Makeovers for the older woman - 2

Having decided to renew my wardrobe, I had determined to make a major change from black to brown for my base colour. I used to look terrific in a little black frock - in my 20s! At 80 the colour does little for one's complexion, and I wondered why I had lived with it for so long. No very radical change of retailer though, as I had decided to begin cautiously. I started with my regular stand-by mail order firm, on whom I rely for basic comfortable underwear and leisurewear, but whose clothes could in no way be called the cutting edge of fashion. I bought my first pair of brown trousers and a brown top, and was delighted with the effect.

Then I moved on to Marks & Spencer and Debenhams, still on the cautious side. From them I ordered beige cardigans and more brown tops. The style of one of the cardies didn't suit me too well, but was fashionable, and also the exact shade to go with a second pair of trousers I had bought. So I remodelled it, changing the position of the fastenings so that they did up at the neck instead of over the abdomen. I was rather proud of this, although it took me months of intermittent attempts to work out just how to do it!

Finally, more daring, I looked at Kaleidoscope, but their stuff is mostly too young for me. I have had fun trying on things which were impossible, and actually managed to buy another top. I nearly bought a conventional suede jacket as well, but after receiving two faulty items, I had to give up, because they no longer had them in stock. But I still tend to get carried away by the glamour and glitz of the stuff in their catalogue, and have to be firm with myself not to send for something more.

One of the drawbacks of doing this by mail order, is that, as with black, there are so many different shades of brown which don't go together, so one has to order more and more items in an attempt to get good matches. A great deal of overbuying went on, followed by endless trips to the post office with returns. Also of course I have had to buy a pair of shoes, a handbag, and one or two necklaces. But I think that the frenzy is more or less over now, and that I have enough new clothes to settle down with, at least until (and unless) I win the lottery.

I'm not sure that brown isn't becoming a bit boring though. I could fancy some real colour too ......