The Gen Z fashion trends over-50s can wear too… and the EIGHT clothing items that’ll make you look old, revealed by fashion expert SHANE WATSON

We all know the saying: if you were wearing it first time around, then give it a miss this time.

But the new rule is ignore that rule – just proceed with caution. Don’t try and look like the younger you, and on no account copy your daughter. Unless, that is, it’s something on the ‘Trends That Happen To Be Fine For 50-Plussers’ list.

There’s a short list of these every season, the clothes and accessories that your daughter and her generation wear that, happily, we can wear, too – and without any risk of looking like that other well-known expression: a try-hard.

Here are eight you should try, and what to steer clear of… 

A LITTLE SUEDE JACKET 

This summer’s huge hit jacket looks like something Jane Birkin would have worn in the late 1960s. It looks as good on a 70-year-old as a 17-year-old – we’ll just be wearing ours with trousers rather than a mini skirt.

The M&S version is the most coveted by fashion insiders because it’s the best quality for the price (£279, marksandspencer.com) and you’ll have it for ever, but we’d settle for H&M’s round-neck, boxy, cropped style (£182, hm.com) to wear with white jeans and a sweater.

FOR DAUGHTERS ONLY: Matching suede sets, especially suede shorts and short-sleeved tops.

 BRIGHT TRAINERS

There’s almost no need to include this one – we’re so far down the line with trainers even our prime ministers wear them.

But just in case there’s any 50-plusser out there still labouring under the illusion that zany, bright, 1970s retro trainers are just for the youth, you couldn’t be more wrong. Go as bold as you like. The new bargain brights on the block are Tu at Sainsbury’s pink trainers (£18, tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk) or try cardinal red and white Vans for a change (£14, primark.com).

FOR DAUGHTERS ONLY: High-tops and cloth trainers with distressed frayed seams.

 SOMETHING TULLE OR LACE

Edgy young people are showing off their (crepe) knickers under sheer organza dresses decorated with flowers. Obviously none of us over-50s want to go that far. But something with the look of tulle – light and gauzy and sheerish – is a prettifying summer trick that still works for us… providing it isn’t actually see-through and you wear it sparingly.

If in doubt, go for a top. M&S does a fly-away feathery tulle and sequin-embellished sleeveless top and matching skirt (top, £45; skirt, £49.50, marksandspencer.com), but the top worn with something plain is the smart choice.

A textured top like this would look lovely with tailored trousers, white or black, and add interest to a trouser suit.

The rule with lace is nothing clinging or bridal, but to stay on the safe side I would steer clear of lush mantilla-style lace and opt either for something with lace inserts or open-cut broderie anglaise.

A cream polka dot lace tulle blouse by Me+Em isn’t cheap (£175, meandem.com) but it covers quite a few of the bases; lightweight tulle, sheer dotty sleeves, lace inserts, lace cuffs and it finishes on the hips so you can wear it out over jeans or tuck it into trousers or an A-line skirt. All the prettiness with none of the exposure.

Wyse London also does a selection of lace insert blouses, like the Otti (£125, wyselondon.com), and Boden has an open-weave rikrak-trim V-neck top (£46, boden.com) in lots of colours that is pretty without being too girlish.

FOR DAUGHTERS ONLY: Lacey all-in-ones, lace dresses and lacey tights.

CORK WEDGES 

Speaking personally as a child of the 1970s, I am always entranced by a certain sort of platform: low platform suede boots; not-too-high tan suede slip-on cork platform mules; and cork or wooden wedge sandals.

This is not a knee boot season, but the platform wedge sandal in all its forms is very much back on the scene.

If you’re old enough to remember having a crush on David Cassidy, you may find yourself wondering if it’s OK to dive back in. The answer is: yes it is, providing you can walk in them and you don’t wear them with dungarees and an embroidered Afghan jacket.

Clean, simple, modern with a nod to the 1970s is the look we’re aiming for.

The pair your daughter will be keen to borrow are Zara’s ankle strap studded wooden wedges (£55.99, zara.com) your instant longer skirt uplifter – in more ways than one.

The ones you could spend a lot of time in this summer are M&S’s tan suede slip-on platform mules (£49.50, marksandspencer.com) or the slightly higher version at 3.5 inches from Zara (£59.99).

FOR DAUGHTERS ONLY: The almost-could-be-Chloe crossover wedges from M&S (£55). When the celebrity front row at Chloe all wore their Maxime sandals, the only exception was the one woman who modelled such platforms the first time around – Jerry Hall. It may be wise to pay attention.

WAISTCOAT (WITH NOTHING UNDERNEATH) 

A lot of women these days have arms that are as toned, if not more so, than they were 20 years ago.

For these women, a long-line fitted waistcoat with a curved crew neckline and buttons down the front (£119, aligne.co) is a great idea to wear with trousers – smart, modern and flattering.

Waistcoats that are low cut in front, cropped on the waist or denim are best avoided. Think Annie Hall not Anna Nicole Smith.

FOR DAUGHTERS ONLY: Ethnic or cropped waistcoats. Denim waistcoats worn with jeans.

 NEW PYJAMA CO-ORDS

I think this is a fashion to leave to younger women, unless you’re on holiday. That said M&S’s Autograph linen brown and cream striped set (shirt, £59; trousers, £59) are the least pyjama-y and most elegant of the lot, and I’d be tempted to wear them on a hot summer day – just not to the office.

Most other stripes and prints look too ‘just got out of bed’ and we can’t risk that.

FOR DAUGHTERS ONLY: All the rest and all the silk.

 BUBBLE HEM

If you’ve seen the pictures of Mary Berry in the April issue of Vogue, you’ll know that in one she’s wearing a turquoise trapeze mini dress (over trousers) with a bubble hem.

Not to be confused with the puffball, this is the softer silhouette for summer and one that, in spite of its off-putting name, is perfectly wearable for all generations.

M&S’s red balloon hem top and matching skirt (£29.50 and £39.50, marks andspencer.com) is a summer co-ord that hits the modern-ways-to-look-feminine bullseye.

There’s just enough volume in these pieces to give them a soft and pretty feel but their simplicity and bold colour cancels out any girliness. Very also has a good, very reasonably priced co-ord in summery yellow.

FOR DAUGHTERS ONLY: A full-skirted, tiered boho dress.