This week, I've been been taking fashion advice from women who have been walking the streets of Manchester three times longer than I have. Ladies in their 60s and 70s told me all about their outfits for the latest instalment of Steal Their Style.
It's become apparent that there are a few fashion rules to follow to maintain a youthful look, and these are nuggets of wisdom and mottos to live by that I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.
Firstly: "When you start wearing fussy things you start looking older."
Secondly: “You just can't walk around Manchester in heels or it starts to show on your face.”
And thirdly: “I don’t dress my age and I never will."
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As well as our stunning and self-confident women over 60, I have, of course, been chatting with some of the millennial and Gen Zers in the city, who also have an impeccable sense of style - many dressing to keep cool in the heat in floaty dresses.
I had opted for the black and white gingham dress from Little Mistress, which I reviewed a few weeks ago. It's light, summery, and is perfect for throwing on with a pair of white trainers - because wearing heels to walk 15,000 steps around the city is something I very quickly learned wasn't a good idea. After all, I wouldn't want it to show on my face.
So, from M&S dresses and second-hand finds, here are some of my favourite looks spotted in Manchester this August, and how you can Steal Their Style.
Cathryn Walker
In Manchester for belated birthday celebrations with her daughter, Cathryn Walker had opted for a sassy Marks and Spencer midi for her lunch at The Ivy, in Spinningfields, followed by The Osmonds musical.
Cathryn, from Preston, said: “The dress from Marks and Spencer, I think it was about £25.”
She had paired the dress with a pair of £90 FitFlop trainers, adding: “I never thought I’d be wearing white trainers with everything, but here I am at 65.”
The 65-year-old said she likes ‘unfussy’ fashion, adding: “When you start wearing fussy things you start looking older. I’ve always known what suits me and always dressed smart as a saleswoman in the 80s and 90s. I love an 80s vibe - I nearly put clip-on earrings on this morning and stopped myself!”
Countess Anne Ladds
The Ivy was clearly a popular brunch spot with Countess Anne Ladds having also dressed up for the occasion. The 63-year-old writer likes to take herself for a glass of fizz and smoked salmon, every now and then.
Anne, from Lancashire, said: “After losing my mum I decided I’d spend some time on myself, so I took myself for breakfast at The Ivy on the roof terrace because I love their Champers. Now I’m off to Selfridges and have a shop.”
Anne loves her designer brands, quoting Dior and Chanel as some of her favourites, and was even sporting her ‘trusty Dior bag’ with a Jigsaw dress.
She added: “The bag is about 10-12 years old and I adore it because it’s the perfect size so it’s not overly full. My dress is from two seasons ago at Jigsaw. I bought it in the sale because I like to be savvy.”
Ideal for walking long distances across the city, Anne opted for a pair of flat shoes from John Lewis, and said: “You just can't walk around Manchester in heels or it starts to show on your face.”
And when it comes to style inspiration, Anne admires French politician and President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, adding: “I think she’s a very classy lady and always looks beautiful without trying. I think having a capsule wardrobe is very important because you always have something to wear. You can then opt for more expensive outerwear and shoes. You've always got to look as if you haven't tried too hard and are comfortable.”
Christine Marsden
“I don’t dress my age and I never will,” said Christine Marsden, who was waiting for a bus in Manchester city centre.
The 74-year-old, who lives in Hyde, donned an all-black gothic look with chunky silver rings and high Dr Martens.
She said: “I'm usually in black. I've had different styles throughout the years but I've always dressed a bit out there and spent 40 years living in Italy. My favourite designer is Giorgio Momoto.”
Christine’s skirt and cardigan are from Hervia Bazaar, while her bag is from Selfridges and glasses from Francis Klein.
She added: “My hat just has a Vivienne Westwood pin in it. I like my chunky rings and boots. I think all of the celebrities look the same and I want to stand out. I want to look cool.” And cool Christine looks, indeed.
Millie Humphreys
An interior designer and TikTok creator, Millie looked vibrant in an animal print dress and chunky boots. The 32-year-old, from Macclesfield, was in the city for a work meeting, and says her creative role influences some of her style.
She said: “I hate summer clothes, I'm such a winter girl but I do love fashion. I usually build my outfit around whatever shoes I want to wear, and recently started a TikTok account called diamondsanddoghair where I share my styling videos.
“I don't really look for style inspiration - I just wear things I feel good in. I’m a creative so I suppose that plays into it.”
Millie’s was an old Topshop piece that originally cost around £20. She paired it with ASOS boots which were around £50, and a £2 beret from online retailer Shein.
She added: “This dress is really comfortable when its really hot and I've paired it with these massive shoes as platforms always make everything look amazing. I wear a lot of high street and vintage clothes and I love to mix and match the two.”
And when it comes to celebrity influences, Millie commented: “I think Lady Gaga is iconic - everything she wears is amazing and she’s so fearless with it."
Jemima Jones
Fresh off her family holiday, Jemima Jones was out shopping in a green gingham mini dress from none other than bargain fashion retailer - Primark. In fact, her bag and sunnies were also from the budget store, which she said is ‘really affordable’.
The 23-year-old, from Blackburn, also wore a Libra necklace, adding: “I do like my astrology!”
“I love looking at Instagram or at people in the street,” she said. “Primark’s really good at the moment, but I also like other high street brands like Zara and H&M, too.
“I look at the Instagram explore page a lot, and I wear neutrals most of the time but thought I’d go for a pop of colour with the weather being nice.”
Annie Abell
Annie, from Cheshire, was visiting Manchester with her friend Emma, who she says is one of her biggest style inspirations. The 27-year-old was inspired by her sustainable friend to stop buying new clothes, and has exclusively shopped second-hand for the last two years.
She said: “My dress is from a vintage shop in Chester called Harley’s Vintage Boutique and then I got it tailored to fit me. It was two sizes too big and it cost £10 to bring it in, costing £27 in total.
“My friend Emma got me into vintage and charity shops in uni and I haven't bought anything ‘new’ for two years. I love Florence and The Machine’s style, and anything really colourful.”
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