Of all the things we look for in clothes these days, the one that matters the most, let’s face it, is their age-rating.
Does it make you look good for your age, or older? That’s the big question, to which the answer must be a resounding yes, and if not, you need to stop and think again.
But it’s designer and I got it in the sale! But it’s such a pretty print! But I look tiny in it! None of this matters one iota if you look a little bit frumpy, a tad try hard, or just plain tired (black can do that).
It’s hard to say what clothes will make you look ten years older, and what will shave off the years. Sorry to say, it’s a constantly shifting gauge and you need to keep checking in the mirror every season.
On her recent visit to Colombia, Meghan looked older than her 43 years solely because of her £595 Manolo Blahnik BB 105 pumps, writes Shane Watson
Jennifer Lopez, 55, gets a style lift in smart ballet flatties. Flats, with a few notable exceptions, are what make clothes look modern in 2024
That said, there’s a non-mover list of things that are in the high risk/Just Say No category, and top of that list are high heeled court shoes.
Take Meghan, for example: If I had to make a single observation about the outfits she wore during her and Harry’s recent visit to Colombia, I’d say she looked older than her 43 years solely because of what she wore on her feet.
In a hot climate, with a midi print skirt and sleeveless white top (just the job) she was wearing magenta suede, very high heel court shoes (£595 Manolo Blahnik BB 105 pumps as it happens, the full four and a bit inches).
High court shoes are a celebrity-in-public staple, the generic grown-up occasion shoe. Senators’ wives slip them on for campaigning events. Royalty wear them for weddings and funerals. And, unless the circumstances are very formal and the accompanying outfit is a tailored dress and matching coat and hat, no matter how old you are, high pumps are ageing.
Flats — with a few notable exceptions — are what make clothes look modern in 2024.
Flat shoes stop tailored suits from looking Eighties Working Girl. They make pretty long dresses a bit more casual, and therefore wearable; they stop short styles from tipping over into bunny hostess territory; and they put sporty, youthful energy into everything from long ‘Jermuda’ shorts to wide-leg trousers.
And because flats are currently having their moment, shoes at the opposite end of the scale — namely high classic court shoes — look old and wrong.
If Coco Chanel’s mantra was, ‘before leaving the house look in the mirror and take one thing off’, the modern woman’s should be ‘look in the mirror and ask yourself: are my shoes flat enough or are they putting the lady ambassador in my outfit?’
No offence to lady ambassadors, but looking younger means injecting lightness and newness where you can, and keeping your footwear sharp is one of the easiest and most effective ways of bringing down your Good For Your Age rating. You may be thinking: ‘That’s all very well. But I’m short, I need height. Flat shoes are for the long-legged and slim-ankled; for women who would look good in an LBD and flip flops.’
Well, you might be surprised. A ballet flat might not be the easiest to wear with skirts and dresses, but the more solid styles, cut low on the toe, look chic peeking out under wide-leg trousers: try & Other Stories ruched leather ballet flats (£115, stories.com), Arket’s square toed snake pumps (£149, arket.com) or H&M’s sleek black slingback flat pumps (£19, 2.hm.com).
Actress Katie Holmes, 45, looks city casual in white strappy flats in New York
More substantial flat shoes like moccasin loafers (£90, shop.mango.com) look good under any trousers and the snaffle buckle, Gucci-style smooth loafer is still a chic accompaniment to high waisted loose fit jeans (£110, boden.co.uk). Just add a crisp shirt and/or a blazer. Besides, flat shoes don’t have to be that flat. Flat is more of a mood (relaxed, not too dressed up), so if height is a worry, then you can take your pick now from moulded sole platform flip flops or cross slides (£91, fitflop.com), chunky-soled leather sandals — I like Mint Velvet’s and wish I’d come across them earlier in the summer (£109, mintvelvet.com) — or flatform-soled trainers.
The ones Lady Starmer wears with her navy wide-leg trousers to keep the line flattering are by Russell & Bromley (£195, russellandbromley.co.uk).
There is an alternative for the flat shoe total refusenik that’s big news for autumn — the ultra-low kitten heel, which featured on the Prada catwalk in all the colours, teamed with pencil skirts and fluted midi skirts. It’s not flat but it’s a lot, lot flatter and that’s the direction we’re going in.
