We hear so much about dressing your age and dressing age appropriately, often from people who look 12, you really have to wonder who made the decision that women over 50 (and then some), must follow silly ‘rules’? Why? Are we really unable to make our own decisions about how we look? Have we lost our Mojo?

Remember when you had a style mojo? You may not because it’s an African/American term and I don’t remember mojo being a well-used noun when I was young! I actually had to look it up and remembering the song “Got my Mojo Workin’” (Read all about it!), immediately transported myself back to the early sixties.

The natural progression was to Hendrix, mini-skirts, Twiggy, Mary Quant, PVC macs and a very open view of the world . We were it’s new rulers so of course it was open …

Women our age have never wanted to look like Mutton-dressed-as-Lamb. We don’t want to look like granny. We certainly do not want to look like our teenaged granddaughter. But we do want to look and more importantly feel, sensational!

So, if you’re anywhere over 50 and are feeling left out … stop wasting time worrying about what others think and get on with your life! Rediscover and really work your Style Mojo.

The Oxford Dictionary defines it as a magic charm, talisman, or spell. For example, “someone must have their mojo working over at the record company”.

So here and now, your Style Mojo refers to your confidence, energy, or enthusiasm, coinciding with a resurgence in your life. Dressing yourself as though you mean it with the panache of earlier years!

As we become a real woman our Style often seems to suffer. There are a lot of reasons and the one thing we know is that we don’t want to revisit the style of yesteryear. But we DO want to create a style that suits us now. We want to get our Style Mojo back.

It’s easy at any age to become despondent when you look in your wardrobe. It’s easy to become despondent when you go shopping. Do you ever think “I wish I could get away from this boring uniform I’ve been wearing for the last 30 years?”

• Have you convinced yourself that you’re the wrong age, the wrong shape, the wrong height and just wrong to try anything new?
• Are you in lockdown with your self-confidence? … just the two of you.
• Are you wishing your fairy godmother would come and help you glide, swan-like, out of your clothes rut? You know, it’s not going to happen. Why? Because the root of the problem lies in your attitude and mindset. Sorry about that!

The all-pervasive universal trend to casualness is taking its toll on us all. It seems to have created a negative societal attitude towards taking care of ourselves and good old-fashioned grooming. If we care about the way we look we are perceived to be vain and selfish, which is just so wrong. You’ll never get your mojo back if you believe that rubbish.

To start and finish a Wardrobe Workout is always a good idea. Delve into your wardrobe and try new combinations or go into new shops … when lockown is over and the shops are open again.

Stop being fearful of new styles and colours. Yes, your colours do change as you age … it’s part of the process and learn how to change them.

You’ve probably spent your life looking after others. Now it’s your turn … grab it with both hands. Deal with what you consider to be your problems one at a time and move on. Time to let fashion and style and attitude come out of the closet.

A great way to start is by banning political correctness. Nothing will give you a better attitude or more self-esteem or more chutzpah to change and reinvent your style mojo than the right attitude.