Fashion Q&A with Twiggy

I thought that she was going to actually answer the questions? What's that all about then? Is she scared of the gransnetters?! [scary face emoticon]

I only ever wear trousers, mostly crops or capri styles. I'm 5'8" tall and size 12/14 - I want to wear nice boots in the winter but nearly all of the styles available need you to wear leggings or "jeggings" - I have thin legs and look like Max Wall in these!! How can I wear trousers with these boots ( I hate Uggs by the way) I "got away" with it last year by rolling straight jeans up to just meet the top of the boot. I've just about given up on M & S myself, in trying to be stylish they completely miss the point of what style is - simplicity, sublety, cut and fabric. I am over 70 but have no wish to identify myself with M & S style.

Twiggy always manages to look trendy without being too "down with the kids." Could she please explain how easy it is to marry the best of today's fashions with a personal sense of appropriate style. Perhaps she could also identify what of the current crop of fashion items she likes the best.

To qualify - this is not prurience. I'm studying loneliness, and well-known, successful and beautiful people seem to suffer at least as much if not more than most of us. Twiggy has always seemed down to earth and sane, but I wonder if life in the spotlight produced any bleak times for her. Any remedy she found would be brilliant to know.

What I'd love to know, if she'd be prepared to answer, is whether Twiggy ever felt lonely - I mean for more than a short while – and if so, when was it worst? Crucially did she find anything to reduce or get rid of her lonely feelings?

I really like shoes but they divide into two types, imho - sexy and unwearable and practical but ugly.

There is a sub-category of practical, which is masculine and tough - like biker boots - which at least make you look not like an old lady but don't always work with dresses and skirts. Or even trousers.

So I want to ask if it is physically impossible in an era of nuclear fusion, laser surgery and worldwide instant communication, to make a shoe that is sexy, stylish and doesn't make you feel like screaming after an hour.

And if so, where it is.

OK, I know this is an old chestnut, but why oh why aren't there more dresses with sleeves?

I find bolero type cardigans work some of the time but they don't always. Will some designer please bring the sleeve back into fashion!

Hi Twiggy,

I really love fashion and I want to go on looking stylish as I get older. But if I shop at Top Shop I find the clothes are too skimpy and the fabrics are a bit cheap, which doesn't work on an older body. You just can't show as much flesh after a certain age. Have you got any thoughts about how to go about looking as though you're not stuck in a time warp without either a) spending a fortune at net a porter or b) making people mutter about mutton and lamb?

Twiggy, you were my all-time favourite judge on America's Next Top Model (my guilty pleasure!).

What was it like to appear on the show? Did you enjoy mentoring others to do what you'd been so successful in?

Do you think all your years in the fashion industry has made you more aware of what people really want? Some would say it's a disadvantage (you don't, after all, get models who are short, fat or lumpy and bumpy) I'd love to know whether you have actually found it helpful?

My question has two parts if that's ok. Firstly what made you want to go from modelling to designing? And secondly was it difficult to make the switch?

Did you have a specific brief from M&S when it came to designing your range?

miceelf, i will join your revolution if it means i dont have to dress like my grandchildren! the lack of choice for us wee ones is limited, and i agree with yummygrannys words, why is it so hard to dress women of our age and size, smart, comfy, warm and classy?

Matson, yummy granny, we are sisters! How nice to find some sensibly sized women. The world is designed for the overgrown oversized and powerful people. Small sisters of the world unite!

I echo nanadogbodys sentements wholeheartedly in looking smart and
being warm etc, with emphaise on everyday wearabilty and also occasionally
smarter outfits etc would be good.

Why do M and S do such boring business clothes?
Surely there is a market for having skirt/trousers/dress in the same fabric and then a range of non-boring jackets in the same fabric to complement different figures. I took my friend out shopping for a new work wardrobe and a blank was drawn in M and S.
And why do M and S still do peculiar colours like super-acidic lime/yellow?

I miss Trinny and Susannah too! They did such wonderful makeovers and they had their own issues (one rather curvy, the other completely flat chested).

I agree with MiceElf. There is so much emphasis now on catering for larger ladies that we 'little ones' are now the ones being overlooked! All shapes and sizes should be catered for, not just larger sizes. I was a 10 in the 60s/70s and am now an 8 or even a 6 (because the names of the sizes have changed, not my size), but I just can't find the smaller sizes in age-appropriate clothes because it's assumed we've all expanded; however, I find that more women of my age keep fit and slim than younger women do. I would love to see sassy, fun clothes for older ladies taking account of skirt length and cover for arms (whether they be wobbly, chubby or scraggy - they still need a bit of cover!), but designed in a clever way that looks as though that was part of the design, whatever your age. Also, I want to ask when will designers realise that today's 60 year olds were grooving in the swinging 60s - we're still grooving and we really don't want now to be in elasticated waists and beige! As ever, we just want up to date fashion, but tweaked a little, in a non-obvious way, to accommodate bulges and wrinkles. There's such a huge market out there and I find it incredible the fashion world hasn't woken up and worked out who their older customers are. We are not our grannies!

Dear Twiggy.- I have followed your progress for the last 40 years. You look great and your modelling is impressive. However, I just feel M&S is loosing a bit its way - I feel the clothes are a bit drabby - the designers need to develop their drawings on design a bit more there is something there that will not attract me to enter M&S. Take a look a other designers/retailers which are a bit cheaper and have a lot more flair.
Your always admirer Twiggy - I used to watch you even when I was in South America!

I'd love to know where to find an elegant shoe for a wedding which I could wear for more than half an hour........... small or medium heel and preferably squidgy insides to keep feet happy. Any ideas?

looking at our demands twiggy. you are going to have your work cut out pleasing us all, can you fix it?x

Dear Twiggy, I'm 5' 4" and size 14., and the same age as you.
I am the face of Mrs Average, you are the face of Mrs Fashion.

I need clothes that flatter my ageing figure, hide the bumps and my elbows.
You probably don't have bumps to hide and can just go for fashion.

I need to go shopping, look after the grandchildren, and I need clothes that are serviceable.
You need to look fashionable.

I need to walk the dogs, meet my friends for a coffee and pick the grandson up from school. I need to look smart and I need to be warm.

Despite all this I still want to look 'good'. Can we not have a range of clothes that fulfill our needs please?

Please?

dear twiggy, i,m a 61 year old girl ,5ft tall size 6-8 , nothing in per una range or m/s range fits. shopping for jeans / trousers is a nightmare. i would have thought in your designs to find something suitable. who are you aiming your range at? [ confused]

I also tried on the blue jumper with the fair isle yoke, also in the indigo range, but it looked awful on my large bust. As do many of the long mid thigh jumpers but I found a blue fair isle thigh length v necked cardigan in a small local private shop which is really nice and flattering.

I know that a large chain can't cater for a specific individual but when I see smart people in the street (of a certain age) they are seldom wearing the latest fashions , more often a smart well-fitting plain jacket or coat dressed up to look fashionable but these basics are hard to find.