Lynn Dell

Owner of Off Broadway Boutique

www.boutiqueoffbroadway.com

When one thinks of Lynn Dell, ‘glamour’ immediately comes to mind.  In addition to being an esteemed fashion designer, stylist-to-the-stars, and former television host and producer, she is the owner of Off Broadway Boutique – the cornerstone of chic fashion for women over 50 on the Upper West Side for the last forty years.  She inspires complete strangers to marvel that she “is the most glamorous woman that they’ve ever seen,” according to Barbara Siegel, wife of off-Broadway impresario, Scott Siegel.  Also remarking that audience members at the Town Hall shows that Lynn attends always compliment her on her fabulous sense of fashion, Mr. Siegel highlights exactly why she is The Countess of Glamour!

What was your upbringing like has it made you the person you are?

Seeing talent in the form of my stunning mother, my fashion plate of a successful aunt, and my father as charming artist definitely influenced me towards embracing glamour. 

 Did you always have a career path in mind or did you just do what you fancied?

I’d originally wanted to be a top model, a great actress, or a movie star like Lana Turner, however I had a bigger love for fashion that resulted in my discovery of my fabulous sense of style.  In getting constant compliments on my outfits, I realized that I was better off paving my path in fashion that has led me to my current career. In turn, I feel as if I’ve come full circle with my boutique because I oftentimes come in contact with great actresses, movie stars, opera singers, and top models when they stop by to shop in my store.  I believe that it is a continuation of my earlier aspirations, as Off Broadway Boutique is the show that nevercloses.

What has been your biggest career highlight?

My biggest career highlight is happening right now because I am 78 years old and having my picture being shown around the world.  Fashion blogs chronicle my every move, while I am earning a new generation of fans through my videos on YouTube.  I am more secure than I’ve been in a while and am over the moon about being able to inspire women to get out of the box at my age, as it is truly a wonderful thing.

Have your priorities changes a lot since you have got older as regards work?

They’ve definitely changed, as I love work so much that I don’t feel as if it is actual work.  I love fashion and I love to shop for fashion.  I love travelling the world to scout for new fashion and jewelry collections and definitely get a thrill from seeing my customers get excited over the treasures that I bring home to my shop.  If this wasn’t the case, then I would not be doing what I do.  I am extremely fortunate because I have a wonderful business that I adore.

Are there any jobs you would rather have not taken?

No, as I believe that every job has been a learning experience for me.  From modeling to acting to acting as my husband, Sandy’s, switchboard operator, I’ve gotten a great deal of invaluable life experience that I wouldn’t trade in for anyone in the world.  Besides, the job that I’ve got right now is the best one that I’ve ever had!  I get to style my own clothes, create my own jewelry, and inspire women over 50 to embrace fashion whenever they shop at my boutique.  I consider myself to be a style maven to those who dare to be chic at a mature age.

 If you could start again what would you like to be?

If I could start again, I would like to be a United States ambassador so that I could spread goodwill, happiness, and inspiration all over the world.  I believe that the world has no borders and would be receptive to embracing those wonderful qualities.

What’s your typical week like.

My typical week consists of what I do every day, which is living my life to the fullest.  I usually start my day off by making my list of things that I need to do for the day in my home office. Following that, I meet up with a good friend to take in an art exhibit or a fashion exhibition.  Sometimes, I visit showrooms and fabric stores in the Fashion District.  After getting enough inspiration from those, I then make my way over to my boutique.  Once there, I sit in the front and hold court at a round table while meeting, greeting, entertaining, and learning from my customers.  I am very fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful and talented fashion coordinators, so that helps tremendously in having a great day.  After work, I wind down by attending the theatre or the opera and going out to eat with my friends.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by everything – from traveling around the world to attending fashion shows and events to walking around the streets of New York - as I believe that the unique experiences teach one’s eyes to see more things through an artist’s lens.  Considering myself an artist, I can say that I’ve learned invaluable things just from watching different people in the street.  Living in New York definitely places me at an advantage because I am blessed to see a diversity of people traipsing through the city streets, for New York City showcases the best and the worst of fashion.

Do you dress differently now from say your early thirties?

My style of dress has changed from when I was in my early thirties, as I no longer wear a size 8.  Instead of wearing the tight and sexy clothes that I used to, I now wear clothes with flowing silhouettes and geometric shapes that cover my problem areas.  I also add big and bold fashion jewelry, a unique hat, or an interesting and fabulous scarf to add pizzazz to my look.  I choose to wear flamboyant accessories are always vivid and edgy as a way to effectively express my motto– accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. I also take more chances by always dressing for the theatre of my life these days because I have the unshakeable confidence that I didn’t necessarily have before.

Do you try and keep fit?

I am not very good at staying fit.  However, I do my part by walking to and from work every day, though I do not limit when it comes to the type of food that I eat.  With my gaining weight through the years, I realized I and other stylish women over 50 needed fashions that were flattering to our figures and launched the One Size Fits Most collection at Off Broadway Boutique. In styling every single piece in that collection, I see to it that they are figure-flattering so that women like me can wear them all the time. 

 How do you relax?

I like to relax by either indulging in a soothing massage or spending a lovely evening out with friends.

 What are your wardrobe staples?

Definitely and always black.  Black pants and a black top together is definitely a signature look that I like to accentuate with a flamboyant accessory with bright and vivid colors – basics that I strongly believe that every woman should have in their fashion arsenal.

 What is in your make up bag?

My makeup bag is filled with everything that I wear on my face each day – my lip gloss, base, pencil, eyebrow brush, eye shadow, lipstick, Health and Beauty Dead Sea Minerals moisturizing cream and tweezers.

 Would you consider plastic surgery?

I can’t say that I’m sure that I would or wouldn’t, though I have to say that I am a terrible patient who is afraid of going under the knife.  Besides, I like the way that I look just fine and I get plenty compliments about my looks.  I use the great Health and Beauty Dead Sea Minerals moisturizing cream to preserve my complexion.

 What makes you feel glamorous?

I feel that glamorous every day every time I get dressed.  I am a huge believer that glamour is a sense of being, dressing, and making yourself up.  Glamour isn’t about wearing low cut clothes, as it is in the confidence that you project in a flattering outfit.

Your secret beauty item?

Sleep.  I have eight hours of it every night and it does wonders for my looks.  Although, I also use the Health and Beauty Dead Sea Minerals skin care products to keep my face fresh and Vaseline to keep my lips smooth.  I definitely make sure to  laugh a lot as well, as doing these keep me looking and feeling like my best self.

 Any life time ambition unfilled?

One of my life’s ambitions is to write a book, though visiting the places that I have never been before also ranks high on my list.  I also used to have a talk show called Positively Lynn back in the 80s and would love to bring it back to television or be a talk show host again.

Is there one shop or place which you can always pick up a great outfit or accessories?

Other than my boutique, I don’t have a particular place to shop.  I love to shop at  the exotic places that I visit around the world.  I purposely seek out special jewelry pieces that speak to the artist in me, for they provide a unique allure that can never be duplicated.

If you could speak to yourself on the eve of your 21st what pearls of wisdom would you impart........

 If I were able to visit myself on the eve of my 21^st birthday, I’d advise myself to not be afraid.  That I should go

out and see the world because you only get one shot in life.  Don’t worry about what people say or think of me,

as I should only be living for myself and myself only.  I’d also add that I am my own special creation and I should

always express myself as such.  

Susannah

25 Broad Street

Bath, Somerset

BA1 5LW

++ (44) (0)1225 445069

www.cloudsandangels.com

This shop is a real treasure trove of a shop packed with the most exquisite items , the shop is owned by Sue Holley who started off with a market stall and then moved up to a shop.

 She is a “fabric-a-holic “she has collected antique fabrics for over 25 years.

This boudoir cum store is a collection of individually designed handmade bags, cushions, lined wicker baskets and sachets all made with antique and vintage fabrics collected over the last 25 years., you’ll also find painted French furniture, decorative pieces, dolls, faded rose eiderdowns, quilts, French linens, floaty lace and passementerie for those key pieces or finishing touches in your home.

In the basement workshop sue creates on off pieces which included cushion, patch work quilts, throws and clothes hangers.

So if you’re looking for something different or unique for your home then head to Susannah or if you want something for the hard to please friend this is perfect.

Leah Hardy

I am a freelance journalist, writing primarily about health and beauty, though I also write about fashion, parenting, and other issues. I write for  The Daily Mail, The Express, The Times, Telegraph and have written for magazines including Red, Harpers, Grazia, Mother and Baby and many, many others.

I am 48 and have a 20 year old stepdaughter and two other children aged 10 and six.


 What was your first job?

My parents had no money so I always worked. I was a babysitter, a nanny, sold cosmetics and was a dental nurse, all before I left school. My first job in journalism was as a secretary on a new launch for the TV business in the early 80s. I turned up before anyone else, and left after everyone else, wrote unsolicited stories and basically forced my editor to give me a job on the newsdesk.


How did you climb the career ladder

I had always had a passion for magazines, so applied for any job that would get me more experience. I worked at TV Times as features editor for a year, then landed a job at Company magazine. I left to work on various other glossies, and when my old editor at Company went to edit Cosmopolitan, she hired me back. It shows the importance of keeping in touch with people who can help you along the way.


What was your biggest career highlight?

Editing Cosmopolitan was pretty exciting, but then again, so was going freelance nearly ten years ago so I could combine the work I loved with raising two children. I adored the freedom, and still do.

If you could start again what would you like to be?

I’ve always had a hankering to be an interior decorator. I love doing up houses and have a house magazine addiction.


Has anyone at work ever inspired you?

The one thing I miss about freelancing is the buzz of interacting with fun, sparky colleagues. I’m still friends with many of mine, and learned so much from them all, even and maybe especially, the tricky ones.


How much has your style changed over the last few years?

I was a total fashion victim in the 80s, fell in love with vintage and florals ten years ago, but now I’m much more pared down and classic.  I favour plain, easy shapes and solid colours .  I am always conscious of wanting to look modern but not trendy, which is important as you get older. Comfort is vital too, especially as I work from home.


What are your wardrobe staples?

I adore trench-coats in pale colours. They are so flattering, especially  to an hour-glass shape, and never out of date. I have four! I love dresses, particularly my navy jersey ones from  www.meandem.com , and a black shirt dress from www.landsend.co.uk worn with a wrap belt from Comptoirs Des Cotonniers. Also stretch dark navy narrow jeans from Lands End Canvas, worn with Breton tops and a navy blazer, plain navy poncho or wool peacoat. I like a touch of bling, so am rarely without my gold ballet pumps from French Sole, or my big gold bracelet from Banana Republic (which has fabulous accessories) and right now I’m looking for a pair of good chunky black ankle boots. Top Shop has some good ones at amazing prices, though I hanker after the biker boots by Ash.  I don’t care that much about it-bags. I like big ones, ideally metallic, though the spotty blue and stone Cath Kidston holdall my mother gave me for Christmas gets a lot of use too. My wardrobe is really small, but I still don’t wear everything in it.


What is in your make-up bag?


Always an SPF. I like Skinceuticals Mineral Defence or La Roche Posay’s SPF50 tinted moisturiser. However,  a dermatologist recently recommended Sunsense (available from Boots) to me, which is only £14, has an SPF of 50, hydrates and has a touch of colour. I often wear Mii mineral makeup foundation, which makes people think I have perfect skin, and has even more SPF, and I’m a Bobbi Brown addict. My rosy cream blush, my everyday No-Smudge mascara and my lip gloss (in rose sugar)all come from there. But my star product is the Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner in Caviar Ink. I’m a complete klutz but even I can put this on straight, plus it lasts all day. Love it.


Plastic surgery yes or no ………

Yes, in moderation. Last year, for a feature, I had a minor thread lift procedure with an amazing surgeon called Angelica Kavouni to get rid of sagging around my jawline. I was very happy with the result. That’s it for now, though I might consider an eye lift in the future. Heavy eyelids run in my family, so much so they can impair vision.


What is on your ipod?


I’m a technological dinosaur, plus I am a freak who very rarely chooses to listen to music. I am, however, addicted to Radio 4, and listen to it as I work on the DAB radio my husband gave me for my birthday.


What are you reading at the moment?


I’ve just finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett, which was absolutely compulsive reading,  I’m now reading Heresy by SJ Paris, an historical thriller in the CJ Sansom mode . I’m also re-reading Homer’s The Odyssey, which I last read at 16 so I can tell the stories to my son, who is ten. However, my guilty pleasure whodunnits and in times of stress I always take refuge in


If you could speak to yourself on the eve of your 21st what pearls of wisdom would you impart.........

“Wear more bikinis. You will never have a body like this again. Date nice boys, they aren’t really boring. When you get offered a free five star trip around the Far East, take it, that job would have waited.  Buy a house then sell it in early 2007…..”