Fashion Advice for the Maturing Woman

By Rachel Matthews Burton

Mature’. Unless associated with a vintage wine, or an aged cheese, we, womankind, do not particularly like the label.  Especially when it comes to our clothes.  The fashion challenge as we age, is finding clothing that respects that we are not twenty-one anymore, but does not transform us into our Grandmother. So, how do we put together a look that says, “I am not old, I am sophisticated. I am not irrelevant, (even though marketers seem to believe so), I am a professional and modern woman, who has it going on!”.  

Let us begin with the basics; A neutral pant, dress, skirt and blazer. ‘Neutral’ meaning a colour that will play well with others: black, grey, tan, navy. Find a great fit in the basics. Trust and patience is required here, oh!  and please, go hunting with an open mind. You must throw yourself at the mercy of a good sales associate and ask for their guidance in finding a shape that works well for your body. Here are some good examples of basics:

Spend most of your budget on your blazer, as cheap jackets tend to look, well, cheap. If you can afford one in a few neutral colours, go for it! The next step is to turn these few basics into something fabulous, fashion conscious and sophisticated.

Here`s how I suggest you do it: Blouses, shoes, belts, scarves and shoes that have pattern and, or, colour. (Because nothing screams drab and `mature` like a navy suit with a white shirt, navy pumps, belt and matching purse). A punch of colour can give you an instant facelift and will catapult you into this season. It will also revive boring blazers and carry you from the office to the weekend, (if you style it the right way).


Images: skirt: thisnext.com. Beige suit: bananarepublic.com.  

Just because you work in a corporate environment doesn`t mean you should wear a uniform of black or grey. Here are some great examples of how to wear colour fabulously:

Images in order of appearance: youlookfab.com.    jcrew.com

But, if these brights scare you a little, scale down the colour with a purse or a belt:

Images: where.ca. llbean.com

If colour is simply something you can’t get comfortable with, take your inspiration from a woman who is always in the public eye and whose image is under very close scrutiny. Michelle Obama commands respect, dresses with impeccable style, is always on-trend and still manages to ‘look her age’.

Images: nytimes.com.

To finish, I`d like you to take a look at the two looks and decide for yourself which feel `mature` in a good way, or, in not so good way. When you`re done, ask yourself why. Remember, you are as old as you feel and you feel the way you think, so think joyfully!

Images in order of appearance: nycstylespot.com. windsmoor.co.uk. womensdish.com.

Rachel Matthews Burton was born and raised in the United Kingdom and Asia, she now calls Canada her home.  A mother, wife and business woman, Rachel has lived her passion as a professional fashion stylist and in her fourteen year career has become a top-billing veteran of the image-making industry. RMB has styled models, celebrities and everyday people for magazines, advertising campaigns and television shows. She has appeared as a style expert on dozens of television series, a spokesperson for large corporations and has been a guest writer in several high-profile magazines and online posts. Her ‘Rack to Rack’ fashion workshops have received accolades from local and national press, well known websites and respected fashion bloggers. Her partial portfolio and TV reel can be viewed at www.judyinc.com and more on her workshops can be seen at www.racktorack.com