Nicky's Rag Tales

There is a running joke going around our showroom that no woman whatever her age wakes up in the morning and thinks to herself ‘I’d like to dress older today’! Each of us tries to remain as youthful as possible and in the past few years this has become increasingly difficult as we strive to look good but know that we have to avoid at all costs that ‘mutton dressed as lamb’ look. The sales assistants are all younger than our daughters and ignore us and the clothes on the rails were tiny and oh so short.

In the last year older women, once invisible in the fashion industry have become increasingly visible. It seems that the days of the nymphets and size “0″ obsession may finally be over. Next season sees Madonna (51) starring in Dolce and Gabbana’s advertising campaign. Stella Tennant (39) centre stage in Balenciaga and Elle Macpherson and ChristyTurlington (41) featuring for Louis Vuitton.

Of course this new age of austerity may be responsible. The collections have taken a new twist offering grown up sensible yet beautiful clothes. And so the age of the 16 year old skinny model gracing the covers and the catwalk may be coming to an end (for now at least) and if so,I for one am going to enjoy it for as long as it lasts.