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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what do you consider timeless clothing?

307 replies

letsjog · 18/03/2021 09:15

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Grapewrath · 20/03/2021 14:17

Don’t know about timeless but a well fitting pair of jeans, a nice soft plain tee and converse or Nike/Reebok classics have always served me well. I’m 42 btw.
I’ve never even considered buying half of these timeless clothes Confused

Blueskyredcloud · 20/03/2021 14:19

@SomewhereInbetween1

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.

Yes to this!
HowManyToes · 20/03/2021 14:23

[quote Cocomarine]@merryhouse you’ve reminded me of a purple satin like shirt I had which was possibly the most fashionable thing I ever owned at the time![/quote]
Mid 90s? Did you want to be alanis morissette too? 😂 mine was petrol blue and I wore it with black ripped jeans

Morgoth · 20/03/2021 14:26
  1. White well-fitting Oxford shirt.
  2. One good pair of Jeans.
  3. Navy blue or black tailored blazer.
  4. Short or medium-length black dress that you can wear in a variety of different situations (classic LBD).
  5. Good quality trench coat or Mac.
  6. Well-fitted cable-knit or Cashmere sweater.
  7. Staple classically pretty floral summer skirt or dress.
  8. Comfortable but fierce medium or high black court heels
  9. A high-quality pair of dark brown or black knee-high/mid-calf or ankle boots
  10. A decent amazing top that showcases your personality and character, whether it’s stoic or carefree or spirited or calm. Something that makes you feel confident and gets you compliments. The kind of top you could wear anywhere from a date to after work drinks to the cinema to dinner.
Mara2021 · 20/03/2021 14:32

Work:

Smart black or dark grey jacket or navy or blazer(s)
Smart black, dark grey, or navy skirt(s)
Tailored black trousers (or grey or navy)
Practical leather shoes (I'll be glad when the high heel in office nonsense has finally had its day and been left in the 1990s where it belongs - in previous jobs you could always tell the bought-in management consultants by the way they'd teeter about on the gravel on their little kitten heels, not to mention the shiny hospital floors...)
White or pale pastel colour shirt
Plain tights, black, nearly black, or flesh coloured as appropriate
Maybe a couple of shift dresses in practical dark colours or beige and cut in a style that allows you to work (depending on what your job is)
Good underwear (I'm now [young] granny age so personally I like cover-me-up Bridget Jones knickers). And a decent bra makes all the difference.
Good bag
Black umbrella
This might all sound a bit drab, but you can pretty it up with cardigants or scarves and earrings and pendants or necklaces, depending on the environment you work in and what the current fashion is

Outside work:

Little black dress
Pretty dress or two in a colour or pattern and style that suits you, in case you get an unexpected party invite (remember those?!)
Nice strappy sandals (with a heel you can manage to walk in)
Pretty bolero or cardi little jacket to match pretty dress

Holiday clothes - depends where you're going, but a good swimsuit, a nice cover up to avoid sunburn, and jeans or practical trousers and Tshirts or tops and shoes so you can enjoy walking about as a tourist (if it's safe), plus a hat of some description and a crossover bag.

And if you're going ski-ing in Switzerland, or hiking in the Cairngorms, good base layers and waterproofs and hiking boots. And maybe a beekeeper's suit if you're anywhere near Scottish midges. (Or that's possibly just me.)

I had one boss in her late 50s who really still seemed to think she was 22. In fact, she wore things I'd not have felt comfortable in at 22. So please, no leather skirts or fishnets in the office!!

If you're just building your wardrobe, I've often found you can pick up excellent, long-lasting labels on ebay or vinted or, when they're open again, in charity shops, especially in the more well-to-do areas. Our local hospice shop is amazing. I've just admitted I need to say goodbye to my lovely North Face snuggly raincoat as it's come to the end of its natural life - that was a charity shop bargain about 8 years ago. I've also found it's a good idea to work out what colours and styles really work for you, within the constraints of fashion when you're buying - one tip I was given years ago by someone who did colour me beautiful type stuff was to hold a white sheet under your chin and then hold up different coloured garments so you could see which ones really suited you.

Meowchickameowmeow · 20/03/2021 14:48

Pretty dress or two in a colour or pattern and style that suits you, in case you get an unexpected party invite (remember those?!)
Nice strappy sandals (with a heel you can manage to walk in)
Pretty bolero or cardi little jacket to match pretty dress

Unless you're six that all sounds absolutely awful.

Mara2021 · 20/03/2021 15:20

@Meowchickameowmeow You have to bear in mind I"m built like a busty pixie, so beautifully cut Chanel trouser suits made for tall androgynous people, say, aren't going to work on me ;) I'd be interested to hear what your idea of wedding/party wear would be (I mean, my older sister thinks sparkly earrings and glitter tops are great, but they won't work on me either).

A lot depends on your height, build, colouring etc. I've mentioned one boss in my previous post; I had another boss of the same age who was over 6 foot and always dressed in beautiful flowing skirts and well fitted tops. I could have used one of her skirts as a tent with material left over but it looked fabulous on her.

LemonRoses · 20/03/2021 15:33

[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]
No, I didn't mean a difference if something was gifted - I meant sometimes women are gifted or inherit some very nice pieces. Feels like a misinterpretation entirely.

I'm not romanticising at all; my reality is that many younger women build up their collection through gifts and legacies. Most cannot afford to buy for themselves but might get some lovely earrings or a bracelet for their 21st birthday or Granny might leave them a sapphire pendant. I think on the whole, most young women don't necessarily buy themselves decent jewellery because they are busy saving for houses, cars or spending on their families.

LemonRoses · 20/03/2021 15:35

It clearly doesn't look any different if gifted, but its more likely to have less impact on your wallet, if it is a present.

JokeTheCoalman · 20/03/2021 15:49

Long Johns are a must and never go out of fashion

Blueskyredcloud · 20/03/2021 15:51

@Mara2021 This might all sound a bit drab It's not a bit drab - it's very drab.

MrsTophamHat · 20/03/2021 16:01

I genuinely don't think there is such a thing as truly timeless.

Small details and cuts can make clothes seem dated even if on the surface they are just 'black trousers'.

requitalissima · 20/03/2021 16:10

@Mara2021

"I had one boss in her late 50s who really still seemed to think she was 22. In fact, she wore things I'd not have felt comfortable in at 22. So please, no leather skirts or fishnets in the office!!"

What a load of tosh! Leather skirt with silk blouse is a fabulous combination and age has nothingbto do with it! Have you seen Gillian Anderson in The Fall?

The Fall

Whammyyammy · 20/03/2021 16:12

Saw 4 teenage girls yesterday, each of them wearing 70s styled flared jeans. So I presume must be now coming back into fashion

BlairWaldorfLovesShopping · 20/03/2021 16:13

Depends on your lifestyle, your life stage, and your definition of timeless.

Most items mentioned on this thread are classics, but that doesn’t mean they’re timeless. Everything changes eventually. And classics are classics for a reason - they’re boring and safe.

I’m in the “nothing is timeless” camp.

requitalissima · 20/03/2021 16:17

The 'collection' you present @Mara2021 should be worn only if the wearer is absolutely stunningly beautiful with a perfect figure. And tall. The clothes are there just to frame her and not be noticed.
For your average woman, such a wardrobe would make them look like a middle-aged resolute spinster on a mission.
Grin

sleveen · 20/03/2021 16:24

I'm not sure where we're going - are we going out or to the office? as I haven't read the full thread, but anything which flatters you.

I dress very traditionally in a way, but can wear short dresses in mundane colours and in those cases I wear flat shoes.

I also wear longer skirts (just below the knee) with a white top and will then wear stilletoes.

Going out I will wear flimsy short dresses and high heels. Different coloured heels.
Sometimes at work I will dress very conservatively but wear red high heels for example. That or a brightly coloured scarf around my neck.

Meowchickameowmeow · 20/03/2021 16:26

I'd be interested to hear what your idea of wedding/party wear would be

I like to avoid weddings at all costs but for a party I prefer a really well-cut suit. Think slim pants and a tuxedo-style jacket.

Mara2021 · 20/03/2021 16:29

@requitalissima Even in a healthcare setting?

Mara2021 · 20/03/2021 16:32

@Meowchickameowmeow For a cocktail party or similar semi-formal party, that sounds very smart, if I was a bit taller. At my height and build though I'd look like an escaped top heavy penguin. ;) (In my next life I'm going to be 6 foot 3, I've decided.)

Mara2021 · 20/03/2021 16:33

@requitalissima "a middle-aged resolute spinster on a mission", eh? Normally people just call me a bit of a witch. Though the all-black familiar with the cattitude might have something to do with it. ;)

Orangeblossomscent · 20/03/2021 16:37

[quote Mara2021]@requitalissima Even in a healthcare setting?[/quote]
What's special about a health care setting?

DarkMutterings · 20/03/2021 16:59

But the question isn't what do you love or what makes you look the best ... it's What pieces would you or do you have in your wardrobe that are always "in" and look lovely regardless of the current trends?

And so boring things like a white shirt or a LBD are most likely to answer that question.

The item I love the most is a brightly colour maxi dress with the most enormous skirt which in fairness I rarely wear, the item I wear the most are my boyfriend jeans, the item which I pull on when I'm not sure what the dress code is would be a black blazer. So in answer to the question what's timeless for me is the black blazer - a bit boring but stalwart

Orangeblossomscent · 20/03/2021 17:04

My answer to not sure about the dress code would never be a black blazer... I think blazers are really hard to pull off...everyone talks about them being an essential thing in your wardrobe but what do you wear a black blazer with?

requitalissima · 20/03/2021 17:20

A black blazer could be worn in a multitude of ways, really. Start with jeans, a good belt and plain t-shirt or shirt or blouse; then over a boring but useful shift-dress; with black trousers and light jumper; with beige/stone/khaki trousers and either a white t-shirt/shirt or with same colour plain shirt/blouse, as in beige with beige etc.- monochrome pieces create long lean silhouette; with white jeans, good belt and white t-shirt/shirt. Etc.

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