by Ann Johnson

Created on: February 02, 2009   Last Updated: August 07, 2009

Ok, I admit it- I am a fashion tragic. I have absolutely no idea what to wear or how to dress appropriately for my age. I do know what to slop around home in, where no one can see me, except my poor husband, who by now must surely be sick of coming home to me in tracksuit pants!

I have never had a sense of style or fashion. To me, getting "dressed up" meant putting on a clean and tidy shirt with my jeans, instead of a t-shirt or singlet. I am not a very feminine woman. I am not mannish, but I am not a glamorous, dainty thing who glides around the room either.

I am in my late 40's, and I think it's time I started to dress more appropriately for a woman my age with an executive husband. I have never embarrassed him by turning up to a work event in track pants. I have always managed to "borrow" something for the occasion so I look decent. I would buy something, but it would then sit in the wardrobe and never be worn again, and I would work myself into a headache and panic attack whilst actually shopping for an outfit. I just don't know what to wear. I don't know what suits me.

I see things on store dummies, and they look great- but I am not built like a store dummy. I don't have curves where they do, or the luxury of wearing a pin in just the right spot to hold an item in at the correct place! When I try things on, they don't look the same, and I panic about that and don't buy it. I can honestly say I have not bought myself a new outfit (except jeans of course), for years.

I am not overweight, I am a size 12-14. I can get away with lots of clothes, I just don't know what to buy for my age, because I don't feel my age! I feel like I can still run around in little crop tops, singlets and low rider jeans, but deep inside, I know it is time I started to dress like mum. Or is it? That is my point. What do I wear now? And where do I start without spending a fortune?

Do I have to resort to loose square cut tops, three quarter pants and gold sandals? I'm just not comfortable. I can wear cargo pants with a singlet, but that's what I am trying to move away from. What is "trendy" without people looking at others like I do and saying "That's mutton dressed up as lamb!" Do you have to wear bright red lipstick and giant fake baubles? Do I have to wear brightly coloured unflattering kaftans with a belt?

Then there is always the hair. I have always had long hair. My husband loves it, and would hate for me to cut it. I have spent many thousands of dollars over the years at hairdressers. It costs a fortune to maintain long hair, a cut and colour costs twice as much as short hair. Is it fashionable to have long hair at my age, and how do I style it? Ponytails are for kids and sports people! I am lucky it is not grey yet, but of course there will come a time, and then what do I do? I would be at the hairdressers every month covering regrowth! It has become obvious to me that I now need to have a shorter style, but what?

All these questions and more, so where do I start? It's time!

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