Whether it was suggesting WWII as a theme for the Brownie's parade at the age of six (they chose Hawaiian) or sewing triangular inserts into my jeans to make them into flares as a teenager I've always been obsessed with the past. A longlasting love affair with charity shops has given me the retro wardrobe of my dreams; from flamboyant scarves, and fairisle knits and to dusky florals nothing was too kitsch or old-fashioned for me.
But when a charity shop assistant mistook my dad for my boyfriend last Christmas I started to think about my dress sense. Now my dad's irish genes have kept him looking younger than his years but I don't think the fact I looked like Miss Marple helped one bit! Slightly saggy woollen tights teamed with a tweed skirt, spool-heeled brogues and a tweedy trench conspired to make me look older than my years.
I've always enjoyed being the grannyish one in my circle of friends but as I reached the wrong side of 25 I started to worry my fetish for the past was leaving me looking, well, a bit musty. Bringing out my summer wardrobe was the last straw; with the seeds of this autumn's sportswear trend starting to germinate in my mind my wonderful wardrobe of vintage finds was starting to look more like costume rejects from the Terry and June show.
Which brings me to the present, I've got no wish to get rid of my entire wardrobe but I do think my look needs updating. So in the spirit of Laura's Brave New World experiments in fashion I'm going to try dressing like a 25-year old and like a maiden aunt in BBC period drama. Now I'm not going to swing from Dot Cotton chic to Olsen twins mainstream, so you won't see me in ugg boots, denim minis and footless tights, or metallic leggings but next week I will attempt to update my look with neon tights... Watch this space!
Isabelle O'Carroll writes for Brandish and Catwalk Queen and loves the smell of museums.
