Archive for September, 2011

The lack of clothing for older women in fashion magazines and high street stores is a puzzling phenomenon. As we get older, we should be feeling more confident and comfortable in our own skins. So why would we want to start dressing like wallflowers at best and bag ladies at worst? Here at Freemans we’re firm believers in the art of fashion after fifty, and we’ve got the outfits to prove it!

There’s something curiously 80s about the concept of power dressing. It instantly brings to mind images of big shoulder pads and even bigger hair – think Melanie Griffith in Working Girl or Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda in 9 to 5. Naturally, fashion has moved on a little bit since then, but there are still plenty of occasions when a woman has to make a professional impression, be it a job interview or a business meeting. Here’s our guide to power dressing 2011 style!

For those special occasions when you really want to feel like the belle of the ball, every woman’s wardrobe should contain at least a couple of long evening dresses. A floor length gown or a chic maxi dress can make any number of statements, from tastefully understated to attention-grabbing glamour. Here’s a selection of the best pieces we’ve seen in our catalogue this season.

There are lots of reasons to love Adele. Not only are her soulful tunes dominating the charts around the world, she’s also a fantastic role model for curvier women. Unlike the parade of stick-thin Hollywood models, she’s remained true to herself in the face of her incredible success, and blossomed into a bona fide style icon. Here’s our guide to recreating her distinctive look.

Every diva needs a signature style, and for Adele it’s all about black. Reliance on black dresses can be a bit of a cliché for plus sized women, and if you get it wrong you could wind up looking overly gloomy or gothic. However, Adele has shown admirable fashion nous by choosing pieces that reflect current trends. She recently rocked the MTV Video Music Awards in a stunning below-the-knee piece with a decorated bust. This is a perfect choice for her body type as it draws the eye upwards and hangs beautifully over her hips thanks to a high-cinched waist.

Good fashion sense is all about choosing the right look for the right occasion. This means finding the perfect balance between looking great and dressing in a way which is both practical and appropriate. The change of seasons can play a significant part in this. Back in summer you might have been able to turn up to a fancy party, or head out for a night on the tiles in a fancy above-the-knee evening dress and no-one would bat an eyelid. As the colder weather starts to draw in though, there’s a danger you’ll just look like you haven’t noticed that it’s minus three outside and your knees are turning blue – not a great look.

Let’s be honest – Pregnancy can be a wonderful time in a woman’s life, but it can also be seriously stressful, particularly if it’s your first time and you don’t know quite what to expect. Adapting to the changes in your body can be particularly intimidating, but the good news is that there’s no need to surrender to shapeless and unflattering clothing for 9 months. With a little creative dressing, you barely need to adapt your style at all, particularly in the early months. Here’s our guide…

When it comes to stylish, versatile autumn-winter daywear, Cardigans really are a girl’s best friend. It doesn’t matter what the occasion, a ladies cardigan can always be utilised to add an extra layer to your outfit, looking equally good over women’s tops, ladies dresses and trousers..

Planning your finances can be daunting and we all put off making those key decisions in life. That’s why Freemans have teamed up with Key Retirement Solutions to bring you a collection of fantastic financial offers and great savings to help get you started.

Here at Freemans we’ve been engaged in a heated debate this week. Women who get dressed up to do the school run – admirably dedicated to glamour, or just plain nuts? It’s all very well seeing pictures of an immaculately turned out Elle McPherson strutting her stuff on the way to and from her children’s swanky Notting Hill school, but for the majority of us there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to make that much effort.

Let’s face it; September isn’t the most exciting month of the year. In fact at times it can be downright depressing. You officially can’t kid yourself that it’s still summer anymore, the nights are getting darker, and Christmas is still months away. If you’re starting to feel the beginnings of the winter blues, why not book a last minute holiday to cheer yourself up?