Skinny jeans and bikinis over 40?

Being fashionable and fabulous has no age limit, finds Annemarie Quill.
Rawwyn Omrod, mum of three from Bethlehem, had her belly button pierced as a treat for herself when she turned 40. "Whilst I don't generally wear short tops, I am happy to wear a bikini in the summer," she says. "It is a great incentive for me to stay trim. I always wear the piercing. I have a very nice diamond jewel."
Raewyn looks absolutely gorgeous. But according to a recent survey, she is risking a fashion fine by sporting a navel piercing over 40, and she has only a few more summers of bikini-wearing before she is booked for that, too.
The survey of 2000 British women found that 35 was the cut-off age for a piercing, and a bikini is unacceptable after 47. When you reach retirement age, you can't even wear one-piece togs, according to the survey. What do we swim in - our dressing gowns?
As for clothes, once the candles are out on your 40th birthday cake, ditch your tight tops and chiffon blouses. Leggings, that beloved staple of every girl's wardrobe, are a no-no after 45. That goes for trainers, too - unless you are wearing them for exercise. Banish your high heels to the back of the wardrobe once you hit 50. Long-haired lasses can relax until they are 53, but stop tying it in a ponytail after 51. Hair net, then?
The survey found that, in general, almost half of us regularly worry about whether we are too old for certain clothing. One in 10 women have bought something, only to take it back to the shop soon after amid fears it was "too young" for them.
A small percentage of those surveyed believe in the maxim "If you've got it, flaunt it", but two-thirds think women should grow old "gracefully".
In the celebrity world, there is no fashion watershed. Jennifer Aniston and Jerry Hall look stunning in bikinis. Madonna and Kate Moss are skinny-jean devotees. Victoria Beckham breaks every rule and looks amazing.
In New Zealand, Candy Lane, Rachel Hunter, Peta Mathias and Suzanne Paul can hardly be accused of being fashion-shy.
Miranda Cobb, fashion director, Evolution Clothing
"We are true followers of fashion and most fashion trends can be adapted for all ages, shapes and sizes. Every woman has the right to look beautiful and showcase her individual style. A younger woman could wear a dress out to a club by itself, whereas a more mature woman could wear the same dress, but she might wear it over skinny jeans and with a blazer. It's about individuals taking ownership of a garment and expressing their fashion style.
I may guide a client or friend to certain styles, but for body shape reasons, not age. For example, a dress that may be too short can be worn with tights or a tight top can be toned-down with an oversized cardi.
Fashion has moved past putting ages on styles. Why should a 50-year-old-woman not be able to wear a new trend because there is an age attached to the style?
Women are taking ownership of their appearance and body and making the most of it - no matter what age they are. Power to them."
Bridgette Paton-Tapsell, Village PR and Marketing
"I don't look at how I wear clothes from an age-appropriate point of view Instead, I tend to make decisions based on how clothes make me feel in terms of mood.
Today I'm in stripes, leopard platform shoes, a chiffon tunic with tie detail, a leather bomber jacket and a crazy pink pastiche anorak - a comfortable and free-spirited Zandra Rhodes-crossed-with-Stella McCartney look.
By the time you reach your 40s, theoretically you should have more of an idea of what suits you and what doesn't, and generally you care less about what other people think. With this in mind, I am more daring.
On Saturday night I couldn't decide whether a black, one-shoulder Kardashian-style LBD was too young for the outing. Tim, my husband, suggested I try my green Ricochet dress, which was the right decision because I instantly felt more comfortable in it. It depends on your culture, your confidence and your ability to pull an outfit together as to whether you can get away with it."
More confident and relaxed
Here in the Bay, it seems women are more confident and relaxed about age. Retailers report that women over 40 still want to wear high fashion like skinny jeans, whether from chain stores like Supre and Glassons or boutiques.
Amanda Spellers, assistant manager at Supre in Devonport Rd, says that although more than half of shoppers tend to be over 30, most of them shop for fashion staples.
"Older ladies come in for basics like tights, leggings, scarves and three-quarter tops. They don't tend to wear our tightest jeans. If someone tried them on and I thought they didn't suit, I might suggest other styles.
"But yes, I think older women can wear skinny jeans. It's all about what you wear with it; what your body type is, and also what sort of person you are."
For those over 40 who fear the risk of damaging their eardrums in Supre or Glassons, The Warehouse has spotted a gap in the market. Outlets in Fraser Cove and Cameron Rd both stock the Rachel range, inspired by Rachel Hunter.
Buying manager Linda Leonard says Kiwi women want style and comfort. "The Rachel stretch skinny denim jeans are particularly suitable for women over 40. They are not as low-rise as some of the jeans out on the market."
No age limit to wearing a bikini
When it comes to swimwear, it is not surprising in a region famous for its beach lifestyle that Bay women are more confident than their British counterparts.
Justine Harding, assistant manager at Temptations Lingerie and Swimwear, says there is no age limit to wearing a bikini. "If a women is sexy and confident, she looks good in a bikini. Overseas they go topless in their 40s, so we should be okay here wearing a bikini! If you have to run around the beach after your children then a tankini might be a better option, but for practical reasons, not your age."
Letisha Anstis of Langton's Lingerie says it comes down to what women are comfortable in. "Even some young girls don't want a bikini. I always suggest styles to fit shape - age is not a factor."
So take inspiration from Bay fashionistas like Miranda Cobb, Bridgette Paton-Tapsell and Raewyn Omrod, who show true style has no age barriers. Hang on to your bikinis and strut out in your skinny jeans. Go girls!