From the age of 40, you watch your wrinkles, you change your cut, you swap your skinny jeans for more current models. However, one fashion detail often goes under the radar: the handbag.
After a certain age, many women seek to modernize their style without falling into caricature. The idea is not to appear younger at all costs, but to avoid anything that makes the silhouette heavier. However, the handbag plays a more important role than we think. It structures the outfit, draws the eye to the bust and immediately sets the tone. A model that is too dated, too rigid or too associated with a classic wardrobe can accentuate the features and give a more strict image.
Interviewed by the Daily Mail, British stylist Lisa Talbot warns against a preconceived idea: luxury does not guarantee modernity. “It’s not a question of price. I’ve seen designer bags costing 2,800 euros age more than a 50 euro bag found in a big brand”she explains. The problem therefore comes more from the design and the way the bag fits into the outfit than from the label.
Concretely, certain elements can toughen up the look after 40: very marked quilting, a shiny metal chain worn long, a very structured shape combined with a tweed jacket, a fitted dress and classic pumps. Taken separately, these choices pose no problem. Together, they can create an overly conventional, almost frozen effect. The silhouette appears more formal, less current.
“Your handbag often sits at eye level, or it frames your figure, and it indicates whether you feel modern and confident, or whether you are clinging to something that no longer reflects who you are.”specifies the stylist. So, Lisa Talbot recommends playing with balance. A classic bag can work if shifted with straight-leg jeans, a looser suit or contemporary shoes. Conversely, if everything is strict and structured, the whole thing can quickly take a few years.
The model pointed out? The Chanel Classic Flap. It is a quilted flap bag, equipped with a metal chain. “This bag, once iconic… has become commonplace”, confides the stylist. “It’s a legacy, it’s an investment”she continues. Precisely because it is strongly associated with a classic wardrobe and a very codified image of chic. This is why it can paradoxically add a few years to a silhouette from the age of 40.
More refined shapes, clean but less rigid lines, as well as shades such as warm beige, chocolate brown or deep burgundy will often offer a more current look than black associated with very shiny finishes. A rule to remember.
