Carol Vorderman on style :: Carol Vorderman

Carol Vorderman - Carol Voderman's style tips - Fashion&beauty - allaboutyou.com

Carol Vorderman has an MBE and three decades of broadcasting experience under her belt, but is still best known for her form-fitting dresses (not to mention lightning-fast arithmetic skills) on a little show called ‘Countdown’. Though the mother-of-two insists she wasn’t its main attraction – ‘Whatever I wore wasn’t going to add to the ratings; it was about the love of it’ – 26 years of playing the number game on camera will teach you a few things about fashion as well as figures. Today, looking immaculate in a fuchsia pink shift and vertiginous nude heels, Carol talks to us about how her style’s evolved since the days of power suits and why women should throw out the rule book when it comes to their wardrobes.

How would you describe your personal style?

‘Eclectic. All people see is Carol in a tight dress but that’s not how I always am – you can’t walk very far in high heels! When I’m in London I wear dresses because that’s part of my job, but I’m always in trousers and flat boots when I’m home in Bristol and walking around the city. I think that’s true of a lot of women; there are times for dressing up and times when you just want to dress down.’

How has your style changed over the years?

‘If I was in my 20s I’d be in buttock-skimming shorts and high heels on all days, but obviously things change.’

So what’s the best way for a woman to dress her age?

‘I don’t think it’s about dressing your age because there are women in their 40s who look better than girls in their 20s and women in their 50s who look better than women in their 40s. I hate rules; I absolutely hate them. ‘When you hit the age of 47, thou shalt not have long hair,’ decreed the ‘Daily Mail’. I don’t think so!

That was how it was when my mum was growing up and it’s all out of touch now. I remember 15 years ago when I was 39 and wore a mini dress to the Baftas. You’ve have thought the universe had collapsed – ‘Woman, 39, wears mini dress!’ – but that’s normal now for a lot of 39-year-olds. Things have changed so dramatically and I just don’t like the ‘thou shalt not’ rules – it’s for a woman to decide what’s right and wrong for her. We all know our own strengths and weaknesses.’

You were on ‘Countdown’ for more than 25 years, did people ever comment on what you wore?

‘Always. They commented on Richard Whiteley’s jackets, which were part of the show. They weren’t intended to be but they were. I love looking back at old photos and thinking, ‘Oh my god, I wore that!’, particularly in the '80s when it was shoulder pads upon shoulder pads. I was very conscious that it was an afternoon show so I didn’t want to dress in a tarty way. It wasn’t that sort of programme. There were three generations watching it, the nanas, grandchildren and sometimes the parents, so Countdown wasn’t like that.’

What are your three favourite pieces from Isme’s new collections?

‘I love the pink shift dress (left, £39), such a versatile shape and it comes in monochrome as well. The red floral dress (£59) is gorgeous and great for a summer occasion and I liked the fit of the white lace dress (£39) – it’s really flattering and also comes in powder blue, the hot colour for next season.’

Carol Vorderman is the brand ambassador for Isme's transitional and autumn/winter 2014 collections. Image: blue blouse, £20, pencil skirt, £20, red peep toe heels, £30, all www.isme.com.