Stylist shares ageing item women over 50 should ‘avoid’ at all costs

Express.co.uk asked professional stylist, personal shopper and image coach Melissa Lund which one clothing item or accessory women over 50 should ditch right now. Get rid of this and you’ll look younger instantly.

Melissa told Express.co.uk: “Staying stylish as we age is always an interesting topic. I am not a believer in the need to massively change our personal style as we age as long as we’ve found our personal style in the first place, but I am a fan of making a few adjustments to things such as hem length when required.

“Rules such as not wearing denim or leather over a certain age, or not wearing long hair, are so last century – if it suits you and you love it, you can find a way to wear it. However, there are a few items which will definitely guarantee a trip to frumpsville and should be avoided as we get older.”

According to the style expert, the right accessory can do wonders for an outfit – or make it look absolutely terrible.

She said: “In general, the older you are, the less classic you need to be. What may have looked great on you in your 30s could (and note I am only saying could) make you look frumpy or mumsy in your 50s and beyond.

“Happily, there’s an easy way to give yourself a style injection without spending a fortune – accessories. I love accessories as they can elevate ordinary clothes and really change your look.

“However, there’s one accessory which you should avoid if you want to stay relevant. This is the long strap, medium size black shoulder bag.”

This practical staple is something most women both under and over 50 will have in their closets, but Melissa told Express.co.uk readers why they must get rid of it.

She said: “Every time I see these being worn, it only succeeds in turning the woman wearing it into a style-free zone. I imagine the wearer thinks it goes with everything, but actually it goes with almost nothing and looks really outdated.

“In addition, this bag style can cause postural problems as well because women tend to crunch up their shoulder to keep the bag in place and nothing ages you quicker than poor posture.”

But this doesn’t mean you have to go sans bag and shove all your belongings into tiny jean pockets. According to Melissa there are “a number of great bags out there”. She told women over 50: “First, choose your colour and then choose your shape.”

The expert told mature ladies how they can find their ideal handbag. She said: “To find the right colour, think about the neutral colours already in your wardrobe. If you use black as your neutral base, a black bag will be a great choice – just not the long strap version I talked about above.

“If you’re using grey, you could go with black, chocolate brown or burgundy. If you’re using navy, tan or burgundy works well or be bold and go for a pop of colour. If camel is your base colour, it works well with tan, brown or burgundy (a very stylish and classic colour combination).

“When it comes to style, if you need to be hands free, a cross body bag is a good option (and it looks much more chic than the long shoulder strap version). Otherwise, a tote, a bowling bag, a top handle style or clutch could be your thing. When it comes to bags there are so many great styles to choose from so have fun and don’t be afraid to experiment.”