10 lessons Anna Wintour has taught us about fashion (especially if your’re over 70)

Whether it’s the perfectly calibrated bob or the oversized Chanel sunglasses, Anna Wintour has used the same aesthetic anchors for well over 30 years.

The Lesson: In your 70s, having a signature – whether that’s a specific haircut, a bold lipstick, or a particular frame of glasses – creates a sense of identity. It tells the world you know exactly who you are, which is the most stylish thing a person can be.

There is a persistent myth that women should ‘tone it down’ as they age, trading vibrant colours for beige and grey. No thank you. Anna Wintour does the opposite of this. She is almost never seen in all-black; instead, she opts for saturated jewel tones and vibrant prints.

The Lesson: Colour brings light to the face. A bold burgundy or an emerald green can do more for your complexion than butter yellow. Don’t fade into the background. Top tip – grab a girlfriend or a family member and go and get your colours read – it’s a great experience and you’ll find out which colours best suit you.

Anna – can we call her just Anna? It feels slightly wrong – has a penchant for midi-length dresses. It is the perfect silhouette if you’re wanting to look elegant, and it also provides some coverage, too. 

The Lesson: Find a hemline that hits between the mid-calf and the ankle. It’s a length that works with both summer sandals and winter boots.

If you look at photos of Anna arriving at fashion shows, her coat is often the main event. She treats outerwear as the outfit itself – often opting for leather trenches, animal prints, or embroidered wool.

The Lesson: In your 70s, your coat is often the first (and sometimes only) thing people see. Invest in ones you love. As Anna proves, a great coat can hide a multitude of style sins underneath.

One of Anna’s most daring moves is mixing patterns – pairing a floral dress with a snakeskin boot or a checked coat. It’s a gamble that pays off.

The Lesson: Mixing prints shows everyone you’re still playful, you’re creative and you’re not afraid to take risks. The trick to doing it in your 70s? Keep the colours in the same family. If your floral dress has hints of blue, a blue-toned geometric scarf or jacket will pull the look together seamlessly.

Find your shoe and stick to it. For decades, Anna wore the same custom Manolo Blahnik slingback shoes in a nude tone that matched her skin perfectly. When the weather turns, she would switch to switch to a tall, stacked-heel boot.

The Lesson: Stop suffering for fashion. Find a heel height (usually 2–3 inches) and a silhouette that works for your feet, and buy it in multiple colours. Anna was on to a good thing because a nude shoe elongates the leg. 

You will rarely see Anna without her crystalline collet necklaces, often layered in two or three rows.

The Lesson: Large-scale jewellery draws the eye upward toward the face. Instead of dainty pieces that can get lost, opt for statement necklaces or earrings. They act as a focal point and can make even a simple sweater look high fashion.

Everything Anna wears fits perfectly. There is no sagging at the shoulders or dragging at the hem. Of course, she has the best tailors in her contacts book, but investing in yourself never goes out of style. 

The Lesson: Our bodies change in our 70s, so a local tailor is your best friend. Taking in a waist or shortening a sleeve to the sweet spot of your wrist can make a high-street buy look designer.

While reinvention is a popular buzzword, Anna’s refusal to change her look is what makes her iconic. She isn’t worried about what’s trending on TikTok this week because she has defined what is in for her.

The Lesson: There is a deep confidence that comes with wearing a uniform. It eliminates decision fatigue and ensures you always feel like yourself. If you love a specific silhouette, buy it in every colour and wear it for the next ten years.

Anna’s job is to edit, and she applies that to her wardrobe. She tends to avoid fussy details – she rarely wears ruffles, messy layers, and definitely no fringing. 

The Lesson: Clean lines are the hallmark of sophisticated aging. Look in the mirror and ask, ‘”Is this detail adding anything?’ If a scarf or an extra layer feels like it’s too much, it probably is. Lean into the less but better philosophy.