Are wedges really flattering over 50? Our fashion expert reveals the secrets to not looking clunky or hefty - and why you should NEVER wear espadrilles!

You mightiness deliberation nan mobility 'Can you deterioration a wedge complete 50?' requires only a elemental yes aliases nary answer. But, arsenic is often nan lawsuit successful nan discourse of over-50s dressing, nan reply is 'Of course, providing...'

I've fixed nan matter plentifulness of thought since, backmost successful February, almost nan full beforehand statement of Chloe's Autumn/Winter 2024 catwalk show were wearing nan label's precocious wedge, achromatic leather open-toed sandals. That was nan sound of a starting weapon signalling not conscionable that wedges are back, beforehand and centre of fashion, they're for women of each ages and styles.

Of nan statement up, only Jerry Hall wasn't wearing them. This mightiness person been because she's gangly to commencement with, aliases they didn't activity pinch her outfit, some of which are imaginable drawbacks of nan wedge — they activity champion nether longer hemlines aliases conscionable peeking retired nether flares.

But it could person been that Jerry, who is 67, has immoderate reservations astir wedges post-50. I wouldn't person worn them, either, and I'm a wedge superfan who bought my first brace (or my mum did) successful nan 1970s.

While nan style comes and goes, I mislaid religion successful nan shoes successful my early 50s and passed connected my Chloe woody sandals, Miu Miu suede slingbacks and nan stonking strappy espadrilles, convinced I was past wedge-wearing age.

Almost overnight I went from being delighted to deed nan dancefloor successful my wedges (in lawsuit you don't cognize this, they are fantabulous for weddings and parties because they springiness you longer legs, ne'er threat disconnected aliases descend into nan grass, and supply a fat marshmallowy cushion for you to creation connected each night) to emotion for illustration nan jolly greenish elephantine successful them: clunky, hefty and Too Much.

Now I realise that this was not truthful overmuch a wedge issue, but a tallness of wedge issue. These days I want to consciousness elegant — I'm 5ft 9in, truthful I mightiness not consciousness that if I were shorter — and much secure, which intends nan wedge needs to beryllium astir 7 cm high. (Those Chloe Maxine wedges person a 12.5cm wedge — a fraction disconnected 5in).

But it's also, moreover much importantly, a tonal issue.

What's brought maine backmost to nan style successful nan past 5 years aliases truthful are plain achromatic wedges, pinch a peep toed and an ankle strap, nan shoes that established a caller blase era of nan wedge.

Most of nan clip they're plain suede aliases leather, for illustration nan Maxines, and Marks & Spencer's canvas buckle espadrilles (£29.62, marksandspencer.com) aliases Zara's cork wedges (£49.99, zara.com) are nan precocious summertime equivalent.

Wedges are subtly different from heels and that's why they're truthful useful. There's thing particularly summery astir them — partially because galore are wood, cork aliases jute-soled — but besides location are much occasions erstwhile a bottommost feels excessively general and precious, and a wedge feels conscionable right. Heels consciousness for illustration dressing up; wedges for illustration adding flair.

I would never, for example, put connected precocious heels to caput to a friend's barbecue, but I mightiness gaffe connected a wedge nether my jeans for illustration Marks & Spencer's ankle-strap tan suede espadrilles (£41.25). These are a spot excessively precocious astatine 9.5cm, but bully for wearing pinch flares.

Heading to a summertime statement I wouldn't fuss pinch heels, but I'd deterioration a achromatic cheesecloth dress and Rixo's golden sandal wedges (£196, rixolondon.com). And connected vacation I wouldn't dream of taking heels (cobbles, sand, heat, and I'm not really dressing up successful nan evening), but immoderate cork slides (£130, fitflop.com) put maine correct successful nan Mamma Mia mood. And truthful comfy.

I for illustration a ray tan suede open-toed mule for looking for illustration I've made a spot of an effort nether trousers (£41.25, marksandspencer.com) and were I shorter and wanting to smarten up an mundane dress, I'd beryllium tempted by Penelope Chilver's leather pumps (£159, penelopechilvers.com) — a batch for illustration nan precocious espadrilles nan Princess of Wales wears pinch summertime dresses. (As it is, I for illustration to instrumentality pinch nan overmuch little (6.5cm), ankle-strap style and you tin get those from John Lewis (£69, johnlewis.com).

For weddings, espadrille wedges are nan caller precocious suede courts, but I still deliberation they look champion connected 20-somethings (a spot excessively boho for us).

I would ever opt for suede aliases velvet alternatively — velvet is good successful summertime providing nan arena is going connected into nan evening. Again, Chilvers tin proviso (£189).

By nan way, if you deliberation you tin negociate a precocious wedge and want to beryllium up of nan curve past Dune's Kaiden sandals (£95, johnlewis.com) are not astatine each dissimilar to those Chloe wedges, and £800 cheaper.

You're ne'er excessively old.