At 62, I was terrified of looking like "mutton dressed as lamb". This is a letter about the dress that was pretty, grown-up and exactly right for my husband's big night
Six things this floral dress gets right that the "too young" and "too old" racks never did, from a Perth woman who wanted to look lovely at her husband's retirement do, without trying too hard.
Maggie Whitfield · 62 · Perth, WA · 5 min read
I'm 62, and in August my husband Ray retired after thirty-eight years as an electrician. The lads from work put on a do at the bowls club: a barbecue, a few speeches, the whole family and everyone he'd worked with since 1988. And I had nothing to wear. Everything in the shops was either too young, with low necks, short hems and skinny straps, or too old, the sort of shapeless thing you'd buy for a funeral. A phrase I'd read in a magazine kept going round my head: mutton dressed as lamb. I didn't want to be mutton. I didn't want to be wallpaper either. So this is not a review. It's a wife who stood next to her husband on his big night and felt exactly right, telling you what she wore.
The dress I'm writing about is the Georgina from Perth Boutique, a small Australian boutique that dresses women our age. Mine is the blue floral: a deep navy dress covered in a fine scatter of little white flowers. My friend Lorraine found it, as she always does, and sent it with: "Pretty but proper. Exactly you, Mags." When Perth Boutique later asked if they could share my letter, I said yes, on the condition I could be completely honest in it.
Here's what I worked out in front of all those racks. Looking your age was never the problem. The problem was that most dresses only come in two kinds: trying too hard, or not trying at all. What I wanted was something in between: pretty, cheerful and feminine, but grown-up enough that I'd feel like myself.
I didn't want to be mutton. I didn't want to be wallpaper either.
The Georgina is the first dress I've found that sits in that lovely middle ground, and having worn it to Ray's retirement do, my sister-in-law's birthday and a christening, I can tell you it comes down to six things.
A grown-up neckline
The neckline is a soft, rounded one. Nothing low, nothing that needs a camisole underneath, nothing that has you checking yourself in the mirror all night. It's modest without being prim, and it sits nicely with a simple necklace.
Bent down to hug every one of Ray's apprentices, some of them twice. Didn't once worry about what was showing.
Sleeves that cover the tops of the arms
The short sleeves cover the part of the arm most of us would rather keep to ourselves, without being hot or heavy. No cardigan needed, no wrap to keep hitching up, and plenty of room to raise a glass when it's time for the toast.
Raised my glass for the toast with my arm in the air and didn't give it a second thought. That's new.
A length that's neither mini nor nightie
The skirt falls below the knee, which is the length I'd been hunting for. It's long enough to feel graceful and grown-up, but it moves when you walk, so it never looks heavy or dowdy. Sitting on a low bowls club chair for the speeches was no trouble at all.
Sat through six speeches on a plastic chair. Stood up for the last one, which was Ray's, and the dress fell straight back into place.
Shape without cling
It's an A-line with soft pleats at the front and a subtle waist. That gives it a lovely feminine shape, but it skims over the tummy instead of clinging, so it's flattering without being tight anywhere. The fabric is light and breathable with a slight stretch, so I was comfortable all evening.
Sausage sizzle, a slice of cake and a glass of bubbles. Comfortable from the first speech to the last song.
A print that's pretty, not girly
The print is a fine scatter of little white flowers on deep navy. It's pretty and feminine, which is what you want at a celebration, but the navy gives it a grown-up polish, so it's never childish or twee. It reads as elegant rather than young, and it looks wonderful in photos.
The photographer from the club newsletter asked to take one of me and Ray. It's going in the next issue. I look happy. I look like me.
Pockets, sizes S to 3XL and a proper size guide
There are discreet pockets in the side seams, which turned out to be handy for Ray's speech notes, in case he froze. The Georgina comes in sizes S to 3XL, and in four prints: blue floral, which is mine, the deep navy with little white flowers, plus red floral, yellow floral and light blue floral. There's a proper size guide on the page with the length, chest and sleeve of the dress in centimetres, and it says that if you're unsure, go a size larger. I measured, I checked, and it fitted first time. If you're still not sure, ask Perth Boutique's team before you order. They're happy to help.
Ray didn't need his notes. He spoke beautifully. I cried anyway, and I had a tissue in my other pocket.
This dress, against the "too young" and "too old" racks
Most of us have been stuck between those two racks for years. Here's the difference, laid out plainly.
Low necks, or buttoned-up collars
Skinny straps, or heavy sleeves
Too short, or down to the ankle
Clingy, or a shapeless sack
Trying too hard, or not trying at all
A soft, rounded neckline
Short sleeves that cover the tops of the arms
A graceful length below the knee
A flowing A-line with a subtle waist
Pretty, proper and exactly right
About the price
The Georgina is $49.95 at the moment. The website says it's usually $166.50. I won't pretend I know what a dress like this ought to cost, but I've spent more than that on outfits that made me feel like I was in fancy dress.
You can split it with Afterpay, which works out at four payments of $12.49, and Zip is there too if that's what you use.
Shipping was free with Australia Post, tracked and insured, and there's a 30-day money-back guarantee if it isn't right. With Ray's do two weeks away, that's what got me to press the button.
a size guide
to choose
Australia-wide
If you're 55, or 62, or 70, and you've been stuck between the "too young" rack and the "too old" one, this is the dress I'd hand you myself, while your size is still there. Not mutton. Not lamb. Just you, looking lovely.
Maggie
Georgina · Elegant Floral Dress
Afterpay: 4 payments of $12.49 · Zip available
- Flowing A-line with soft front pleats and a subtle waist
- Cut to give gentle tummy coverage
- Light, breathable fabric with a slight stretch
- Discreet side pockets
- Short sleeves, a rounded neckline, and a length that falls below the knee
- Sizes S to 3XL · size guide on the page · 4 prints
- FREE shipping Australia-wide & 30-day money-back guarantee
End of season sale on now, while stocks last.
About the writer. Maggie Whitfield is 62 and lives in Perth with her husband Ray, a lemon tree that produces more than they can eat, and a standing Thursday coffee with Lorraine. She worked as a dental receptionist for twenty-six years and is now, in her own words, "saying yes to things."
This page is an advertisement for Perth Boutique. Individual experiences may vary. Perth Boutique · Free shipping Australia-wide · 30-day money-back guarantee.