No I don’t mean from too many gin and tonics but just generally lacking in confidence. I think there are certain times when all of us feel like that – even me – and most people who know me would be quite surprised at that statement. I think being around the 50 age group is quite daunting, especially where clothes are concerned. However great your figure is, no-one wants to be accused of having the 16-61 syndrome (you look 16 from the back and 61 from the front!) I’m quite small in build and have been able to get away with wearing the cheaper end of the market for a long time but I’m making a conscious choice to move away from that. The credit crunch may be out there but one good thing that comes out of that is we can buy the more expensive clothes at reduced, and therefore, more affordable prices.  As you know from my previous blogs, I am a Vivienne Westwood fan and I had a great time picking up some bargains in her Newcastle sale last weekend and I had fantastic service to boot, which warranted a huge gift of a box of choc’s from me the next day. I also received great customer service in Newcastle’s M&S too (a very welcome surprise). I’ve justified the price tags because the pieces won’t date, I certainly won’t be bumping into lots of other women in the same outfits (you need attitude to wear her designs successfully) and they make me feel fabulous. You still wonder though, will other people laugh at me, will they understand the outfit?  But you know, life is too short to worry. Hold your head high and wear your clothes with pride. As long as you know they suit you – physically and mentally – you know you’ll be a wow.  I had a private yoga session yesterday and my teacher helped me get into crow. If you don’t know what it is, you balance on your hands with your knees on the backs of your upper arms, bending forward so your feet are in the air. It’s scary, as you can easily topple and break your nose. On asking how I felt – answer very fragile – she said it was good to feel the fear and do it anyway ( see Susan Jeffer’s book for more on this subject). That’s how I feel about being 50. We all need to change a little and it can be very scary but you know what, we’ll all come out the other side a better (dressed) person if we follow our instincts and make the right choices. Living in the past is not the answer. Be prepared to be curious.