Fashion sin: Ex-Vogue editor says 40-plus women should avoid frills, bows

Everyone from Nicole Kidman to Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren are regularly hailed as style icons for the over-40s set – but it seems even they have been getting it wrong when it comes to ageless fashion.

Former editor of British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman, has claimed clothing with frilly fabric or bows looks “frightful” on anyone “past the age of two” – insisting it’s about the only thing that never works. In an interview with Stella magazine, she shared her tips on ageless style following decades in the fashion industry.

Nicole, 50, famously wore a giant bow dress for this year’s Oscars – just the latest in a long line of vibrant outfits in her wardrobe. She is regularly seen with frilly necklines, layered fabrics and bows on her sleeves and chest.

Read more: Helen Mirren, Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep lead style at the Oscars

She’s not alone either, with dozens more stars pictured with ruffled layers of fabric on the red carpet. Meryl, 68, even wore a loose black printed top with a long bow collar recently, while promoting her hit movie The Post.

However, Shulman told the mag: “The one thing that looks frightful as you age is a swamp of frilly fabric. Frills are only remotely possible if you are young enough to think that Princess Diana’s wedding dress can be referenced ironically.

“Tiers, flounces and bows are possibly the only things that I regard as completely unacceptable in ageless style, not working for most people past the age of two – and over the age of 40, bringing a dodgy reference to Bette Davis’s Baby Jane.”

Shulman became a voice for ageless style, after launching a special annual edition of Vogue in 2007, focusing on older age groups and women of a variety of different sizes. It quickly grew to become one of the best-selling issues each year, as anyone aged 18-80 found style advice inside.

Read more: Ageless style! Julie Walters, Celia Imrie and more stun at BAFTAs

Shulman concluded that women have become “entrenched in myths of their own making about what they can and cannot wear”. She advised anyone worried about their wardrobe to assume they can wear anything they want, and work back from there – putting enjoyment back into clothes and fashion.

She went on to share some of her own personal tips for women over 40, saying sometimes starting simple is best. She recommended women focus on staple outfits, before jazzing them up with a bright pair of shoes or accessories.

If you’re struggling to get hold of statement shoes or jewellery however, Shulman said you can’t go wrong with a huge “smile” – insisting it brightens up any outfit.

Are you a fan of frilly fabrics and bows? Do you agree with Alexandra Shulman’s advice or do you wear what you want?