jewellery where seasonal fashion directly affects the styles. Hot of-the-moment cuffs can be usurped by the next seasonal piece which may downsize to a delicate sparkly floral bangle. Flick through fashion magazines to keep current and aware of what’s hot and what’s not. Adapt the pieces you already own accordingly.
Bracelets look fantastic when coordinated and worn én masse. Uneven numbers are interesting and edgy. As with any jewellery collection, bracelets work best when there’s an element that ties the group together:
Think of an armful of Indian bangles, each slender bracelet in shiny glorious colour harmonising with the one beside it to create a shimmery rainbow on your arm.
Now imagine a collection of five bangles - an elasticised pearl bead bracelet, a rigid diamante bangle, a plain thin gold bracelet, twisted thick gold banded bracelet and a chain with white enamel charms (scallop shell, starfish, shell etc.).
The collections are poles apart on the style scale yet the unifying elements within each group make them work – the Indian bracelets are similar in colour, size and texture, the other group is pulled together by a nautical theme of pearls, marine charms and golden treasure!
· A bracelet worn on the same wrist as your watch looks chic.
· Two identical medium sized cuffs worn together on one arm are clever casual accessories. When they are worn separately, one on each arm, they look like handcuffs
· Hunt around op shops, market stalls and charity venues for vintage pieces to recycle with bracelets you already have in your jewellery box. Snap up resin, glass or plastic bracelets, wear two or three together.
Gloves
Gloves drift in an out of fashion but they’re always around. Those who suffer from chilblains or have arthritic fingers know what a Godsend gloves are to warm up wintery aches and pains.
Gloves are the most flattering and useful accessories to conceal the ultimarte giveaway of ageing – our hands!
My mother-in-law is not a vain person. When her granddaughter (my niece) was to be married, my mother-in-law wanted a pair of gloves to finish the outfit she planned to wear to the wedding. Off to the shops we went and eventually found a pair of pretty white mesh gloves edged with lace, perfect for the summertime, English countryside wedding.
Later my mother-in-law said that she hadn’t wanted to make a fuss and although she was aware that no one would notice her hands, she would be conscious of them. She wanted her granddaughter to feel proud of her and she wanted to look polished and poised; and that meant covering her less than perfect hands. My mother-in-law is 92 years old.
A pair of well chosen gloves can complete an outfit. The smartest gloves are made from fine Italian leather and available in a rainbow of beautiful colours. Look for them in markets or in the winter sales as they’re expensive.
Cosy, durable gloves made from a mix of New Zealand possum fur and wool are available in wearable colours. Check out souvenir shops and duty free stores.
Hip little woollen ‘Fagin’ gloves for casual wear have the advantage of leaving the tips of your fingers bare.
Knitted woollen gloves teamed with a toning beanie hat and complementary scarf are infinitely more youthful than a matched knitted or crocheted set.
If you have gloves you want to offload you may find your local pre-school may appreciate them for “dress-ups”, especially any dated passé long evening gloves.
Rings
How fabulous to extend your arm and stretch out your fingers to admire one great ring! If you don’t have the real thing then an awesome cocktail ring looks kicky, youthful and hip.
If you’ve been the beneficiary of estate jewellery it may be well worth considering trading it in. Sydney antique jewellery specialist John Wyndham of Mosman Antiques says the market for estate jewellery is solid with a rising demand for simple, smaller gemstones and unusual antique settings.
Manufacturing jewellers revamp estate jewellery. They can incorporate gemstones and precious metals from several pieces into one stunning design. Check out jewellery magazines for design ideas.
Wear rings on any finger you like, but not too many at once. Allow each ring to shine individually.
Belts
The newer way to wear a belt is to mix up the weight of the belt with the weight of a garment – a slim patent belt with a pair of jeans, a wide textured woven belt with a knee length straight skirt, a heavier leather belt with a floaty summery dress are all edgy, current mixes. The belt doesn’t have to be a full-on focal point, let a little of your top drape over it (fabric, not skin!) so the belt is subtly there but not enough to interfere with any vertical lines you’ve got going.
So, with long and lean in mind, here are a few hints on wearing belts:
· When you’re wearing one colour from tip to toe don’t cut your body visually in half by wearing a different coloured belt. Wear a toning belt to blend.
· Big boobs and waisted belts are not the ideal partnership - each detracts from the other. Wear a belt loosely around the hips and place an accessory high to draw the eye upwards beyond the bust area.
· Wide belts and short waists don’t work either, the belt ends up under the bust and looking like a corset. Wear a medium sized or thinner belt.
· Curvaceous goddess figures are best flattered by medium to wide belts resting on the hips.
Handbags
1. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having copy-bags made from faux material. Do allow for a great, serious handbag though, quality is important as we walk through our summer years.
2. There is something wrong with carrying around the entire contents of the kitchen middle drawer when, with a bit of organizational effort, it’s avoidable! Do your shoulders a favour and de-clutter your handbag. Cull out all the unnecessary items and dispose of the half-used tissues, extra pens, mobile phone accessories, newsagent eyeglasses, sample perfumes, hardback notebook, sticky end rolls of Lifesavers, shopping lists, old receipts and the spare lippy.
3. There are no rules on how many bags (or shoes!) you should or shouldn’t have, the bottom line is how many will you use regularly?
4. Check sales for genuine designer handbags that last for several seasons. The best bargains are bags you’ll use every day.
5. It’s easy to wreck an outfit with the wrong bag. We’ve all done it, spent ages teaming garments with the perfect jewellery, hosiery and footwear and forgotten the handbag. One bag doesn’t fit all, not even a neutral or metallic coloured one will do it.
6. One go-anywhere bag is not youthful, nor is it chic! If you are the person who owns only one practical dark leather shoulder bag then arm yourself with the following list and it’s off to the shops you must go.
7. Most importantly: be aware of exactly where on the body you’re carrying your bag. You’re sabotaging yourself if you’re tooling along with a wide bag at your widest point – i.e. resting beside big boobs or broad hips.
Keep or buy these:
· Day bag in your complementary metal colour – silver, pewter, gunmetal, gold, etc. This will become your most useful bag as it can be worn for all seasons and with all your colours. The bag doesn’t have to be in-your-face bright and shiny if that’s not you. Lovely subtle matte metal coloured bags are available.
· Day bag in a dark colour such as charcoal, navy or brown. Surprisingly black is the least useful colour - it is visually too heavy to wear with most light coloured outfits.
· An interesting fabric bag - with a great pattern and a few embellishments – beads, sequins, flowers, etc. This is your youthful, playful bag to take to dinner!
· Evening bag. Metal coloured, gold if your skin tone is warm, silver if you have a cool skin tone. Clutch bags are modern classics; the only proviso is to ensure the evening bag is big enough to take the junk you cart out– house and car keys, eyeglasses, driver’s license, mobile phone, credit card, lipstick and tissues.
· Travel bag. A smart sturdy bag is more practical and classy than a funky and flimsy little number that won’t last the distance of a couple of plane journeys. Make sure the travel bag fits into the carry-on luggage perimeters allowed by the airlines. Obviously a travel bag doubles as a weekend bag.
· Beach bag. This is where you can have the funky number and not look as though you are trying too hard to recapture your youth. If the bag is lined with waterproof or water resistant fabric then all the better to wipe up any sunscreen seepage or bottled water spills.
Please don’t… the following do not exude classy youthfulness!
· Wear a winter bag with a summer outfit
· Take a handbag with a briefcase (one or the other please)
· Match your shoes with your handbag
· Continue to drag out the daggy old leather bag that’s scuffed, decades old, and doesn’t shut securely.
· Keep your wallet stuffed to overflowing with loyalty cards, shopping dockets, shopping vouchers, expired petrol discount vouchers, love letters from the children or grandkids, notes, reminders and old grocery lists.
· Weigh down your bag (and shoulders!) with a fistful of keys that would gladden a jailer’s heart, adorned with every single decorative key ring you’ve ever been given.
Footwear
The French invented high heels in 1896. Of course they did!
There is no denying that stiletto heels make you look taller and slimmer. They make you feel desirable, make your legs look sexy and, after wearing them for an hour or two they make your feet hurt like hell! Invisible, washable and reusable gel-cushions (Party Feet) help prevent the burning pain in the heels or pads of your feet.
Shoe Strategies
Ankles:
Do you have thick ankles?
Substantial footwear works best with substantial ankles because the proportions are similar.
Aim to elongate the leg and give the illusion of a thin ankle by exposing your heels and keeping the vamp open (where you put your foot into the shoe). The more foot on show, the slimmer the ankle will appear.
Mules with a low open vamp, or thongs or open vamp moccasins are the ideal flat shoes to reduce the appearance of thick ankles.
Flat shoes with pointy toes make the ankle look thicker than it actually is, ankle straps such as those on gladiator sandals visually strangle and chop the ankle off (they do that to everyone, not just you!). Low kitten heels are risky as they often look as though they are about to buckle under the wearer’s weight. Full trainer shoes shorten the leg and make it look stubby. Delicate heels and high backed heeled shoes exaggerate thick ankles.
You’ll look great in high heeled shoes with an open back (sling-back) or a heel that comes down straight from the back of the shoe that gives the ankle shape. Sling-back shoes with sturdy high heels look terrific and distract attention from the ankles. Heavy wedge heels flatter thick ankles.
Do you have thin ankles?
Pointed toe footwear with slim heels will flatter slim legs. Embellishments such as buckles, bows and punch work should be delicate. Clumpy shoes such as clogs and shoes with large embellishments such as flowers and clunky buckles can overpower thin ankles and make the lower legs look as though they are poking out of goblin’s shoes.
Avoid chunky heels and high vamps (fronts) in favour of slim heels and medium to low vamps.
Opt for slender elegant high heels and thin straps on sandals. Hefty high heels dominate the shoe, enlarge the feet and do not flatter slim ankles.
Ankle strap shoes, whether they are stiletto, wedge, high heeled, kitten heeled, sandals or flat shoes do not flatter most adult legs and should only be worn by children (to keep their little shoes on their little feet) and supermodels who can carry them off simply because they have more centimetres between the knee and the ankle than most of us!
Boots
Do you prefer to keep your legs hidden beneath pants or leggings?
Are you cursed with chunky calves, bouquets of veins, scars or dodgy-looking ankles? If you are conscious of any of these issues then that’s why boots were invented!
And if you can’t get boots over your calves then that’s why pull-on boots were invented!
Boots can transport you from a lifetime in trousers to a new world of skirt wearing. And not just one length or one skirt style, a pair of great boots can uncover a wealth of skirt possibilities. And sometimes boots can complete an outfit in a way that a shoe cannot.
A few pointers to get boots right:
· Boots that are too loose around the calf make thin legs look as though they are disappearing into buckets of concrete.
· Boots that are too tight around the calf give chunky legs a muffin top.
· A shoe maker can often adjust a boot so it hugs the calf as it was meant to.
· If you have big boobs, boots with a thick heel will balance your body shape in a flattering way.
· It is stylish to fill the gap between the top of the boots and the hem of your skirt with great pantyhose such as fishnet tights.
· Wide legged pants tucked into ankle boots or bootees can appear clown-like. Slim legged pants are a better option for tucking in.
· Pants tucked into boots that encase the calves look fine. To achieve a seamless tuck, pleat and smooth your pants around your ankle, secure the pleats and tucks with a wide elastic band then slip on the boots.
· Calf length boots and flat heeled boots (not necessarily together) emphasize chunky calves and stumpy legs.
· Boots need not be ultra expensive. Check out the mass retailers and variety stores.
· Ugg boots worn out of the home aren’t trendy, chic or flattering to mature aged women.
Shoes
There are tons of lists of the styles of shoes that we should or shouldn’t have in our wardrobes; the footwear included on the list depends on who wrote the list and the list-maker’s level of passion for shoes! Some footwear styles are absolutely fantastic for mature women whilst other styles simply don’t cut it.
The most useful shoe colour is nude. It goes with everything, elongates the foot, looks elegant and is timeless.
The following shoes are footwear classics:
Court shoes:
The ultimate in chic, North Americans call court shoes ‘pumps’. If you are going to buy just one pair of shoes then court shoes are the most versatile and wearable. The safest heel height is around 5cm (2-½ inches in the old Imperial measure) any higher and bodyweight is pushed forward putting excessive pressure on the pads of the feet, plus when you’re teetering around in stabbing stilettos you run the risk of falling over! The most flattering toe is pointed, but it is not the most comfortable shape to wear (nor a recommended toe shape for the well being of our feet). Prolonged wearing of pointy-toed shoes causes bunions, corns and permanent disfigurement.
Peep-toes:
These of-the-moment shoes have the front cut out to expose the toes. Available in an incredible range of colours and designs, peep toe heels are always elegant; two contrasting colours such as black and white or cream and chocolate are interesting. Peep toe-style boots are hot design styles.
Ensure your toenails are polished. And wear only toeless pantyhose with peep toe footwear please!
Sling-backs:
Sexy, feminine sling-backs look fantastic at any time of the day; with skirts and with pants. Your heels will be on show so ensure they’re crack-free, moisturized and not encased in heeled pantyhose. If you intend to wear pantyhose with sling backs forego any reinforced heel pantyhose and find a pair with nude heels.
Gel strappy strips adhered to the straps will prevent them from slipping and hold the sling-backs in place
Kitten heels:
Small delicate true kitten heels are no higher than 3cm. The low height makes them wearable all day. That said; beware of kitten heeled sandals as they tend to slip and slide on smooth surfaces. If you are constantly walking on smooth, slippery floors wear a low stacked heel or Cuban heel.
Stacked heels:
Stability equals stacked heels! Thick heels are steady, stable and more comfortable than skinny stilettos.
Wedge heels (platforms):
Wedge heels provide height without the instability of stilettos because they elevate the whole foot and the body weight is evenly distributed. Wedge heeled shoes have stationery inflexible soles. The safest wedges are those with just a little height. Too high platforms with minimal support from the vamp or straps prompt the pads of the feet to slip around and slide off the shoe entirely.
Mary Janes:
We’ve adopted the North American moniker for these shoes that are otherwise known as T-Bars or Ankle Straps. The straps give stability and keep the shoe securely attached to the foot, and if they tie low under the anklebones the straps can help elongate the foot. Generally though ankle strapped shoes worn with a skirt visually chop the feet off, so unless you have an unusually long length from the knee to the ankle, Mary Janes are unlikely to be your most flattering shoe. When they’re worn beneath pants they’re fine.
Boots:
Fitted knee-high boots worn with toning opaque pantyhose are a great slimming look that covers all those lower leg issues such as veins, scars, thick ankles and blemishes. Stacked heels work well with boots and feel safer than thin, precarious stiletto heels.
Low heeled to medium heeled ankle boots are fantastically youthful when they are worn with pants and jeans, but they don’t look as great with skirts because they tend to cut the leg off and give a goblin look.
Espadrilles without ties
These bright inexpensive summer shoes have canvas uppers and rope soles. As long as they don’t have strings or ties criss-crossing up the lower leg they’re a great casual shoe.
Out they go! Styles to reconsider:
Pointy-toe shoes:
If you like toe cleavage then pointy-toe shoes will provide it, but bear in mind that toe cleavage is generally perceived as unattractive on the mature woman. If you’ve been squashing your feet for years into pointy toe shoes (flat or high heels) you’ll know they are the main cause of bunions.
Ballet slippers:
These shoes are very flat and devoid of heels so they don’t support the foot at all. If you absolutely must have a ballet-slipper then go for a ballet-style shoe that has a low rise heel.
Espadrilles:
These shoes are found every summer in a range of bright colours and stripes. If they have long ties that wrap around the ankle and extend up the calf then leave the shoes on the shop’s shelf or ditch them if you have already bought them. The ties have the tendency to sausage-squeeze the calves and cut off the legs. They are not flattering. Espadrilles without ties are great.
Gladiator sandals:
These of-the-moment fashion sandals have either flat soles or huge heels. Gladiator footwear with straps winding up the calf look best when there’s a lot of leg showing and this can really only be pulled off by young bodies clad in shorts or micro mini skirts and bare legs. When less leg is showing the wearer looks frumpy and fashion-tragic. Gladiator sandals work for the mature woman only when they are worn with long pants. High-heeled gladiators tend to be too high with soles that are very thick and unflattering to the mature leg. They are difficult, almost dangerous, to walk in. It is almost impossible to find a gladiator sandal with a medium heel, so wear a flattering wedge heel instead
Crocs:
For the garden and the beach. Crocs are not youthful and they are never flattering, they’re just …crocs!
Accessory Magic – What works with what?
Can vintage art print garments be accessorized and still showcase the bold striking colours within the pattern?
Fabulous and substantial footwear is the modern accessory for vivid artsy pieces. Keep your eye make-up strong or smoky and your hair sleek. Underscore the art print colours with small earrings and a subtle faux animal skin clutch -mock-croc is a sophisticated pretender! Jewellery is likely to be a distraction, but a big, tonal, gutsy piece will equal but not overpower the art print; anything less will be lost. Remember the garment is the star!
What accessories give lace a modern look?
Lace is one of the few fabrics to approach with caution because it dates us!
Balance femininity with lean, mean details such as a sweet lacy dress worn with a narrow leather belt, strong solid coloured vest, bold jewellery and a structured leather handbag.
Can floral garments be accessorized with a modern edge without looking fussy and old fashioned?
Treat floral prints as you’d treat a strong tartan, not an insipid pastel. Team florals with solid accessories. Wear metallic heels for night and silver or platinum flats for day; add a thick beaded necklace draped to bust length and subdue vibrant flowers with a denim jacket.
Florals are fashionable accessories. Necklaces, bracelets, rings, shoes and bags all feature flowers that are best showcased against stark, solid coloured garments.
How can country style accessories be worn to look youthful and hip?
Country style tends to be embraced by designers in the cooler months and geared towards the outdoors. Keep scale in mind - cropped, nipped in and nothing too big or voluminous. The obvious country-style accessories to wear are belts and sturdier footwear in a well planned mix of leather, metal hoop earrings, metal necklace or chain bag straps; and braided fabric such as a belt, a scarf, or the detail on dark jeans. Add an edgy surprise like a short faux fur vest, a fringed neckpiece or a big beaded broach.
Stiletto heels, drop earrings and sparkly bling don’t work well with country-style.
How can metallic be blended into the everyday wardrobe?
All metals are celebrated, rich metals - bronze, hematite, copper, platinum and mercury have joined the accessory arsenal. A good starting point is to team them with toning garments– silver with grey, black or white garments, gold with brown, cream or black pieces, bronze with tan coloured clothes and copper with anything in the chocolate colour range. Wear fashion-forward metallic patent heels or flats, bags and belts and go for metals mixed with faux animal skins and prints. Don’t bother with metallic hats or berets because they are too shiny near the face.
What works with slouchy?
Slouchy is a studied kind of relaxed style with a languid hands-in-pocket mood. It is a style with strong shoulder lines or banding on the waist; and made from weighty fabric with control such as jersey knit that folds and drapes perfectly. Simple accessories balance the volume - structured bags, solid footwear, plain drop or hoop earrings and plain narrow belts. Slouchy works best when only one piece is worn; competing pieces - slouchy skirt, top, jacket, bag and boots won’t look slouchy, it’ll just look sloppy.
How can the mature woman pull off the rocker look and accessorise it?
The key to a rock-chick look is to keep the flash above the waist and anchor it with black leggings or skinny pants, but to be honest it’s a difficult look for the mature woman to successfully pull off. Traditionally big hair and smoky eye make-up are part of the look, along with lots of chains, zips and studs.
More subtle and age appropriate are dark denim jeans, black ankle boots kicky with chain embellishment, lots-of-links necklace, tough-love metal earrings, thin diamante studded belt, chiffon shirt tucked in and a faux fur jacket – if you’re up for it!
Wild Things
Sleek prints and sexy skins are perennially stylish and there’s a print or skin to suit everyone. Advances in manufacturing technology enable credible imitation skins, hides and prints to be produced, banishing forever the trashy copies we once eschewed. You may not be comfortable with going the whole hog on animal print garments, but a little if you fancy it, does you good! Here’s the heads up on a few of the more unusual accessories (all fake of course!) to add to your menagerie:
Python skin - belt, cuff or trim on the edge of a clutch bag
Small faux fur tail – tie onto a handbag strap
Pony hair – shoes, belts and panels in structured bags
Tortoiseshell – bracelets, hair accessories, eyewear, watches
Stingray skin – pale grey panels on clutch bags or totes, trim on shoes
Tiger stone – centrepiece of a belt buckle or necklace, or incorporated into bag charms
Crocodile skin –visually nubbly shoes, wallets, belts, suitcases and tote bags
Ostrich skin – bags, wallets and suitcases, shoes and belts
Leopard print – any garment (except pants) and any accessory
Zebra print – any garment (except pants) and any accessory.
Tattoos and Body Piercings
Tattoos and body piercing are the newer accessories! More and more people are having a permanent tattoo or multiple tattoos. This massive surge in body art has been led by celebrities, footballers and other high profile figures over the past decade.
If you associate tattoos with the jaded inky numbers of the ‘70s and ‘80s, times have changed! Amazing artwork tattooed by talented artists and graphic designers has replaced the rebellious little butterflies, scorpions and roses fading into the skin on many a-boomers’ butt!
However, it is wise to think before you Ink!
If you are thinking of having a tattoo – and why shouldn’t you? –consider the image you want, the size of the tattoo, the site it’s to be applied to and your budget.
It is worth shopping around for quotes. Costs depend on the amount of time it will take to do the tattoo – some images require several sittings, plus the size of the tattoo, the intricacy of the image and the ink required. A large tattoo could take many hours to do so time, as well as cost, could be a consideration here.
The downside is that having a tattoo hurts and you’re stuck with it permanently, so you want to get it right!
The base of the spine is a popular tattoo site on mature bodies. It’s a discreet area and the skin doesn’t change or stretch dramatically with the years.
If you are considering a barbed-wire Pamela Anderson-style armband, tribal symbol, foreign language or Asian character image do be very sure it is the way you want to go. Tattooed armbands do not flatter floppy bingo arms, tribal signs can be offensive if you aren’t directly associated with the origin of the symbol, foreign languages and Asian characters can be a minefield of incorrect spelling and misinterpretation! If you intend to have a quote tattooed ensure the wording and spelling is precise (some quotes are deliberately misspelt).
Jump onto the internet and Google ‘tattoo’ to find images, opinions, recommendations, costs and studios near you. Larger newsagents sell tattoo magazines that are full of images and ideas.
Consider having your chosen image airbrushed onto your body first. This gives you the opportunity to ‘try out’ your tattoo, to ensure you like the image, the size is correct and that you are comfortable with the site before it is permanently applied.
Ask the tattooist for references and check out the studio and equipment. Tattooing is an invasive procedure and you don’t want to be one of those horrible ‘I had a tattoo and it all went wrong’ tales because the instruments weren’t sterilized or somehow you picked up an infection.
Word of mouth is always the best reference. If you see a tattoo you like then ask the wearer where it was done. Generally tattoo aficionados will be flattered when you admire their “tough stamp and will happily tell you who the tattooist was.
Some specialist tattooists are booked up months in advance; you are considering a very permanent accessory; it will be worth the wait.
So, tattoos can be funky and fun. They can be clever, cool and artistic, but they are seldom considered classy or elegant.
Covering Up
If you’ve had a tattoo you now regret, you may be able to have it removed by laser. Ask your G.P. for a referral to a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon. Health insurance funds seem reluctant to cover the costs (I couldn’t find any who would cough up when I was researching this) but a discussion with a specialist may identify an avenue to overcome this.
Some tattooists are trained in the use of laser equipment to fade or remove tattoos. It takes several sessions. It will leave a scar. Go onto Google to locate a tattooist near you and then make enquiries.
MAC cosmetics produce an excellent concealer that will hide tattoos, scars and serious skin blemishes. The product isn’t available from all MAC cosmetic counters nationally, but your local MAC stockist can order it in.
Body piercing
What goes on beneath your clothes is your own business, but the presence of attention- seeking metal hardware encircling mature eyebrows and lips prompts people to question whether the wearer is coping with his or her advancing years. An army of multiple metal studs or hoops marching up the ears looks as though you couldn’t decide which earrings to wear so you threw on the lot! The unfortunate tiny diamante stud poking through the side of one nostril looks as though you missed a bit when you wiped your nose.
Consider the consequences of scarring when holes heal over or the prospect of droopy slits if they don’t heal before you embark on a piercing binge.
Did you know that most of us wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time? Next time I'll suggest how to quickly, painlessly and sensibly audit your wardrobe to maximise space and have your clothes efficiently at hand. I wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2012, go well, Dawn.
Retail details and magic products
Prices and stockists pertain the Australia, most products are available worldwide although the brands could be different.
Permanent laser surgery: Around AUD$1,200 per eye.
Contact Lenses
Ready-to-wear coloured lenses - $50, from Coloured Contacts www.colouredcontacts.com.au
Basic hats and embellishments
Spotlight and Lincraft carry a range of reasonably priced basic hat and fascinator shapes and a huge choice of embellishments. The best time to look is before Easter when the Autumn Racing Carnival is held, and in September/October prior to the running of the Melbourne Cup which takes place on the first Tuesday of November
Tattoo Concealer
MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC15 – NC50, NW15 – NW50, with SPF30 $32,
1800 061326 available worldwide
MAC Studio Finish Blot Powder $36, 1800 061326
Sunglasses:
For an awesome range from international designers to lesser known labels at all price points try Sunglass Hut 1800 556926
Jewellery:
Diva – for inexpensive, fun jewellery 1300 348228
Oroton - for jewellery, bags, etc. 1800 061047 or www.oroton.com.
On Line: www.peeptoeshoes.com.au for gorgeous jewellery, bags and shoes in the medium price bracket.
Jewellery Magazine
‘The Masters of Jewellery” published annually by Studio Magazines, telephone 02 9360 1422, $14.95 from newsagents. The magazine showcases the latest designs from Australia’s leading jewellers with a location and contact directory in the back.
Pantyhose:
Ambra Better than Bare ‘no toes’ pantyhose, 8 denier appearance with the strength of 15 denier, in 3 colourways Myer Department store. About $8, often on special. To find your nearest stockist www.ambra.net.au
Kaiser Platinum Bare Toeless Pantyhose – sensuous and ultra sheer, 8 denier appearance with 10 denier strength, around $8 on special – Myer Department Store or customer service line to find your nearest stockist 1800 810449
Eyewear charities
Lions Club www.lionsclubs.org.au
Foresight Australia www.eye.usyd.edu.au/foresight/
Footwear
Payless Shoes have a wide range of boots in all shapes, colours, styles, material and sizes at very reasonable price points. Another source you may not have thought of for inexpensive casual footwear is Just Jeans. Look around different stores. Cotton On does some great little inexpensive casual shoes.
Many one-off boutiques receive one-off footwear shipments and pass discounts on to their customers.
Scholl Party Feet gel cushions, $9 per pair, plus a reasonably priced range of Scholl foot products to help prevent foot ailments, from Pharmacies and Supermarkets
Try Valley Girl for a great range of fashion-forward belts at very affordable (mostly under $20) prices.
