STYLE AT EVERY AGE…

There’s no age restriction when it comes to looking good, as Bonmarché Style Consultant Mark Heyes tells us! In celebration of Mother’s Day, Mark treated three well deserving mothers and their lovely daughters with a mum-and-daughter makeover. Each duo was styled by Mark and challenged to wear something slightly outside of their normal comfort zone in order to help them feel more confident with fashion.

LAURA AND JULIE FULLERTON

“It’s easy to stay in your safe zone, but it feels good to step out of it,” says Laura (left). As founder of Fitty London, a monthly food and workout subscription box, fitness gear is her go-to. “‘Casual and Lycra’ is how I’d describe Laura’s look,” says her mum Julie (right). “When she dresses up, she looks incredible.” Julie, a European technical manager for an engineering firm, is more open to new looks. “Mum always experiments,” says Laura, who lives in Balham, London. “Recently, I saw she was wearing a denim shirtdress. I hadn’t even tried that trend yet!” Julie, who lives in Rudgwick, West Sussex, says it’s hard not to be influenced by trends: “There’s so much choice today. Clothes are more affordable and accessible.” But despite this, both women felt it was time to shake things up.For our makeover, Mark encouraged Julie to try print. “Today has taught me to open my mind,” she says. “If I see something in a shop that I’m drawn to, I should try it on. Wearing florals is new for me, and I love it!” Equally, Laura’s boxy Aztec-print jacket is a first. “It’s sharp and stylish, and feels more fitting for attending business meetings than my usual attire,” she says.

ALISA AND DEBORAH BARTER

“My mum’s style now? Practical. My mum’s style 10 years ago? Eclectic and diverse, with lots of killer suits in vibrant colours,” says Alisa (left). After Deborah (right) left her job in HR to become a private dog groomer based in Norfolk, her wardrobe changed. “I’ve never been happier in my career,” she says. “However, I do feel it’s had an effect on what I wear. I’m now an occasion dresser.” Mark dressed Deborah in a vibrant burnt-orange shirt and tailored skirt, a look that Alisa loves. “The high waist on the skirt and the heels are really flattering. We’re both short, so anything that elongates our figures is an advantage,” says Alisa. “It’s also great to see Mum in colour again.” Deborah agrees. “I’m inspired to be open to new colours and look at something different.” Similarly, Alisa is delighted with her look. “I used to be obsessed with bright colours and prints – so much so that I exhausted them and reverted to black and grey. So colour is the one thing that my wardrobe is now missing,” she says. “I remember Mum telling me, ‘Don’t be self-conscious, and wear what makes you happy.’ If we all adopted that approach, we’d be far more vibrant, fashionable and confident people.”

KIM DAVIES AND ANNE MABBORT

“There are lots of benefits that come from shopping together,” says Kim (left), about her mum Anne (right). “We encourage each other to try something different.” Anne has two daughters and is inspired by what they wear: “I love how they dress, and I’ve just bought a biker jacket like Kim’s.” “And she looks great in it,” enthuses Kim, a hairdresser. “Mum always looks good – she’s more daring than me.” Apart from resisting lemon yellow, “as it washes me out”, Anne is open to trying new trends. “I used to wear hot-pants to the office in the Seventies, so nothing can ever seem more daring than that!” Mark styled her tall, slender figure in a loose, fluid silhouette. “I thought something like this would make me look bigger – but actually, it does the opposite,” she says. “I love the colour, and the fabric is amazing. It feels too comfortable to be this stylish.” Kim is equally inspired by the new additions to her own wardrobe. “I’m very attached to the jacket – it’s soft yet structured, and the print gives it real standout,” she says. “I don’t wear orange often, but I can see that by teaming them with neutral clothing, it’s easy to wear vibrant colours every day.”

Be involved in the next Bon magazine makeover by emailing your name, age and a recent picture to magazine.editor@bonmarche.co.uk with the subject ‘Makeover’.