I asked older women to share the fashion labels they turn to
IMAGE VIA @PENNY_HILL_SILVERMODEL
WORDS BY SIENNA BARTON
“I’m always looking for quality, sustainability and timeless designs.”
Ever since there have been women, there have been expectations about our appearances. Hell, before she ate the forbidden fruit, Eve didn’t give a shit about how she looked. Then that bastard snake came in and ruined everything. Suddenly, she became ashamed of her nakedness and started wearing clothes, marking the beginning of women covering themselves in the name of modesty.
Now, skip forward to the roaring (20)20s, and our relationship with fashion is somehow even more complicated. Even though we’re no longer being judged by anthropomorphic snakes, there are still societal expectations of how women should dress – and they only seem to intensify as we get older.
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Women over 50 are often expected to dress conservatively. Whether that’s covering up their arms and their décolleté, or exclusively wearing muted tones – from the outside, getting older doesn’t seem like a lot of fun. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Fashion is a vehicle for self-expression, empowering the wearer to tell others a little bit about themselves without speaking a word.
I spoke with six older women about their favourite fashion brands; the ones they wear that make them feel authentic and beautiful. As they rattled off their go-tos, I realised I have a lot more in common with them than I thought. A lot of us like to support local brands and if we’re shopping abroad, we want to invest in classics that will last. Preferring timeless staples and quality fabrics to conservative, figure-obscuring glad rags, these are the women challenging society’s expectations of what it means to dress their age.
Mara Schiavetti, 60, model and actress
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My favourite brands to shop in Melbourne are Skin and Threads, Búl, Muji, Huntd, Arnsdorf, Denimsmith and Lost and Found. I’m always looking for quality, sustainability and timeless designs, and these brands deliver. Lost and Found is a vintage mega-store where I lose myself in the kitsch and fabulous designs of past decades.
Elke Meitzel, 53, photographer and model
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Admittedly, I am not a huge consumer. I mostly Depop but look out for brands, as quality garments tend to fare better in the secondhand market. Arnsdorf has been a favourite. Excellent tailoring, minimal, modern classic. The construction is fab and they are a B-corp [certified brand]. I also like A.BCH – I enjoy the capsule approach to the collection.
A.BCH use recycled cotton and the fabrics are fabulous to touch. Bassike is another one I like. The relaxed fits, good fabrics and minimal aesthetic fit well in my wardrobe. Further afield in Europe land, I like Raf Simons, Wales Bonner, SS Daley and Martine Rose.
Susan Barton AM, 71, Founder of Lighthouse Foundation
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[I shop at] Scanlan Theodore, for my timeless piece for the year. It doesn’t date. It’s superb quality and always on trend. The colours are to die for. I love my linen pieces from the local boutique Scarlett Jones. The French linen is heavy and they have lovely muted vintage colours. I always have a pair of Citizens of Humanity jeans. They grow old comfortably and get better with age – hopefully a little like me.
Then I go to Jac & Jack or Country Road for my white and black linen tees, which are my staples. Sometimes I get off track and go online. How outrageous of me… then I go to La Tribe for my strap sandals. I recently tried a new brand Zulu & Zephyr for a hip striped shirt after seeing it on a girl half my age.
Kate Bell, 54, model and yoga teacher
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My favourite brands are Sweden’s Acne Studios because they lean into style, not fashion and the brand’s cuts fit me well. [I like] New Zealand brand Huffer for tees, shorts and cold weather jackets, [and Paris brand] Vanessa Bruno for jeans. Huffer and Acne Studios both use recycled materials, and Huffer has an awesome giving-back program. Also for vintage, anything YSL. For evening or something special, Romance Was Born is always thrilling and the brand celebrates other Australian artists, designers and native flora. And I op shop a lot!
Penny Hill, 60, pro-age fashion model
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It’s important to me to support Australian brands and my favourites are Scanlan Theodore (they totally cater for tall women with long legs!), Camilla and Marc and Acler (for more tailored pieces). What I love are classic lines with modern elegance and timeless styles with quality fabrics.
For casual dressing, I adore jeans and can’t go past Aussie brands Nobody Denim and Love and Nostalgia… both are designed and made in Melbourne (I also like Turkish brand Mavi Jeans). [I love them all] for their quality denim, comfort and fit… and the fact they also cater for tall women!
Suncana Vela Gogic, Designer and Maker at Honest Studios
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I love supporting Australian labels Alpha60, Nique, and Tanner & Teague. On a more international scale, you can’t go past Vivienne Westwood. She was the best creative maker and innovator – so was Alexander McQueen.
This article was originally published on January 21, 2023.
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