Forget Age-Appropriate…7 Essentials for Midlife Rock Chicks

It’s really easy to wear the same outfits year in year out.  For ages I  stuck with a formula of  slim jeans, blazer-type jacket, non-descript top, worn with ankle boots (winter) or wedges (summer) and a sorta match-y belt and bag

Nice.

Safe.

Kinda Stylish…but to be honest a bit boring after a while

However, in the last few months thought something’s happened in the old wardrobe department and my style has gone from  Channeling My Inner French Woman Nonchalantly Wandering About Paris Buying Croissants to Rock Chick Godess!

Admittedly it’s more Suzi Quatro than Lady Gaga…but hell, it’s still Rock Chick!

Here’s how it’s happened!!

7 Essentials For Midlife Rock Chicks

Trainers

It all started innocently enough with TRAINERS.

Suddenly I noticed that Everyone was wearing them with Everything Everywhere –  Work. Interviews, Shopping. Weddings. Funeral, The Pub, The Only Way is Essex.

I wanted in on the action…plus I was delighted to dump the heels – I’ve never been good with them and always felt I was constantly teetering on the edge of a broken ankle.

I snapped up THESE little beauties from Superga a few months ago and they’ve hardly been off my feet since.  They are beyond comfortable (to Upper is made of canvas)  and the platform gives a little lift to those of us lacking in supermodel stature…and they go with everything.

If you fancy a pair take note – they are proncounced Superrrrgaaaa (with an Italiano aceent) not, as I asked for, Super Gra  (with a Scottish accent). There was much confusion in the Office Shoe Shop.  Remember – I never claimed to be Lady Gaga

The Biker Jacket 

*SCREAMS* OMG I love this jacket so much.

Remember when you were a kid and you got new shoes that you loved so much that the minute you woke up you wanted to put them on and start jumping with joy? Well that’s how I feel about this Biker Jacket. I want to sniff it and touch it and wear it to bed. Even saying Biker Jacket is exciting.

I tried on a few (like hundreds)  and then I found on THIS stunner from Whistles (bought during one of their regular discount weeks). It has just enough zips and POCKETS (we shall return to them later) to look edgy and enough great leather and lining and finish and design to feel fabulous.

The jacket is what we fashionistas call and Investment Piece.  I know I’ll have it for years – in fact I won’t be surprised if I’m wearing it as I get wheeled into a Care Home.

Whenever I put on this jacket I feel so Rock ‘n’ Roll that I could quite feasibly become Mick Jagger’s next conquest…if I 5 inches taller and  30 years younger

Pockets With Everything Please

Until recently pockets were hard to find unless you were buying jeans.  But the world has WOKE to fabulousness of pockets for women (it’s even been trending on Twitter #PocketEquality) –  and now they’re everywhere – dresses, skirts, jackets, wedding dresses, evening gowns, jumpsuits, pyjamas.

Pockets aren’t just for snotty hankies and spare change. 

Pockets are FREEDOM.

Men have known this for years. They’ve always just shoved their stuff in to their pockets and trotted off to somewhere important, while women have had to load up and handbag with all manners of things and lug around a nine pound weight over her shoulder.

Rock Chicks love pockets – they give us the freedom of carrying our mobile phone, lipstick, a tenner and credit card and head out for a night at Studio 54, unencumbered by a handbag that we have to dance round.

Liberation doesn’t come much better than this.

A Plea – Pockets Must Stay… so if you find yourself looking in a clothes shop that stocks women’s wear minus pockets – STOP shopping immediately and START chanting-

What do we want?

*POCKETS FOR WOMEN*

When Do we Want them?

*NOW*

Others shoppers will join in I promise – hopefully before the cops with arrive,

Opaque Tights

60 denier opaque black tights are what’s known to we fashionistas as a Wardrobe Staple. You just need them in your life. They have seen me through endless winters and the great thing about them is they are flattering … unlike bare legs in summer, which can  only carried off well by the chosen few. Who need great legs when you have great opaque tights!

Wolford ones do THE best – they last forvever, but if you don’t fancy remortgaging your home for a pair of tights there are lots of cheaper ones out there.

A Statement Jumper

This is the grown-up answer to a slogan t-shirt.

I must admit that THIS Angel Wing Jumper is straddling a fine line between Rock Chick Chic and Mrs Mutton of McMuttontown… but frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.

From the front it looks like a boring shapeless black woolen  hoodie – but when I twirl around (which I am prone to doing)..

Tah Dah –   I’m An Angel.

I like to think I leave a trail of gaping mouths and admiring glances as I glide past tables of diners in a restaurant (anyone know a cheap Phychiatrist?)

Sunglasses

No self respecting Rock Chick would leave home without them.

Ok, I live is Scotland, it’s winter and there’s zero need for sunglasses – but hell that aint stopping this Rock Chick. .

I LOVE THESE little beauties by Ray Ban, the maker of the best sunglasses in the world…and they come without a crazy designer price.

A Skip Cap

I know…a skip cap!..but Victoria Beckham wears one so why can’t I?

It’s not so much how the skip cap looks that make them a Rock Chick Must-Have – it’s what it offers.

Let me explain… I work from home and my day look could best be described as Working From Home Casual (as outlined in this blog post) – we’re talking rotten old leggings teamed with a seen-better-days t-shirt. Washing of Face and Brushing of Hair is optional.

So far so comfy.

The problem arises when I run out of milk,/printer ink /chocolate –  and need to make a dash to a  nearby shop

In the past I’d have thrown on a pair of old Ugg boats, a puffa coat and tried to keep to the shadows, for fear of scaring dogs and young children or bumping in to various well-groomed acquaintances who were Just off To Brunch.

But now dear reader, I simply put on my Biker Jacket, Supergras, Ray Bans, put my keys in my POCKET and top it off with my Skip Cap…sometimes I go crazy and add a slash of lipstick – and  suddenly I am a Rock Chick going out for some milk/ printer ink/ chocolate! 

It’s the perfect look if the Paparazzi want to snap me…which they don’t.

The End

The fabulous photographs in this post are by Pierre Guillemin – Insta @pierrotleflou.  The other ones are by me!

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