Over 50? This Is How To Wear A Knit This Christmas Without Looking Like Your Granny, By SHANE WATSON

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When is a knit a sexy knit? When it’s soft and fluffy and you wear it with nothing underneath (or the flimsiest of layering tops), ideally with some skin on show.

The new, sexy knits are tactile sweaters you can wear during the day and then style up at night.

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The purpose of this knit is to take over where the party top left off: you wear it with wide-leg trousers or smart tailored jeans or a plain skirt.

Here are my tips and the best High Street finds for wearing knitted cardigans and jumpers this festive period while looking sexy and elegant.

Stepping into H&M’s sister store Arket this week, I was faced with a mannequin wearing a black, fluted midi skirt and a waisted, long-sleeved, crew-neck ivory sweater as light as feathers – actually an alpaca wool blend (£85, arket.com).

The combination looked striking, modern and rather sexy. You could push up the arms, wear it with flat pumps or boots in the day and at night add some silver slingbacks and dangling sparkling earrings. Me+Em has a pair of crystal drop earrings (£50, meandem.com) that will instantly put the party in an outfit. What could be easier?

Why a knit and not a silky blouseor something sprinkled with sequins? Because a knit is less dressy, modern and over-dressiness when you’re over 50 tips you into Lady Mayoress territory.

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As for sequins and spangles, the rule – if you want to look fashionably elegant not Christmas baubletastic – is below the waist, if at all.

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The right sexy knit is refreshingly simple and by extension youthful. And the hot look of the moment – if you can bear to bare your arms – is a fluffy, cropped on the waist, short sleeved sweater.

There’s something about showing off a bit of arm in winter, providing they’re nicely moisturised, that’s uplifting and attractive.

That’s another reason why a high-necked, long-sleeved blouse isn’t always the best look on our age group: you vanish underneath it. Even six inches of arm peeking out from bracelet sleeves, is an instant anti-ageing hack.

For a sexy knit to work, the sweater must be neatly fitted, neither clinging nor boxy, skimpy or thick.

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Marks & Spencer does a fuzzy textured, midnight blue crew-neck, short-sleeved cardigan (£36, marksandspencer.com) with a silky pussy bow tie at the neck, giving it a flirty Parisian charm.

It looks great with plain black or navy wide trousers and flat silver or rhinestone embellished pumps.

There are lots of these short-sleeved and elbow-length knit tops in the shops.

Try Arket for short-sleeved cardigans in grey and navy (£65) and H&M does a fine knit short-sleeved top (£15.99, hm.com) in nine colours.

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If you prefer sleeves, and I do, M&S does an alpaca-blend, toffee-coloured cardigan with gold buttons (£55).

The advantage of cardigans is they can be unbuttoned to reveal a lacy layering vest underneath: M&S’s satin, lace-trimmed V-neck cami top (£23) will do the trick or, if you want something higher cut, Jigsaw’s modal cami (£32, jigsaw-online.com).

Bare skin on show and a gold chain necklace works, too.

Another alternative is a sleeveless knit, should you have Kristin Scott Thomas’ arms and if the central heating allows. Massimo Dutti’s turtleneck, wool-blend knit vest in a warm gold (£69.95, massimodutti.com) looks smart, especially under a suit.

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Bear in mind that with a sleeveless knit you can wear a blazer on top and only take it off when the occasion demands.

Even so, I’m leaving the arm-baring to the younger ones (they’ll be wearing knitted tops with cut away sleeves and halter necks over the Christmas season) and sticking with a cardigan over a silky top, maybe embellished with a brooch or a fitted, long-sleeved knit with a bit of sparkle.

A knit with shine gives trouser suits the right cocktail party upgrade.

Me+Em does a long-sleeved, fine rib jersey top woven with metallic fibres for a glimmering, black-gold effect under a jacket (£85). If you want to slink it up , add one of its really useful silk satin evening scarves (£95).

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M&S’s metallic sparkly crew-neck cardigan in chocolate (£23) is an instant evening problem-solver.

Mint Velvet’s silver metallic-tone cotton knit sweater with elbow-length sleeves (£89, mintvelvet.com) is chunkier but would dress up velvet trousers or even cream jeans.

You may have noticed there are lots of embellished sweaters out there, including M&S’s starburst brooch-embroidered white sweater (£30). I like it, I’m just anxious about the cleaning issues – and for me this is luxe-y not sexy. There’s a difference.