To ask what do you consider timeless clothing?

[letsjog]

Hoping for traffic to see lots of opinions!

What pieces would you or do you have in your wardrobe that are always "in" and look lovely regardless of the current trends?
Be it shoes, jackets or general clothing.
I'd love to hear some examples as I'm in the process of adding a few things to my wardrobe and would really like to go for timeless and classic staples (both everyday and formal/occasion wear) that will stand the test of time rather than be out of fashion in a year or so.

So can I ask the wise MM community what would you recommend I look for?

Trinny and Susannah said that if you had a gap between the top of your knee high boots and the hem of your skirt, you should fill it with "fun tights, like fishnets". They also told you how wide the holes on your fishnets should be, depending on your shape.

Whatever you thought about them, I never saw them get it wrong....

I suppose that just because something is "classic" or "timeless" doesn't mean you have to like it. By nature it's likely to be boring...

I have a lovely pair of heeled peep toe shoes that look great with fishnets (I wear the smaller fishnets as I’m short)

They do not look good with sheer tights or bare legged

With painted red toenails of course

Anything that suits your style, shape and colours! Avoid buying something just because it's trendy if it's not "you".

Nothing is timeless! Cashmere cardigans, come on! Frumpy frumpy frumpy.

@nordica

Anything that suits your style, shape and colours! Avoid buying something just because it's trendy if it's not "you".

And avoid buying something because people tell you it's timeless and classic - especially if it's dull as hell and makes you feel like you came from another decade.

@missbunnyrabbit

Nothing is timeless! Cashmere cardigans, come on! Frumpy frumpy frumpy.

Cardigans are so hard to get right - being cashmere really does not improve the style much does it? Just makes the whole purchase a bit riskier...given the big jump in price.

Yes a cardigan can look really good

Just slightly wrong shape gives it a whole different look

I keep mine for work

I think Trinny and Susannah also said that fishnets were more flattering on thicker legs than plain tights, as long as the mesh wasn't too small. Certainly seems to be the case with me.

Did someone really write fishnet tights? Timeless doesn't mean Moulin Rouge!

@NormanStangerson

This is just one timeless outfit. Skinny jeans and a slim fit but not tight crew neck fine knit sweater. Team with ballet flats, white sneakers, black sneakers, flat knee high boots, flat over knee or biker boots, as per your preference. It’s such a basic look and a bit Kate Middleton but depending on colours you can dress it for anyone.

How can skinny jeans be timeless? Style of Jeans go in and out of fashion all the time.

I was going to say nothing is timeless too!

People saying “slim trousers” - well, you would have looked a right frump in slim trousers in 1976 when everyone was in flares, or in 1992 when people were in peg tops or 2002 when low rise were all the rage. Your slim trousers would be out of style.

Plus, nothing comes round in exactly the same way, which makes “classic” clothes look old fashioned.

As a pp said, the only way to look totally timeless is to pick an era and dress is a purposefully “vintage” way, but this only works for trendy or youngish people. For someone like me in their 50s it just looks as if I haven’t been shopping since the millennium.

[quote Cocomarine]@LemonRoses what makes an identical piece of jewellery that one woman has bought and one woman has been gifted, better than the other?

The gifted thing is just romanticising!

Have something that is meaningful to you personally is lovely... but it doesn’t make it any more “classic” or “timeless”.[/quote]
One is inherited and the other was, as you say, ‘bought’. New money v old .

@IrmaFayLear

I was going to say nothing is timeless too!

People saying “slim trousers” - well, you would have looked a right frump in slim trousers in 1976 when everyone was in flares, or in 1992 when people were in peg tops or 2002 when low rise were all the rage. Your slim trousers would be out of style.

Plus, nothing comes round in exactly the same way, which makes “classic” clothes look old fashioned.

As a pp said, the only way to look totally timeless is to pick an era and dress is a purposefully “vintage” way, but this only works for trendy or youngish people. For someone like me in their 50s it just looks as if I haven’t been shopping since the millennium.

Ooh no. As a lover of that vintage look, let me disabuse you of that notion. If you do get into that look, you will see women of all shapes, sizes and ages absolutely rocking it. One of the most stylish women I know is over 50, she wears that look all the time and looks AMAZING. She loves leopard print; I'm not a fan personally but it's her style and on her it works. The headscarves are also lovely if you wear your hair short (and even if you don't).

As just one example.... www.facebook.com/135527203145804/posts/3955844681114018/

Lockdown clothes. Mine certainly feel timeless - take these jeans and jumper (please), which have apparently endured since the last ice age, appearing again and again and again.

Other than that, black bottom wear with a white shirt and black jacket is a look that goes back to early Victorians.

Sea salt Janelle

@FeministRabbit

For 'office' clothes:

• Well-fitting white shirt which can be adapted with the times - tucked in, tucked out, French tucked, under a tank top, with chunky statement necklace around the collar, done up to the top, top button undone etc.
• Black A-line cap-sleeved dress which can also be accessorised with fashion.
• Well-fitting slim ankle grazer trousers in a muted colour. Mine are grey. I hate black ones because I think they look like waiter/waitress uniforms
• Fitted jacket but one of those ambiguous ones that could be a jacket in summer but also a suit jacket in colder weather

Everyday wear:
-Fishnet tights. Go with anything and everything, can be office-y, party-ish or just everyday stuff.

• Parka jacket. Really warm and is sometimes 'in fashion' but never really seems to go 'out'
• White pumps. Okay so these were out of fashion for a while but I never stopped wearing mine. Look great with anything, so comfortable.
• Well-fitting block colour T-shirts which suit your figure well. I have loads in all the colours. They never go out of fashion and can be accessorised with changing fashions.

But, above any of this..... A GOOD, PROPERLY FITTED BRA

Isn't statement jewellery classed as frumpy on mumsnet now?

Great post OP - placemarking for now!

I think fishnets are classic, they've been around for decades, anyway give me fishnets over a boring beige trench coat any day!

I wore fishnets with a tight black leather skirt and black silk blouse, topped with a beige trench coat (Burberry of that makes a difference) and black stilettos to a first date with a stuffy civil servant.

Reader - I married him 😂

Twin set and pearls?

Other than that, black bottom wear with a white shirt and black jacket is a look that goes back to early Victorians.

I ALWAYS get reminded of a pint of Guinness. Every time I see someone in a white shirt or top (crisp, of course) and black skirt or trousers, I think of a pint of Guinness.

There needs to be a pint of Guinness dress at every wedding. I don't think the ceremony is legally binding without one present.

Real timeless items are vintage for me. I have a fabulous collection of vintage silk scarves, mostly for a £or 2 from charity shops. They can be arranged in loads of ways that aren’t frumpy.

Also a vintage Jaegar blouse and I say that as someone who has virtually never worn shirts or blouses due to my shape.

Cardigans are all about the shape. I’m wearing a fitted pale blue cashmere over a white T shirt ( slippy fabric, not cotton), the cardigan has lovely shell buttons and is half buttoned and tucked into jeans. I love it.

And ALL clothes look better with good underwear, clean, pressed and debobbled. And a decent haircut which obviously I don’t have.

Looking for ‘timeless’ spring tops with long sleeves at the moment (I have plenty of shirts) and am dismayed at the frumpiness of Breton tops and 3/4 sleeves. Classic and timeless to me includes good tailoring that fits properly, sleeves and legs ending where they should.

Everything seems to be cut to save fabric and save effort now, one size fits nobody.

The classics are only occasionally 'in'.

A good trench coat with no 'current' styling is a classic.

Neutral colours.

If it suits your shape and colouring, it will always look good on you.

It really depends on what you're looking to achieve. Want to show your figure off? Yes to tailoring, yes to slim jeans, yes to muted shades etc.

But honestly, isn't that kind of boring? I don't always dress in a way that flatters my figure, but ultimately why do strangers need to know what my body shape is anyway? I love a bright smock dress teamed with white socks and converse, polka dot midi skirts with DMs, long baggy band shirts and cycle shorts with creepers. I don't dress to be seen as pretty or hot, I dress for fun and I think if you have money to spend, you should do so on clothes that make you smile.

Oh god not fishnets unless you are a slim early twenties or it’s a themed party. Seeing a 40 something in the office in fishnets is not what you want to see first thing in the morning!