From casual daywear to glamorous evening attire, unlock the secrets of holiday styling!

It’s that time of year when we’ve either had enough of an overwhelming year, or we are simply bored with our routine – life sometimes gets in the way of fun, right? Year-end is also a time to embrace good traditions, whilst an ideal time to reflect and adjust our lives to suit our needs by discarding what no longer serves us.

This is one of the many benefits of getting older but not being over. We realise we have choices as we no longer wish to waste time on anything and anyone which no longer enhance our lives, and then there is the fun factor of reassessing our wardrobe too.

Planning our outfits for all the brunches, lunches, cocktail parties and dinners we’ll be savouring during the holidays is pure style therapy for me too…

I’m as guilty as the next golden girl and silver sister of getting my head turned and flashing my credit card at something new and shiny that would make me feel fabulous and alluring. We owe it to ourselves to be generous to us too while we are spending our dollars on gifts for those we adore.

However, taking a moment to assess our wardrobe before shopping could save us plenty. I recently saw a top I thought would complement several items in my wardrobe. Then I decided to finally pack away the winter woollens and reveal my existing summer closet, on repeat.

To my surprise, (okay, not really), there was a similar top I’d had for some years, winking at me, I was certain! As the style is back in vogue, I did not need to spend my cash on that cute new top. Don’t you love when that happens? Chuckles, when an oldie becomes our new best friend…

Styling up our old wardrobe or creating a new versatile cachet of glamour to enter the Festive Season is pure delight. After all, in the words of the late, great unapologetically flamboyant Iris Apfel, “we had fun dressing up as little girls, so, why stop now!”

I also unpacked a soft pink light-knit dress from my fashion storage trunk last week. I’ve had this dress since my early fifties, when I felt comfortable with a plunging neckline for suitable occasions, such as intimate dinners.

Fact is, much as I agree to wear exactly what we please, a few bits no longer sit as high as they should, so, I almost donated this dress, together with several tight-fitting items and styles I no longer feel comfortable in, to the nearest opshop. Then I remembered the magical times the dress reminded me of and how I loved wearing it, so I decided to style it differently. The rest of those skin-tight items went to charity. One gal’s trash is another one’s bargain…

I found a matching silk scarf I’d bought on a trip to Croatia years ago as well as a shiny coated jacket in the same hue and my styling mojo kicked in. I draped the scarf to cover the daring neckline and complement the dress. As it was a cool evening, I added the jacket, a pair of silver heels and a soft pink lip colour to complete the feminine look.

I felt intriguing as I knew what was hidden by the soft scarf – our secret temptress should not lose her impish spirit, right? It looks lovely with a matching silk shirt tied at the waist too.

I also discovered an old shirt dress. It’s a tad shorter than the length I now prefer but it still looks great with heels and accessories to elevate the simple style for an informal lunch. By adding a pair of straight-leg pants, gold or silver heels and accessories, it is ideal for a smart-casual dinner too. Talk about versatility!

Linen is so easy for summer and yes, it creases but still, it always sets a mood of classy nonchalance and ageless style. I like to mix it up. For a lunch, I wear a summer top in a colour to complement the pants or skirt. In a hurry to change for a smart-casual dinner? Simply ditch the top and wear something shimmery instead. Go all the way, we’re the boss of us, so add accessories to notch up the sparkle for a sophisticated vibe.

Black never dates and we don’t have to be boring when wearing it. Crank up the wow factor by adding a bright colour… think the Riviera and the way those gorgeous Italian and French women make the look seem so effortless, and always gorgeous.

A sheer, rather transparent black shirt I hardly wore for years, has also been given a new lease on styling life, as instead of a regular black camisole, I now wear a black lace camisole underneath, creating an aura of mystery and romance by mixing textures.

We are captivating, we have stories and secrets, and we are fun.

So, here’s a few style tips in pictures, which I hope will inspire you to look your best, turn heads with admiration, and have the best Festive Season to revitalise and lift the spirits. Cheers to us, fabulous tribe. Go party in style, we’ve got this, and don’t forget to blow yourself a kiss as you step away from the mirror on your way out, mwah!

For daily style ideas, see my IG @Sixty_is_the_new_40 page. Australian fashion labels shown here include: Seed Heritage, Country Road, Trenery, Decjuba, Witchery, and Showpo.