Olivia Colman Makes Fashion Statement for Over-50s at Paris Fashion Week

Actress Olivia Colman, 52, recently walked the Miu Miu runway at Paris Fashion Week, presenting a vision of fashion that author Alexandra Shulman argues is accessible and aspirational for women over 50.

Colman appeared on the catwalk with minimal makeup and her newly greying hair styled in a loose bun, dressed in an oversized leather jacket and skirt. Shulman noted that the ensemble was likely custom-made for Colman, contrasting with the typically minuscule sizing of garments presented on younger models. "She looked real and the clothes were accessible," Shulman wrote, observing that Miu Miu's designer, Miuccia Prada, presented Colman as an attractive version of herself in stylish clothing.

This appearance comes as Shulman notes a recurring question from women who feel fashion does not adequately cater to their age group. She suggests that the challenge is not a lack of suitable clothing, but rather an aging individual's difficulty in envisioning themselves in unfamiliar styles and a lack of confidence to experiment. Shulman advocates for seeking assistance from staff at independent boutiques who can offer personalized styling advice, a contrast to the often-unhelpful barrage of digitally altered images of young women found online.

In her notebook, Shulman also touched on other topics, including a personal preference for barrel-leg trousers over skinny jeans, the potential for a 'glow-up' at the chemist Boots following its acquisition by the Canadian Weston family, and the importance of compassionate care in hospitals, referencing an initiative called Poppy's Promise.

Shulman also briefly discussed the interpretation of gifts, the impact of dahlias in her own garden, and shared a point from a new book on ADHD, noting that women with the condition frequently experience a higher sex drive. She humorously speculated whether actresses Laura Dern and Reese Witherspoon might have purchased items she had donated to an Oxfam shop.