We all know that most women love shoes – it’s a thing we can’t deny.  We also know that it’s a real pain when you have your heart set on buying a particular style and you just can’t find it anywhere…

Shoes of Prey – an Australian company started in 2009 – aims to change all this.

Rather than releasing a set range each season, as most retailers do, they put the buyer totally in charge of the design process. Once you’ve customised your shoes or boots to your hearts content and paid up, Shoes Of Prey will hand make them and send them out to you in about a month.

How to:

You start by selecting a basic template, which can be anything from ballet flats to heeled ankle boots, then select what you’d like them to be made out of.  The options available to you range from the usual fair, such as various types of leather, patent leather or suede, to silk and bizarre choices such as snake or fish skin and even hair (why anyone would want to wear hairy shoes is beyond me!)    Anyway, they also offer a “vegan” option, which I assume is some kind of leatherette or PVC material.

After that, you’re then given free rain to go wild, choosing the main colour, colour of the tow cap and adding as much or as little embellishments as you see fit.

Accessibility:

This really sounds like shoe heaven.  Unfortunately, there are a couple of caveats.  For Screen Reader users, after you’ve selected your starting point the design process is quite a pain, requiring you to be very proficient at using your Screen Readers review cursor commands (E.G. JFW’s Jaws cursor, or the WE cursor in Window Eyes.).

The list of materials is clearly visible; however there is no indication of which is currently selected. So if you’re not careful, you could end up with a pair of hairy shoes after all.

The rest of the design options, such as heel, toe, back and decoration are hidden at first, but appear when you left click on the relevant word.  All of these options pop up a menu containing a number of selections, which closes when you click the one you’d like, presumably applying your choice to a 3d image on-screen.

Customising the heel is very tricky. Clicking heel brings up a couple of combo boxes, 1 each for type and height, respectively.  However, the website seemingly doesn’t allow you to pick any of the options presented using the keyboard, even by using the review cursor.  The defaults are a stiletto heel at 3 inches.

There is a progress bar that informs you of how far you are through the design process, as well as a tab to bring up a list of all your selections you have made so far.  Unfortunately for us, only the progress bar can be read, so you have no way of reviewing what you’ve done or even to make sure the right options have been selected in the first place.

I haven’t talked much about colour, as I can’t figure out how you change it, other than clicking clear and choosing either black or white.  They actually provide pretty much every colour you could think of between those boundaries.

After doing all that, you can then click save to add your design to your account if you’ve created one. Alternatively you can just head to the check out, where they will ask you which size you require.  They use European sizing, but on their FAQ page, you’ll find a handy list of ranges in various country’s formats. In UK terms, the sizes range from Child 12½ to adult 13½.  They can make larger or smaller on request.

As this is a bespoke service, the prices are quite expensive ranging from £115 for ballet flats to £210 for ankle boots.  While this is a considerable amount of cash, shoes by well known designers can fetch up to twice that or even more. I’ve seen a pair selling for well over £1000, and you obviously have no say in the design whatsoever.

I have not ordered anything from Shoes of Prey, so I can’t vouch for the quality of them. However, based on other reviews I have read, they seem to live up to their claims of being well made and comfortable. They also provide a variety of jell inserts and pads free of charge, should you wish to use them.  This I think is a nice touch.

So, if you have patience, or a little sight and have money to burn, then give Shoes Of Prey a go. Otherwise, I’d pass on and continue searching for your perfect style elsewhere…Remember the hairy shoes?

www.shoesofprey.com

Have you tried Shoes of Prey? What do you think?

I’ll admit, I’ve donned some questionable items in my time through my love of fashion (photographic evidence has been subsequently destroyed), even those I initially thought myself above. Oh yes, I’ve laughed in the face of crop tops, punishing trotter feet high heels and dungarees, but then decided I actually quite liked two out of three of those at least.

I’ve since discovered my threshold for the acceptable is really rather low.

But despite my unassailable susceptibility to the right marketing, I never thought that even I would be swayed by a piece of fashion brouhaha like the skinny jean  ̶  hints in the name, no?

An item by its very design is made to draw attention to my most troublesome body areas. Not for me, thanks, I’ll pass: even I know my limits, it’s this same attitude that has prevented me from leaving the house naked after all. But lo and behold, here I am. Again.

Ah, fashion likes to challenge us and to be fair we’ve given as good as we’ve got. For years we’ve gamely taken this idea and made it our own: showing that hey, even those 5 foot something’s of us with ‘problem areas’ can work a pair of skinny jeans and look entirely sex-able doing it. Skinny jeans: not just for skinny people after all.

What’s more, I like to think that fashion has seen this and responded accordingly – stop measuring your calves (who knew they were an issue before the ultra skinny fit?) and try a new leg shape out: a wide one that hints of the 70s and is really ever so flattering and easy to wear (…it looks simply darling with a blouse and wedge heel!)

But here’s the real kicker: this is the moment we’ve taken to dig in our heels and draw the line. We’ve made this work and now we rather like the skinny jean. Sure, we’d all be a bit more body comfortable in a wide leg and yes, they really are both chic and flattering. But who wants a jean that can be worn regardless of whether you’re having a fat day, which might actually make you feel a bit better about yourself?

Pfft, not us.

Sorry fashion, this is where we part ways. See you next season.

..Does my bum look big in these?

Amy Lavelle is a Journalist from UK fashion comparison site Style in View. She’s contributed to a number of publications including Spindle magazine.

Descriptions:

1. Two piece mint coloured bikini, with pink dot detailing – Comptoir Des Cotonniers (Princess Tam Tam) £90
2. Brown gladiator style sandals, with gold toe straps – Clarkes £45
3. Orange, zebra print, skater skirt  – Fuse Fashion £15
4. Multi coloured, graphic print trousers – Fuse Fashion £20
5. White vest top with tassles – Fuse Fashion £25
6. Brown, ankle, cowboy style boots – Fuse Fashion £60
7. Multi coloured, multi jewelled ring – Lola&Grace £29.99
8. Vintage pink (dark), pattern vest top -  Fuse Fashion £20
9. Bold multi coloured, multi jewelled pendant necklace – Cadenza £248
10. Smart, tan coloured, hooded anorak – Comptoir Des Cotonniers £150
11. Geometric print (white, brown and pink), ankle boots (sand boot style) – Clarkes £89
12. Orange, saddle bag with tassle  – Clarkes £20
13. Brown, twisted ribbon, tie bracelet – Cadenza £66
14. Gold coloured chunky ring – Lola&Grace £19.90
15. Graphic print, burgundy and baby blue, sleeveless dress (with slightly nipped waist and flare skirt) -  Comptoir Des Cotonniers £160

What do you think of our selection?

Source: little-bit-more.blogspot.com

Ladies, have you had enough of your long straight hair and would like to style or curl it using a very cost effective and heat free method? Well, I saw a video on Youtube on how to curl your hair using a sock bun….Oh yes, a sock bun!
By Leslie Cousins

Now, one of the difficulties I encounter as a visually impaired lady is styling my hair. Not just the challenges of operating electronic hair devices, but also judging in front of the mirror whether I’ve done a good job or not. However, my sight loss does not stop me from re-inventing the way I look. There are other ways of overcoming certain issues.

The sock bun technique is one of the easiest ways of curling your hair, without worrying about the complications of using an electronic device. It works brilliantly, especially if you are blind or partially sighted as the process is so straightforward to follow.

Here’s a step by step on curling your hair using the sock bun technique:

1. Grab yourself a pair of old socks

2. Cut the end (the toe bit) and then roll the sock until you reach the other end (creating a donut shape)

3. After creating a sock bun, tie your hair with an elastic band

4. Once you have done this, grab a spray container and spray your hair with water (don’t make it too wet).

5. As soon as your hair is damp, hold your hair up and start rolling the end part onto the sock bun until you reach the other end.

6. Leave it tied and rolled overnight.

7. Unroll and untie it the next day and you’ll feel the difference. You’ll feel that your hair is curly and bouncy.

*Please note that the sock bun technique does not last very long so it might be a good idea to use mousse for added hold.

To be honest it’s not easy to look good whilst balancing on spike heels, especially when you’re not used to them. But when you get it right, a pair of heels can be a girl’s best friend – taking an outfit from a 6 to a 10. If you have a visual impairment or mobility issues, it can be even harder (sometimes impossible) to get the strut just right. However, if they can fit on your feet and you like them, then don’t be afraid to give them a try – remember nothing ventured nothing gained.  If you feel good in your heels (regardless of whether you’re just sitting or strutting) then go get those babies! (remember if you can’t do 6 inches, 2 or 3 will do).

Top tips for getting the most out of your heels…

Step 1: Before you walk around in your heels, find your core by standing still and straight and adjusting your posture until you feel both comfortable and poised.

Step 2: Once you have found the right heels for you, test them out by putting your heel down first before your toes (don’t plop them down at the same time, and don’t put your toes down first). Once your weight is on the balls of your feet, shift your weight forward, as if you’re walking on your tip toes.

Step 3: Take one step and stop. Now take two steps and stop. Keep on going until you feel that your balance is improving. Remember to strike an elegant pose for effect with every stop!

Things to remember:

Keep your legs close together. Catwalk models will often cross one foot slightly in front of the other to give their hips a little more sway, but it’ll take some extra practice to master this one.

When standing still in your heels, stand with the heel of one foot touching the middle of the other foot, while cocked at an angle from it. Put your weight on the toe of the foot in back and when it gets tired, switch.

Tips and tricks:

1. Want a sexy strut? Lengthen your legs, arch your back and push your butt and chest out. Shexy!

2. Practise in your heels in the supermarket or at home before wearing them out. This will stretch them a bit and will tell you whether they are ok for a couple of hours wear. Try them on different surfaces.

3. Taping your third and fourth toe together can make walking in high heels much easier. (Not too tight!)

4. Imagine you are your favourite supermodel and now strut!

5. Try the stairs at home before you go out – if you are visually impaired and have a fancy man, lean on him for this practise session or find yourself a sexy guide to lead you and lean on them whilst wearing your heels.

6. Doing yoga and any lower body exercises will firm up those leg muscles and actually keep you more balanced when strutting in heels.

7. Opt for wedges, thicker heels or kitten heels before you go for the 6 inch spikes. Remember to take baby steps when learning the art of perfect pose in killer heels.

8. Try shoes with ankle or foot straps for safety.

9. Sit down as often as possible before your shoes start to hurt your feet. Don’t wait until your feet are about to explode! Keep them rested before they hurt and they should last longer.

10. Try foot pads and bring along some plasters for sore areas and friction.

11. Massage your feet and soak them in hot water to alleviate stress heel and toe stress.

We LURVE these summer sandals by Clarks…do you? If you fancy winning £500 worth of Mrs&Mrs Smith vouchers, and £150 worth of Clarks shoes, then go ahead and tweet a picture of your toe baring summer shoes with the hashtag #FreeYourFeet for a chance to win!

For more informaiton visit: https://www.facebook.com/clarks.shoes/app_446709002085331

Liesl is a beauty therapist from the Karine Jackson salon, Covent Garden, she says “It can take time, but you should always use a base coat and overcoat as they will make your polished nails last so much longer. People tend to leave these steps out, but actually it can mean the difference between nails that last for a couple of days and those that last much longer.” This is all true, but it can also be expensive, not to mention the time needed to apply so many coats of paint!

This said, there are some occasions when perfectly polished nails are a must, so read on for a couple of London based nail salon suggestions…

The salon experience:

Whether you are going for a mani at your local, or you opt for a luxury salon experience, getting your nails done by a professional can take the pain out of the process (if you are happy to pay out for it). Rush in Piccadilly, London, offer a first class manicure and pedicure in what can only be called ‘splendid’ surroundings. The combination of chandeliers, huge ornate gold mirrors, leather chairs and shiny surfaces, make Rush a great place for a luxury experience. Got a wedding to go to? Birthday? Or maybe you just want to have a mani or pedi with friends before going out for drinks, Rush will be worth the £75. If, Rush is a little too ‘bouji’ for your blood, then head done to Covent Garden for Karine Jackson. You will get a foot massage with your mani and pedi, which I assure you will leave you feeling completely relaxed and serene. What’s more, the salon have a fabulous range of Essie nail polish colours to choose from. Karine Jackson’s salon is super chilled and is the perfect way to end a day of shopping – a first choice for an affordable but high quality treatment. What’s more, if you have mobility issues, Karine has a wheelchair friendly salon with a fitted chair lift. All this for under £60, Not bad. Of course, if you really want to save money, try a local salon or check out our upcoming post on how to get perfect nails at home.

Rush, Piccadilly: 020 3642 9216
Karine Jackson, Covent Garden: 020 7836 0300

Want perfect nails at home? Check out our upcoming post…

Finding a good mascara is like finding a good man, there are lots out there but not all of them are gonna be right for you – not to mention those ones that are just hype and packaging (the mascara not the men). For me, these are the worst! How many times have I been drawn in by the latest new product, only to find that despite the fancy packaging, funky design and often enormous tube (Seriously, what is that about?) what you have is a somewhat underwhelming product with an average wand. So what makes a good mascara? Well, it is all relative. For me a slim long brush, thick but not gloopy product, available in a waterproof and great for sensitive eyes….oh and discrete packaging.

This may not be the case for everyone, but that’s ok. There are lots to choose from out there. Here are a few that I have tried for the first time (in the interest of non-bias) and here are my thoughts…

The Innovators:

Shavata, Lash Fabricator £15: This product was pretty exciting. The Fabricator is to be used with the Shavata mascara. The mascara goes on first, and then the Fabricator is applied over it, coating your lashes with a multitude of tiny fibres, you then finish with another coat of mascara. The application process is a little tricky, you are told to look down when applying the Fabricator and this is really important because I didn’t and ended up with tiny fibres in my eyes and on my face (a brush is provided to get rid of them). With a bit of practise you could probably master this product and if you do you will end up with the thickest lashes you have ever had – I am not kidding. (longer length is harder to achieve because you need a lot of fibres to make the ends look as thick as the rest)
Accessibility: Tricky to use and the fibres end up all over your face. Small print, with not great contrast and limited grip. (Slippery when wet).

Blinc, Tube £15: I was looking forward to trying the Blinc mascara, as the idea of having my eyelashes coated in tiny water resistant tubes, that won’t run, smudge, clump or flake sounded pretty good.  The problem with this product is that it is great for people with thick eyelashes who want more length, but for those of us who have thinner lashes the tube effect can leave them looking even thinner (the tubing bonds them together creating a spiky look). You can separate your lashes and then give them a good few coats to fill them out, but you better quick as you only have 2 minutes to do this before the lashes harden.
Accessibility: Comes in a tin tube with lots of information both on the tube and on a print out which is also provided. Small print but good contrast (light on dark) good grip on outer tin but not on tube.

Best Brushes:

Collection, Killer Curves £4.99: The brush has a sort of hour glass shape so that you get the benefit of having both a thick and thin brush.
Accessibility: Nice large print on the tube, good contrast. No grip. (slippery when wet)

Accessorize, Flutter Curl £5.00: In the shape of a Frisbee the brush is fab for applying mascara on all your lashes at the same time.
Accessibility: Logo has good contrast, no print on the tube at all to read. No grip. (Slippery when wet)

Vivo, VPL fibre: The brush looks like it has millions of tiny spikes coming out of it, so it is perfect for separating those lashes and avoiding clumping – no post app lash separating needed. Nice product consistency too.
Accessibility: Nice large print logo and absolutely fabulous contrast! (black on orange). No grip. (Slippery when wet).

Famous, Double your chances: This brush is slim and then round at the end, like a cotton wool bud. Brilliant application as I could use the different parts of the bush for my different eyelash lengths. The tube is super fun with a zebra print tip.
Accessibility: Nice large print. Great contrast (silver on black). No grip. (slippery when wet)

Best Product Consistency:

Terre D’oc, Beaute De Monde: The round brush works really with the thicker (but not gloopy) product consistency. Nice application and no need for multiple coating.
Accessibility: Bad colour choice – no contrast. No grip. (Slippery when wet).

Revitalash, Volumizing Mascara £19.50 – Editors Pick!: I loved the consistency of this product, it went on beautifully and I found that even though I usually like a long skinny brush, a medium sized short brush works just as well. Two coats and my lashes looked amazeballs…a great go-to product for me.
Accessibility: Good contrast, but small print. No grip. (Slippery when wet).

Oriflame, Volume Build: A lovely product with a good brush. A nice mascara for thickening the lashes without clumping and post app separating is not needed.
Accessibility: Bad contrast. No grip. (Slippery when wet).

Best packaging:

Lord & Berry £13: I went for this one first because it looked so darn cool. Super chic black squared tube with a bold white logo. The product is pretty good and the wand is fine, but the package was so cool that I took it out with me as a show -off mascara on a night out with the girls!
Accessibility: Good contrast, nice sized print. Great grip, perfect for application in ladies toilets.

The Balm, Cheater!: The 1950’s style retro box is so much fun and I would be tempted to give this as a gift with a branded lippy to go with it. Both the consistency of the product and the brush are good for lengthening, but the packaging is what makes this a seller.
Accessibility: Good contrast, nice sized print. No grip (Slippery when wet).

Best Idea:

Green People £14.75: I loved this mascara because it felt so good to apply something that has 98.4% of its total ingredients from natural origins, and 15.4% of the total ingredients from natural farming. The consistency and brush are great and stayed on all day, with no irritation or smudging.
Accessibility: Good contrast, nice sized print. No grip (Slippery when wet).

I had hoped to be greeted by a couple of dancing therapists, one wearing an evening gown and the other in a top hat and tails (trust me, I have witnessed even more extreme gimmicks than this). I was wrong, but not disappointed.   Instead, I was met by a washing line of frilly knickers in the window and a therapist called Suzie with a wicked laugh and waist length, jet black hair…yup, this was my type of salon!

Customer service: Don’t get me wrong, I am a chandeliers and champagne type of gal (well, when I can be). But sometimes it’s great to just relax, have a laugh, a chat and a treatment, this is exactly what I got at Fred and Ginger. Suzie was great fun and after offering me a shot of tequila (their renowned tequila wax gets it’s name from the tequila shot that is offered to you before the treatment) I settled down on the bed and waited for the procedure.

Quality: After a little hesitation, (and a shot of tequila…did I mention the tequila?) I opted for the Dermabrasion treatment. Microdermabrasion intensely exfoliates and resurfaces the skin with the use of a small pen-like tool which removes the dead skin (like a really intensive facial scrub). The treatment is said to be great for removing acne scarring and wrinkles. Now, I had had a Microdermabrasion treatment before, it had left my skin dry and sore with red marks that stayed for days.  Suzie assured me that her treatment was much less invasive, so with a promise that she would be careful, I went for it. Wow, my skin – which was dry and oily (yes, this is possible with combination skin) – was left glowing and as smooth as a baby’s bum.

Decor: The salon has a quirky, almost kitsch feel with comic themed illustrations and pop art everywhere. Camden is the perfect location for this salon, it is so much fun and would be the ideal stop-off before heading out for drinks locally. This is the kind of place that you could visit with friends and end up spending most of your time chatting whilst being waxed or spray tanned.

Accessibility: The salon is 5 minutes walk from Camden station and although quite small at the entrance, the salon is all on one level  - pretty great for anyone with mobility issues. The treatment costs £39, so it won’t break the bank and you will really see the difference in your skin. If you are unused to salon treatments, don’t worry, as going to Fred and Ginger’s is like visiting friends and getting defuzzed and scrubbed at the same time.

Treatment details: Clearer tighter skin, fewer wrinkles, less pigmentation and blemishes, reduction of acne and acne scarring.

Venue details:
Fred and Ginger 
52 Parkway
Camden Town
London
NW1 7AH

Tel: 020 7284 0888

1. How did you come up with the idea for your Braille jewellery design company?

Elegant Insights products were inspired by a gift I received while struggling through an agonizing time in my life, the loss of my beloved husband, Billy.  Life is a journey consisting of many twists and turns, some of them painful and difficult to navigate.  So, for a bit of inspiration, I was given a tiny little talisman to help me keep moving forward.  It was a “worry stone,” with the word “survivor” engraved on one side, and to my surprise, the same word embossed in Braille on the other.  Right then and there, the light bulb went on over my head, and the entire concept of the Elegant Insights collection came to me in a single flash of inspiration. Never one to ignore my intuition or neglect an insight, I set about the task of finding a manufacturer to assist me in bringing my ideas to life.

2. How do you Braille your jewellery?

Initially, I sought a manufacturer already mass-producing Braille jewellery.  I looked everywhere, including out-of-country options, and realized that there was no such animal.  Besides, I really wanted to find a manufacturer in the USA, since I am a flag-waving maniac, after all.  What I found was a handful of artisans who made Braille jewellery products on a small scale.  They utilised a number of fascinating techniques to make their products.  Some used bead-setting, some used metal casting, some used stamping, some used embroidery or other needlework techniques.  I even found one company that used diamonds as the Braille dots!  All were beautiful.  I soon realized that no single technique would be sufficient for my product line.  I then decided to assemble my own team who would apply their creative energy to “catch the vision,” and create the quality jewelry and accessories I wanted to offer.

3. What is your bestselling piece?

Right now, our best-selling item is our purse charms line. We offer them in metal tones to match most purse hardware, and they are a great way to add “bling” to an otherwise plain handbag, or to make a fashion statement by choosing a theme that matches your personality.  Our beautiful purse charms consist of a colourful cascade of beads, faux pearls, crystals and shiny rondelles terminating with a Braille-embossed charm at the bottom.  You can choose a heart, star, guitar pick, butterfly or simple geometric shapes in brass, copper or stainless steel.

4. What do your customers usually ask for in terms of customisation?

Everyone has their own ideas as to inspirational words or sentiments that are meaningful.  Some have asked for spiritual words such as “faith” or “rejoice” others have wanted motivational terms such as “strength” or “believe” and still others have requested the names of those they love, or their own monogram on a charm.  It’s been a mixed bag.

5. What materials do you work with?

We use contemporary metals such as brass, copper, stainless steel, and soon we hope to offer sterling silver.  We also use natural gemstone beads for a splash of colour, along with faux pearls, and we love the subtle sparkle of hematite.

6. How do you see your designs developing?

The Elegant Insights product line will feature a number of collections based upon various media.  For example, I hope to roll out a line of jewellery and accessory products featuring rivets as embellishments.  We also plan to expand our currently limited selection of leather items into jewellery and accessories for both men and women, such as bookmarks and business card cases.  We also invite design ideas from our customers.  So far, our customers have provided us with a few really interesting and creative ideas that we plan to incorporate into future collections.  In some cases, our customers have designed pieces that are one-of-a-kind gifts for their friends or loved ones.

7. Do you have any plans to stock your pieces in any retail outlets and if so, which ones?

Isn’t that the dream of all entrepreneurs?  Distribution!  I would love to have the Elegant Insights collection available in retail stores or catalogues.  Currently, we are talking with several companies in an effort to achieve just that, but it’s a process.  We hope that you will be able to find a piece or two at your local low vision store or in the “lifestyle products” section of your favourite online aids for daily living web site.  Right now, we are working very hard to get the word out about our beautiful jewellery, and to ensure that as many people as possible can get their hands on it, to feel the embossing and the warm glow of the contemporary metals we use.  To that end, we have been attending blindness-related conferences and showing the line in the exhibit halls.  Feeling is believing!  The Elegant Insights collection is jewellery with tactile style!

To place an order with Laura email l.legendary@elegantinsightsjewelry.com.

Find Elegant Insights on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Elegant.Insights

Or Twitter @ElegantInsights

I have a good few years before I hit 50, but I am pretty sure that the best thing about getting older is that it becomes easier to be true to who you are and what you are. Am I right?

A recent BBC Radio 4, Women’s Hour program covered questions around the relationship that women over 50 have with fashion. What I loved about the guests on the program, was that they made it very clear that having their own personal style (and making the most of it) was much more important than trend watching or adopting the style choices of others.

This is probably why the most stylish women I know are all over 50.

These women have tried most things over the years and come out the other side, knowing what suits them and what doesn’t. This doesn’t mean that they ignore new fashion trends; they just pick and choose from the best of what’s out there and incorporate it into their perfectly honed personal style. These women have also accepted their body shapes, have stopped trying to change themselves with faddy diets and surgery and have instead decided to work with the bodies they have and choose their fashion pieces accordingly – that could be opting for sleeves on a dress, a bias cut, a longer length skirt or a funky scarf to bring out the colour in their eyes – whatever works.

Thanks to them, when it comes to maintaining and evolving my personal style, I am optimistic about hitting the big 50 and beyond. In fact, I think that 50+ could be the most stylish time in a woman’s life.

There are a myriad of stores like Mary Portas, Jaeger and Marks & Spencers who are with me on this one. They design for the older woman and champion the idea that a women’s interest in looking her best doesn’t stop at 50 – why else would their lines feature so many bold designs, colour combinations and lush material choices?

In fact, stores for older women appear to think much more about their customer’s needs than the average high st store. They understand completely that their customers are discerning women. They know that as a woman ages her body tends to change, they act on this knowledge and design their clothing with this in mind. When did Top Shop ever consider my large thighs?  Or Zara really think about how my chunky upper arms would look in their new sleeveless red dress? Not all younger shoppers are perfectly proportioned, super confident, gals about town who never worry about wearing a skirt that is too short or a dress that shows off that podgy bit at the top of their arms (if this person is you, revel in it love!)

So if being over 50 and shopping in 50+ stores means that my body shape is thought about and designed for…well, it sounds pretty fab to me.

Yes, there are many 50+ women who shop in a range of stores, other than those for the older woman. However, I don’t know of a single one who is happy with the variety (or lack of) available in stores that don’t think about them very much or at all. Essentially, what a lot of 50+ woman are looking for is the exact same thing that I am in my 30s. Affordable, good quality clothing, designed to flatter rather than display, skim rather than cling and accentuate the good whilst disguising the less good.

You would be surprised at how hard that is to find.