With the days of Barbicore long behind us, vivid pinks have now given way to neon colours. Summer 2023 promises to be loaded with eye catching  silhouettes as fluorescent shades of yellow, green and blue flood the runaways. So get your sunglasses ready  and prepare for sensory  overload.

All too often we’re afraid of adding colour into our wardrobe. Questions like, “will this colour look good on me?” or “what will I wear with this?” wrack our  brains.  Don't get overwhelmed by the process.   Start looking at colour as being your best friend, and always remember that a little colour never hurt anybody. 

Dressing in  bright colours doesn’t have to mean flashy. A little burst of colour even in the  subtlest of ways can have a great effect. Keep in mind that incorporating vibrant colours will not only revamp your wardrobe, but improve personal style and boost your mood.

If you’re not ready to dress head to toe in vibrant colours, then start off with adding in accessories that will make your outfit pop. Colour is meant to enhance your look, not make you look garish.  If worn correctly, bright colours can take an outfit from zero to one hundred. I like to upgrade my personal style with brightly coloured shoes and handbags, or even a statement piece like a dress. The key is adding colour in ways that make you feel comfortable and emanate your personal style. Don’t be afraid to mix different hues. Be playful.

Rhinestones are one of this season's biggest and hottest trends. Everyone needs a little sparkle in their lives, and Bottega Veneta delivers just that.  Allow yourself to shine with the mini Jodie. The vivid shade of aquamarine make  this bag an excellent addition to any evening attire, and can upgrade an outfit from day to night. 

This chic yet simple shoulder bag by Jacquemus is elegant with a twist.  Le Bisou Mosqueton in acid yellow tucks neatly under the arm, and dons a sleek  gold handle. It can be worn anytime, and the price point won't break your pockets.

Fashionista's just can't seem to get enough of Kelly green. Prada's mini bag makes a great everyday accessory plus it can be worn effortlessly. The discrete and unfussy style make it a wonderful choice for minimalists, and will have all eyes going green with envy.

Elegance meets simplicity all in one clutch.  The mini Flamenco in cyan is bold yet understated.  A formidable addition to any wardrobe, this clutch will add a dose of vibrancy without being over the top. 

What would an outfit be without a pair of sunglasses? If you want to make a statement, try these cool but quirky flower sunglasses by Loewe. With these bright yellow sunglasses you're sure not to go unnoticed. 

The Ciara sunglasses by Karen Wazen tick all the boxes.  They are cool, sleek, vibrant, and a definite must have. These fun frames combine two of this summer's hottest colours.  If you want to be on point with the latest trends, add these sunglasses to your look.

Cut out dresses are big this summer. This lime green number by Gauge81 is short, light, and gives the feeling of effortless style. The Tokai dress is a stylish and sexy robe that can be worn both day and night.  If you love to show off your legs, then this dress is an obvious pick.

Fringing has taken on a new meaning this season. No longer associated with bohemian culture, fringing has taken on an elegant appeal. If ever there was a dress that embodied the modern take on fringing then it would be the Hansel gown by Cult Gaia. This  simply cut  gown exquisitely embellished with fringe falls gracefully, making it a piece to remember.

Revolve Clothing's take on a classic body con dress in neon yellow. The thigh high slit along with subtle side ruching add an element of seduction.​ Heads are sure to turn with this show stopping piece. 

A symbol of 1980's fashion, ruching has made its way back to the runway once again. Predominantly used in skirts and body con dresses, ruched detailing is an unavoidable trend this season.  This slinky dress by Norma Kamali screams opulence at its most fundamental level.  Easy to wear, the Diana dress is fashionably effortless. 

The Cheope mule in PVC  stimulates the senses, and leaves you dreaming of  exotic waters in distant territories. This elegantly structured triangular wedge heel moulded in gradient blue PVC is fun,  edgy, and can compliment almost any outfit.  

Hit the pavement in these 70's inspired platform sandals by Si Rossi. The multi-strap design, sculpted heel, and neon yellow satin fabric make these shoes an absolute eye-catcher.  

Amina Muaddi has returned this season with the classic Begum sling. Crafted in green PVC with a stiletto martini heel and adorned with crystal embellishments, these sling backs are fit for a princess.  

Have a night on the town in the Attico's Venus sling back. The flamboyant hue of acid yellow, classic pointed toe design, and wrap around ribbon straps make purchasing these shoes a no-brainer.  

IS AGE APPROPRIATE FASHION A THING OF THE PAST?​

I’ve never had an issue with the way that I dress. In fact I’ve always been conscious of choosing the right clothing for my body type, as its important to portray your physique in a flattering light. When I entered my forties I didn’t think it was necessary to change my style of dress, because everything I’d worn thus this far had looked good on me.

In the summer of 2015 my friend had come to Paris to visit me, along with her eleven year old daughter in tow. One afternoon on one of our many shopping expeditions, her daughter turned to me and said, “Aunty, you look like your eighteen!”

I was floored. An eleven year old just told me (a then forty year old) that I looked eighteen. I knew straight away that she was referring to the way I was dressed. I immediately looked at my friend who was dressed in drab colors like somebody’s grandmother, and thought to myself “this could never be me.”

When I think about it, every fashion ad (or any ad period) that markets to women over forty, always shows an older women conservatively and badly dressed. If I walk into a shop and see women in my age group I immediately turn around and leave, because the fashion they’re gravitating towards isn’t in my league. I have always shopped in stores that market a “youthful image”.

So is “age appropriate” fashion a thing of the past? Is there a certain dress code that women over forty must prescribe to?  

I definitely think that in today’s world women do not only look younger, but they are thinking and acting younger. Gone are the days that being forty was a death sentence! Now you hear people say, “forties are the new thirties.”

But does it really matter what you wear?  I personally believe that as long as the clothing looks good on you, and you have the physique to carry it then by all means go ahead. Youth  is a feeling, and fashion is an expression of that feeling. So if you’re forty nine and still want to wear that leopard coat, then wear it! 

There have been so many societal limitations put on women in midlife. I think that fashion shouldn’t be one of them. Fashion is the freedom to creatively express your inner self. And as women, if we can no longer express our inner selves then we die.

Wearing whatever you want is a freedom of expression. I encourage all women over forty to live their best lives. Continue to create, express, grow…and be 100% fashionably you!