To dress like someone's nan... at 30?

[MotherofaCat]

But of a lighthearted thread so no offence intended to nans. I imagine you are all must trendier than me!
Anyway I was having a moan about clothes to my friend and she told me the shops I go to are for woman twice my age and that her nan has some of the same Monsoon tops as me.
I don't follow fashion so shop in high street stores like Monsoon, Wallis, Oasis and Banana republic. I dont have a style per say but dress smart casual for my work which sometimes spills in to my personal life.
I know It was an off the cuff comment but has really made me question my style. Are these 'nan shops'? What shops should a 30 year old professional be shopping in?

Andnone I shopped at both Oasis and Bonmarche last week! I got a couple of very flattering holiday playsuits and a maxi dress from Bonmarche and some skater dresses from Oasis. Yes there was plenty I wouldn't wear from either shop too but that's more to do with shape of the clothes, colours, length etc than a blanket rejection on basis of demographic.

Bravissimo do blouses & tops for the fuller bust

I wear classically styled clothing. I have an outfit which was bought for me many years ago. It does not show any age at all. I am happy to wear it any time. I dont really wear things like leggings not even for garden work. I dont have the right shape for that.
I think it is more important to feel comfortable than to be high fashion.

Monsoon was the place for poshish high street boho back in the day. It seems times have changed. I haven't checked it out for ages but must have a look.

(Could l also add an unrelated shout out to @Dora26. Have PM'd you)

At 30 I suppose she means you should be showing off your legs still in above the knee floaty dresses or wearing jeans / shorts / short skirt and T-shirt anything someone older can't get away with wearing.

I'm 34 and fat which means I can't go in a lot of shops because they don't stock my size. I have not stepped foot in places like top shop, river island since I was about q8, mainly due to the cost of the clothes.

I buy my clothes from Primark, evans, curvissa, yours, bon marche, matalan and supermarkets.
Most of the mums I'm friends with at school also buy their clothes from supermarkets too
I definately wear frumpy clothes meant for older people than me but I've never been into fashion anyway

I'm in my 50's and can't stand Monsoon, it isn't old just naff.
I shop in H&M, New look, Primark, River Island.

Wallis is ok for some stuff, but I don't buy much from there.

I'm 30 and most of my clothes come from Primark or George at Tesco! Mainly it's a money thing tho, I would love to have a few outfits from a lot of the shops mentioned in this thread.

I'm 39 and would say I'm too young for Monsoon. But then I do also know people my age who are grandparents. So who knows. Who cares.

I'm 40 and don't buy clothes often but if I do it's usually Primark, supermarkets and got a load of stuff for returning to work from Bon Marche a few months ago. I really hate spending money on clothes though!

My mum, who is a grandmother, is much smarter than me and has lovely bits from Seasalt, East, M&S etc.

I never thought of Monsoon as "old", more that it's for formal wear rather than daily. I had a dress from there I wore to two university balls and a fancy 18th many years ago.

I’m 58 and like Wallis for their petite maxi dresses and jumpsuits but not much else. Like M& S jeggings. Also Next.

Oasis is definitely not a 'nan' shop

I'd imagine that their target market is women in their 20s and 30s

Where does Jigsaw fit into this....just bought a load of stuff and I'm 50...

I think the reason I tend to assume some shops have an older customer base is they're more expensive - so Jigsaw or L K Bennett or whatever are places I associate either with women who have high-flying jobs, or my mum (mid-60s) splurging! I used to love Jigsaw but it's got so pricey. Monsoon's gone the other way - I'm sure I remember it being a bit boho but quite nice quality, when I was a teenager, and now it all looks like a scratchy orange/brown fire risk.

East was definitely a shop I saw lots of older ladies in, too - maybe that's where people went after Monsoon went to shit? Though I think it's shut down now.

I'd definitely second Bravissimo for shirts (and dresses) if you're large in the bust.

I'm 34 and probably wouldn't shop in the places you've listed to be honest. I tend to stick with Warehouse, ASOS, New Look, H&M, Zara, Topshop. I will occasionally go to Next for work stuff but don't like their casual clothes.

Im in my 50s .Shop at good old M and S.Must be one of only a handful of their customers left!.My daughter is 31 and shops in Top Shop .Online and even Primark. Shops like Monsoon and East and so on seem to cater for a wealthier, more professional client maybe.If you are happy with what you wear that is the most important thing surely?

I’m a similar age to you and have never shopped in any of those stores in my life. I just wouldn’t venture towards them and do consider them a bit old fashioned. I tend to buy most of my clothes from ASOS, a few bits from New look or Boohoo too.

I get the odd T-shirt from M&S (I like their Breton tops) and H&M too.

I’m 41 and shop in Oasis, Warehouse, Topshop, New Look, DPs, and Miss Selfridge as they have a petite section.

I wear 1930s/40s vintage style - blouses and skirts, cardigans etc. Don't do short sleeves or sleeveless dresses, I was a prolific self harmer as a teenager so too many questions get asked.

I have literally just started wearing other colours than black, as a result of going into an amazing charity shop and spending £20 on a bag of random bright things. I would never in a million years go into a shop and pick things "because I fancied them" at full price, just in case I hated them when I got home or felt self-conscious or silly (I love the 50s New Look and used to wear a lot of full skirts and net petticoats, right until a senior manager at my old workplace asked if there was "an event". He meant it nicely, he meant was I getting dressed up for something particular, but I was so horrified at the idea that I looked as if I was wearing some kind of theatrical costume that I've never worn another....)
£3 on a skirt though and if it looks awful when I wear it out, I upcycle it into patchwork :-D

It depends what ypure buying and how you style it really, I think it's a bit of an odd comment for a 'friend' to make- deliberately making comments that were never going to be received positively and are not intended as compliment or necessary honesty is quite mean spirited IMO.

I'm 30 and don't go in those shops to be honest but I dont think that means a lot- my day to day clothes are mostly h&m, zara, primark, mango, &otherstories and ASOS. All of the above also sell things I wouldn't touch with a barge pole so I really think it's what you buy.

Haha I've never really thought about it before, but I think a lot of my clothes are nan-like. I buy what I like tbh, and tends to be a mixture of bolder brands like Lazy Oaf and then Monsoon etc. As long as you're happy and comfortable embrace it!

I’ve been dressing like a nana since I was about 14. So almost 30 years. Every 5-6 years or so the kind of stuff I like comes back in fashion.

GET TO PEPPERBERRY (Bravissimo clothes) for blouses and tops that are cut specifically for bigger boobs

I think ditching the stereotypes is probably the best way forward.

Lots of people of various ages like the clothes you describe and find them useful things to have in their wardrobes.

Your friend was however wrong to use ageist language. And it's also rather off to assume that certain brands (other than things like Saga or over 50 life insurance, which have an actual age restriction) are only for certain ages.

I feel rather sorry for your friend tha she is so narrow and limited in her thinking, but do realise that in RL you can't always challenge people as you should. But I do hope you can find ways to encourage her to be less rigid in stereotypes.

But there is a brilliant page about what is suitable for over30s to wear. You might find inspiration:

warningcurvesahead.com/2016/06/04/24-things-women-over-30-should-wear/