Lisa’s makeovers: ‘I’ve got a new job at 60, what should I wear to command a room?’

Scroll down for full details of Michelle’s outfit - Kristina Varaksina

For the third instalment in our new series of reader makeovers, Michelle Drake, 60, from Tottenham, came seeking a workwear refresh to suit her new role.

She (like Julie Ingleson, a mother of the bride, and Caroline Steinsberg, a new grandmother) was one of the many subscribers to The Telegraph’s Fashion Newsletter who applied to take part. Each received a styling experience day in London with our team.

Michelle’s dilemma

Michelle before her makeover - Kristina Varaksina

Michelle says:

I applied for this makeover just before my 60th birthday. At the same time, my work was changing into a new leadership and teaching role, which has meant I am giving a lot more in-person presentations for the charity I work with. Much of my work used to be on Zoom, meaning I could get away with looking smart on top, but wearing tracksuit bottoms or jeans below. Whereas I used to work with people on a one-to-one basis, now sometimes I’m speaking to groups of 30, so I feel I want to present a more polished, effortless-chic look to complement my new role. While I’m confident in my work, it would be great to have a boost outwardly. My taste is quite low-key; I don’t like to dress in a stand-out, ‘look-at-me’ way, so I’m hoping to find a look that meets the brief of a presenter without making me feel uncomfortable.

Lisa’s solution

Michelle arrived at the studio looking contemporary and clearly knew what suited her shape. However, she wanted to take things up a notch because of her new role, which sees her giving talks to big groups of people.

We talked about what dressing to amp up your air of authority looks like in 2026. It’s a subtle vibe shift from a few years ago that’s really about fine-tuning elements, including streamlining your silhouette, focusing on simple but healthy-looking hair and finding a light-touch make-up routine that will make your facial expressions easier to read from a distance or on Zoom.

Tailoring is the obvious starting point, but less obvious is the kind of tailoring. A good blazer is a winning card, but personal stylist and founder of Think Shape, Anna Berkeley, showed Michelle that a relatively slim, drapey top can also feel tailored, provided it has a sharp shoulder line. This has neat shoulder pads that help frame Michelle’s neck and face – handy when she wants an audience’s undivided attention – and a flattering, slimming waist. This top is also belted, which adds to the sense of structure.

Suits can still pack a punch, but you may need to soften the overall effect by wearing it with a T-shirt rather than a collared shirt, and flat shoes rather than heels. A few sculptural pieces of jewellery add personality without clutter. Dialling down the degree of formality slightly can read as more rather than less confidence these days.

Colour-wise, Anna noted the soft contrast between Michelle’s pale skin and silvery hair tones, which was the cue to avoid high-contrast pairings. “No black and white, for instance – that would look harsh,” says Anna. Instead, she found a darkish burgundy, which still looks as though it means business, but which overall created a much more interesting impact when worn with the cream trousers, which had a navy stripe in them.

Michelle stressed the importance of comfort. Who doesn’t? It’s not about sloppiness, but no one feels comfortable when they’re wearing something constricting or in painful shoes. It’s about finding well-cut clothes in the right fabrics that won’t crease or reveal more than you want.

Continuing with the soft approach that suits Michelle’s delicate colouring, Oonagh Connor, our make-up and hair artist, applied a light, creamy foundation and blush, adding some lip gloss with a trace of berry rather than going full throttle on the burgundy, which can be ageing. Michelle is ultra-low-maintenance when it comes to her hair: she cuts it herself. To give it a more groomed look, Oonagh sprayed it with Living Proof Anti-Frizz and blow-dried it smooth. The change in Michelle’s posture when she saw the results of the style makeover was astonishing. She really did radiate confidence.

Michelle’s verdict

I really enjoyed meeting Lisa and the fashion team and bouncing ideas off them. I could do my old job in jeans and a nice T-shirt – I didn’t feel like I had to put the face on and the clothes. But I do think getting dressed can add another layer of confidence, especially when you’re presenting, so I came looking for some inspiration. This new look is unusual for me, but I feel really comfortable in it. I like the relaxed structure that it adds, without being too try-hard. I also like this padding on the shoulder and will definitely look for more clothes that show the arms a bit more. My other big takeaway is to make the most of my height and wear wide-leg trousers – and that can make you stand up tall, just as much as any really formal suit. I’ve come away from the experience with lots of new ideas for how to wear my clothes, but still feel like myself.

Michelle wears...

Kristina Varaksina

Shell top, £45, John Lewis; Cotton linen blend trousers, £69, John Lewis; Suede shoes, £129, Nobody’s Child; Earrings, stylist’s own. Similar available from YSSO; Resin bangle set, £35, Boden

Photographer: Kristina Varaksina; Hair & Makeup: Oonagh Connor; Photographer assistant: Olivia Kurowska; Hair and makeup assistant: Jes Standish; Styling assistants: Sophie Tobin and Alice Dench; Commissioner: Caroline Leaper; Video: Hana Kelly

The readers featured in this series received an outfit from John Lewis as part of their prize.

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