August 8, 2025 • 54 mins
This week, Francesca and Louise are joined by celebrity stylist Michiko Hylands to talk fashion after 40 and 50, and how to find your confidence and style as you get older. They discuss wearing colors and styles outside your comfort zone, finding flattering silhouettes for your body type, feeling confident and vibrant with age, investing in timeless pieces, and embracing trends in a way that suits you.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hi, I'm Francisca Budkin and I'm Louise Arii and this
is season five of our New Zealand Herald podcast, The
Little Things. Good to have you with us. In this podcast,
we talked to experts and find out all the little
things that you need to know to improve all areas
of your life and cut through the confusion and overload
of information out there. Over the last few seasons, we've
spoken about skin care here Care, and season four we
(00:26):
spoke to Lisa Mattson about noting our makeup as our
skin ages. These episodes have been really really popular and
they've helped me a lot. And so today we're continuing
with our appearances and we're going to talk about fashion
style and how we shield or maybe shouldn't be dressing
in our mid years.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
This kind of came up because was it last year
you said to me, Oh, a friend of mine's getting
their colours done. We should get our colors done. And
I just got the giggles because it just sounded so eighties.
I didn't know if.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
It was a social media thing. That's why Franchisca, OK, yeah,
and it's not your bag, so yeah, No, it was
a bit of a thing, well, do you know what?
Do you know what?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Because it's about giving yourself a season, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
It's kind of yeah. I mean you could be a
mix of seasons, you could be like it's reasonal yeah,
but it was more that bit of everything. It was
more there with a limited time and a limited budget,
I kind of wanted. I think I had a few
things in my wardrobe that I knew didn't suit me,
and I kind of was like, why did I do that?
Why did I buy that? I know, but maybe it
(01:27):
was on sale or something, and I liked it generally,
but it really didn't. The color was nothing. It didn't
do anything for me.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I've purchased things that I desperately want to look good
on me. I just love them to pieces, but they're not.
They're not for me. They don't look good on me.
And you've just you just have to, you know, have
a bit of any except that you made a mistaken
and pass it on.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
And I guess I was also curious, having gone gray
and skin changing and things that had something changed. But
I think it's actually more to do with your original
colored hair and your eyes. And someone told me I'm
a summer but I'm not sure. Anyway, my friend had
it done, she'd done it before you can do it
online now, and she was a summer and so she
then started wearing those colors more frequently, which she was
(02:08):
defaulting to them anyway because she liked them, but then
got a lot more compliments. Do you know what I mean?
That's interesting. Yeah. And then so you know, when you
are spinning, say a limited budget, you go, well, if
purple's my color, I'll not have an entirely people wardjob.
But yeah, anyway, it was just a thing. No, it's
a cute. It was a cute.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Honestly, I just said flashbacks to the eighties glass or something.
I don't think that there should be any age related
rules really to the way we dress. I think we
should dress in clothes that express ourselves, that we feel
comfortable and confident in.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Yeah, and that are somewhat appropriate for the setting you're.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
In and appropriate for the setting that you're in. Yeah,
you've dressed for the occasion. I think it should be
that simple, but I don't think it is. I think
sometimes as we head into middle age, we get a
little bit more conservative, or maybe we're trying to things
that we feel we should be hiding or maybe we
feel I think we still notice how other people might
(03:07):
look at us, and we then imagine they're judging us.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Well. I think I don't think that ever goes away. No,
And I think we have talked before about that funny
thing about period or metopause or whatever you like to
call it. Middle age. Is that feeling of I've woken
up not quite the person I was, you know, And
of course it has been gradual, it doesn't feel gradual.
I think that's a fairly universal experience from what I've
spoken to. You wake up and go what the hell?
(03:31):
Hang on a minute, why is this hanging over my jeans?
Or why don't I fit everything the same way as
I used to? And it's frustrating, and that's been an
issue for me.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
My weight's definitely fluctuated a lot over the last year
or two, and I've got really lazy. I you know,
I will wear whatever's comfortable, whatever's loose.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
I'm not.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
I'm just and I'm not comfort should play a part
in it, but I should probably make a little bit
more of an effort as well. And I think that
if I did, I would also feel better. Like rub Off,
you know, it's sort of a bit of a circular thing.
You know, you're feeling a bit lousy, you're feeling a
bit tired, you're feeling a book So you wear something
really comfy and easy, but then you don't really necessarily
that it doesn't kind of get you out of that mode.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
You know, thanks thing you'll be in ammuse I.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Have, I have, I have. I wore a moomo pretty
much all last summer. I had a couple of great
big linen dresses which I wore ever where I went.
But you know, sometimes I bought a pair of sweatpants
for the first time last year.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
I was cold water swimming.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Because I needed to get as warm as I possibly
could afterwards, And remember I texted you and go, I'm
kind of struggling to take the sweatpant off. You know
that we're really coming down a slippery slope here. So Matt,
you know, time and place and everything. I'm not so
sure we're good at dressing up in New Zealand either.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I think we approach and I do think too. I
like a breathe bullfairbrick as my temperature also fluctuates through
the day, doesn't there we go so look.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
When we started discussing this, I knew the perfect person
to join our conversation, stylist and makeup artist Michico Highlands.
I first met Michico when she came in TV and
Z to run wardrobe and make up department. This might
be a little while ago. Now, she was responsible for
making sure we all looked fabulous and there are very
few Kiwi celebrities that she hasn't dressed, whether the TV,
(05:14):
a magazine, shoot, commercials, or shows. Not only does Michico
know a little something about dressing well, but she's a
bit of a style icon herself.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Michico, Hello, Hi, thank you for saying that. That's very
kind of you.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Well, you are both you and your mother are very stars.
And I presume that's where you get it from your mum.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Yes, you have you met my mom before?
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (05:35):
I have. She's out on the town, always looking very glad.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
If I don't go out, I mean if she's not
with me, I'm like, everyone's like, where is your mother?
Where is she? You know? They love taking photos of
her and she has like the style queen, and everything
I do is all because of her. I'm completely inspired
by her and she just has this incredible style. She
just has this way of dressing and everything, the colors,
the fabrics and all comes together just naturally. It's like,
(06:01):
I don't know how she does it. And she just
turned eighty so she's still rocking at She's just incredible.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
I so admire people that can just pull that style together,
you know, like they make it look seamless. I wish
I'd like to think that I could be that kind
of inspiration for my daughter, but I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I'm pretty sure I'm not not at the moment anyway,
but who knows. Maybe with your help.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
I love what you're wearing today. I was mentioning, I
love that think you know, Japanese inspired look.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Well, underneath this is my staple jeans and a T shirt.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Well, you're making it work your own way.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
So yeah. We talk about a lot of midlife things
obviously on this podcast, and have talked about hair and
makeup and things, and actually fashion is one of those things.
I mean, it's us us every day, right, So dressing
for your age? Is it a thing? Do we need to?
Speaker 3 (06:49):
I think the thing is I think society kind of
compels women for some reason that once you're over fifty,
you need to be not seen. You need to not
you know, kind of shrivel up and kind of die
or not quite that. But you know you shouldn't be flamboyant.
You shouldn't be out there. You know, it's all this
should not You know that it's frowned upon it. It's
(07:11):
very dated, and you know it's bizarre because this is
our moment finally to shine. You know, the twenties were
an age where we're trying to work out who the
hell we were. Thirties were still kind of there, you know,
but getting together, you know, probably having a family. Maybe
I had my twins when I was forty one, so
I just made it. And then by forty you really
(07:33):
do know yourself. And by fifty you're totally like, yes,
I think you know yourself. You've had all this experience,
you're mature. Hopefully you're wives, I'd say so after lots
of things. You know, you've been through so many things,
and now you can really shine. And then for some reason,
I think, you know, people look down on women who
(07:53):
are maybe dressed in appropriate level or she's you know,
over fifty, should she be wearing a mini dress? Or
it really depends on your personality. I think too, and
you know, I do believe in sometimes if you've got
flaunted but still always done in a tasteful way, and
I mean tasteful thing chic and sophisticated applies to young
(08:15):
people too, in a way that you know, you see
some some younger folk rocking the little shorts in that
that go right up there. You see and you see
every there's no mystery anymore. You see everything. Everything is
out in full glory, and it doesn't look good, even
though they're young, and you know they might have great
(08:36):
bodies or whatever. I just find everything's all hanging out.
And like I think, if you know, if you've got
something that's great, but like maybe cover up some other area.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
It's really interesting you say that because we're sort of
really conscious with our daughters that we don't comment on
what they wear. We want them to be confident and
to wear what they feel comfortable wearing. And we're sort
of told that we're not to meant on what young
people wear. And we'll get to this a little bit later.
Especially at the beach. I remember sitting with my fourteen
(09:06):
year old son at the beach when a whole lot
of young women were wearing barely nothing, and the poor
kid didn't know where to look. I mean, it's quite interesting.
But then so why are we as kind of women
who are heading into our middle ages. We shouldn't be
taking any nonsense from anybody either when it you know,
we should be saying to people, actually, no thanks, we
won't take your judgment either. You know, we're so conscious
(09:27):
of not judging other people and young people and what
they were, and really conscious of that we should actually
just be a little bit more, you know.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Yeah, I mean, i'll tell you if you are seeing.
But you're right, there is that balance of expressing who
you are and hopefully you do have a better idea
of who you are when you're in your fifties and
not giving a toss about it right at the same time.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
It's quite liberating. I mean, the other night I went
to symphony that you know, which was amazing, and I
wore this and for one second I thought, should a
fifty five year old be wearing a sparkly mini dress
to this music concert? And then I thought, hell yes,
and I put it on and I felt great and
I got lots of compliments by women, mainly the whole
(10:13):
night just saying, oh, that looks great on you, and no,
good on you for worrying, and it looks you know,
they're just being really nice.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
I think that is so awesome. And I tend to
do this. I embarrass my children a lot. I'll suddenly
stop someone in souper mat and I just want to say,
I love your outfit. It looks so awesome, and they
kind of they take a moment, they get a bit
of a they're not sure.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Why they've been stopped by a stranger. Right, people are but.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Like and then you can even go, thank you so much,
and it means the world. And I think I think
we've forgotten we're so conscious about saying the right thing.
Sometimes I don't think we do just express you know,
something is simple to a stranger.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
I don't think I would have done that when I
was younger, but I would do it now. And you're right,
the children like, oh cringe. Yes, it's like you don't
know what that feels like. If someone sees that to you,
you know.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
It feels great the whole day long. And I do
that too. If someone's wearing a great I know, I
feel like, am I that crazy person? I don't care
and it's made their day and they feel amazing. I
that's a great feeling.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
I was so crazy one day I wound down the
window at the pack and say car park and I
actually yelled at a woman and I went, I've got
that dress and it looks so much better on you,
and she just ruled was laughter, she look great and it.
I did go home and go, oh.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
That's empowering and that's what we need more of.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
I think you're absolutely right. I think we're in an
age where we should be really confident. We should wear
what we want to wear.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
We should be able to express ourselves more. You know.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
It's interesting I said to I sort of said to
my daughter, do you think that there's an age limit on,
you know, on wearing certain things, or do you think
there's age appropriate dressing?
Speaker 1 (11:37):
And she said no.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
She said, you should just commit to what you want
to wear. If you want to wear it, wear it
doesn't matter what age you are. You want to be
comfortable and you want to feel good and you want
it to you know, don't just throw something on for
the sake of it. She said, oh, you could to
wear it, and I was going, oh, this is bit
a commitment.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
But that gets lost in the busyness, doesn't it. Sometimes
you do well, I'm definitely, you know, guilty of throwing
something on for the sake of it because it's like
I got to get out of the house, I got
to get to Yeah, time poor, that's right. So that's
something maybe we can get onto in terms of I mean, yes,
let's throughout the rules. But also there must be some rules,
(12:12):
are there? I mean, what are the best basics to
have in the wardrobe?
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Well on that before you're saying before, it's great to
have some pre done looks in a way, because no
one has none of us have any time do we
Like we grab the easiest outfit. It's like, oh that works,
quickly put that on, and it's like a safe outfit.
It's quite boring sometimes, you know, it's like we know
it looks nice, but it's not like the most amazing.
But yeah, basics it's good to have, like go to
(12:36):
basics like a beautiful tailored jacket, a beautiful pair of
pants that suit you well, that looked really good. I mean,
if they don't fit well, get them tailored or you know,
make sure that they do, because you don't you don't
want to think. It has to be ready to go
and then you just pop it on. So you know,
like a love some neutral pieces, black and white tailored jackets,
(12:58):
what else, like a trench coat, and just some things
that you can swap around that all work together, like
a capsule kind of wardrobe, and then you glam it
up with accessories and other special pieces.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
So you could probably get away with wearing almost kind
of the same maybe on a working week, the same
kind of capsule, just with different accessories.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
You could, yeah, and just add to it and you know,
and then it's easy. You don't want to think about
things when you've got one second to get ready. Who's
got all that time to spend in the mirror getting ready?
I mean, how long do you take in the morning
to get ready? I take about five minutes.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, I think if you ask my producer Carrie at
the Sunday session, who happens to be in the room
with us right now, it's our producer here today. Should
tell you that I wear the same three or four
outfits every Sunday to work because I'm getting up at
you know, five forty in the morning, and I'm getting organized.
I'm here by seven and I pick the one dress
(13:55):
in the same personikaus in the same cardigan, and sometimes
I think should make a bit more renef then you go,
but actually I just need to be comfortable. I need
to make sure it's going to work. I just need
this to be quick and easy, that's right. And sometimes
I have a play around and I go, oh, why
didn't I put these couple of things together before. It's
almost like you need to have you need to find
a little time in the weekend or something and actually
(14:15):
have a play around with your wardrobe and try different
things together and may always make a night of them.
Go well, that's quite a good way of mixing those up,
or throwing some color run.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Or something Sunday night maybe, you know, like people do
meal preps and things that the same thing. You know.
I remember watching my mum. My mum used to be
a Japanese tour guide and she had the most fabulous outfits.
It's like, are you really a tour guide? Like she
was like all handmade, like a turban this is in
the seventies, a matching turban with like a match a
(14:44):
jumpsuit like a one shouldered lameae jumpsuit, and she was
wearing this on a tour bus. She was very out
there and I was just like, but she used to
do this little these little pictures of the week and
this is what she was wearing on Monday and draw
the pictures because you know, there are no like design
things then, and I love these little pictures of her
outfits through the week. I mean, not that anyone's going
to do that, but it just reminded me of that. Then.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
So while we do have a helpers now, yeah's true,
there probably are ways we can do that. Yeah, I
think I'd be more inspired to do that than my
meal prep for the week to be. Yes, yeah, a
bit more creation.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
So fun though, you know, you'd be like, and then
you get to wear those outfits and then you know, Wednesday,
I can't wait look forward to Wednesday. That's going to
be it. That's a bit you know out there or something.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
You know, it would be fun to you just dig
something different in the middle of the way.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Yeah, because we all need a bit more excitement now
in our lives sometimes, don't we.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Yeah that's fair enough, definitely, we're just talking about the
basics there. We're not just sort of oft in time poor,
but we're also you know, but cash poor as well
these days. Do you do you suggest that people follow
trends or are we better just to buy clothes that
we love and that we know that we'll wear ongoing.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
I think trends are great and you can take from
them for what will suit you. You know, obviously there
are things that might not work. You know, like a
little bit of BOHI is back at the moment, but
you know that's not going to suit everyone. You know,
some people need structured clothing that really, you know, fit
their body well, or all these little tassely things might
look a bit like you know, I don't know everything.
(16:15):
If you like something, maybe take an aspect of it
and inject it into your look. But for me personally,
I like timeless pieces that you can just wear and
wear and always look good, you know. And so yeah,
there's always a way. But I think know your body
and know what suits you, and if you don't know,
(16:37):
if you you know, see a stylist and they can
help you.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Actually, that's a great point. And let's have a talk
about shapes and things, because you'll be very familiar with
dealing with lots of different shapes. How do you kind
of work out.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
What does suit you?
Speaker 2 (16:53):
I know that sounds strange. You could probably just look
in the mirror and go oh, I like that, or
I don't, but say you've got you'll really you've got
a big bosom?
Speaker 1 (17:03):
What how do you deal with that?
Speaker 3 (17:05):
I think a lot of women that I've dressed who
do have a who are lucky enough to have a
big bosom, they like to hide it or they're I
don't know, they cover it up in that and they
wear things that aren't very flat or baggy clothes, very
kind of hiding the body, like you know, like I
don't understand why, and so I you know, I think
(17:28):
it's about trying different things on and things that are
out of your comfort zone. Like you know, often if
I go to a shoot, I have a whole array
of clothing for a particular person in their size, from
all over the place, and they're like, Oh, I never
thought to try this on. I didn't think this would
ever suit me, this color or this kind of shape.
I never thought in my wildest dreams i'd be and
(17:50):
it's like, Oh, it actually looks really great, and I'm
so glad I put it on because I would never
ever look at that or clothes don't have any hangar appeal.
You're in a store and it's all jumbled up or
you can't like you just go straight past it. You
go for what you know works. But there are other
alternatives out there, and if you just if you say
yes to broadening, bordering your horizons, were actually trying different
(18:13):
looks on, you'll be very surprised and pleasantly.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
So often but we don't even I mean a lot
of people don't even go to the stores anymore. They
do it online.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
They do do it online, but then what you get,
you know, sometimes the fabrics aren't quite the same. It
may look great on someone or some kind of sex
foot model, or something's quite different in reality. You know,
it is good to go out to the.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Stores because when you do look online, they'll say to
you the model is a size sex and is this tooll?
And I go that s what doesn't mean anything to me.
He's so far away from where I am and I
can't imagine.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
And I'm not an online you do it.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
I do all my because I'm not a great shopper.
I'm not a great physical shopper. I just get bored
after two shops, So I do all my research online
and then I'll make an effort to go in, but
I'm too scared it doesn't work for exactly the reason
that you said. You get there and you realize the
fabric's not quite the same and it's just not you know,
it's not quite what you thought. So I do all
(19:10):
my research online and I find things that look intriguing
and then I'll but I will always go and try
them on. Yeah, yeah, I think that's really good advice.
I've often been quite surprised when people have put me
in outfits like yourself and have gone, oh, that's awesome,
I can wear that. I know what you're talking about
with the big debries. What if you're a little bit
more round the hips and sort of the stomach, if
(19:31):
you're a little bit larger, they're what kind of shapes
kind of Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Well then generally people have quite you know, some legs
that they might want to show off for good legs.
So it depends like if they want to hide that area.
You know, everyone have they have parts of their body
that they don't like, you know, so maybe they don't
really like there, or they don't like anything tight around there,
so they don't want any emphasis going towards that part
of their body. So bring the emphasis up, okay, like
(19:58):
you know, have some fab you know, accessories or something.
So it's all around your face and that. So if
you want to detract from that area for some reason,
if you don't like it, maybe you know, have the
emphasis somewhere else.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
On that note, though the tummy you say about knowing
ourselves and through the decades, I don't think there are
times that I haven't known my body since turning fifty
and I've gone, this is not my shape, this is
not you know, and things don't fit in different places,
like pants that may be still fit my waist don't
fit my backside or and it's really I mean fair
(20:34):
enough they probably I have had them for twenty five
years or am I expecting? But so there is a
little bit of re getting to know ourselves if we
find that in menopause or perimenopause that our body has changed,
which can be quite a challenge.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
I think it is a challenge because you're not you know,
you're the same person, but you don't. You don't really
have that same body. Your metabolism has completely changed everything
you've had. If you've had children, that area has changed
forever and you just need to embrace it. And so okay,
this is this is what I this is my body now,
(21:10):
and you know, just find things that are suitable and
you can still if you've got a certain look, you
can still wear that look. It's just like tweaking it
in certain areas. So I think having finding something and
having a good tailor is really good because it's all
about tweaks here and there that make the final difference,
(21:32):
you know, like something that could look quite you know,
daggy or something, or you know, if you just do
a little kind of napple something in a certain area,
it can bring the peace in. Like I've met lots
of women who say that they don't have a waste.
They've got I've got no waist, and I see, yes
you do. You've actually got an hourglass figure. You've actually
(21:55):
got Marilyn Monroe's figure, and it's stunning. Why are you
hiding that away? You know, like and let's just you know,
not totally emphasize, but let's bring let's see some shape.
And they they they're like, oh, yeah, okay, I do
have a waist, and you know they've been hiding it.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Or they haven't even they needed somebody else to explain.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
I think so because you know, you get stuck in
a rut. You start just wearing the same old thing,
and you like, oh, well this works, and you know,
but then it doesn't really make you feel great. And
I think clothes can give you so much power and
can make you feel amazing, and don't don't we want
to feel a million dollars every day and you know,
we're we're so lucky to even get to this age
(22:39):
and aging is such a privilege. And every day as
a special day. You know, tomorrow isn't guaranteed. So why
why save your your best clothes? I know a lot
of people all save that for a nice a nice
you know, special occasion or or you know, or smaller clothes.
They buy clothes and a smaller when I'm thinner or
when I've lost weight, I'm going to wear this and
(23:01):
it's sitting there, and it's like, why just wear it today?
Every single day is your day to shine?
Speaker 4 (23:08):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (23:08):
I love that, And I think we've well, I certainly
have closed in my wardrobe that I've been hanging on
for far too long.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
And actually, well, I just.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Let my daughter take things and then I'm moving things along,
but it's like, actually, I don't need to fit back
and I don't need to fit back into that.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
That's fine. Actually just get them, but don't hold it.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Yeah, don't hold onto it instead of going, oh, but
one day I'll get back into that, you know.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
But on the size is I have a friend who's
an incredible sewer and I haven't seen it for a while.
She used to put things on Instagram that she'd said
it was quite a big home sewing community on Instagram
that I didn't have any idea about. But an every
single one of them almost adjust the pattern, so it's
an X on this X at the top and a
(23:51):
you know, Y at the bottom. Like but that's why
how clothes are made for the mass market, right, So
you know, her clothes always fit perfect because she can
sew them for her and for her proportions. And yet
we are out there trying to sort of fit ourselves
into well not always I mean obviously high and stuff
might be a little bit different, but they still have
(24:11):
to have sizes they do, and that can be quite
confronting too. Because I went shopping for jeans recently and
I was like, what it wasn't the size, and three
different stores there was three different sizes. Yeah, why is that?
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
It's it's really bizarre. There should be a you know,
like I know, like with footwheel, like I know that
if you know your centimeters, like the Japanese style is,
I'm twenty four centimeters, so it's like that's not going
to change. My foot is twenty four centimeters. So if
it's that you know, then you know so. But with
clothing it's all over the place, like say a country
(24:45):
road ten is more like a fourteen. It's you know.
And and still a lot of women in particular, they
worry about the size, like you know, they might tell
me there are certain size, but they're bigger than that
and it doesn't matter. I just want to put them
in the right size. But I think there's that still
(25:07):
that old school like you need to be a size
ten or something or whatever.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
I was always a size ten or it was always
My problem is pure laziness. I've taken a whole lot
of things off the rack, gone to the all the
way to the changing room, put the first one and
going oh no, this doesn't fit. None of these kind
of fit have to go back into it all again.
So maybe I'll start just going I'll get a selection.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Yeah. It is annoying though, because you just don't know
what size you're getting. You know, you could have something
and once in one store you could be a certain size,
another store you're completely different. So it's it's like.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
It's like the country world West, really, isn't it. Yeah,
maybe it's a marketing ploy for a country road. I
think it is for some companies.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
There's a few active weare companies that love to tell
you you're a size eight when actually you know you'll be
buying a size twelve, or you're a size teen, or
you're buying yourself sixteen and things.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
So and it does make.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
You feel good, but it's not hugely how helpful when
you just want to have standard sizing sort of across
the board.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
And I don't think it's particularly helpful for our young
ones either.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
No, it's not.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Tell me about color, because we spoke about this earlier.
Lou said to me a little while ago. She says, oh,
people are getting their colors done, And I just sort
of flashed back to the eighties, I think in Christy
when my mother said to me, everyone's getting their colors
done to learn what's do and I just sort of
I thought, I don't know, I don't know why I
thought it was so amusing, But I think we have
a good sense about what looks especially by the time
(26:31):
we get to fifty, you've got a bit of a
sense about what looks good on you and what you
should avoid. I mean, do you just is that what
you go with?
Speaker 3 (26:38):
I think I think the number one thing most people
know is what doesn't look good. That's what I often
ask people, like what colors you don't like? To where
I say to them, what don't you like? Because some
people will instantly say I hate this color on that
or it makes me look washed out, or they know
because it does. I mean, certain colors can be in
the matching skin tone or can wash you out. But
(26:59):
there are shades. Are those colors that you might think, oh, okay,
I could never wear yellow, but you can be surprised sometimes,
I think, still try them. But no, the old eighties
with the color I think I think that was kind
of you know it does you can see which color
suits you and just keep trying different ones on and
you'll be quite surprised sometimes because you might think Oh,
(27:21):
I thought I was always a winter but oh my god,
I'm wearing spring colors.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
Quite got I mean, I just thought it was kind
of cool that it was kind of back in the
in the conversation because I can wear white but I can't.
But cream doesn't do anything for me, for example, like
what does that mean? Like it's quite I'd quite like
the science of it. I think it's quite fascinating, No idea.
I still haven't done it. I don't know what season
I am.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
But do you have a lot of color in your wardrobe?
Speaker 1 (27:45):
Not as much as i'd like. I think I need
to start. I need to start. But it's again, is
that if I wear that color that day and I
wear it again the next I don't you know what
I mean. It's like, oh, when you wear something that's neutral,
it could be the same shirt three times in the
same week and no one's going to notice. But you
wear the color, It's like, oh, sure, well that shit lasts.
(28:06):
I mean, I'm sure nobody is looking on a hundred
percent sure of that. But it is that feeling of sameness,
which is so stupid. It's just psychological.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
When you do wear color. What colors do you wear?
Speaker 1 (28:15):
Oh god, do you know friendships?
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Blue is beautiful, purple, You've got that purple sundress, You've
got the yellow sundress.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
You do wear quite a lot of grasses. I do
you wear pattern colors? Yeah? Blue, yeah, probably quite bright,
maybe some colors sort of that green jersey.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
And I think if you people compliment you on those.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Days, well, it's funny you should say that, because actually
that's what I usually go on. If I've worn something
and someone said, oh, it's really that color is lovely
on you, then I go, oh, well that is scientific
enough for me. Oh by something in that color? Is
it off?
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Is it off your skin color? Your skin tone? That
a color you would determine whether it color suits you
or not?
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Yes, well it does depend but yeah, some like I
mean there's like a cut like maroon. It's a color
that it's very in right now of course and with
the you know, the winter, but it actually suits a
lot of people because it's got that kind of blue
bass to it. But it does suit pale skins and
dark skins. It's quite surprising. So I don't think there's
(29:15):
a set formula really, I think try it on and
I mean you'll instantly know if it doesn't suit you,
and it's hard sometimes in those terrible changing rooms. The
life lighting, Yeah, the most awful lighting. It's like, you know,
like God, you never want to go in there again.
And I wish they would invest in some good lighting.
Lighting is your best friend.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
I think you're right though, it's about it's just it
comes back to that whole just trying things you wouldn't
normally try. Once again, Carrie, our producer, sentius a photo.
Was it just after Christmas? I think, and Carrie had
used a voucher to buy this gorgeous red Sundreyes and
She's like, I don't think I've ever worn red in
my life, and both of them I were like, what's
great if it was.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
Just like this revelation. Yeah, we do get things in
a heat.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
I mean, I think back now my twenties, all I
woant was black black, and I will high heels every
day of my life. I could have played a game
of tennis and high heels, right. And then I got
to my thirties head kids, and I'm at home and
I'm like, give me color.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Give me color, light me up a bit.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
And actually, interestingly, now I'm going back to black I've
pulled out a few black dresses again and I'm wearing
them and I'm kind of like I used to be
in this all the time, and I don't quite know
how I feel about it. I feel like I'm sort
of a bit disappointing, and then other times I feel
a bit kind of rock and roll. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
You just got to go with the mood, don't you.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
Well you do, and I think I don't know about you, ladies,
but I feel different every day and I dress. Maybe
it's the Gemini and me. I dress, you know, to
my mood. Like even like perfumes and things, I don't
have the same set. I love the idea of what
the signature scent, but I have a different one every day.
It's like, oh I feel a bit, you know, I
feel a bit rocky today, or I feel you know,
I like to be different in a way, jazz it up.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
That's very cool. I had a signature, see, and they
just don't make it anymore.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
S Oh, I hate when they do that.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
I know it was Gucci. Envy loved it. Oh yeah,
I never can't find it and I've looked for you
know that you can look on line for things I've
got the same notes is that, and I just can't
commit myself to another one. I'm azimiyaki.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
But somebody said to me the other day, I said, oh,
I'm wearing azimaki, and they said, I can't smell a thing.
And it was like, and I asked a couple of
people and they said, and it's like perfumes disappearing on
my skin. Now, never heard of that anyways.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
Go down that.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
We'll just add that to the list of pyramid apausal
issues and things we come across. Look, people, I know
that you get to this age and we get conscious
a bit of a bit of sally light on the
back of the legs or especially women get really conscious
of underneath their arms that I'll never forget watching my
mother wave like the queen. I'm like, what are you doing?
I'm just trying not to wobble.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
My arms, you know?
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Should we I mean, once again, I think it's what
you're comfortable with. If you totally relaxed about it, We're
singlet's if you're a little bit more conscious about it,
wear a T shirt. But actually, where are we at
sort of in society? Does it?
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Does it matter? Are people?
Speaker 2 (31:54):
Are we being judged for.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
There's a lot of judgment around. But I think a
lot of women that I've dressed before are very conscious
of their upper arms. You know that it is a
tricky area, even if you know you need to go
to the gym a lot and tone that area, because
you know you can be moving your arm and you
stop moving your arm, but that part is still going.
So you know, there's always sleeve. You know they don't
like sleeveless, so a sleeve a good sleeve and you
(32:17):
feel comfortable then. But you know, if you want to
just just wear it, I think own your look. I
think if you're confident, if you have that kind of
personality and you just want to rock a look and think,
sot it is, this is me? Why not?
Speaker 1 (32:34):
And you know what's crazy about that is that I'm
I don't judge that. I'm not looking at other women's arms.
So when I put something on, oh, I can't do that,
can't do that. I can't think the last time I
looked at another woman's arms. I mean, she shouldn't be
wearing that. I don't think.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
No, I've become conscious of my saily light, which I
never had been before. If it's summer and I've got
a tan. I'm really relaxed about it. But otherwise I
have become quite conscious of that. I mean, should we
see cullly light or not.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
It's quite natural. I mean I even see it on
younger girls a lot, and they're they're all, you know,
flaunting it in full glory. I mean, it's just a
part of being a female. Really, So is that Is
it bad too to have that? I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
No, there's not much we can do about it. What
we're up in the mountains running around some we're worrying
about it. I don't worry about it out there.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
It's more No, no, no, I don't worry. You've seen
the way I dress when I'm in the middle of nowhere,
running around the mountains since the Yeah, it's no conservable.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
My manager is stripping the center. Nobody else can see it.
I'll bless you. No, I'll point it out to you.
Not true.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
I'll tell you what I also have an aversion to,
and that is tight underwear. You know how we've there's
this whole industry now that's created suction underwear for women,
which is supposed to sort of be a solution. I
just find it so incredibly uncomfortable. But is it a
good solution?
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Do you know what? I think some and some dresses
that are very fitted. You might be going to a
red carpet event or something, and it gives women sometimes
even men of men can wear the shape. You know,
it's for a more svelt silhouette. It gives them more confidence.
You know, it does create a more streamlined effect for
(34:19):
that silhouette. And so you know, I think there's a
place for it. I know it's I haven't worn it myself,
but it's very uncomfortable. Sometimes underwear can be uncomfortable and
it's like digging in and you spend the whole time
just agonizing about it. It's kind of ruined your night,
hasn't it, because it's like digging in or even things
like a strapless bra, which don't even work. I mean
(34:40):
they end up around your waist and you've got this
giant this thing around your waist and just the whole
night is going down and down and down there. It's
like suddenly and then and so it's like, oh my god,
why did I put this in? All this the sticky on?
Speaker 1 (34:56):
But that's what the kids, because you know, my daughter's
gone through the ball season a couple of years ago,
and that that was it was either tape or the
sticky on silicon things. So this is sticky on silicon
things work. I mean, it wouldn't work for me.
Speaker 3 (35:08):
I think because they're younger and so things are. With
time and everything else, things start to unfortunately go down
unless you have, you know, implants. So I mean they
you know, for maybe smaller breasted women, they would work.
But if you were fully in doubt, I don't think,
well you probably Wouldn'teah. No, okay, the good bras are
(35:32):
very good. That fits you well, because.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
That's a really good point. And I had a very
sweet friend her after I'd had my second child, and
we were in a shop together and everything, and she
just came up to me and she said, do you
know what would make a world of difference? And she said,
I say this with love, and she pulled up my
brass straps and I was like, oh okay, And so
made an effort to go and by myself just a
decent bra the next week, and I I Kirstin, I
(35:55):
owe you a thank you for that, because it did
make a huge difference. I've just forgotten I just didn't
care about it, and you forget it adjustable.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
When they're adjustable for a reason.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
But the strapless, if someone could make it, I will
pay good money for a comfortable strapless bra that actually
kind of works. But are there things? Are there habits
that we can fall into that can make us look older?
Speaker 3 (36:18):
I think, you know, as we're talking about trends before,
like you know, to keep a breast of trends, incorporate
even little aspects of trends maybe or something to you know,
you might have a timeless look. But to inject little
fun injections of certain things. It could be an accessory
or something something small. I always think be groomed, even
if it's just putting a brush through your hair, not
(36:39):
even have to put makeup on, but just you know,
look groomed and look, you know, like you feel if
someone suddenly came to the front door or something, if
you're working at home, just kind of be you know,
like that kind of state. You'd be slightly ready, you know,
because you can fall down the ugly slope of not
caring and just wear like daggy clothes and just that
(37:00):
that are comfortable and don't but they don't fit you well,
and then you know, you just start not caring anymore.
Speaker 1 (37:07):
Yeah, I think that's really valid. I think that we
there's that balance between fifty we know ourselves. Who gives
a task like I am who I am, blah blah blah.
That's all cool. But sometimes you'll see a photo and go, oh,
maybe I was a bit too much, like not giving
a toss, you know, like I still actually and even
if it's only just for when you're going out, maybe
you don't care what you look like at home, but
(37:27):
you do want to still look good when you go
out or or to a meeting or something like that.
Or I found myself in a Newport lounge and went, oh,
it's been a while since I've been in one, and
I was like, I am I thought, I was thought,
this is my corporate lock. The world has moved on
from me, and I felt like, kind of I just
didn't feel good about myself. So, yeah, I think that's
(37:48):
striking that balance between. Because the world does treat us
a little bit invisible, we can tend to almost take
on that invisibility cloak a little bit, can't we.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
Yeah, you're listening to the little things, and I guess
on the podcast today is stylist and makeup artist Mitico
Hyland's talking about how to find the starlet suits us best.
We'll be back shortly after this break. Michiko, are we
(38:20):
are we good at dressing up in New Zealand or
are we actually just.
Speaker 1 (38:23):
A bit lazy?
Speaker 3 (38:25):
We're pretty lazy and we like to stick to black.
And you know, I've got black in my wardrobe too.
It's easy. You don't have to think. And you know,
I think a lot of people, and a lot of
women don't actually like to stand out. They don't want to.
They don't want people to like look at them in
a way. We were just talking about that before, about
being invisible, but a lot of women don't want that attention.
(38:49):
I recently went to the styling event and I was
helping this woman find an incredible outfit for her husband's
fiftieth birthday party, and the theme was eighties glaming, very
something I love, very close to my heart, and so
I thought, oh my god, because she looked she could be.
She was like a perfect Alexis Carrington, you know remember
(39:10):
that John Collins. And I felt this incredible secondhand dress
and it fitted her like a glove it was like,
oh my god, it was this is this is made
to happen. You suppose you should wear this? And she
put it on. It was like, oh my god, you please.
And I couldn't believe that she didn't walk out with her.
I couldn't believe it. And I saw what she got
and because it was a red dress and it was amazing,
(39:31):
it was like I wanted to go get it afterwards
she didn't, but she didn't get it, so yeah, and
she went out with like a plain black dress, and
I thought, I just said, oh, you got that. She
was like, oh yeah, I didn't want to stand out
too much. It's like, oh, okay, she had a great figure.
And I was just completely flabbergusted. I thought, oh, well, god,
(39:53):
there was that chance you could have gone for it,
but you didn't. You didn't want to. You didn't want
to stand out. And I was quite shocked by that.
And I think, yeah, I have a feeling that people
don't want to stand out sometimes they don't want to
be like the center of attention, or they want to
just or be comfortable, and so you know, like I mean,
(40:15):
even at theme events, sometimes there's not that much iff
there goes sometimes people either go all or out, they
go crazy with the effort or or there's not much,
like you wouldn't even know that it was a famous like, oh,
I couldn't be bothered. I just came straight from work.
I couldn't be bothered, which I suppose for you know
what I do. I always i'm you know, I just
(40:35):
don't understand that. But everyone's different, and everyone it's like, okay,
each to their own. That's fine.
Speaker 1 (40:40):
Maybe I've got a seventies glam twenty first coming up
and in September, maybe I need to come and see
you because I see that is a really fun opportunity
because you can be you can you can do that.
Maybe it isn't the theme thing. You can do that
in a silly slash funny slash hot way if you
want to. You know, it can be all of those
things were you're not taking yourself too seriously. So that
(41:02):
was a perfect opportunity to were that readdressed, you know
what I mean?
Speaker 3 (41:05):
Yes, it was. It was the perfect and you know,
I just couldn't understand it. But yeah, so sometimes that happens.
But you know, as I was saying before, why not
why not shine? Why not have fun? Why. I think
people they're worried about what other people think of them,
and you know, I mean, we shouldn't really care, Like,
(41:27):
why don't we just enjoy ourselves and let our hair down?
Speaker 2 (41:31):
Does that translate to the beach? So Lou and I
we both exercise a lot, and we both love the ocean,
and we're pretty comfortable about just being in our togs
or bikinis or whatever and going about our lives. But
for a lot some other people don't think that, you know,
women of the supinage should wear bikinis anymore.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
That's who are these people? That's crazy? I mean, why
not bikinis? The King's actually really great. I think they're
quite flattering on women, more than some of the one pieces,
because you know, they can show a woman's curves and things.
And yeah, are you talking about the up the right
(42:07):
up there?
Speaker 4 (42:08):
Yeah, we don't.
Speaker 1 (42:10):
We don't wear though, the thongs because we didn't grow
up with them. Maybe if we had a grown up
with them, maybe these kids who are now twenty will
be wearing thongs when in they're fifties.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
I think that would be in a moment that you
would probably say to me, Francisca, I think we could. Yeah,
it's all hanging out love, and I'm not sure that's ideal,
but I think that's really important that we feel comfortable
in those situations, or even when it comes to exercising
and what you wear when you exercise.
Speaker 1 (42:37):
Have you seen the TikTok pants? You know, those TikTok
pants are all gathered at the botide and they go right, yeah, yeah,
I haven't bought myself period. Yes.
Speaker 3 (42:46):
No, no, I haven't either.
Speaker 1 (42:47):
I don't think they're going to make this fifty three
year old ask and and look twenty No.
Speaker 3 (42:51):
Well, I mean, if you want people to like zoom
into your ass, that's fine, go for it, get a
here on every color. But I don't know. I'm also
thinking about my children. I don't know what they would
think about Oh mummy, okay, you're really worrying that I
wouldn't do that to them, but I.
Speaker 1 (43:10):
Do when my daughters. She's gone to univesity now, but
I used to stop by her bedroom because I was
always up early in here and to say fit check,
and she'd look at me and she's I mean really,
if she said no, who didn't make any difference. But
I always quite like to. But then I don't, but
I think you're right. I don't tend to give my Well,
she wouldn't listen if I did give my opinion. Like
she straightens her here. She's got this beautiful natural curl
(43:33):
and she strains her here, and it does my head.
And yeah, she's not going to what I say is
not going to make any difference, not right now. But
we're not subject to that Well we think we're not
subject to that peer stuff anymore, but clearly maybe we
still are, which is really, you know, a bit of
a shame.
Speaker 3 (43:49):
Yeah. So she she critiques you.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
She didn't critique me. I mean, I'm asking you, yeah, yeah,
say fit cheek and she says, m yeah, there's colmer, yeah,
you know, or whatever. And she does take things, yeah,
from my wardrobe. So it can't be all bad. It's
sad for you.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
Children can be brutally honest, so it's quite good if
you do ask them, because they are brutally honest. There's
no holding back with them.
Speaker 1 (44:15):
You've got your own little fashion consultant right there.
Speaker 2 (44:18):
Exercise where during the day activewear? How do you feel
about active where?
Speaker 3 (44:23):
Well, I think post pandemic and all of that. It
became in vogue into where you know trainers and that
it's fine to wear training you know, really cool ones,
and it's it's cool. It's very easy. I just think
if it's branching, it can't really branch into the office
unless you're working in Eddie Dass or something. I don't know,
some sportswear company.
Speaker 1 (44:42):
But or a media company. I may have got away
with Malo lemon and yoga pants once or twice in
the office and just pass them off as a leadings.
Oh ah, we did it.
Speaker 2 (44:50):
We had to record a podcast very early one morning,
and then Lou was going to go to the gym afterwards,
and so she came in. I think we started at
six am in the morning. Else I say this with love,
but you look quite rough. You're in like baggy trek
pants and that big fleasy thing and your hair.
Speaker 1 (45:04):
You had a mark across your forehead.
Speaker 2 (45:06):
From motorbike from the moped helmet, and it was hilarious.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
So we did this interview and then.
Speaker 2 (45:10):
We walked back out of the office at eight and
all of a sudden, the interview that the office is
full and low looks me. She goes, oh, don't think
this outfits quite as appropriate? Anymore as it was at
six years. It was quite funny.
Speaker 1 (45:23):
Yeah, you know, that working from home thing really didn't
do us too many favors in the fashion department.
Speaker 2 (45:28):
But you see, sneakers. I live in sneakers, and it's
just that's just an age thing. It's an age, it's
a knee thing, it's a comfort thing, it's a you know,
I've got boots on today with a heel. I minute
i'm out of here, they'll be off and I'll be
back in a pair of sneakers. I'm trying to stick
with a bit of heel, but it's.
Speaker 3 (45:45):
Hard after being at home for a long time, and
then also you know, also you know, have children your home,
and yeah, it's hard to get it. But I mean,
I don't know that I was looking for some heels
the other day and they're not really available so much
in stores here. I know in Australia that they still
love a good heel, that the lady's over there, and
(46:06):
it does change the way that your body stands in
that with outfits and things. I think there's still a
place for heels if you can bear it. But yeah,
I think the days of you know, trotting around in
them all day long at the office of probably done.
And yeah with as as one gets older, you know,
like you have problems like ankle maybe and things like that,
(46:28):
and it's quite hard to be in them all day long.
So then you could have maybe if you still want
a bit of a heel, you could have like a
wedge maybe or.
Speaker 1 (46:37):
Either wedge saved me last summer I got a pair
of wedges and this is awesome.
Speaker 3 (46:41):
Yeah, I think the.
Speaker 1 (46:42):
Heels for me a family in the special occasions basket, yeah,
and more than heavy. But there's some great trainers.
Speaker 3 (46:48):
Yeah, and then it's still cool, right and like brogues
or loafers they have a bit of a heel, yeah,
loaf is cooliten heels they can be. They look cute.
They could be a little bit uncomfortable though, so you
have to shop around for the right pa Ones.
Speaker 1 (47:01):
Balot flat to cute. But I don't think they're that
good for you. There's just nothing, no support. No.
Speaker 3 (47:06):
I mean they look cute and photos and that and
they might be, but yeah, there's not nothing because you're
kind of feeling the pavement with your foot, aren't you.
Speaker 1 (47:13):
And I don't know, maybe if you wear them all
the time. I don't know, Mitchico.
Speaker 2 (47:18):
Has been wonderful to have you join the conversation. Thank
you so much for being our guest on the Little Things.
Speaker 4 (47:23):
Thank you for having me, Sir Francisca.
Speaker 1 (47:38):
That was amazing. I'm still going back to your intro
when you said, seriously, you only just last year brought
a pair of proper traxit pants, like loose, baggy traxy pants.
Speaker 2 (47:49):
No, because I've always worn leggings like We've always been
very active and we're running and walking in things, and
I have lots of pairs of long you know what
do you call them? Lycritites pants, and I've sort of
worn those with a big baggy sweatshirt. And to me,
I thought it was sort of a tree and that
was a thing I could get away with wearing that.
I just I don't know, I've just never worn they
don't do anything for me, the sloppy sweatpant except keep
(48:12):
me warm.
Speaker 1 (48:13):
But they just don't know anything for me. So I've
hooked You're not wear them now? Do you only wear
them after a cold swim?
Speaker 2 (48:18):
Well? I was, And then remember I did as I said,
I contacted you. It s like I've put the track
I've put the trak pens on and I slip them off.
I'm slopping down a. It's a slippery slope downhill.
Speaker 1 (48:30):
I just don't know what you must have fallen me
over the years, I've had dozens of tras. No, but
that's I don't know, it's I don't.
Speaker 2 (48:36):
I don't look at them on you and go oh,
I would never wear them or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (48:39):
It's just me.
Speaker 2 (48:40):
It's like, I don't wear jeans because I can't. They're
not comfortable. I don't find I can't find a pair
that are really comfy. I used to wear the skinniest,
tightest jeans once upon a time, and now I.
Speaker 1 (48:50):
Don't about jeans. Trees actually with her because we have
to have a back at some point. But the whole tight,
skinny jeans versus you know, high waisted, loose why leg
the wide leg? The leagues are getting so wide. But
I'm here for jeans, any kind of gene, any kind
of time.
Speaker 2 (49:05):
Put them on and see what looks good on you.
There's the thing A you just have to play around
with them like everything. And I think you know what,
I really liked the way Michiko just said, try things
on and how many times have I said to you, Oh,
I've never taken this off the rack and I put
this on and I love it to pieces. So we
need to be a little bit more venturous. We need
to try different styles, We need to try different colors.
(49:28):
We shouldn't be afraid of wearing something that we don't
normally wear. Do you know the one thing that can
often stop me from wearing something I don't normally wear
is when you do wear it and then all of
a sudden everyone makes boog fuss about it, and that
makes me feel really conscious.
Speaker 1 (49:39):
That's what she was talking.
Speaker 2 (49:41):
And that can prevent me from kind of stepping out
of my comfort.
Speaker 1 (49:44):
H yeah, but that's silly. No, totally, but I totally
I hear you, and I think a lot of women
are like that. There are there'll be women listening just
going what I've been wearing colors and fantastic fabrics all
my life. That's great, But if you have gone through
a phase of preps wearing a lot of leggings and
sweatshirts and things, it's a big deal to go out
and you know, put on the really bright frock. So
(50:08):
I think maybe if you see surround as we're looking
a bit brighter than usual. Maybe we've just taken that step.
Speaker 2 (50:14):
I'm reverting back because I've been all I've got is color,
and I'm reverting back to some more natural tones, muted tones.
Speaker 1 (50:22):
I'm going to go back and see how much of
a capture wardrobe I actually have already, and then I'm
just gonna have to suck it up some money. Well,
I don't know if I need to spend money. I
don't think you do. I think you need to do.
Speaker 2 (50:32):
Exactly what Michico said, find just half an hour on
the weekend and just pull out some random things and
try them all together and get different looks.
Speaker 1 (50:41):
Yeah, it might be you know a way of arranging
your will you have all your all your colors, have
it all in a roll of colors, which is the
way I do it, have it, And like these my
shirts and mush pants.
Speaker 2 (50:51):
And I love that hot advice of bring the attention up.
Put on an awesome necklace or some beads or some
great dangly earrings or something attention to something completely different.
I thought, Oh, that's something I can do that that
doesn't acquire a huge a.
Speaker 1 (51:06):
I love that one thing. Menopause did for me, which
I realized. I was thinking about this this morning. One
the one boob I have left is big, is bigger
than it used to be. Man, I'd love to have
to that size. I do, they would, I'd be in
like the really low v's. Just ladies. If you've got them,
whilst you've got them, enjoy them. How difficult has fashioned
(51:28):
for you been after change things? Yeah? Yeah, change things?
I mean I could have had the reconstruction. I haven't.
But I love strapless dresses. I think strapless dresses look
fantastical woman as we age, because often we still have
that definition around our clavicle and shoulders and things. And
I can't. I can't do it. I just can't figure
out how to do it. Maybe there is a way.
(51:49):
And as you know, I work out and get always
a pain in the ass. Yeah, but you know I
might do It's all right, It's fine, lovely.
Speaker 2 (51:57):
Now, have you got a little, a little idea for yeah, well,
at a moment of happiness or bring a little joy
into your life this week?
Speaker 1 (52:05):
Yeah, I think what I what's happened in the last
week for me is two out of three of the
children have who don't live in my home, have had
little wins that have had nothing to do with me,
you know what I mean, It's just like a little
like one of them was a genuine one, a team win,
and the other one was just just seeing a growth
(52:27):
of resilience. And one of the children who's been struggling
a little bit with something, and you know, something else
happened on top of that, and then I saw her go.
But actually I'm all right and work through the problem.
I mean, it might have been the Oliver Bergmann advice
I've been shoving in her neck, but generally speaking, and
just to know that that's just that little bit of
(52:47):
distance from the apron springs of apron strings of not
having to be involved in everything, but just getting to
watch and watching and joy. What about you? For me?
Speaker 2 (52:58):
My little tip this week, if you just one little
moment of happiness or joy, is to reconnect with someone
that you haven't spoken to for ages. It maybe a
dear friend and maybe someone that you're not so close
to anymore, but or that you just haven't had time
to contact or catch up with. And we've all got
friends who fall into this category, people we love dearly
but we do not see very often. Just because of
(53:20):
time and maybe place and things. A very old friend
of ours from university came to Auckland a couple of
weekends ago to have dinner and catch up with old
university friends and it was such a pleasure. It was
such a delight to catch up with him and other
people and it just reminded you, I don't know, it
(53:42):
just felt so good. So my thing is just just
take someone or just call someone that you've been thinking about,
but maybe you haven't. You haven't reached out to or
spoken to for ages, whether it's six months or six years,
just touch base and go hey, thinking of you and
just have a quick conversation connection. There isn't a happy
study in the world that won't tell you that our
relationships and connections are the most important things in our lives.
(54:06):
So that's my little tip for them.
Speaker 1 (54:07):
We love it.
Speaker 2 (54:08):
Hey, thanks for joining us on our New Zealand Herald
podcast series The Little Things. We hope that you share
this podcast with the women in your life. We can
all be a little bit more adventurous and confident.
Speaker 1 (54:16):
In what we wear. You can follow this podcast on
iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and for more
on this and other topics. Head to inzed Herald dot
co dot nz and we'll catch you next time on
the Little Things
Hi, I'm Francisca Budkin and I'm Louise Arii and this
is season five of our New Zealand Herald podcast, The
Little Things. Good to have you with us. In this podcast,
we talked to experts and find out all the little
things that you need to know to improve all areas
of your life and cut through the confusion and overload
of information out there. Over the last few seasons, we've
spoken about skin care here Care, and season four we
(00:26):
spoke to Lisa Mattson about noting our makeup as our
skin ages. These episodes have been really really popular and
they've helped me a lot. And so today we're continuing
with our appearances and we're going to talk about fashion
style and how we shield or maybe shouldn't be dressing
in our mid years.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
This kind of came up because was it last year
you said to me, Oh, a friend of mine's getting
their colours done. We should get our colors done. And
I just got the giggles because it just sounded so eighties.
I didn't know if.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
It was a social media thing. That's why Franchisca, OK, yeah,
and it's not your bag, so yeah, No, it was
a bit of a thing, well, do you know what?
Do you know what?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Because it's about giving yourself a season, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
It's kind of yeah. I mean you could be a
mix of seasons, you could be like it's reasonal yeah,
but it was more that bit of everything. It was
more there with a limited time and a limited budget,
I kind of wanted. I think I had a few
things in my wardrobe that I knew didn't suit me,
and I kind of was like, why did I do that?
Why did I buy that? I know, but maybe it
(01:27):
was on sale or something, and I liked it generally,
but it really didn't. The color was nothing. It didn't
do anything for me.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I've purchased things that I desperately want to look good
on me. I just love them to pieces, but they're not.
They're not for me. They don't look good on me.
And you've just you just have to, you know, have
a bit of any except that you made a mistaken
and pass it on.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
And I guess I was also curious, having gone gray
and skin changing and things that had something changed. But
I think it's actually more to do with your original
colored hair and your eyes. And someone told me I'm
a summer but I'm not sure. Anyway, my friend had
it done, she'd done it before you can do it
online now, and she was a summer and so she
then started wearing those colors more frequently, which she was
(02:08):
defaulting to them anyway because she liked them, but then
got a lot more compliments. Do you know what I mean?
That's interesting. Yeah. And then so you know, when you
are spinning, say a limited budget, you go, well, if
purple's my color, I'll not have an entirely people wardjob.
But yeah, anyway, it was just a thing. No, it's
a cute. It was a cute.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Honestly, I just said flashbacks to the eighties glass or something.
I don't think that there should be any age related
rules really to the way we dress. I think we
should dress in clothes that express ourselves, that we feel
comfortable and confident in.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Yeah, and that are somewhat appropriate for the setting you're.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
In and appropriate for the setting that you're in. Yeah,
you've dressed for the occasion. I think it should be
that simple, but I don't think it is. I think
sometimes as we head into middle age, we get a
little bit more conservative, or maybe we're trying to things
that we feel we should be hiding or maybe we
feel I think we still notice how other people might
(03:07):
look at us, and we then imagine they're judging us.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Well. I think I don't think that ever goes away. No,
And I think we have talked before about that funny
thing about period or metopause or whatever you like to
call it. Middle age. Is that feeling of I've woken
up not quite the person I was, you know, And
of course it has been gradual, it doesn't feel gradual.
I think that's a fairly universal experience from what I've
spoken to. You wake up and go what the hell?
(03:31):
Hang on a minute, why is this hanging over my jeans?
Or why don't I fit everything the same way as
I used to? And it's frustrating, and that's been an
issue for me.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
My weight's definitely fluctuated a lot over the last year
or two, and I've got really lazy. I you know,
I will wear whatever's comfortable, whatever's loose.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
I'm not.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
I'm just and I'm not comfort should play a part
in it, but I should probably make a little bit
more of an effort as well. And I think that
if I did, I would also feel better. Like rub Off,
you know, it's sort of a bit of a circular thing.
You know, you're feeling a bit lousy, you're feeling a
bit tired, you're feeling a book So you wear something
really comfy and easy, but then you don't really necessarily
that it doesn't kind of get you out of that mode.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
You know, thanks thing you'll be in ammuse I.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Have, I have, I have. I wore a moomo pretty
much all last summer. I had a couple of great
big linen dresses which I wore ever where I went.
But you know, sometimes I bought a pair of sweatpants
for the first time last year.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
I was cold water swimming.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Because I needed to get as warm as I possibly
could afterwards, And remember I texted you and go, I'm
kind of struggling to take the sweatpant off. You know
that we're really coming down a slippery slope here. So Matt,
you know, time and place and everything. I'm not so
sure we're good at dressing up in New Zealand either.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I think we approach and I do think too. I
like a breathe bullfairbrick as my temperature also fluctuates through
the day, doesn't there we go so look.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
When we started discussing this, I knew the perfect person
to join our conversation, stylist and makeup artist Michico Highlands.
I first met Michico when she came in TV and
Z to run wardrobe and make up department. This might
be a little while ago. Now, she was responsible for
making sure we all looked fabulous and there are very
few Kiwi celebrities that she hasn't dressed, whether the TV,
(05:14):
a magazine, shoot, commercials, or shows. Not only does Michico
know a little something about dressing well, but she's a
bit of a style icon herself.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Michico, Hello, Hi, thank you for saying that. That's very
kind of you.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Well, you are both you and your mother are very stars.
And I presume that's where you get it from your mum.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Yes, you have you met my mom before?
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (05:35):
I have. She's out on the town, always looking very glad.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
If I don't go out, I mean if she's not
with me, I'm like, everyone's like, where is your mother?
Where is she? You know? They love taking photos of
her and she has like the style queen, and everything
I do is all because of her. I'm completely inspired
by her and she just has this incredible style. She
just has this way of dressing and everything, the colors,
the fabrics and all comes together just naturally. It's like,
(06:01):
I don't know how she does it. And she just
turned eighty so she's still rocking at She's just incredible.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
I so admire people that can just pull that style together,
you know, like they make it look seamless. I wish
I'd like to think that I could be that kind
of inspiration for my daughter, but I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I'm pretty sure I'm not not at the moment anyway,
but who knows. Maybe with your help.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
I love what you're wearing today. I was mentioning, I
love that think you know, Japanese inspired look.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Well, underneath this is my staple jeans and a T shirt.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Well, you're making it work your own way.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
So yeah. We talk about a lot of midlife things
obviously on this podcast, and have talked about hair and
makeup and things, and actually fashion is one of those things.
I mean, it's us us every day, right, So dressing
for your age? Is it a thing? Do we need to?
Speaker 3 (06:49):
I think the thing is I think society kind of
compels women for some reason that once you're over fifty,
you need to be not seen. You need to not
you know, kind of shrivel up and kind of die
or not quite that. But you know you shouldn't be flamboyant.
You shouldn't be out there. You know, it's all this
should not You know that it's frowned upon it. It's
(07:11):
very dated, and you know it's bizarre because this is
our moment finally to shine. You know, the twenties were
an age where we're trying to work out who the
hell we were. Thirties were still kind of there, you know,
but getting together, you know, probably having a family. Maybe
I had my twins when I was forty one, so
I just made it. And then by forty you really
(07:33):
do know yourself. And by fifty you're totally like, yes,
I think you know yourself. You've had all this experience,
you're mature. Hopefully you're wives, I'd say so after lots
of things. You know, you've been through so many things,
and now you can really shine. And then for some reason,
I think, you know, people look down on women who
(07:53):
are maybe dressed in appropriate level or she's you know,
over fifty, should she be wearing a mini dress? Or
it really depends on your personality. I think too, and
you know, I do believe in sometimes if you've got
flaunted but still always done in a tasteful way, and
I mean tasteful thing chic and sophisticated applies to young
(08:15):
people too, in a way that you know, you see
some some younger folk rocking the little shorts in that
that go right up there. You see and you see
every there's no mystery anymore. You see everything. Everything is
out in full glory, and it doesn't look good, even
though they're young, and you know they might have great
(08:36):
bodies or whatever. I just find everything's all hanging out.
And like I think, if you know, if you've got
something that's great, but like maybe cover up some other area.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
It's really interesting you say that because we're sort of
really conscious with our daughters that we don't comment on
what they wear. We want them to be confident and
to wear what they feel comfortable wearing. And we're sort
of told that we're not to meant on what young
people wear. And we'll get to this a little bit later.
Especially at the beach. I remember sitting with my fourteen
(09:06):
year old son at the beach when a whole lot
of young women were wearing barely nothing, and the poor
kid didn't know where to look. I mean, it's quite interesting.
But then so why are we as kind of women
who are heading into our middle ages. We shouldn't be
taking any nonsense from anybody either when it you know,
we should be saying to people, actually, no thanks, we
won't take your judgment either. You know, we're so conscious
(09:27):
of not judging other people and young people and what
they were, and really conscious of that we should actually
just be a little bit more, you know.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Yeah, I mean, i'll tell you if you are seeing.
But you're right, there is that balance of expressing who
you are and hopefully you do have a better idea
of who you are when you're in your fifties and
not giving a toss about it right at the same time.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
It's quite liberating. I mean, the other night I went
to symphony that you know, which was amazing, and I
wore this and for one second I thought, should a
fifty five year old be wearing a sparkly mini dress
to this music concert? And then I thought, hell yes,
and I put it on and I felt great and
I got lots of compliments by women, mainly the whole
(10:13):
night just saying, oh, that looks great on you, and no,
good on you for worrying, and it looks you know,
they're just being really nice.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
I think that is so awesome. And I tend to
do this. I embarrass my children a lot. I'll suddenly
stop someone in souper mat and I just want to say,
I love your outfit. It looks so awesome, and they
kind of they take a moment, they get a bit
of a they're not sure.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Why they've been stopped by a stranger. Right, people are but.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Like and then you can even go, thank you so much,
and it means the world. And I think I think
we've forgotten we're so conscious about saying the right thing.
Sometimes I don't think we do just express you know,
something is simple to a stranger.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
I don't think I would have done that when I
was younger, but I would do it now. And you're right,
the children like, oh cringe. Yes, it's like you don't
know what that feels like. If someone sees that to you,
you know.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
It feels great the whole day long. And I do
that too. If someone's wearing a great I know, I
feel like, am I that crazy person? I don't care
and it's made their day and they feel amazing. I
that's a great feeling.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
I was so crazy one day I wound down the
window at the pack and say car park and I
actually yelled at a woman and I went, I've got
that dress and it looks so much better on you,
and she just ruled was laughter, she look great and it.
I did go home and go, oh.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
That's empowering and that's what we need more of.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
I think you're absolutely right. I think we're in an
age where we should be really confident. We should wear
what we want to wear.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
We should be able to express ourselves more. You know.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
It's interesting I said to I sort of said to
my daughter, do you think that there's an age limit on,
you know, on wearing certain things, or do you think
there's age appropriate dressing?
Speaker 1 (11:37):
And she said no.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
She said, you should just commit to what you want
to wear. If you want to wear it, wear it
doesn't matter what age you are. You want to be
comfortable and you want to feel good and you want
it to you know, don't just throw something on for
the sake of it. She said, oh, you could to
wear it, and I was going, oh, this is bit
a commitment.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
But that gets lost in the busyness, doesn't it. Sometimes
you do well, I'm definitely, you know, guilty of throwing
something on for the sake of it because it's like
I got to get out of the house, I got
to get to Yeah, time poor, that's right. So that's
something maybe we can get onto in terms of I mean, yes,
let's throughout the rules. But also there must be some rules,
(12:12):
are there? I mean, what are the best basics to
have in the wardrobe?
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Well on that before you're saying before, it's great to
have some pre done looks in a way, because no
one has none of us have any time do we
Like we grab the easiest outfit. It's like, oh that works,
quickly put that on, and it's like a safe outfit.
It's quite boring sometimes, you know, it's like we know
it looks nice, but it's not like the most amazing.
But yeah, basics it's good to have, like go to
(12:36):
basics like a beautiful tailored jacket, a beautiful pair of
pants that suit you well, that looked really good. I mean,
if they don't fit well, get them tailored or you know,
make sure that they do, because you don't you don't
want to think. It has to be ready to go
and then you just pop it on. So you know,
like a love some neutral pieces, black and white tailored jackets,
(12:58):
what else, like a trench coat, and just some things
that you can swap around that all work together, like
a capsule kind of wardrobe, and then you glam it
up with accessories and other special pieces.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
So you could probably get away with wearing almost kind
of the same maybe on a working week, the same
kind of capsule, just with different accessories.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
You could, yeah, and just add to it and you know,
and then it's easy. You don't want to think about
things when you've got one second to get ready. Who's
got all that time to spend in the mirror getting ready?
I mean, how long do you take in the morning
to get ready? I take about five minutes.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, I think if you ask my producer Carrie at
the Sunday session, who happens to be in the room
with us right now, it's our producer here today. Should
tell you that I wear the same three or four
outfits every Sunday to work because I'm getting up at
you know, five forty in the morning, and I'm getting organized.
I'm here by seven and I pick the one dress
(13:55):
in the same personikaus in the same cardigan, and sometimes
I think should make a bit more renef then you go,
but actually I just need to be comfortable. I need
to make sure it's going to work. I just need
this to be quick and easy, that's right. And sometimes
I have a play around and I go, oh, why
didn't I put these couple of things together before. It's
almost like you need to have you need to find
a little time in the weekend or something and actually
(14:15):
have a play around with your wardrobe and try different
things together and may always make a night of them.
Go well, that's quite a good way of mixing those up,
or throwing some color run.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Or something Sunday night maybe, you know, like people do
meal preps and things that the same thing. You know.
I remember watching my mum. My mum used to be
a Japanese tour guide and she had the most fabulous outfits.
It's like, are you really a tour guide? Like she
was like all handmade, like a turban this is in
the seventies, a matching turban with like a match a
(14:44):
jumpsuit like a one shouldered lameae jumpsuit, and she was
wearing this on a tour bus. She was very out
there and I was just like, but she used to
do this little these little pictures of the week and
this is what she was wearing on Monday and draw
the pictures because you know, there are no like design
things then, and I love these little pictures of her
outfits through the week. I mean, not that anyone's going
to do that, but it just reminded me of that. Then.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
So while we do have a helpers now, yeah's true,
there probably are ways we can do that. Yeah, I
think I'd be more inspired to do that than my
meal prep for the week to be. Yes, yeah, a
bit more creation.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
So fun though, you know, you'd be like, and then
you get to wear those outfits and then you know, Wednesday,
I can't wait look forward to Wednesday. That's going to
be it. That's a bit you know out there or something.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
You know, it would be fun to you just dig
something different in the middle of the way.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Yeah, because we all need a bit more excitement now
in our lives sometimes, don't we.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Yeah that's fair enough, definitely, we're just talking about the
basics there. We're not just sort of oft in time poor,
but we're also you know, but cash poor as well
these days. Do you do you suggest that people follow
trends or are we better just to buy clothes that
we love and that we know that we'll wear ongoing.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
I think trends are great and you can take from
them for what will suit you. You know, obviously there
are things that might not work. You know, like a
little bit of BOHI is back at the moment, but
you know that's not going to suit everyone. You know,
some people need structured clothing that really, you know, fit
their body well, or all these little tassely things might
look a bit like you know, I don't know everything.
(16:15):
If you like something, maybe take an aspect of it
and inject it into your look. But for me personally,
I like timeless pieces that you can just wear and
wear and always look good, you know. And so yeah,
there's always a way. But I think know your body
and know what suits you, and if you don't know,
(16:37):
if you you know, see a stylist and they can
help you.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Actually, that's a great point. And let's have a talk
about shapes and things, because you'll be very familiar with
dealing with lots of different shapes. How do you kind
of work out.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
What does suit you?
Speaker 2 (16:53):
I know that sounds strange. You could probably just look
in the mirror and go oh, I like that, or
I don't, but say you've got you'll really you've got
a big bosom?
Speaker 1 (17:03):
What how do you deal with that?
Speaker 3 (17:05):
I think a lot of women that I've dressed who
do have a who are lucky enough to have a
big bosom, they like to hide it or they're I
don't know, they cover it up in that and they
wear things that aren't very flat or baggy clothes, very
kind of hiding the body, like you know, like I
don't understand why, and so I you know, I think
(17:28):
it's about trying different things on and things that are
out of your comfort zone. Like you know, often if
I go to a shoot, I have a whole array
of clothing for a particular person in their size, from
all over the place, and they're like, Oh, I never
thought to try this on. I didn't think this would
ever suit me, this color or this kind of shape.
I never thought in my wildest dreams i'd be and
(17:50):
it's like, Oh, it actually looks really great, and I'm
so glad I put it on because I would never
ever look at that or clothes don't have any hangar appeal.
You're in a store and it's all jumbled up or
you can't like you just go straight past it. You
go for what you know works. But there are other
alternatives out there, and if you just if you say
yes to broadening, bordering your horizons, were actually trying different
(18:13):
looks on, you'll be very surprised and pleasantly.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
So often but we don't even I mean a lot
of people don't even go to the stores anymore. They
do it online.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
They do do it online, but then what you get,
you know, sometimes the fabrics aren't quite the same. It
may look great on someone or some kind of sex
foot model, or something's quite different in reality. You know,
it is good to go out to the.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Stores because when you do look online, they'll say to
you the model is a size sex and is this tooll?
And I go that s what doesn't mean anything to me.
He's so far away from where I am and I
can't imagine.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
And I'm not an online you do it.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
I do all my because I'm not a great shopper.
I'm not a great physical shopper. I just get bored
after two shops, So I do all my research online
and then I'll make an effort to go in, but
I'm too scared it doesn't work for exactly the reason
that you said. You get there and you realize the
fabric's not quite the same and it's just not you know,
it's not quite what you thought. So I do all
(19:10):
my research online and I find things that look intriguing
and then I'll but I will always go and try
them on. Yeah, yeah, I think that's really good advice.
I've often been quite surprised when people have put me
in outfits like yourself and have gone, oh, that's awesome,
I can wear that. I know what you're talking about
with the big debries. What if you're a little bit
more round the hips and sort of the stomach, if
(19:31):
you're a little bit larger, they're what kind of shapes
kind of Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Well then generally people have quite you know, some legs
that they might want to show off for good legs.
So it depends like if they want to hide that area.
You know, everyone have they have parts of their body
that they don't like, you know, so maybe they don't
really like there, or they don't like anything tight around there,
so they don't want any emphasis going towards that part
of their body. So bring the emphasis up, okay, like
(19:58):
you know, have some fab you know, accessories or something.
So it's all around your face and that. So if
you want to detract from that area for some reason,
if you don't like it, maybe you know, have the
emphasis somewhere else.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
On that note, though the tummy you say about knowing
ourselves and through the decades, I don't think there are
times that I haven't known my body since turning fifty
and I've gone, this is not my shape, this is
not you know, and things don't fit in different places,
like pants that may be still fit my waist don't
fit my backside or and it's really I mean fair
(20:34):
enough they probably I have had them for twenty five
years or am I expecting? But so there is a
little bit of re getting to know ourselves if we
find that in menopause or perimenopause that our body has changed,
which can be quite a challenge.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
I think it is a challenge because you're not you know,
you're the same person, but you don't. You don't really
have that same body. Your metabolism has completely changed everything
you've had. If you've had children, that area has changed
forever and you just need to embrace it. And so okay,
this is this is what I this is my body now,
(21:10):
and you know, just find things that are suitable and
you can still if you've got a certain look, you
can still wear that look. It's just like tweaking it
in certain areas. So I think having finding something and
having a good tailor is really good because it's all
about tweaks here and there that make the final difference,
(21:32):
you know, like something that could look quite you know,
daggy or something, or you know, if you just do
a little kind of napple something in a certain area,
it can bring the peace in. Like I've met lots
of women who say that they don't have a waste.
They've got I've got no waist, and I see, yes
you do. You've actually got an hourglass figure. You've actually
(21:55):
got Marilyn Monroe's figure, and it's stunning. Why are you
hiding that away? You know, like and let's just you know,
not totally emphasize, but let's bring let's see some shape.
And they they they're like, oh, yeah, okay, I do
have a waist, and you know they've been hiding it.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Or they haven't even they needed somebody else to explain.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
I think so because you know, you get stuck in
a rut. You start just wearing the same old thing,
and you like, oh, well this works, and you know,
but then it doesn't really make you feel great. And
I think clothes can give you so much power and
can make you feel amazing, and don't don't we want
to feel a million dollars every day and you know,
we're we're so lucky to even get to this age
(22:39):
and aging is such a privilege. And every day as
a special day. You know, tomorrow isn't guaranteed. So why
why save your your best clothes? I know a lot
of people all save that for a nice a nice
you know, special occasion or or you know, or smaller clothes.
They buy clothes and a smaller when I'm thinner or
when I've lost weight, I'm going to wear this and
(23:01):
it's sitting there, and it's like, why just wear it today?
Every single day is your day to shine?
Speaker 4 (23:08):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (23:08):
I love that, And I think we've well, I certainly
have closed in my wardrobe that I've been hanging on
for far too long.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
And actually, well, I just.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Let my daughter take things and then I'm moving things along,
but it's like, actually, I don't need to fit back
and I don't need to fit back into that.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
That's fine. Actually just get them, but don't hold it.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Yeah, don't hold onto it instead of going, oh, but
one day I'll get back into that, you know.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
But on the size is I have a friend who's
an incredible sewer and I haven't seen it for a while.
She used to put things on Instagram that she'd said
it was quite a big home sewing community on Instagram
that I didn't have any idea about. But an every
single one of them almost adjust the pattern, so it's
an X on this X at the top and a
(23:51):
you know, Y at the bottom. Like but that's why
how clothes are made for the mass market, right, So
you know, her clothes always fit perfect because she can
sew them for her and for her proportions. And yet
we are out there trying to sort of fit ourselves
into well not always I mean obviously high and stuff
might be a little bit different, but they still have
(24:11):
to have sizes they do, and that can be quite
confronting too. Because I went shopping for jeans recently and
I was like, what it wasn't the size, and three
different stores there was three different sizes. Yeah, why is that?
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
It's it's really bizarre. There should be a you know,
like I know, like with footwheel, like I know that
if you know your centimeters, like the Japanese style is,
I'm twenty four centimeters, so it's like that's not going
to change. My foot is twenty four centimeters. So if
it's that you know, then you know so. But with
clothing it's all over the place, like say a country
(24:45):
road ten is more like a fourteen. It's you know.
And and still a lot of women in particular, they
worry about the size, like you know, they might tell
me there are certain size, but they're bigger than that
and it doesn't matter. I just want to put them
in the right size. But I think there's that still
(25:07):
that old school like you need to be a size
ten or something or whatever.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
I was always a size ten or it was always
My problem is pure laziness. I've taken a whole lot
of things off the rack, gone to the all the
way to the changing room, put the first one and
going oh no, this doesn't fit. None of these kind
of fit have to go back into it all again.
So maybe I'll start just going I'll get a selection.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Yeah. It is annoying though, because you just don't know
what size you're getting. You know, you could have something
and once in one store you could be a certain size,
another store you're completely different. So it's it's like.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
It's like the country world West, really, isn't it. Yeah,
maybe it's a marketing ploy for a country road. I
think it is for some companies.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
There's a few active weare companies that love to tell
you you're a size eight when actually you know you'll be
buying a size twelve, or you're a size teen, or
you're buying yourself sixteen and things.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
So and it does make.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
You feel good, but it's not hugely how helpful when
you just want to have standard sizing sort of across
the board.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
And I don't think it's particularly helpful for our young
ones either.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
No, it's not.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Tell me about color, because we spoke about this earlier.
Lou said to me a little while ago. She says, oh,
people are getting their colors done, And I just sort
of flashed back to the eighties, I think in Christy
when my mother said to me, everyone's getting their colors
done to learn what's do and I just sort of
I thought, I don't know, I don't know why I
thought it was so amusing, But I think we have
a good sense about what looks especially by the time
(26:31):
we get to fifty, you've got a bit of a
sense about what looks good on you and what you
should avoid. I mean, do you just is that what
you go with?
Speaker 3 (26:38):
I think I think the number one thing most people
know is what doesn't look good. That's what I often
ask people, like what colors you don't like? To where
I say to them, what don't you like? Because some
people will instantly say I hate this color on that
or it makes me look washed out, or they know
because it does. I mean, certain colors can be in
the matching skin tone or can wash you out. But
(26:59):
there are shades. Are those colors that you might think, oh, okay,
I could never wear yellow, but you can be surprised sometimes,
I think, still try them. But no, the old eighties
with the color I think I think that was kind
of you know it does you can see which color
suits you and just keep trying different ones on and
you'll be quite surprised sometimes because you might think Oh,
(27:21):
I thought I was always a winter but oh my god,
I'm wearing spring colors.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
Quite got I mean, I just thought it was kind
of cool that it was kind of back in the
in the conversation because I can wear white but I can't.
But cream doesn't do anything for me, for example, like
what does that mean? Like it's quite I'd quite like
the science of it. I think it's quite fascinating, No idea.
I still haven't done it. I don't know what season
I am.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
But do you have a lot of color in your wardrobe?
Speaker 1 (27:45):
Not as much as i'd like. I think I need
to start. I need to start. But it's again, is
that if I wear that color that day and I
wear it again the next I don't you know what
I mean. It's like, oh, when you wear something that's neutral,
it could be the same shirt three times in the
same week and no one's going to notice. But you
wear the color, It's like, oh, sure, well that shit lasts.
(28:06):
I mean, I'm sure nobody is looking on a hundred
percent sure of that. But it is that feeling of sameness,
which is so stupid. It's just psychological.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
When you do wear color. What colors do you wear?
Speaker 1 (28:15):
Oh god, do you know friendships?
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Blue is beautiful, purple, You've got that purple sundress, You've
got the yellow sundress.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
You do wear quite a lot of grasses. I do
you wear pattern colors? Yeah? Blue, yeah, probably quite bright,
maybe some colors sort of that green jersey.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
And I think if you people compliment you on those.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Days, well, it's funny you should say that, because actually
that's what I usually go on. If I've worn something
and someone said, oh, it's really that color is lovely
on you, then I go, oh, well that is scientific
enough for me. Oh by something in that color? Is
it off?
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Is it off your skin color? Your skin tone? That
a color you would determine whether it color suits you
or not?
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Yes, well it does depend but yeah, some like I
mean there's like a cut like maroon. It's a color
that it's very in right now of course and with
the you know, the winter, but it actually suits a
lot of people because it's got that kind of blue
bass to it. But it does suit pale skins and
dark skins. It's quite surprising. So I don't think there's
(29:15):
a set formula really, I think try it on and
I mean you'll instantly know if it doesn't suit you,
and it's hard sometimes in those terrible changing rooms. The
life lighting, Yeah, the most awful lighting. It's like, you know,
like God, you never want to go in there again.
And I wish they would invest in some good lighting.
Lighting is your best friend.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
I think you're right though, it's about it's just it
comes back to that whole just trying things you wouldn't
normally try. Once again, Carrie, our producer, sentius a photo.
Was it just after Christmas? I think, and Carrie had
used a voucher to buy this gorgeous red Sundreyes and
She's like, I don't think I've ever worn red in
my life, and both of them I were like, what's
great if it was.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
Just like this revelation. Yeah, we do get things in
a heat.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
I mean, I think back now my twenties, all I
woant was black black, and I will high heels every
day of my life. I could have played a game
of tennis and high heels, right. And then I got
to my thirties head kids, and I'm at home and
I'm like, give me color.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Give me color, light me up a bit.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
And actually, interestingly, now I'm going back to black I've
pulled out a few black dresses again and I'm wearing
them and I'm kind of like I used to be
in this all the time, and I don't quite know
how I feel about it. I feel like I'm sort
of a bit disappointing, and then other times I feel
a bit kind of rock and roll. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
You just got to go with the mood, don't you.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
Well you do, and I think I don't know about you, ladies,
but I feel different every day and I dress. Maybe
it's the Gemini and me. I dress, you know, to
my mood. Like even like perfumes and things, I don't
have the same set. I love the idea of what
the signature scent, but I have a different one every day.
It's like, oh I feel a bit, you know, I
feel a bit rocky today, or I feel you know,
I like to be different in a way, jazz it up.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
That's very cool. I had a signature, see, and they
just don't make it anymore.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
S Oh, I hate when they do that.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
I know it was Gucci. Envy loved it. Oh yeah,
I never can't find it and I've looked for you
know that you can look on line for things I've
got the same notes is that, and I just can't
commit myself to another one. I'm azimiyaki.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
But somebody said to me the other day, I said, oh,
I'm wearing azimaki, and they said, I can't smell a thing.
And it was like, and I asked a couple of
people and they said, and it's like perfumes disappearing on
my skin. Now, never heard of that anyways.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
Go down that.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
We'll just add that to the list of pyramid apausal
issues and things we come across. Look, people, I know
that you get to this age and we get conscious
a bit of a bit of sally light on the
back of the legs or especially women get really conscious
of underneath their arms that I'll never forget watching my
mother wave like the queen. I'm like, what are you doing?
I'm just trying not to wobble.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
My arms, you know?
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Should we I mean, once again, I think it's what
you're comfortable with. If you totally relaxed about it, We're
singlet's if you're a little bit more conscious about it,
wear a T shirt. But actually, where are we at
sort of in society? Does it?
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Does it matter? Are people?
Speaker 2 (31:54):
Are we being judged for.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
There's a lot of judgment around. But I think a
lot of women that I've dressed before are very conscious
of their upper arms. You know that it is a
tricky area, even if you know you need to go
to the gym a lot and tone that area, because
you know you can be moving your arm and you
stop moving your arm, but that part is still going.
So you know, there's always sleeve. You know they don't
like sleeveless, so a sleeve a good sleeve and you
(32:17):
feel comfortable then. But you know, if you want to
just just wear it, I think own your look. I
think if you're confident, if you have that kind of
personality and you just want to rock a look and think,
sot it is, this is me? Why not?
Speaker 1 (32:34):
And you know what's crazy about that is that I'm
I don't judge that. I'm not looking at other women's arms.
So when I put something on, oh, I can't do that,
can't do that. I can't think the last time I
looked at another woman's arms. I mean, she shouldn't be
wearing that. I don't think.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
No, I've become conscious of my saily light, which I
never had been before. If it's summer and I've got
a tan. I'm really relaxed about it. But otherwise I
have become quite conscious of that. I mean, should we
see cullly light or not.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
It's quite natural. I mean I even see it on
younger girls a lot, and they're they're all, you know,
flaunting it in full glory. I mean, it's just a
part of being a female. Really, So is that Is
it bad too to have that? I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
No, there's not much we can do about it. What
we're up in the mountains running around some we're worrying
about it. I don't worry about it out there.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
It's more No, no, no, I don't worry. You've seen
the way I dress when I'm in the middle of nowhere,
running around the mountains since the Yeah, it's no conservable.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
My manager is stripping the center. Nobody else can see it.
I'll bless you. No, I'll point it out to you.
Not true.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
I'll tell you what I also have an aversion to,
and that is tight underwear. You know how we've there's
this whole industry now that's created suction underwear for women,
which is supposed to sort of be a solution. I
just find it so incredibly uncomfortable. But is it a
good solution?
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Do you know what? I think some and some dresses
that are very fitted. You might be going to a
red carpet event or something, and it gives women sometimes
even men of men can wear the shape. You know,
it's for a more svelt silhouette. It gives them more confidence.
You know, it does create a more streamlined effect for
(34:19):
that silhouette. And so you know, I think there's a
place for it. I know it's I haven't worn it myself,
but it's very uncomfortable. Sometimes underwear can be uncomfortable and
it's like digging in and you spend the whole time
just agonizing about it. It's kind of ruined your night,
hasn't it, because it's like digging in or even things
like a strapless bra, which don't even work. I mean
(34:40):
they end up around your waist and you've got this
giant this thing around your waist and just the whole
night is going down and down and down there. It's
like suddenly and then and so it's like, oh my god,
why did I put this in? All this the sticky on?
Speaker 1 (34:56):
But that's what the kids, because you know, my daughter's
gone through the ball season a couple of years ago,
and that that was it was either tape or the
sticky on silicon things. So this is sticky on silicon
things work. I mean, it wouldn't work for me.
Speaker 3 (35:08):
I think because they're younger and so things are. With
time and everything else, things start to unfortunately go down
unless you have, you know, implants. So I mean they
you know, for maybe smaller breasted women, they would work.
But if you were fully in doubt, I don't think,
well you probably Wouldn'teah. No, okay, the good bras are
(35:32):
very good. That fits you well, because.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
That's a really good point. And I had a very
sweet friend her after I'd had my second child, and
we were in a shop together and everything, and she
just came up to me and she said, do you
know what would make a world of difference? And she said,
I say this with love, and she pulled up my
brass straps and I was like, oh okay, And so
made an effort to go and by myself just a
decent bra the next week, and I I Kirstin, I
(35:55):
owe you a thank you for that, because it did
make a huge difference. I've just forgotten I just didn't
care about it, and you forget it adjustable.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
When they're adjustable for a reason.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
But the strapless, if someone could make it, I will
pay good money for a comfortable strapless bra that actually
kind of works. But are there things? Are there habits
that we can fall into that can make us look older?
Speaker 3 (36:18):
I think, you know, as we're talking about trends before,
like you know, to keep a breast of trends, incorporate
even little aspects of trends maybe or something to you know,
you might have a timeless look. But to inject little
fun injections of certain things. It could be an accessory
or something something small. I always think be groomed, even
if it's just putting a brush through your hair, not
(36:39):
even have to put makeup on, but just you know,
look groomed and look, you know, like you feel if
someone suddenly came to the front door or something, if
you're working at home, just kind of be you know,
like that kind of state. You'd be slightly ready, you know,
because you can fall down the ugly slope of not
caring and just wear like daggy clothes and just that
(37:00):
that are comfortable and don't but they don't fit you well,
and then you know, you just start not caring anymore.
Speaker 1 (37:07):
Yeah, I think that's really valid. I think that we
there's that balance between fifty we know ourselves. Who gives
a task like I am who I am, blah blah blah.
That's all cool. But sometimes you'll see a photo and go, oh,
maybe I was a bit too much, like not giving
a toss, you know, like I still actually and even
if it's only just for when you're going out, maybe
you don't care what you look like at home, but
(37:27):
you do want to still look good when you go
out or or to a meeting or something like that.
Or I found myself in a Newport lounge and went, oh,
it's been a while since I've been in one, and
I was like, I am I thought, I was thought,
this is my corporate lock. The world has moved on
from me, and I felt like, kind of I just
didn't feel good about myself. So, yeah, I think that's
(37:48):
striking that balance between. Because the world does treat us
a little bit invisible, we can tend to almost take
on that invisibility cloak a little bit, can't we.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
Yeah, you're listening to the little things, and I guess
on the podcast today is stylist and makeup artist Mitico
Hyland's talking about how to find the starlet suits us best.
We'll be back shortly after this break. Michiko, are we
(38:20):
are we good at dressing up in New Zealand or
are we actually just.
Speaker 1 (38:23):
A bit lazy?
Speaker 3 (38:25):
We're pretty lazy and we like to stick to black.
And you know, I've got black in my wardrobe too.
It's easy. You don't have to think. And you know,
I think a lot of people, and a lot of
women don't actually like to stand out. They don't want to.
They don't want people to like look at them in
a way. We were just talking about that before, about
being invisible, but a lot of women don't want that attention.
(38:49):
I recently went to the styling event and I was
helping this woman find an incredible outfit for her husband's
fiftieth birthday party, and the theme was eighties glaming, very
something I love, very close to my heart, and so
I thought, oh my god, because she looked she could be.
She was like a perfect Alexis Carrington, you know remember
(39:10):
that John Collins. And I felt this incredible secondhand dress
and it fitted her like a glove it was like,
oh my god, it was this is this is made
to happen. You suppose you should wear this? And she
put it on. It was like, oh my god, you please.
And I couldn't believe that she didn't walk out with her.
I couldn't believe it. And I saw what she got
and because it was a red dress and it was amazing,
(39:31):
it was like I wanted to go get it afterwards
she didn't, but she didn't get it, so yeah, and
she went out with like a plain black dress, and
I thought, I just said, oh, you got that. She
was like, oh yeah, I didn't want to stand out
too much. It's like, oh, okay, she had a great figure.
And I was just completely flabbergusted. I thought, oh, well, god,
(39:53):
there was that chance you could have gone for it,
but you didn't. You didn't want to. You didn't want
to stand out. And I was quite shocked by that.
And I think, yeah, I have a feeling that people
don't want to stand out sometimes they don't want to
be like the center of attention, or they want to
just or be comfortable, and so you know, like I mean,
(40:15):
even at theme events, sometimes there's not that much iff
there goes sometimes people either go all or out, they
go crazy with the effort or or there's not much,
like you wouldn't even know that it was a famous like, oh,
I couldn't be bothered. I just came straight from work.
I couldn't be bothered, which I suppose for you know
what I do. I always i'm you know, I just
(40:35):
don't understand that. But everyone's different, and everyone it's like, okay,
each to their own. That's fine.
Speaker 1 (40:40):
Maybe I've got a seventies glam twenty first coming up
and in September, maybe I need to come and see
you because I see that is a really fun opportunity
because you can be you can you can do that.
Maybe it isn't the theme thing. You can do that
in a silly slash funny slash hot way if you
want to. You know, it can be all of those
things were you're not taking yourself too seriously. So that
(41:02):
was a perfect opportunity to were that readdressed, you know
what I mean?
Speaker 3 (41:05):
Yes, it was. It was the perfect and you know,
I just couldn't understand it. But yeah, so sometimes that happens.
But you know, as I was saying before, why not
why not shine? Why not have fun? Why. I think
people they're worried about what other people think of them,
and you know, I mean, we shouldn't really care, Like,
(41:27):
why don't we just enjoy ourselves and let our hair down?
Speaker 2 (41:31):
Does that translate to the beach? So Lou and I
we both exercise a lot, and we both love the ocean,
and we're pretty comfortable about just being in our togs
or bikinis or whatever and going about our lives. But
for a lot some other people don't think that, you know,
women of the supinage should wear bikinis anymore.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
That's who are these people? That's crazy? I mean, why
not bikinis? The King's actually really great. I think they're
quite flattering on women, more than some of the one pieces,
because you know, they can show a woman's curves and things.
And yeah, are you talking about the up the right
(42:07):
up there?
Speaker 4 (42:08):
Yeah, we don't.
Speaker 1 (42:10):
We don't wear though, the thongs because we didn't grow
up with them. Maybe if we had a grown up
with them, maybe these kids who are now twenty will
be wearing thongs when in they're fifties.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
I think that would be in a moment that you
would probably say to me, Francisca, I think we could. Yeah,
it's all hanging out love, and I'm not sure that's ideal,
but I think that's really important that we feel comfortable
in those situations, or even when it comes to exercising
and what you wear when you exercise.
Speaker 1 (42:37):
Have you seen the TikTok pants? You know, those TikTok
pants are all gathered at the botide and they go right, yeah, yeah,
I haven't bought myself period. Yes.
Speaker 3 (42:46):
No, no, I haven't either.
Speaker 1 (42:47):
I don't think they're going to make this fifty three
year old ask and and look twenty No.
Speaker 3 (42:51):
Well, I mean, if you want people to like zoom
into your ass, that's fine, go for it, get a
here on every color. But I don't know. I'm also
thinking about my children. I don't know what they would
think about Oh mummy, okay, you're really worrying that I
wouldn't do that to them, but I.
Speaker 1 (43:10):
Do when my daughters. She's gone to univesity now, but
I used to stop by her bedroom because I was
always up early in here and to say fit check,
and she'd look at me and she's I mean really,
if she said no, who didn't make any difference. But
I always quite like to. But then I don't, but
I think you're right. I don't tend to give my Well,
she wouldn't listen if I did give my opinion. Like
she straightens her here. She's got this beautiful natural curl
(43:33):
and she strains her here, and it does my head.
And yeah, she's not going to what I say is
not going to make any difference, not right now. But
we're not subject to that Well we think we're not
subject to that peer stuff anymore, but clearly maybe we
still are, which is really, you know, a bit of
a shame.
Speaker 3 (43:49):
Yeah. So she she critiques you.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
She didn't critique me. I mean, I'm asking you, yeah, yeah,
say fit cheek and she says, m yeah, there's colmer, yeah,
you know, or whatever. And she does take things, yeah,
from my wardrobe. So it can't be all bad. It's
sad for you.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
Children can be brutally honest, so it's quite good if
you do ask them, because they are brutally honest. There's
no holding back with them.
Speaker 1 (44:15):
You've got your own little fashion consultant right there.
Speaker 2 (44:18):
Exercise where during the day activewear? How do you feel
about active where?
Speaker 3 (44:23):
Well, I think post pandemic and all of that. It
became in vogue into where you know trainers and that
it's fine to wear training you know, really cool ones,
and it's it's cool. It's very easy. I just think
if it's branching, it can't really branch into the office
unless you're working in Eddie Dass or something. I don't know,
some sportswear company.
Speaker 1 (44:42):
But or a media company. I may have got away
with Malo lemon and yoga pants once or twice in
the office and just pass them off as a leadings.
Oh ah, we did it.
Speaker 2 (44:50):
We had to record a podcast very early one morning,
and then Lou was going to go to the gym afterwards,
and so she came in. I think we started at
six am in the morning. Else I say this with love,
but you look quite rough. You're in like baggy trek
pants and that big fleasy thing and your hair.
Speaker 1 (45:04):
You had a mark across your forehead.
Speaker 2 (45:06):
From motorbike from the moped helmet, and it was hilarious.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
So we did this interview and then.
Speaker 2 (45:10):
We walked back out of the office at eight and
all of a sudden, the interview that the office is
full and low looks me. She goes, oh, don't think
this outfits quite as appropriate? Anymore as it was at
six years. It was quite funny.
Speaker 1 (45:23):
Yeah, you know, that working from home thing really didn't
do us too many favors in the fashion department.
Speaker 2 (45:28):
But you see, sneakers. I live in sneakers, and it's
just that's just an age thing. It's an age, it's
a knee thing, it's a comfort thing, it's a you know,
I've got boots on today with a heel. I minute
i'm out of here, they'll be off and I'll be
back in a pair of sneakers. I'm trying to stick
with a bit of heel, but it's.
Speaker 3 (45:45):
Hard after being at home for a long time, and
then also you know, also you know, have children your home,
and yeah, it's hard to get it. But I mean,
I don't know that I was looking for some heels
the other day and they're not really available so much
in stores here. I know in Australia that they still
love a good heel, that the lady's over there, and
(46:06):
it does change the way that your body stands in
that with outfits and things. I think there's still a
place for heels if you can bear it. But yeah,
I think the days of you know, trotting around in
them all day long at the office of probably done.
And yeah with as as one gets older, you know,
like you have problems like ankle maybe and things like that,
(46:28):
and it's quite hard to be in them all day long.
So then you could have maybe if you still want
a bit of a heel, you could have like a
wedge maybe or.
Speaker 1 (46:37):
Either wedge saved me last summer I got a pair
of wedges and this is awesome.
Speaker 3 (46:41):
Yeah, I think the.
Speaker 1 (46:42):
Heels for me a family in the special occasions basket, yeah,
and more than heavy. But there's some great trainers.
Speaker 3 (46:48):
Yeah, and then it's still cool, right and like brogues
or loafers they have a bit of a heel, yeah,
loaf is cooliten heels they can be. They look cute.
They could be a little bit uncomfortable though, so you
have to shop around for the right pa Ones.
Speaker 1 (47:01):
Balot flat to cute. But I don't think they're that
good for you. There's just nothing, no support. No.
Speaker 3 (47:06):
I mean they look cute and photos and that and
they might be, but yeah, there's not nothing because you're
kind of feeling the pavement with your foot, aren't you.
Speaker 1 (47:13):
And I don't know, maybe if you wear them all
the time. I don't know, Mitchico.
Speaker 2 (47:18):
Has been wonderful to have you join the conversation. Thank
you so much for being our guest on the Little Things.
Speaker 4 (47:23):
Thank you for having me, Sir Francisca.
Speaker 1 (47:38):
That was amazing. I'm still going back to your intro
when you said, seriously, you only just last year brought
a pair of proper traxit pants, like loose, baggy traxy pants.
Speaker 2 (47:49):
No, because I've always worn leggings like We've always been
very active and we're running and walking in things, and
I have lots of pairs of long you know what
do you call them? Lycritites pants, and I've sort of
worn those with a big baggy sweatshirt. And to me,
I thought it was sort of a tree and that
was a thing I could get away with wearing that.
I just I don't know, I've just never worn they
don't do anything for me, the sloppy sweatpant except keep
(48:12):
me warm.
Speaker 1 (48:13):
But they just don't know anything for me. So I've
hooked You're not wear them now? Do you only wear
them after a cold swim?
Speaker 2 (48:18):
Well? I was, And then remember I did as I said,
I contacted you. It s like I've put the track
I've put the trak pens on and I slip them off.
I'm slopping down a. It's a slippery slope downhill.
Speaker 1 (48:30):
I just don't know what you must have fallen me
over the years, I've had dozens of tras. No, but
that's I don't know, it's I don't.
Speaker 2 (48:36):
I don't look at them on you and go oh,
I would never wear them or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (48:39):
It's just me.
Speaker 2 (48:40):
It's like, I don't wear jeans because I can't. They're
not comfortable. I don't find I can't find a pair
that are really comfy. I used to wear the skinniest,
tightest jeans once upon a time, and now I.
Speaker 1 (48:50):
Don't about jeans. Trees actually with her because we have
to have a back at some point. But the whole tight,
skinny jeans versus you know, high waisted, loose why leg
the wide leg? The leagues are getting so wide. But
I'm here for jeans, any kind of gene, any kind
of time.
Speaker 2 (49:05):
Put them on and see what looks good on you.
There's the thing A you just have to play around
with them like everything. And I think you know what,
I really liked the way Michiko just said, try things
on and how many times have I said to you, Oh,
I've never taken this off the rack and I put
this on and I love it to pieces. So we
need to be a little bit more venturous. We need
to try different styles, We need to try different colors.
(49:28):
We shouldn't be afraid of wearing something that we don't
normally wear. Do you know the one thing that can
often stop me from wearing something I don't normally wear
is when you do wear it and then all of
a sudden everyone makes boog fuss about it, and that
makes me feel really conscious.
Speaker 1 (49:39):
That's what she was talking.
Speaker 2 (49:41):
And that can prevent me from kind of stepping out
of my comfort.
Speaker 1 (49:44):
H yeah, but that's silly. No, totally, but I totally
I hear you, and I think a lot of women
are like that. There are there'll be women listening just
going what I've been wearing colors and fantastic fabrics all
my life. That's great, But if you have gone through
a phase of preps wearing a lot of leggings and
sweatshirts and things, it's a big deal to go out
and you know, put on the really bright frock. So
(50:08):
I think maybe if you see surround as we're looking
a bit brighter than usual. Maybe we've just taken that step.
Speaker 2 (50:14):
I'm reverting back because I've been all I've got is color,
and I'm reverting back to some more natural tones, muted tones.
Speaker 1 (50:22):
I'm going to go back and see how much of
a capture wardrobe I actually have already, and then I'm
just gonna have to suck it up some money. Well,
I don't know if I need to spend money. I
don't think you do. I think you need to do.
Speaker 2 (50:32):
Exactly what Michico said, find just half an hour on
the weekend and just pull out some random things and
try them all together and get different looks.
Speaker 1 (50:41):
Yeah, it might be you know a way of arranging
your will you have all your all your colors, have
it all in a roll of colors, which is the
way I do it, have it, And like these my
shirts and mush pants.
Speaker 2 (50:51):
And I love that hot advice of bring the attention up.
Put on an awesome necklace or some beads or some
great dangly earrings or something attention to something completely different.
I thought, Oh, that's something I can do that that
doesn't acquire a huge a.
Speaker 1 (51:06):
I love that one thing. Menopause did for me, which
I realized. I was thinking about this this morning. One
the one boob I have left is big, is bigger
than it used to be. Man, I'd love to have
to that size. I do, they would, I'd be in
like the really low v's. Just ladies. If you've got them,
whilst you've got them, enjoy them. How difficult has fashioned
(51:28):
for you been after change things? Yeah? Yeah, change things?
I mean I could have had the reconstruction. I haven't.
But I love strapless dresses. I think strapless dresses look
fantastical woman as we age, because often we still have
that definition around our clavicle and shoulders and things. And
I can't. I can't do it. I just can't figure
out how to do it. Maybe there is a way.
(51:49):
And as you know, I work out and get always
a pain in the ass. Yeah, but you know I
might do It's all right, It's fine, lovely.
Speaker 2 (51:57):
Now, have you got a little, a little idea for yeah, well,
at a moment of happiness or bring a little joy
into your life this week?
Speaker 1 (52:05):
Yeah, I think what I what's happened in the last
week for me is two out of three of the
children have who don't live in my home, have had
little wins that have had nothing to do with me,
you know what I mean, It's just like a little
like one of them was a genuine one, a team win,
and the other one was just just seeing a growth
(52:27):
of resilience. And one of the children who's been struggling
a little bit with something, and you know, something else
happened on top of that, and then I saw her go.
But actually I'm all right and work through the problem.
I mean, it might have been the Oliver Bergmann advice
I've been shoving in her neck, but generally speaking, and
just to know that that's just that little bit of
(52:47):
distance from the apron springs of apron strings of not
having to be involved in everything, but just getting to
watch and watching and joy. What about you? For me?
Speaker 2 (52:58):
My little tip this week, if you just one little
moment of happiness or joy, is to reconnect with someone
that you haven't spoken to for ages. It maybe a
dear friend and maybe someone that you're not so close
to anymore, but or that you just haven't had time
to contact or catch up with. And we've all got
friends who fall into this category, people we love dearly
but we do not see very often. Just because of
(53:20):
time and maybe place and things. A very old friend
of ours from university came to Auckland a couple of
weekends ago to have dinner and catch up with old
university friends and it was such a pleasure. It was
such a delight to catch up with him and other
people and it just reminded you, I don't know, it
(53:42):
just felt so good. So my thing is just just
take someone or just call someone that you've been thinking about,
but maybe you haven't. You haven't reached out to or
spoken to for ages, whether it's six months or six years,
just touch base and go hey, thinking of you and
just have a quick conversation connection. There isn't a happy
study in the world that won't tell you that our
relationships and connections are the most important things in our lives.
(54:06):
So that's my little tip for them.
Speaker 1 (54:07):
We love it.
Speaker 2 (54:08):
Hey, thanks for joining us on our New Zealand Herald
podcast series The Little Things. We hope that you share
this podcast with the women in your life. We can
all be a little bit more adventurous and confident.
Speaker 1 (54:16):
In what we wear. You can follow this podcast on
iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and for more
on this and other topics. Head to inzed Herald dot
co dot nz and we'll catch you next time on
the Little Things
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